January 15, 2021

E.L.F. Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.
4 stars out of 5

E.L.F. Cosmetics Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer ($8) is a new gel facial primer with a cool, fresh feel that preps skin for makeup. According to the brand this contains hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to plump and smooth skin.

First thing I did when I got it I ran to compare the ingredients to my E.L.F. Jelly Pop Dew Primer but turns out they aren’t really the same. For example, this contains Niacinamide which the Jelly Pop formula did not. But if I had to be real with myself as MUCH as I enjoyed using this formula I do think the Jelly Pop has the better formula only because Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer contains some stuff in that you might not want to put on your face like Peppermint and Rosemary. If you can get past that you might love this! I know I did!

E.L.F. Cosmetics Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer arrives in a squeeze tube with an attached pump. It’s $8 and 1 oz in size. Jelly Pop Dew Primer was a little more at $10 but the size was the same. I actually kind of like this more than Jelly Pop but the ingredients as I mentioned above aren’t as good. That being said, if you want to compare the two they are actually very, very much the same.

I am absolutely obsessed with gripping primers since trying Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer. I think some of that stems from the fact I am an avid user of J One Jelly Primer. I absolutely love that stuff and a lot of these new gripping primers have the same texture and tackiness as it. And let’s not forget the legendary Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer 3-in-1 Multi-Tasking Primer!

E.L.F. Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer is a thinner gel compared to Jelly Pop that’s just as sticky with a tacky feel. I know that must sound unappealing but I promise once you apply it you’ll find the tackiness disappears and sets to a smooth finish. They do promise a dewy finish but I get light hydration from it without any dewiness, tackiness, grease, or shine. I always feel like the sticky consistency sort of plumps up my skin and makes it look and feel firmer. That being said although this contains hyaluronic acid but it’s quite low on the list of ingredients! It contains more Niacinamide which is great for brightening up your complexion. It wears well under foundation and really does provide a grip that keeps your base makeup wearing longer and fresher. I always recommend these types of primers for people with drier or aging skin that don’t have visible pores as I don’t think they really blur imperfections in my experience or even blur pores. They do however, provide a plumping effect and feel like they firm skin. I didn’t really feel any cooling sensation from it and they say it has a vanilla mint fragrance but I didn’t notice that either! If you’re looking for a cooling effect you NEED to try Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer!

Update: I obviously had a bit of a stuffy nose when testing this because I am now getting a subtle minty vanilla fragrance from it!

All in all, a very nice gripping facial primer! I wish it didn’t contain peppermint as that’s not exactly a great pick for skin with the potential to cause irritation or break down collagen but sometimes we’re all a little guilty of putting bad stuff on our faces 🙂

Anyone want to try this or have you already?

E.L.F. Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer is available now!

Where to buy

ELF

E.L.F. Cosmetics Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer is a new cooling gel facial primer that’s $8 and 1 oz in size. I loved this but it does contain peppermint and rosemary as well as a fragrance which might be a deal breaker for some. This has a lightweight gel consistency that’s sticky and has a tackier feel on skin before absorbing and leaving behind light hydration and a very fresh finish that’s not dewy, greasy, or shiny. I thought it made for a great gripping foundation that set a good canvas for foundation to adhere to which resulted in longer wear time! I did not notice a vanilla mint fragrance that the brand said it had nor did I notice a cooling sensation when using it.

Update: I obviously had a bit of a stuffy nose when testing this because I am now getting a subtle minty vanilla fragrance from it!

Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Polysorbate 80, Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Water, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Water, Pentylene Glycol, Trideceth-9, Menthol, PEG-240/HDI Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol,Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance(Parfum), Disodium EDTA

Pros

  • Lightweight gel texture absorbs easily.
  • Grips foundation making it last longer.
  • Feels like it plumps and firms skin.

Cons

  • Contains peppermint, rosemary, and fragrance.
  • No cooling sensation as promised.

Who

E.L.F. Mint Melt Cooling Face Primer is a great pick up for aging or drier skin types as it smooths, lightly hydrates, plumps, and firms skin!

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • EmbalmerEmi

    It also contains castor oil which the jelly pop one doesn’t,big no no for acne-prone skin.