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Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer

NYX has done it again with the brand’s great dupe for the Milk Hydro Primer. This grippy primer creates a glass-like finish that locks your makeup in place for up to 8 hours after application. The vegan formula is a water-based jelly infused with cucumber and aloe that blurs lines and wrinkles and prevents the foundation from smearing or smudging.

Pros

  • Gel formula
  • Vegan and Cruelty-free
  • Grips and smooths

Cons

  • Price is on the higher side

Makeup Revolution Hydrate Primer

Lightweight, absorbent, and ultra-hydrating, this gel primer offers intense hydration and leaves a fresh and dewy finish. Infused with hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E, this primer is vegan, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, and suitable for sensitive skin. 

Pros

  • Smoothing
  • Glossy finish
  • Hydrating
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-free
  • Fragrance-free
  • Gel formula

Cons

  • Does not grip makeup

e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer

The e.l.f. brand is popular for its ability to recreate affordable dupes for more expensive products and get similar results. This power grip primer is no exception. The luxe gel formula is silky and nourishing and contains ingredients such as rosemary leaf water and hyaluronic acid. The primer absorbs easily, smooths, and grips makeup for a dewy look. 

Pros

  • Smoothing
  • Hydrating
  • Absorbent gel formula
  • Grips and keeps makeup in place

Cons

  • Contains polyethylene glycol (PEG), which can irritate some people’s skin

NYX Professional Makeup Serum and Primer

Infused with electrolytes and vitamins, this vegan formula is both skincare and primer. It hydrates and smooths to provide a sleek surface for makeup application. It’s lightweight, great for all skin types, and helps keep makeup in place.

Pros

  • Non-oily
  • Hydrating
  • Corrects skin texture
  • Helps set makeup

Cons

  • Non-gripping
  • A little more expensive than some dupes on the list

Makeup Revolution Glass Liquid Skin Primer

Enhance and illuminate your skin with this Korean glass skincare primer. Thanks to its hydrating and nourishing coconut and cucumber ingredients, the silky, water-based gel primer is a good option for red, dry, or acne-prone skin. It creates a glossy and dewy finish.

Pros

  • Creamy and Moisturizing
  • Good for dry or red skin
  • Gel primer
  • Smooths and preps skin for makeup

Cons

  • Non-gripping 

Essence Hydro Hero Primer

Get plump, smooth, and dewy skin with this ultra-affordable gel hydrating primer. This lightweight formula is packed with hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, blurs pores, and smooths skin texture. While it doesn’t grip makeup in the same way as Milk Hydro Grip Primer, it creates a flawless makeup base.

Pros

  • Ultra-hydrating for up to 48 hours
  • Noncomedogenic 
  • Blurs imperfections
  • Free from parabens, oil, microplastic particles, and animal by-products
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Fragrance may not work well for sensitive skin

Wet n Wild Mega Jelly Face Primer

This jelly-like primer is a great way to prep and prime your skin like a smooth canvas. The cooling formula contains Glycerin and D-Panthenol designed to penetrate, hydrate, and restore skin to keep your makeup looking fresh and intact all day. 

Pros

  • Creates a smoothing effect
  • Cooling gel formula
  • Good for all skin types
  • Talc-free, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free

Cons

  • May look patchy if applied before the primer fully sets

Hard Candy Hydrating Sheer Envy Jelly Primer

Originally made as a Hydro Grip Primer, this Hard Candy Hydrating Jelly Primer has ingredients and benefits similar to the Milk Hydro Grip Primer. The formula is packed with agave, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide that nourishes, smooths, and protects skin from environmental stressors. It also grips and holds makeup in place for up to 12 hours.  

Pros

  • Gel formula 
  • Grips makeup for as long as Milk Hydro Primer
  • Plumps and Hydrates your skin
  • Protects from environmental irritants

Cons

  • Contains Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), which can cause skin irritation for some people

Cool & Glow Face Primer

Made by Ulta’s Beauty Collection, this Cool & Glow Face Primer is packed with bilberry seed extract designed to nourish and plump skin for a more youthful appearance. The pearlescent jelly formula makes it a close match for the Hydro Grip primer gel. 

Pros

  • Hydrating Gel formula
  • Smoothing effect on the skin

Cons

  • Users should do a patch test for skin compatibility due to its cooling and tingling effect

NYX Honeydew Me Up! Primer

This smoothing and plumping gel cream formula contains gold flecks that reflect the light to create a radiant finish. It is infused with honey + hyaluronic acid + collagen for a hydrating and rejuvenating effect. 

Pros

  • Smoothing effect 
  • Plumping feel 
  • Light-reflecting
  • Anti-aging

Cons

  • May not be non-comedogenic
  • On the pricier side as compared to other options

Choosing the Best Milk Hydro Grip Primer Alternative

Known for its hydrating and refreshing gel formula that evens out skin texture, improves tone, and blurs pores, wrinkles, and fine lines, the Milk Hydro Grip Primer provides a grippy surface that holds makeup products in place all day. 

Once the primer has set and dried, it keeps makeup from cracking, smudging, caking, or creasing, which can ruin a beautiful makeup job. It also doubles as skincare since it nourishes and hydrates your skin to prevent it from drying out. 

The original product does the job, but it can be a little on the pricey side. We recommend these dupes that offer grippy, smoothing, hydrating, and skin-correcting benefits. 

Some of the main things to look for in a great alternative is a gel formula that is silky, smoothing, and tone-correcting. Another essential feature is a gripping ability, which will help lock your makeup down to keep it from flaking or fading. 

The Most Affordable Milk Hydro Grip Primer Alternative

This e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer is a great, budget-friendly dupe for the more expensive Milk Hydro Grip Primer. It helps keep skin hydrated, sleek, and nourished. The gel formula is like the original product, ensuring a cooling effect. Once the primer sets, you can apply your makeup product smoothly and rest assured that it will stay put all day.

Our Favorite Milk Hydro Grip Primer Dupe

Get a flawless finish and nourishing hydration with this NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer. The cucumber-infused gel vegan formula fills in pores, blurs skin imperfections, creates a radiant and dewy finish, and seals everything in place no matter what makeup product you choose. It’s half the price of the Milk Hydro Grip Primer and offers the same kind of benefits for less.