Last updated: December 6, 2024
The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer has become one of the most popular makeup primers available since its launch in 2019, but because it’s an expensive product many people are searching for Milk Hydro Grip Primer dupes.
This primer gets rave reviews among the beauty community who love its healthy ingredients list, and its ability to do what it claims and keep your makeup on for a very long time.
Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer is also an award-winning product and happens to be free from parabens, fragrance, gluten and oil. It also has the benefit of being cruelty free and suitable for vegans.
What’s not as popular, however, is the product’s price tag. The 45ml full size bottle retails at $38 USD (or £35 / €39.50). The price increases, of course, if you want to stretch to the 150ml jumbo size.
This makes it out of reach for those of us who are trying to keep a strict eye on our spending, especially with the rising cost of living.
Luckily there are lots of products that can be considered dupes of Milk’s Hydro Grip Primer, and many of these are a fraction of the price of the real thing.
Makeup artists and all other makeup lovers can find the best Milk Hydro Grip Primer dupe for them in the long list below.
Scroll down to see the dupes and let your bank account thank you later.
The Milk Hydro Grip Primer dupe list
Below are the best dupes for this popular primer.
It’s worth knowing a little bit about the main ingredients of the Milk primer for an easier comparison with other products.
The Milk Hydro Grip Primer ingredients include blue agave extract alongside cherry blossom, aloe water, cannabis seed extract and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients work together to deeply hydrate the skin and retain moisture. The blue agave gives the ‘grip’ that the primer is famous for, and ensures makeup stays put all day long.
The full ingredients list is Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Water (Aqua, Eau), Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Alcohol Denat., Polyglyceryl-10 Eicosanedioate/Tetradecanedioate, Diglycerin, PVP, Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbitol, Pullulan, Inositol, Betaine, Carbomer, Maltose, Xylitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Benzophenone-4, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Agave Tequilana Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Vegetable Amino Acids, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Prunus Avium Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Red 33 (CI 17200).
Elf Power Grip Primer $10
You can usually count on Elf to bring out a really good drugstore dupe of one of the most popular beauty products on the market, and this is an excellent dupe for Milk’s makeup primer.
As the name suggests the Power Grip Primer is designed to grip on to makeup to keep it in place. It’s also a gel formula with hydrating benefits.
There are some similar ingredients in Elf’s formula to the Milk primer, including sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), niacinamide and glycerin. These provide the hydration as well as a little bit of brightening from the niacinamide.
It also contains rosemary leaf extract to soothe and keep moisture in the skin, as well as melissa officinalis water (also known as lemon balm) to tighten pores for a glass-like finish.
There’s another version of this primer too which contains 4% niacinamide. This works to brighten skin tone and fade dark spots, so if you have any dullness or pigmentation this will help.
As an added bonus, all of Elf’s products are cruelty free and suitable for vegans.
NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer $17
The NYX Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer is another great Milk dupe and again comes at a more affordable price.
The NYX jelly primer is also water based and contains aloe vera. It has the addition of cucumber extracts for an extra fresh feeling. This primer has the same sticky/tacky effect as the Milk primer which is what helps to grip makeup to the skin.
It comes in a little pot which not everyone likes, but if you don’t mind that then this NYX primer is a really good alternative to Milk and it will give you very similar results.
The key ingredients in this product are glycerin, aloe vera, cucumber extract and Vitamin E. It has a cooling feel on the skin and leaves a natural finish which your makeup will stick to for hours at a time.
It’s also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals.
Hard Candy Hydrating 12 Hour Makeup Grip + Hyaluronic Acid Jelly Primer $6.96
Another great drugstore water-based primer which is most definitely a near perfect dupe of the Milk Hydro Grip primer is the Hard Candy Hydrating 12 Hour Makeup Grip + Hyaluronic Acid Jelly Primer.
Like a lot of these gripping makeup products, this primer feels sticky on application but does dry down. It gives a really smooth base for your foundation and is very moisturizing so your skin won’t dry out under foundation.
It contains hyaluronic acid and agave, like the Hydro Grip Primer, as well as glycerin, neem and aloe extracts.
It’s an extremely affordable product which works on any skin tone and is well worth trying. The price point is so low and it’s one of the best Milk Hydro Grip Primer dupes out there.
