The pointed pear shape isn't particularly unique, but it's exceptionally versatile and user-friendly. It's perfect for applying products, blending, contouring, and buffing out the corners of your face. This makeup sponge is also notably easy to clean. Most sponges are made from hydrophilic foam that can hold water, you dampen them before use and that way they don’t absorb any of the liquid products that you might use them with." Why should you use a makeup sponge instead of a brush or your fingers? The best beauty blenders you can buy in 2023 1. Beautyblender Original: Best make-up sponge for foundation application It's really encouraging to see brands take real steps to become more sustainable. (In addition to Bio Pure, the brand has pledged to bring more sustainable processes to all its products.) And if my makeup looks all the better for it, it's truly the best of both worlds.

If you need to be super precise when applying your makeup, for example when contouring or blending under the eyes, simply take an elastic band and wrap it a couple of times around your blender to essentially create two separate applicators - a small tip that won't mess up the rest of your makeup and a big base to blend large areas. Or, you could just buy one of these mini blenders. 'Sup to you. TOP TIP: Don't throw it away The denser the makeup brush, the less porous it is—which means it’s less likely to absorb all of your products. A high-density brush will be great for seamlessly applying a full coverage foundation. Lower density sponges are better for blending light to medium coverage foundations. While a beauty blender will help you achieve perfectly finished makeup, it's important to keep it clean, too. Sophia Nawabi is a makeup and hair artist with 17 years of professional experience. She is based out of San Francisco and offers on-demand mobile and in-home services. Lisa prefers to opt for the brand's own cleanser or baby shampoo instead. You can read a step-by-step guide to cleaning your beauty blender here.You can apply liquids and creams with precision, then blend them out into an airbrushed finish. The flat side and moon tip are also great for stamping on finishing powder, and the rounded bottom is ideal for all-over buffing. As for cleaning, the foundation washes off pretty easily, and the beige color makes the sponge look generally less stained. Thanks to its velvety, almost fleece-like texture, madebySunday’s Big Fuzz sponge absorbs up to 70% less product than your average make-up sponge. It’s designed to be used dry as well as wet, making it perfect for powders, blushers, highlighters and more. It even has added vitamin E to help hydrate your skin. When used damp, it almost doubles in size, and foundation and base products glide on smoothly, even over our tester’s acne-prone skin. It’s a great choice if you regularly use a range of make-up products with different textures. Make-up sponges, often referred to as beauty blenders, are a staple in most of our make-up bags for applying foundation. Whether you own an original Beautyblender or opt for a sponge from another brand, beauty blenders allow you to apply your make-up smoothly for a flawless finish. Rinse your sponge under the tap, applying a little antibacterial hand wash, baby shampoo or a specialist sponge cleaner and lathering it up so that you can see the foundation washing out. host of other pro-level tools and a high-performance { make up} range – your skin has never looked so

The Original Beautyblender can be used wet or dry for application, contouring, blending, setting, and baking. 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 price is steep, but beyond that, our only complaint is that it's hard to get all the makeup out when cleaning it. This factor is super important. A great makeup sponge will be easy to clean and keep dry to avoid product buildup and bacteria. Our makeup expert Renee Loiz recommends cleaning your makeup sponge every week to keep bacteria at bay with soap and a cleansing pad. Powders are better applied with makeup brushes, but liquid and cream products blend best when applied with a sponge," says Loiz. "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.” The microfiber texture also makes this a great option for first-time sponge users and anyone who has struggled to move on from a foundation brush in the past.

TOP TIP: Don't throw it away

Brushworks offers a brilliant budget-friendly range of beauty blenders in assorted shapes and sizes. We tested the HD Definer, which has been designed to fit into those hard-to-reach areas but also proves to be pretty versatile. While the rounded edge is great for smoothing foundation across your cheeks and forehead, the straight edge is perfect for getting into the hollows of your cheeks to achieve that chiselled look. This blender can be used dry or damp, since it absorbs minimal product, and it’s great for applying blush and powder, too. A great sponge at a great price point. A dampened sponge can blend foundation more effectively and evenly than fingers or brushes", says Martin. "They can also lay down powder more densely and with more precision (for baking for example) than a brush." Wet before use and use RT's signature 3-point application technique. Use the flat edge to apply and cover, the round sides to blend and blur, and the precision tip to conceal and perfect. Use damp for a natural, dewy finish. Use with sunless tanners for instant definition and sculpted looks. Cleaning, Care, & Maintenance: Rinse through with lukewarm water after each use. Deep clean 1x/week with Real Techniques Brush + Sponge Gel Cleanser. Air dry thoroughly in a well-ventilated area. Store in a cool, dry place. Replace every 30 days.

The egg-shaped design features a pointed tip and one flat side. Our tester used the wide rounded base to apply creams and buff out larger areas, the flat side for smaller areas, and the point for corners. It's also very easy to clean—all the foundation came right out when we tried washing it. In fact, professional makeup artist Sophia Nawabi prefers them over brushes. "They're sanitary, easier, and much cheaper to dispose of after each client's use," she tells Byrdie. "I can use my sponge wet or dry [for] completely different finishes."

How to use a makeup sponge for concealer?

On a budget? This wallet-friendly sponge is your best bet. Our tester liked that the dense yet bouncy foam material didn't soak up all her product and made it super easy to blend. While it expands to over twice the original size when damp, we appreciate that you can use it wet or dry. 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. The humble beauty blender has fully infiltrated our makeup bags and we honestly can't imagine life without it. It won our hearts thanks to its ability to perfectly apply our foundation, blend our concealer and smooth on our serums.

After you’ve thoroughly rinsed your beauty blender, give the sponge a good squeeze with both hands. If you'd like a lighter base, run it under a tap before using it each time and then squeeze out the excess water so that you're left with a damp and plump sponge, before dipping it into your product. This way it won't soak up any excess product, and instead will transfer your foundation smoothly and seamlessly to the skin. Do you wet a beauty blender with warm or cold water? To test the concealers you see below, they become staples in our testers’ makeup bags, so we can thoroughly assess their ability to cover dark circles and blemishes. During trials, we look at the texture of a product and how easily and well it can be applied, how it blends, the overall finish, plus the length of time for which the concealer stays put. Bonus points are given to those formulas that prove water-resistant and that contain skin-nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid.Our tester said the silicone felt soft against the skin. They loved how well it performed when applying and blending full-coverage foundation. The slightly pointed tip makes it easy to get underneath your eyes and around the curves of your nose too. Our tester liked the dense yet soft and bouncy feel of the foam. 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. They're easy to clean, too, but just bear in mind the absorbent material soaks up a lot of product. If you've yet to try silicone, Ulta's Fingerprint Blender is the perfect gateway. The smooth, non-porous material is perfect for applying products, and since it isn't absorbent, it's incredibly easy to clean—everything just rinses off.