Rund's Halloween Makeup TutorialOct.27.2020
Hello again, friends. I have an admission to make: I am slightly peeved I even have to write this post. I mean, seriously?! Why are there so many different kinds of sponges? It’s a sponge, right? Why are there so many shapes to choose from? Is there even a reason there are so many options? You would think this would be the one part of beauty and makeup that would just be incredibly simple. And yet, I am here to tell you, that there is in fact a purpose to the different types of sponges. After doing my research, there is a lot out there to know about the world of sponges. So, let’s dive in, shall we?
Alright, so let’s start at the very bare bone basics. Sponges are good for applying and blending foundation, BB cream, concealer, contour, highlighter, serums, and moisturizers. Basically if it’s a liquid or cream, and it goes on your face, you can use a sponge for that. Some sponges do work with powders, too. The general idea of using a sponge is to create a more seamless appearance to your makeup. It helps to “buff out” any streaks or brush strokes that might appear. It can also help to blend several makeup elements to make your overall look more even.
So, most beauty sponges are actually made up of foam. The foam is hydrophilic, which means it’s “designed to absorb water”. This can of course lead to your sponges soaking up a lot of your liquid beauty products. That is one of the reasons many sponges should be wet and rung out prior to makeup application. Not only will it save some of your makeup, but the application itself becomes much more sheer. However, not all beauty “sponges” are foam. Some are made of silicone. Since silicone isn’t porous, it won’t suck up so much of your product. Using a silicone sponge can be tricky though. For starters, you’ll want to use a lot less product during application or you risk streaks. It is better if you apply your makeup right to your face first, and then tap it in with the silicone sponge. Finally, microfiber sponges are insanely soft against your skin. They’re also ideal for any powder application.
Apparently there is some method to the variety madness when it comes to sponges. What sides you use matter, how you hold it matters. Who knew? So, let’s break this stuff down and see what you can use for what jobs.
Back in the olden days, when sponges weren’t so much of a thing outside of professional makeup artists and movie sets, there was the wedge sponge. We’re talking pre-beautyblender days. Wedge sponges tend to be more dense and firm than something like a beautyblender. They also don’t absorb a bunch of product. Because of this, they are best used when you want heavy coverage. You can use these either wet or dry, though wet provides smoother coverage. With all its flat, sharp edges, this can be a tough sponge for beginners. Where they do their best work is spots on your face that require precision. Think around your nose or around eyebrows. Wedges should be used with a tapping motion. Also, unlike other beauty related sponges, these things are disposable. Use once or twice, then toss.
Photo Credit: Amazon
With its tapered tip and bulbous bottom, this sponge is meant to do a job depending on where you hold it. The center divot is meant to help aid in precise applications. If you hold it at the round of the bottom, your application will be softer and more transparent. If you hold it from the ridges and use the curves of the sponge to apply, your finish will be much more opaque. If you’re looking to blend in your highlighter or blush, you’ll want to use a rolling motion along the apples of your cheeks.
Photo Credit: Amazon
This shape has pretty much become synonymous with the hot pink beautyblender product. This is the one you see beauty bloggers use all the time. This one is so highly used because of the good coverage it can provide. It’s also shaped to help get into just about ever nook and cranny of your face. While it can be used either wet or dry, if used dry, it is going to soak up a lot of your product. Some pros suggest using a dry sponge to apply the base of your product. Then, to go in with a wet sponge as a second coat, using a bouncing motion to blend. The thing to remember here is level of wetness. A merely damp sponge is going to provide full to medium coverage. If you use a very wet sponge, you can achieve a more dewy to sheer look.
Photo Credit: Amazon
If we had to go with a shape here, we’d say “skinny teardrop with its butt sliced off at an angle”. Yes, it’s a very technical term. This thing kinda combines aspects of the tear-drop shape and the wedge sponges. Basically it can do it all. It can do precision work with the pointed tip. The flat side is ideal for contouring and creamy makeup. The rounded side is good for all-over application of things like bronzer and foundation. Here again, you’ll want to wet according to how heavy or light you want your finish to be.
Photo Credit: Amazon
So, hopefully a few head-scratchers in the realm of sponges have been cleared up. I certainly had no idea there was so much to sponges. If you could use a few more helpful tips though, here are some of the best I could find. Good luck, my savage little beauties! Keep slaying.
Clean after every use. Yup, every one. Otherwise you’re going to make a party palace for bacteria. Which means breakouts. Dish soap. Hot water. Rinse until water is clear. Squeeze, set out to dry. If you’re feeling lazy, at least rinse! Then clean next time.
Using a wet sponge to apply powder can lead to a cakey mess. Ring it out as much as possible, or apply powder with a dry sponge.
Never use dragging or rubbing motions. Gently tap and bounce. Then use gentle pats to blend. This is called “stippling” and leads to a more flawless overall finish.
Beauty sponges have an average shelf life of about 3 months, no matter how well you take care of them. After that, they’ll start to break down and not work as well.