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The Beauty Crop Oui Cherie Hydrating Gripping Primer $13
This bright red jelly primer has gone viral on TikTok as one of the most popular primers because of just how well it grips your makeup in place.
It’s an oil-free primer yet it manages to be extremely hydrating. It leaves a healthy glow and a decent level of tackiness which means your makeup is not going to budge once it’s applied.
With glycerin, panthenol and hyaluronic acid it keeps water locked in to the skin so it doesn’t dry out. The addition of cherry extract adds a big dose of antioxidants to protect skin against free radicals, which can damage skin cells leading to premature aging and pigmentation.
The main difference between Oui Cherie and Milk’s primer is the price tag.
The Beauty Crop are a UK brand but they ship within the United States from their warehouse in Idaho.
Essence Fix & LAST Make Up Gripping Jelly Primer $5.99
If you are trying to keep your beauty budget very low this is a really good option for a gripping primer.
Essence’s ingredients are pretty basic but the bottom line is that this replicates the stickiness of Hydro Grip Primer without any fancy skincare benefits.
For best results, once you apply this primer allow it to dry down a little (for around one minute at the least). This will allow to tackiness to come out and then your skin is ready for your makeup to go over the top.
The price of this at Ulta Beauty is just insanely inexpensive.
MUA Pro Base Hydrating Hyaluronic Jelly Primer $7
Another bargain gel primer is the MUA Pro Base Hydrating Hyaluronic Jelly Primer which is another base makeup product to recently go viral on TikTok.
Although without many of the skin-friendly ingredients of some of the other Milk Makeup dupes, MUA’s primer does have hyaluronic acid for hydration plus the emollient glycerin.
The concept is exactly the same with this jelly primer as with Milk’s. It grips makeup on to the skin using a slightly tacky finish, and keeps skin looking fresh underneath by locking in water.
It’s also a very affordable price, and UK brand MUA ship internationally.
NYX Honeydew Me Up! Plumping Dewy Face Primer $17
NYX Cosmetics are in my top ten three times when it comes to finding a Milk Makeup Primer dupe. They make excellent primers that always stand the test of time.
Honeydew Me Up! has the consistency of an oil but is a water-based primer. It’s infused with honeydew melon extract which is an antioxidant-packed hydrator that makes skin look plump and smooth without any greasiness.
If you have dry skin this is a great priming moisturizer to try as it will keep your skin soft and moisturized under makeup. At the same time it has a tacky grip to it like Milk’s Hydro Grip which will stick to makeup and keep it in place all day.
The little gold flakes in the formula are kind of gimmicky and don’t show up on the skin. The main downside to this primer is the packaging. It comes in a glass bottle with a spatula applicator, which is certainly not as convenient or travel-friendly as a tube with a pump.
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NYX Plump Right Back Primer & Serum $17
This water-based primer has a serum texture. It goes on dewy, leaving a glowing base that will grip your makeup down for the day.
Alongside the must-have ingredients of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, it’s also packed with lots of other skin-loving ingredients and botanical extracts.
These include Vitamin E, Pro-Vitamin B5, Magnesium, and Potassium. The last two are electrolytes which when used in skincare products help to maintain skin’s water levels and keep its barrier intact.
Another interesting ingredient is Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract (or prickly pear extract). Using this cactus extract in skincare and makeup products has an amazing effect. It’s both an antioxidant and a source of fatty acids which keep the skin moisturized.
If you want to use a smaller amount of different products in your skincare and makeup routine, this primer and serum hybrid is a good choice as it nourishes the skin while gripping makeup with its slightly tacky formula.
XX Revolution Hydra Fixx Hydrating Primer $15
This fairly new primer from Revolution Beauty has similar ingredients to the Milk primer, which include cherry blossom, aloe water and hyaluronic acid.
Reviews state that is a very hydrating primer with a gel texture that also grips your makeup and helps it stay put all day.
The primer has a natural gel formula that is slightly sticky like Milk’s primer and this helps to keep makeup on your face.
It’s also cruelty free and suitable for vegans.
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What kind of primer is Milk Hydro Grip?
The Milk primer is a gel formula which comes in a tube with a pump. It has a green tint but it goes on clear so it won’t interfere with the color of your makeup.
