When your makeup sponge is damp, it makes product application way easier. It goes on more smoothly and ends up in an even, streak-free finish. This is an especially good method if your skin is dry, as there's no brush creating flakes across the surface. Your skin will love the extra moisture!
The first step is wetting your sponge. You should never use a makeup sponge dry to apply foundation, especially if it's a beautyblender, says Bartlett. She recommends squishing it under water about eight times until it's fully saturated. Then, wring out the excess water.
Make sure to wet your makeup blender sponge every time before use, especially if you're applying liquid-based makeup, such as liquid foundation to ensure even application. Squeeze out the excess water using a dry paper towel. That said, always dry the sponge to ensure it isn't holding any moisture before use.
Why wet your sponge? A dry sponge is super absorbent, so wetting the sponge ensures the product won't get all soaked up by the tool before it reaches your face.
A Beautyblender should always be used wet so it doesn't absorb your makeup. This is a wet Beautyblender—notice how the pump of foundation is able to sit on top of the blender instead of being absorbed?
When wet, the sponge absorbs only a small amount of product. "One of the reasons we always say you need to wet your blender is because water causes the sponge to swell and it ensures your makeup won't be absorbed ... which results in less makeup waste," the brand said in a photo caption on Instagram.
Squeeze. Once your Beautyblender makeup sponge is fully saturated, it's time to squeeze it out. The goal is to apply your makeup with a damp blender, so you'll want to wring out all of the excess water. Your Beautyblender should then be at the ideal size and dampness to start dipping into your product.
When you're done washing dishes or wiping down surfaces with your kitchen sponge, be sure to wring it out completely. A wrung-out sponge will dry quicker than a sopping wet one, and a drier sponge equals a cleaner sponge.
Whether you're using a foundation brush (synthetic bristles are best) or your fingertips, apply foundation in a stippling motion, which means gently tapping it into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions because that will only push the foundation around and cause streaks.
Sprinkle recommends working with synthetic brushes if you're applying liquid foundations, as they're easier to sanitize, and create a smooth, even finish. "A sponge is great for sheering out creams and liquids," he adds. "However, keep in mind that it can absorb a lot of product."
Step 1: Soak.
Squirt a few drops of liquid cleanser into a small bowl with warm water and squeeze/submerge your dirty sponge into the soapy solution. Let it soak for five minutes.
So, do you use concealer before or after foundation? The proper way to apply the two products is to first smooth on a foundation and then apply your concealer. Foundation will create that even canvas we talked about earlier, and then concealer can be used to spot correct any outstanding areas that need extra coverage.
“Your Beautyblender should ideally be washed after every use—it needs a little more love than your regular brushes. For a quick rinse, run it under warm water until the water becomes clear,” says Hughes.
“Whether you use brushes or your fingers is really down to personal preference,” says Alex Phillips, Pro Makeup Artist at Trinny London. “There's no right or wrong.
Don't Paint, Buff
No matter what tool you're using—a foundation brush, a BeautyBlender, or your fingers—buff (or bounce, if you're using a sponge) the foundation into your skin as opposed to “painting” it on to build coverage smoothly and avoid streakiness, says Park.
Place a sponge anywhere in your fridge, but preferably inside one of the drawers. The sponge will begin to soak up any excess moisture caused by fruit, vegetables or any water-filled foods. Because your sponge is soaking up the moisture, your fruits and vegetables will remain dryer, helping them to last longer.
The holes between the sponge fibers absorb the water, and so the sponge material swells up with water. This stops the water coming out of the sponge when you lift it out of the water. When you squeeze the sponge you are forcing the water out of the holes in the sponge.
When we press the sponge, the air in the spaces is expelled out from the sponge. Therefore, the sponge can be compressed. The state of the sponge changes from the filled with the air to the no air form.
Well, the difference between a beauty blender and a standard makeup sponge is primarily the shape. The different curves and points are suited for different parts of your face, and even the color can play a role depending on the intended application.
Do you wet a beauty blender with warm or cold water? The truth is, you can do either, so it's up to you. But, a great hack it to use cool water in the summer to refresh and invigorate skin, and warm water in the winter as this helps to melt products beautifully into skin and make it more malleable.
A beauty blender is a sponge and it soaks up all your products. You end up wasting a lot more foundation than you do when you use a brush. This tool changes your foundation/concealer formulation.
Start by applying your foundation in single pea-sized amounts to each area of the face you're covering: generally the forehead, nose, chin, and each cheek. To blend your makeup, use gentle dabbing motions and upward strokes that match the natural contours of your face to create the most even look.