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Pink! If there is one color that can make a woman smile it has to be pink. I wouldn’t classify pink in my top 5 favorite colors but for some reason I am still drawn to it. There is just something fun and girlie about the color. There is also something fun and girlie about makeup. So it is no surprise when pink and “makeup” are mixed that one has a massive hit on their hands especially when this union is based on a really amazing product. This product my fellow makeup junkies is a sponge!
Now this is no ordinary sponge. No, I would hardly take the time to write a review of a sponge unless this thing was absolutely phenomenal and it is! This incredible sponge is called the Beauty Blender Sponge.
I recall vividly the first time I read about this sponge. In fact I was able to find the post for those of you that like a little nostalgia. It was Feb. 25, 2006 in a post made by Greengirl about a WWD article.
http://www.emakemeup.com/en2/grapevine/viewreplies.php?sid=538b955820bf9ccfa1237a41f&bid=0&topicid=719219&av=1#719219
This sticks in my mind because I was shocked that I would even consider spending $20 on a makeup sponge! I mean it is a makeup sponge for Pete’s sake! A $20 makeup sponge! I became obsessed with it but was very good. That Spring Fling I behaved myself and rather than run out and buy one I put it on my list and my very dear, sweet Spring Fling buddy was kind enough to get it for me.
From Beauty Blender’s website:
”Now you can look like a movie star without the pricey services of a major make up artist. Introducing Beautyblender, the ultimate make up sponge applicator. Invented by top Hollywood make up artists Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz, Beautyblender has been created to leave you with a professional finish and a flawless complexion. Silva and Lorenz know that the key to a perfect face is simple: a perfect blend. So forget your fingers or sharp-edged triangular sponges, these application methods waste make up and can leave visible streaks.
Beautyblender’s patent-pending elliptical shape makes application foolproof by allowing you to access hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. Its suede texture is sensual to the touch and its unique curves fit the contours of your face, leaving your make up dazzling and undetectable.
How
Blend your way to a flawless face! Seeing make up is the first sign of an amateur application. Beautyblender was created without edges in order to eliminate visible lines and streaks. So go ahead, experiment fearlessly with your Beautyblender and discover the many ways its unique shape will set you free!
Bounce Beautyblender against your face when applying make up. Bouncing, called stippling in the make up world, blends make up without creating changes in the texture or tone of your skin. Use Beutyblender's pointed side for hard-to-reach spots like around the nose and mouth, and under the eyes. Use the round base for foundation and blush on the larger areas of your face such as your forehead, cheeks and chin.
If you apply make up with your fingers you'll find that Beautyblender will smooth and refine your make up to provide a clean finish.
Use Beautyblender damp when applying wet/dry make up. When Beautyblender is wet it is normal for it to expand to nearly twice its original size. Wash after use and place in the Beautyblender insert pedestal to dry. You can also put Beautyblender in the Beautyblender pouch and toss it in the dryer. Be sure to use an air-dry setting; Beautyblender should not come in contact with extreme heat of any kind.
If you have problem skin Beautyblender works to cover blemishes. Use the pointed end and the stipple and twist technique to work make up into depressed areas of the face. The stippling and twisting action feathers out the make up's edges, leaving a perfect finish.
Well, it is coming up on a year in the next few months of using this and I am as impressed with it now as I was back then. That is saying a lot for a very fickle person! I have a few of them that I use and I have paid very close attention to how they hold up. Let me share:
I want to start with cleaning the sponge. This is not something I particularly enjoy doing but it is very necessary and the sponges are cleaned after every use. Here is what I have noticed:
- The color fades. There is quite a bit of difference in the new sponges compared to the old ones. The first few times I wash them I can visibly see the water has a pink tint to it. For some reason this kind of bothers me but ultimately isn’t a huge issue.
- They can be stained. I have one sponge in particular that I used a very dark and water proof foundation with and I was never able to get it completely out. I used a variety of products but to no avail so staining is a distinct possibility.
- They really do double in size when wet. This always fascinates me and is incredibly brilliant. When it gets bigger it really allows you to clean it better. It is almost as if it “opens” up and allows the makeup to more easily be removed.
- The makeup “sits” on top of the sponge. This sponge does not absorb makeup as your standard sponge does. I find it almost sits on the surface so again this is great when it comes time to clean it.
- You do not need the cleanser. I have the cleanser and I use it but before I bought it I used an antibacterial soap just fine.
- They do wear down a bit. My original sponge has been washed more times than I care to count and while it still works as well (if not better in some situations) as the newer ones it has worn down a bit. It feels much softer and more pliable. It has lost the firmness of a new sponge and absorbs a tad more. It also doesn’t bounce back to its original shape and size as quickly.
- I have found the best way for me to clean it is to wet it, squeeze out some of the water and then apply cleanser to the exact spots of the makeup. I then use my fingers to buff it and then squeeze the makeup out. At this point the sponge looks good as new. From here I wet the sponge again and then work the cleanser into the entire sponge and clean. After many rinses I let it air dry on its pedestal.
-Overall it holds up incredibly well.
Using the sponge. This is the best part! This sponge is a real multi-tasker.
-It applies foundation flawlessly! I have never been a big fan of applicators. I felt sponges absorbed and wasted too much makeup, brushes can leave streaks and so on. There was just no tool out there that I thought could do better than my fingers until now. This sponge really allows for a flawless and even application and I think this is because of its shape and material. To use I either apply splotches of foundation around my face or apply it directly onto the sponge. I then take the big, rounded end of the sponge and bounce the sponge all over my face. It presses the foundation in and spreads it out without leaving any application marks.
- I have found that while bouncing the sponge across my face that it is difficult to deposit too much foundation in any one place and have an uneven application. It really blends makeup out.
-It is super soft and feels like velvet. This is a plus for something that touches your face.
-The makeup is not absorbed into the sponge. Again, the materials used for this sponge just don’t seem to allow for it to seep way down into the sponge and waste precious makeup. While some is absorbed it is rather minimal and tends to stay on the surface of the sponge.
-The shape! The shape is genius! The big, rounded end allows you to apply makeup on larger surfaces while the pointed end allows you to work it into hard to reach places such as around your nose and eyes. It also does a great job to apply concealer. Just dab the concealer on the pointed end and then press it onto the blemish or area you need covered. Very precise and quick.
-I have used it with liquids, creams and powders and it does an equally wonderful job with all of them.
-It applies cream blush beautifully! I really like using this sponge with the Kevyn Aucoin cream blush. I can spin the sponge over the cream blush and then press into my cheeks and buff out. I get a perfect application each time.
-Going back to the shape, it is very comfortable to hold and use. The design fits nicely in my hand and application feels very natural.
Last but not least what is there not to love about a soft, pink egg shaped sponge? It is just too cute!
To summarize, I am very impressed by this sponge. The application it gives is second to none. It is virtually fool proof to use. I feel it is one of those products that actually delivers on all of the hype. I can’t imagine applying makeup without it.
The Beauty Blender Sponge receives 5 flowers despite it’s high price tag for actually coming though and doing an exceptional job. The fact that it holds up so well with cleaning also lowers the cost if you look at it as a per use fee in comparison to sponges you would throw out after a few uses.
Beauty Blender sponges can be purchased at victoriassecret.com, through beautyblender.net and on amazon.com along with select boutiques. The sponge is $19.95 and assorted packages are available.
Image courtesy of www.beautyblender.net
Reviewed by Kellie
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