The consistency is a gel texture which becomes watery on application.
The idea with this primer is that it not only ‘grips’ on to your makeup to keep it in place all day, but it also adds and retains hydration to keep the skin looking fresh throughout the day.
The extra moisturizing benefits make this a particularly good primer for those with dry skin. It will mask and smooth over dry patches giving makeup application a flawless look.
It also works for other skin types who would like a dewy finish to their skin.
Is Milk Hydro Grip Primer water or silicone based?
The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer is water based.
This is a great product if you don’t get on with silicone primers which can sometimes block pores and have the tendency to slide around on the skin.
People with dryer skins may prefer water based primers as silicones repel water and can leave the skin feeling drier.
Is the Hydro Grip Primer worth it?
That’s a difficult question to answer because what works for one person may not work for the next.
Everyone has different skin and we all use different skin care and makeup, so it’s possible that what one person thinks is their perfect primer is another person’s idea of a really bad product.
With that being said, overall the reviews for Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer are positive and many people swear by this primer to give them a radiant glow and keep their makeup from budging until the end of the day.
The Milk Hydro Grip Primer mini
If you really want to try the real thing rather than one of the Milk Hydro Grip Primer dupes below then there is a mini 10ml version you can buy from Milk.
This costs much less money than the full size and is a good way to try out this product to see if it works for you.
Or if you’re just looking for a great dupe at an affordable price then see below!
Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer is so popular for a reason. People swear by the dewy finish the gel formula gives them, and many a makeup artist will use this product in their kit to help clients’ makeup stay on all day.
Milk is also one of the best cruelty free makeup brands.
However if you can’t get hold of the Milk primer or would rather find a cheaper alternative then there are plenty of dupes on the market to choose from.
If you love finding out about beauty dupes then check out the Clinique Black Honey dupes, the NARS Ita Brush dupes and the Chanel bronzer dupes.
Also don’t miss these Dior Rosy Glow Blush dupes and Glossier Cloud Paint dupes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Elf’s Power Grip Primer is an excellent dupe for Milk Hydro Grip Primer. The Elf primer contains some very similar ingredients to the Milk primer including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and glycerin. It grips makeup in the same way, and also happens to be great value.
Both the Elf primer and the Milk primer have a worthy place in any makeup bag, and I find them to be extremely similar to each other. They have the same tacky texture, they grip makeup for the same amount of time and they have similar ingredients. The main difference between the two is the price tag.
Milk’s Hydro Grip Primer is currently priced at $36 for a 45ml bottle. You can also buy a smaller version containing 10ml of product for $20, and a jumbo version which is $70 for 150ml.
The best dupe is Elf’s Power Grip Primer which is so similar to Milk Hydro Grip that it’s hard to tell them apart. However, there are some other really good Milk dupes including Hard Candy’s Hydrating 12 Hour Makeup Grip + Hyaluronic Acid Jelly Primer and The Beauty Crop’s Oui Cherie Hydrating Gripping Primer, which are both extremely similar too and much more affordable than the real thing.
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Hey,
First off I wanted to say a big thank you for this list and all the others! The first time I came across your blog’s site was probably this past winter, but I often find i circle back to these lists maybe two or three months apart from the last visit; the value (of the content and how articulately you’ve written it) is excellent 👌🏼
Today I came back to try to verify the price of Nyx Honey Dew Me Up. Currently (in ON, Canada) the tiny bottle is listed at $46.79 cad on Amazon Canada and Walmart.ca!!!! That is obscene!!! It was originally selling much cheaper wasn’t it?! I see it at $17usd on nyx website but I thought it was around $6-13 us in the late winter or early spring when I would have originally seen it. Am I losing my mind or…? It was listed originally much lower right? That msrp is F***D! At that $/ml it would be more expensive than some of the most prestigious options out there.
Well regardless, keep the great content coming.
Renee
Ig@renoleksiw
Hi Renee, so glad this list was useful! Ouch – that is a huge price increase. I wonder why it’s so much on those sites. I noticed the price of drugstore items creeping up a lot but not that much. I hope you can find it at the more reasonable price of $17 USD. Honestly I don’t remember the lower price of this item although I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was much cheaper just a year ago. Every year I update the prices in these posts and they always jump up so far in just a short amount of time.