e.l.f. Cosmetics vs Milk Makeup:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics had more branded searches than Milk Makeup among makeup primer brands worldwide. e.l.f. Cosmetics had about 206,000 branded searches, while Milk Makeup had 36,200. e.l.f. Cosmetics made up 50.6% of all makeup primer brand searches we track, and Milk Makeup accounted for 8.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about makeup primer brands, Milk Makeup appeared in three of the five answers and e.l.f. Cosmetics in two. Milk Makeup was mentioned before e.l.f. Cosmetics in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
e.l.f. Cosmetics, about 6 searches for every 1 for Milk Makeup
Who does AI mention more?
Milk Makeup, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, e.l.f. Cosmetics in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Milk Makeup, named ahead of e.l.f. Cosmetics in 2 of 2 answers
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Top makeup primer brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Milk Makeup was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. e.l.f. Cosmetics was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Milk Makeup was listed before e.l.f. Cosmetics in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Smashbox4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Milk Makeup3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
e.l.f. Cosmetics2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Benefit Cosmetics2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NYX Professional Makeup1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Hourglass1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
MAC0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Charlotte Tilbury0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Laura Mercier0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Fenty Beauty0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about makeup primer brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which makeup primer should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best makeup primers?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best makeup primer for oily skin?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“makeup primer”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best primer”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.
Is e.l.f. Cosmetics or Milk Makeup more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for e.l.f. Cosmetics and Milk Makeup by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 makeup primer brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for e.l.f. Cosmetics, Milk Makeup. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | e.l.f. Cosmetics | Benefit Cosmetics | Smashbox | Milk Makeup | NYX Professional Makeup | MAC | Hourglass | Charlotte Tilbury | Laura Mercier | Fenty Beauty | Rare Beauty | Too Faced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 44.4% | 12.1% | 8.7% | 11.3% | 8.4% | 5.6% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.91% | 0.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.7% | 11.8% | 8.6% | 11.7% | 8.6% | 4.7% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 0.94% | 0.77% | 0.62% |
| Jan 2026 | 41% | 16.5% | 9.8% | 10.9% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.88% | 0.88% | 0.71% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.5% | 13.4% | 9.8% | 13% | 8% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.86% | 0.71% | 0.71% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.1% | 13.9% | 9.3% | 11.1% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.91% | 0.73% | 0.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 41.2% | 12.4% | 11.5% | 12.9% | 7.4% | 5% | 3% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.98% | 0.79% | 0.79% |
| May 2026 | 43% | 11.1% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0.87% | 0.57% |
| Jun 2026 | 44.8% | 11.6% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 7% | 4.6% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.91% | 0.75% | 0.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 45.9% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 11.9% | 6.8% | 3.7% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 0.89% | 0.89% | 0.58% |
| Aug 2026 | 49.7% | 10.5% | 9.3% | 10.2% | 7.7% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.82% | 0.82% | 0.54% |
| Sep 2026 | 49.7% | 10.9% | 10.1% | 10% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 2.7% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.86% | 0.71% | 0.56% |
| Oct 2026 | 50.6% | 11.1% | 10.3% | 8.9% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 2.6% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 0.71% | 0.39% |
e.l.f. Cosmetics and Milk Makeup sell other things too, so only their searches that name this product count here, like “elf primer”.
How has branded search for e.l.f. Cosmetics and Milk Makeup changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- e.l.f. Cosmetics was ahead of Milk Makeup in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics’ share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 44.4% to 50.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 215K to 206K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Milk Makeup’s share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide moved from 11.3% to 8.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 54.8K to 36.2K.
How did search popularity change for makeup primer brands worldwide in October 2026?
2 changes

In October 2026, e.l.f. Cosmetics gained share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide, from 49.7% to 50.6%.

In October 2026, Milk Makeup lost share of searches among makeup primer brands worldwide, from 10% to 8.9%.
How are e.l.f. Cosmetics’ and Milk Makeup’s branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using e.l.f. Cosmetics’ and Milk Makeup’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
2 branded search terms
- elf power grip primer
- elf primer
Milk Makeup
3 branded search terms
- milk hydro grip primer
- milk makeup primer
- milk primer
Other head-to-heads among makeup primer brands

e.l.f. Cosmetics vs Benefit Cosmetics: compare popularity
e.l.f. Cosmetics vs Smashbox: compare popularity
e.l.f. Cosmetics vs NYX Professional Makeup: compare popularity
Benefit Cosmetics vs Smashbox: compare popularity
Benefit Cosmetics vs Milk Makeup: compare popularity
Benefit Cosmetics vs NYX Professional Makeup: compare popularity

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