Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I work at Sephora. I'm a certified MUA there. I use primers everyday. I like to venture out and try out other inexpensive products because I know sometimes you can find dupes of higher end products. Well, I've never tried Elf products before and I hear from lots of people and different sources it's a great inexpensive line. So I decided to give it a shot. What do I have to lose, right? It's only a couple bucks compared to a $30+ primer. Well, first time I got it, I was super excited to use it. I naturally have dry skin. So an inexpensive "hydrating" primer seemed ideal. So I started from scratch. I showered, washed and cleansed my face, used the same skin care routine I do on a regular basis. I cleanse, treat, and protect my skin before I apply any product. I follow up with a toner, hyaluronic acid, and a light facial moisturizer from L'Occitane, after I have cleansed my skin. While I'm letting my skin air dry, I'm reading the label, ingredients and playing with the packaging. I open the packaging and was mislead. I thought the packaging was fogged glass and that the product was going to be a Tiffany blue color. No. The package is a hard plastic and the Tiffany blue color is another hard plastic that the product is actually in. So I continue on and apply the "hydrating" Elf primer. Needless to say, it was horrible. As soon as I applied it to my skin, the smell was repulsive. It smelt like chemicals, or the inside of a rubber Halloween mask. 🤢 It also left my skin feeling extremely greasy and I had a ton of left over residue on my finger tips that I had to wipe my hands off on a hand towel. Those were my initial first impressions. So I decided to just keep going and give it a shot. I applied my makeup the same as I always do, but I won't lie, my skin DID feel soft and supple. It didn't dry out my skin and my makeup didn't shift or budge, and there was no horrible lingering odor throughout the day. So it was OKKKK for what I had paid, but it's not something I'd purchase again. I even used it 3-4 more times, but still had the same experience every time. I'd rather pay $30+ for a higher end primer with a more flattering scent that won't leave my face feeling like a grease ball than to use this inexpensive foul odor greasy mess. Thanks.