The ideal makeup sponge has a soft texture so that it’s comfortable to use, and it should also be flexible so that it can bounce and bend to distribute the product. Beautyblender was born on-set by pro makeup artist Rea Ann Silva’s need to have the perfect tool for an easy application and flawless finish.

She interviewed a professional makeup artist for this story, compiling their product suggestions and insight into techniques. e., bounce) it onto your skin—and I got the same seamless, airbrush finish out of foundation, concealer, and blush as usual. When it comes to size, dinkier versions allow for greater precision, but much of your decision will come down to personal choice and what you need it for.

In fact, that's why beautyblender named it's first foundation 'Bounce', as this is how they intended it to be used with the sponge. It doesn’t matter how silky smooth your base product, if you’re not applying it correctly, you could end up with a sub-par finish – and what a waste that would be. If you’re looking to transform your make-up haul for the better, So Eco is a brand dedicated to using only responsibly sourced packaging, not to mention cruelty- and plastic-free products, all of which have been PETA-accredited.

It won our hearts thanks to its ability to perfectly apply our foundation, blend our concealer and smooth on our serums. From liquids to creams to powders, this double-sided blender offered smooth and controlled application, soaking up minimal product. Wring out as much water as you can and leave to dry (it will take a few hours, so I leave mine out on the side in the bathroom). You might be temped to throw your beauty blender away once it has run its course, but according to our fave beauty bloggers it has a promising second life as a nail art tool. Just put a little product onto the rounded end of the sponge and bounce it on the apples of your cheeks to create a natural-looking flush with zero lines or streaks.Beautyblender launched the original make-up sponge in 2007, and it changed the way we applied our base products forever. Our tester said the large side of the egg is perfect for the cheeks and forehead, while the pointed tip is ideal for around the nose and blending under-eye concealer. The shape: A bit chunkier than the standard Beautyblender, this sponge swells up to a decent size when dampened, so it makes quick work of blending out foundation. The shape: At first glance the shape might seem a bit random, but it's actually been cleverly designed to lets you to get to those hard to reach places as well as also allowing contouring and precise application. The wide flat end is ideal for buffing either cream, powder, or liquid foundation in your entire face and the tapered tip is clutch for blurring smaller areas to a smooth, airbrushed-looking finish.

You’ll also find curvy pear-shaped varieties, which are great for targeted coverage and a more opaque finish. Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. Traditional foundation sponges are usually egg- or teardrop-shaped – this style is perfect for blending large areas, while the tapered tip will get into those hard-to-reach spots such as the crevices around the nose. This brilliant multitasking sponge can be used wet or dry to apply powder, liquid and cream products.

If you don’t keep your sponge clean, make-up can easily build up on it, meaning your pores risk becoming blocked by excess dirt and bacteria. The tip of a regular beauty sponge ain't gonna cut it for applying concealer or blending out smaller spots, like under your eyes and around your nose, which means you'll be stuck dealing with creases and patches by noon. It’s recommended that you replace your beauty blender after 30 uses, but you’ll see from our list below that you don’t need to spend a fortune for great results. These baby blenders are a fraction of the size of an average foundation sponge, so you can get into every corner and crevice on your face, without messing up the rest of your makeup.

While they're all one size, the sponges get really big when wet, and the smaller end is great for getting into the corners of your face. I'm extremely picky when it comes to makeup sponges—I've never found a Beautyblender dupe I actually like—so I was nervous this new material wouldn't hold up. But thanks to the era of YouTube makeup, we have all come to appreciate the value of a quality makeup sponge. Though it worked pretty well for blending, it was almost too absorbent in that we needed to use a substantial amount of product to build the coverage. Our in-house team evaluated each one based on absorption, application, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

Often, liquid and cream products look streaky when you use a brush, but sponges give you more control to pat the product evenly into the skin. It’s designed to be used dry as well as wet, making it perfect for powders, blushers, highlighters and more. While some brushes can absorb product, a beauty blender (or make-up sponge) allows you to build layers delicately – and with precision. Another makeup artist has taken this hack even further - by claiming you should actually mix the products together on your hand, rather than the sponge, first. Unlike a regular foundation brush or dry makeup sponges, which soak up too much product and leave you with patchy/uneven application, the Beautyblender is designed to be used wet.