Elf Jelly Pop Primer Review: Is This Primer Worth The Hype?
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Elf is known for its high-quality yet affordable products, such as its primers. And their Jelly Pop Primer doesn’t get enough love.
This mineral infused face primer is formulated with skin-healthy ingredients such as vitamins A, C, and E as well as niacinamide. It’s extremely hydrating and with a gel-like texture, the hydrating face primer feels luxurious on your skin. Made with watermelon extract, this primer smells like heaven.
But is this makeup primer worth it? Is a gel primer right for you? I tried the Elf Jelly Pop Primer and am delivering a completely honest review. Continue reading to find out if this primer is right for you!
A great gel primer that holds your makeup while hydrating your skin.
Main Features
- Moisturizes the skin before makeup application
- Grips foundation so your makeup lasts all-day
- Can also be worn alone
Pros
- Packaging is great. The pump works well and you get a lot of product for a small price.
- Doesn’t leave skin looking shiny, just gives your complexion a subtle dewy look.
- Moisturizes your skin and that feeling doesn’t fade
- Very affordable — I paid $10
- Amazing watermelon scent
Cons
- Many dry skin types complained about this makeup primer, but I absolutely love it
- Even though I love the smell, not the best makeup primer for those sensitive to fragrances
- I wouldn’t wear this under foundation. When you first apply the product, it feels tacky. I personally use it alone since I love the fresh, dewy look it gives.
Who Is It For?
The Jelly Pop Dew Primer is mainly recommended for those with oily and combination skin. The only reason I dissuade from this advice is becoming this primer gives your skin that dewy look and most people with oily skin prefer a matte finish.
Even though many reviewers with dry skin complained about this product, I personally love it and my skin has been dry lately. This is why I honestly think this primer is great for all skin types. It’s not overly hydrating, so it can work for those with oily skin if you like the dewy look. It also doesn’t make your skin look greasy.
Keep in mind, the dewy finish does fade with time and your face looks fresh after some time rather than dewy, I still wouldn’t use this under foundation. If you simply want a fresh face for those no-makeup days, this is when I would use this product.
This primer also doesn’t offer the same benefits that other Elf primers offer. For example, it won’t disguise texture problems or blur the look of pores.
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Packaging
One of the main aspects I love about this primer is the packaging. The primer is a decent size, especially for the price you’re paying. However, one of my only complaints is how Elf doesn’t mention the actual size of the product. Even the packaging doesn’t disclose the size. From what I’m seeing online, the tube is 1 oz big.
The packaging is also beautiful. The tube is a watermelon-pink color with the brand name and product in white font. The pink is slightly translucent, so you can see how much product you have.
Using the Primer
The pump works very well. One pump and you get a good amount of product in your hands. I only needed one pump to cover my entire face.
The gel texture of the primer felt great on the skin. It is a little heavy but not too heavy. Your skin also absorbs it well, leaving your face looking dewy and fresh.
Wearing the Primer
The very first thing I noticed after applying the primer is it doesn’t sit too heavy on the skin. Forever, it has a very slight dewy feel. Don’t get in confused with tacky — this primer doesn’t feel tacky or sticky at all. Rather, your face will feel and look very moisturized.
I haven’t tried it under makeup, simply because I don’t like the dewy look when I wear makeup. Even though my skin leans toward the dry side, I prefer a close-to-matte finish.
I can’t pull off a full matte look because mattifying products irritate my skin, but I don’t like any shine or glitter when I wear makeup. I don’t even wear a highlighter.
However, when I’m not wearing makeup, I love the dewy look. It takes away from my acne scars and just makes my skin overall look very healthy. That’s why I love this primer for no-makeup days. Your skin has a slightly dewy finish and just looks very fresh and healthy.
If you want to wear this as a primer, I wouldn’t use it if you want a matte look or if you have oily skin. I would use this primer if you’re wearing a BB cream, so your skin looks and feels extra moisturized. Otherwise, this is a great primer if you love the dewy look.
Fragrance
As stated previously, this primer has a watermelon fragrance. It’s not overpowering and I think it smells rather nice. I know I’m biased because I just love the smell of watermelon. However, this may be an issue for those sensitive to fragrances.
Where to Buy
I bought my Elf primer on their website. I first looked at Target, but they didn’t have the primer. If you’re in Texas, I also saw Elf products at H-E-B. Many people also get Elf products at Ulta.
Alternatives
While I love the Elf Jelly Pop Primer, I understand this primer isn’t for everyone. Here are a few alternatives that I could find.
Ciate London Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer
If you’re looking for an actual foundation primer, I would recommend this one over the Elf one. Rather than giving your skin a dewy look, this Ciate primer makes your skin glow.
It’s also formulated with certain key ingredients to brighten skin over time and reduce the look of pores. It’s also a very moisturizing primer and has a delicate watermelon scent.
This unique serum like primer refreshes, hydrates, and keeps your makeup flawless for hours. Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture, while antioxidant and vitamin C-rich watermelon extract brightens and protects. 
