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Beauty Sponges 101!
What are you using to apply your foundation or cream makeup? A sponge is a great option, but there are MANY choices in the land of cosmetic sponges and not all are created equal. For the prettiest and most efficient application, here are few criteria that your sponge should meet:
- Sized appropriately for the area you wish to cover (large sponge for blotting on foundation, small sponge for under eye concealer & around nose)
- When the sponge is dampened, it should have a soft, bouncy texture...not too firm! And yes, you should ALWAYS dampen your sponge before applying foundation for an even, flawless finish (more on that below).
- The shape should suit your application needs - pointed tip gets into the corners of the eyes, a straight edge is nice for under the bottom lash line, a large rounded side covers the larger portions of the face
- Store your sponge in a place that allows it to dry completely each day - otherwise, these sponges will mold easily!
~ My Favorites ~
L'Oreal Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender & Concealer Blender
EcoTools Perfecting Blender Duo
Beauty Blender & Beauty Blender Mini
CARE: These sponges are meant to be washed and reused. Assuming you're not sharing your sponge with anyone like your teenage daughter, you can limit your washing to twice a month. You can lather them up with a special sponge cleaner, or use your favorite bar soap. Be sure to saturate and squeeze out until the rinse water is clear.
WHITE TRIANGULAR WEDGE SPONGES - Many women opt for this buy-in-bulk, inexpensive option. These will do the job, but not as efficiently and they may not be as cost effective as you think. Points to consider:
#1 These sponges are very small, therefore taking more time to use them to cover the entire face with foundation.
#2 They absorb more of your foundation than the sponges listed above, meaning that you are wasting more of your product for each application.
#3 These are not designed to be cleaned, and should be disposed after one application, so you have to restock fairly often.
..........2 SECOND TIPS..........
Dampening your sponge (even the little white cheapies) prior to application will allow you to use less product and your foundation will blend into your skin much more smoothly than using a dry sponge It's also a great way to sheer out a foundation and allow you to build up coverage as needed.
Store your sponges in a place that allows them to dry completely each day. Otherwise, your sponge will mold very quickly!
Going on vacation? Tuck your beauty sponge into a plastic easter egg for protection during travel. It keeps your sponge sanitary and protected!
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