Review: Beauty Blender

9Ahhhh, the famous BeautyBlender ($19.95 for a single sponge): the oh-so-cute, egg-shaped, pretty-in-pink makeup sponge.  I've been watching this product for a long time now, thinking: "...Mmm...everybody says they get a perfect foundation application" and yes, I'm a fool for all things that may provide a flawless finish on my skin (which is no easy task). Btw, I'm not ready yet to admit how many brushes I have for that purpose... o_O.  So after months and months trying to decide if I was crazy enough to pay $20+ for a makeup sponge, apparently I am.

A few weeks ago I received my order from Beauty.com, I decided to get the BeautyBlender Double (two sponges) for $25.95 + Shipping.  First reaction? "Wow, this is small". Then of course, I dipped it into water and it doubled it size. Okay.

What I like

• It's true: you get a wonderful, even, well-blended foundation application, which is basically what I was looking for.
• Since I use it wet, my skin feels refreshed and at the same time, it's like the foundation stays sealed on my skin.
• Great for liquid and cream products like liquid/cream foundations and cream blushes. Some people use it for mineral powder foundation. I tried it, but didn't like the results.
• Use the bigger area (bottom) to cover more area at a time or the sides and the tip to reach the sides of my nose and inner eye area.
• I consider it dries pretty fast after I wash it, though it doesn't matters to me since I use it wet anyway.  FYI, I use Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap (Castille soap with olive, jojoba and other essential oils--awesome product).
• What I love the most is that it's very easy to grab and work with, not like with smaller makeup sponges or wedges--to me, this is the biggest plus.

What I don't like

• Although it is wet, it does absorbs liquid and I have to use more foundation (they say the contrary on their videos).
• The coverage it provides is very sheer, I have to stipple it on my face to get more coverage (even with my full coverage foundations).
• I hate that I have washed it like 10+ times and it stills bleeds lots of pink dye. I didn't know it was going to bleed so much, not many reviewers mention that fact.
• OF COURSE, the price. It's ridiculous. I mean, how much can they spend making this sponge? The $20 for the single sponge is outrageous, I know it includes the packaging and subsequent mark-ups, but come on!  --but yes, they didn't point a gun at me and yelled "Buy it!", so it's completely my fault.

I admit it, I'm not happy that I bought it. IT DOESN'T MEAN IT IS A BAD PRODUCT, it is excellent! But I have many other brushes that provide the same flawless finish. I just don't feel it's anything special. THOUGH I have to say, it is one of two tools that have helped me deal with the MAC ProLongwear Makeup application. The other tool is, or I should say, are my fingers--that foundation is driving me crazy (but I'll talk more about it in a future post) .

Finally, I think you may like this product if you like sheer to sheer-medium application (though you can keep working with it to get more coverage); have issues with foundations that feels too heavy (I've applied EL Double Wear with it and it feels so light on my skin) and of course, if you don't mind spending the $$$.

RATING:  4/5 (Great product but I can get same flawless finish using other brushes or even, cheaper makeup sponges like this Sephora one). ETA 10/29/11: I've tried different sponges --including Sonia Kashuks's one-- and none work as well as the Beauty Blender, EXCEPT for the Alcone Sponges.  I bought mine on Camera Ready Cosmetics (excellent website). When wet, these sponges also double their size and are great to work with for a fraction of the BBlender price. I'm happy with both products.

++CLICK ON ALL PICS FOR ENLARGE VERSIONS++

Huge difference in size when wet (left)

Compared to the little L'oreal True Match Bottle (Left: dry)

 Close-Up (dry)

These next videos from YouTubers show you different ways on how to use the beautyblender:

Enkore Makeup

TiffanyD

 

That's all for now. Have a wonderful weekend! // ¡Lindo fin de semana!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!