e.l.f. Power Grip Primer vs Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

92 facts in comparison

Based on 760 Reddit opinions. Close race—Effect Mascara edges ahead.

760 opinions
Effect Mascara leads by 4pts
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
78%
B
Based on
785 Redditors

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

~$11
388 opinions

tldr; Reddit highly recommends the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer for its affordability, ability to mattify, make foundation stay, and create a natural, good-looking base.

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VS
Reddit's Pick
EL
Effect Mascara
82%
B+
Based on
672 Redditors
Winner

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

~$4.97
372 opinions

tldr; Cult drugstore mascara delivering dramatic false lash effect. Amazing results for the price but can smudge.

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Formula & PerformanceLongevitySkin CompatibilityPackagingValue
FOR
⏱️LON
❤️SKI
📦PAC
VAL
66
Points
63
Points

Score by Category

Formula & Performance
48%54%
Longevity
93%29%
Skin Compatibility
28%33%
Packaging
100%
Value
94%97%

Why is Lash Effect Mascara better than Power Grip Primer?

  • Higher Reddit score (82% vs 78%)
  • Better formula (54% vs 48%)
  • Dramatic volume and length
  • Under $5 price point
  • Buildable for bolder looks
Based on 1,457 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Effect Mascara

Winning by 4 points (82% vs 78%)

Better formula
Dramatic volume and length
Under $5 price point
High confidence (1,457 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,457 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Grip Primer
7.8/10
785 mentions
Effect Mascara
8.2/10
672 mentions
FORMULA
Grip Primer4.8/10
Effect Mascara5.4/10
LONGEVITY
Grip Primer9.3/10
Effect Mascara2.9/10
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Grip Primer2.8/10
Effect Mascara3.3/10
VALUE
Grip Primer9.4/10
Effect Mascara9.7/10
PACKAGING
Grip PrimerN/A
Effect Mascara10.0/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Grip Primer: 1|Effect Mascara: 4
FormulaEffect Mascara
Grip Primer48%
Effect Mascara54%
LongevityGrip Primer
Grip Primer93%
Effect Mascara29%
Skin CompatibilityEffect Mascara
Grip Primer28%
Effect Mascara33%
ValueEffect Mascara
Grip Primer94%
Effect Mascara97%
PackagingEffect Mascara
Grip PrimerN/A
Effect Mascara100%
Grip Primer78%
Effect Mascara82%
Close race - Effect Mascara edges ahead by 4 points

Key Specs

Spece.l.f. Power Grip PrimerEssence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
Formula Type
Gel-based
Key Ingredient
Hyaluronic Acid
Skin Type
All skin types
Finish
Dewy, natural
Non Comedogenic
Yes

Key Highlights

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
💰 Affordable (around $8).
✨ Helps mattify the face.
⏰ Makes foundation stay in place.
✨ Creates a good and natural look.
✨ Pink version contains niacinamide.
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect MascaraWinner
📌 Dramatic volume and length
💰 Under $5 price point
📌 Buildable for bolder looks
📌 Creates false lash effect
📌 May smudge on oily lids

Topic Battles

Grip Primer: 1|Tied: 0|Effect Mascara: 4
Formula & Performance
Effect Mascara wins
Grip Primer
48%
Effect Mascara
54%
⏱️Longevity
Grip Primer wins
Grip Primer
93%
Effect Mascara
29%
❤️Skin Compatibility
Effect Mascara wins
Grip Primer
28%
Effect Mascara
33%
📦Packaging
Effect Mascara wins
Grip Primer
Effect Mascara
100%
Value
Effect Mascara wins
Grip Primer
94%
Effect Mascara
97%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara

Best Praise
+94 pts
Essence has a white mascara primer that I use for my blonde brows, it’s super cheap
r/MakeupAddiction
View
Top Criticism
+128 pts
THIS! Essence makes some of the worst mascara I’ve ever used, it just flakes and smudges everywhere
r/MakeupAddiction
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for e.l.f. Power Grip Primer

Best Praise
+184 pts
amazing work :)))! if you don’t mind me asking, was it elf power grip primer?
r/MakeupAddiction
View
Top Criticism
+88 pts
From my experience the power grip primer caused me more creasing! I forgot to put it in my bag one day and just applied my makeup over my sunscreen like normal and the creases were gone. It could be too slippery for your skin if you are of an oily skin type
r/MakeupAddiction
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
$6$9$12Jun '25Aug '25Oct '25Oct '25Nov '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Apr '26Low: $4.99Low: $3.49Current: $11Current: $4.97
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer
All-time low: $2.99(2024-02)
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
All-time low: $0.49(2017-08)

Which is Better?

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara Wins
82%
Mascara
vs
78%
Primer

Close race, but Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara edges ahead by 4 points based on 1,457 Reddit opinions.

Why Effect MascaraWinner
  • 📌 Dramatic volume and length
  • 💰 Under $5 price point
  • 📌 Buildable for bolder looks
Why Grip Primer
  • 💰 Affordable (around $8).
  • ✨ Helps mattify the face.

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

46%Positive
Positive
46%
Neutral
44%
Negative
10%
Based on 672 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

39%Positive
Positive
39%
Neutral
50%
Negative
11%
Based on 785 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara or e.l.f. Power Grip Primer?
Based on 1,457 Reddit comments, Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara has a slight edge with 82% positive sentiment vs e.l.f. Power Grip Primer's 78%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara or e.l.f. Power Grip Primer?
Both have similar approval ratings (82% vs 78%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara?
Reddit users highlight: Dramatic volume and length. Under $5 price point. Buildable for bolder looks. With 672 mentions and 82% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about e.l.f. Power Grip Primer?
Reddit users highlight: Affordable (around $8).. Helps mattify the face.. Makes foundation stay in place.. With 785 mentions and 78% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,457 Reddit comments: 672 about Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara and 785 about e.l.f. Power Grip Primer. Data was sourced from Makeup products community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

760 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/25/2026