Milk Hydro Grip Primer
While it doesn’t have a watermelon scent, the Milk Hydro Grip Primer not only hydrates your skin but also grips onto makeup. As with all other Milk products, this primer is 94% natural. It’s made with hemp-derived cannabis seed and blue agave extract to ensure your skin feels amazing all day and your foundation lasts.
A hydrating primer that adheres to makeup formulated with hemp-derived cannabis seed extract and blue agave extract for all-day hydration and hold.
Olay Ultimate Whip Face Priming Moisturizer
I recommend this primer for those who have dry skin. This moisturizer by Olay not only hydrates the skin but also preps the skin for makeup application. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to retain more water and vitamins B3 and B5 give your skin a beautiful glow.
This primer isn’t greasy and is oil-free, so it’s the perfect face primer to prepare your skin for foundation.
Let Olay illuminate you! Olay Luminous Whip Face Moisturizer delivers lasting radiance without the shine of thicker formulas. 
Purlisse Matcha Green Tea Priming Moisturizer
While I recommend you use a separate hydrating face primer for this one, the Purlisse Matcha Green Tea Priming Moisturizer is another good one to use if you want a no-makeup look or simply need a primer for BB cream.
This face primer is great for sensitive skin, made with powerful antioxidants, retains moisture, and even combats aging symptoms. It’s also very lightweight and has no scent.
This oil-free water cream contains Green Tea, White Tea, Vitamin E and French Marine Plants that penetrate into your skin for radiant results.
Lorac Dewy Canvas Prep Moisturizer + Primer
This is another great two-in-one moisturizer/primer, though I recommend this one if you really want a glowing complexion. This moisturizer is very lightweight and has a gel-like texture, though finishes as a cream. This is why I also recommend it to those with dry skin.
This moisturizer is also rich in antioxidants as well as squalane, shea butter, glycerin, and more. All of these key ingredients will nourish the skin. Since it has a lightweight formula, your skin will be prepped for foundation application. The primer also fades the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and neutralizes skin tone.
Submerge into a tranquil glow with this antioxidant rich, lightweight gel-cream moisturizer that transforms skin into an airbrushed canvas with a dewy radiance. 
Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer Moisturizing Primer
Smashbox is one of my favorite brands for primers. I never used this particular product, though it’s a great one for those who want softer skin that will hold their foundation.
This is a moisturizer and foundation primer in one product. It delivers 24 hours of hydration and effectively preps skin for foundation application. It also has a very light texture, so it’s ideal for those with oily skin.
This non-greasy, quick-dry formula acts as a makeup magnet that locks on foundation & makes it last.
Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer
This primer is not only hydrating but it will give your skin a beautiful glow. It contains power anti-aging and other skin-loving ingredients so you get a ton of other benefits. It’s paraben-free and safe for all skin types. Never tested on animals. Plus, it will make your foundation stay put.
Pixi makeup primers come in a variety of skin nourishing formulas to help keep your face looking fresh and energized throughout the day.
FAQs
Question: How Long Does It Take This Primer to Dry?
Answer: As I said before, it takes a bit for this primer to dry for me. Many people like this but I personally don’t like applying foundation when I have too much product on my skin. That’s why I don’t wear this primer under makeup. But if you’re looking to apply foundation while your skin is dewy, then it won’t dry too quickly for you.
Question: How Do I Use This Primer?
Answer: I personally put a pump of product on my fingertips and spread it over my face, starting from the middle and working outward. But you can also apply this primer with a brush or a sponge/Beauty Blender. Because of its gel texture, I suggest applying it with your fingertips.
Question: Is the Jelly Pop Primer Bad for Your Skin?
Answer: The opposite actually. This primer is formulated with many moisturizing ingredients to leave your skin glowing and feeling healthy. Because of the gel texture, it’s also ideal for those who have oily skin and want a dewy look. This primer also won’t clog your pores, which we will cover later.
While Elf says this is hypoallergenic, I wouldn’t use this primer if you’re sensitive to fragrance. Otherwise, this is a great primer for every other skin type.
Question: Will This Primer Break Out My Skin?
Answer: This product is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t cause breakouts. I have acne-prone skin and this primer didn’t break me out. It also hypoallergenic, but I would steer clear if you have fragrance sensitivities.
Question: Why Should I Use a Gel Primer?
Answer: Gels are not only lightweight but feel silky on this skin. This gives foundation a good base to grip on and your foundation will apply more evenly. I personally love the cooling effect they have on my skin.
While you can apply gel primers with a sponge or brush, many people like them because they’re best applied with your fingertips. As long as gel primers aren’t too thick and tacky, I can wear them under foundation. I personally prefer blurring and poreless primers for under makeup since I have texture issues from acne scars.
Elf Jelly Pop Primer Review:Â Bottomline
Elf has many high-quality primers and the Jelly Pop Primer is one of them. It leaves skin moisturized and has a glowing finish. Your skin will look healthy all day, especially if you wear this primer on no-makeup days. I also really like the packaging and the big size you get for such a small price. I personally don’t like wearing dewy primers under makeup, but I’ve read this primer really does help foundation last longer.
Overall, I definitely recommend this primer! A great gel primer that holds your makeup while hydrating your skin.
