A tool that has taken the beauty world by storm is makeup sponges (or "beauty blenders"). This tool makes applying and blending makeup to get a flawless natural finish easier than ever! Beauty blenders or beauty sponges come in all shapes and sizes. How do you know which one to choose?
We came up with a top 10 list with great options to choose from to help you out. Right on top of the list is the Original BeautyBlender. The first-ever beauty blender is made of latex-free foam and is great for all skin types. Read through our buying guide to learn all the information you need to help pick the right makeup sponge for you.
Quick List - Top Makeup Sponges
Fenty Beauty By Rihanna
Highlight and Contour Your Face With This Blender
Natalya is a professional makeup artist based in Los Angeles and has been trying new products to find what is best for each individual's skin tone and type. She is self-taught but wanted to further her education, and she went to a makeup school in Los Angeles to learn the ins and outs of makeup. She has tried many makeup brands and products and can proudly say she has found some of the best and longest-wearing products. As a freelance makeup artist, she wants her clients not to worry about their makeup not lasting as long as they need it to.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
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Table of Contents
Get a beauty blender with the right texture and material, one that will blend makeup properly, protect your skin, and is durable. Choose one of the many sizes and shapes makeup sponges come in depending on your needs and preferences.
Makeup sponges and beauty blenders come in different materials like latex, hydrophilic polyurethane, and silicone.
Latex is a type of rubber that is flexible and porous, which is why it's made into makeup sponges. However, there a couple of downsides to latex beauty blenders.
Latex sponges are not suitable for people with sensitive skin, and many people are actually allergic to latex. Some of the effects of exposure to latex can be redness, rash, hives, itching, and more. Moreover, sponges made of latex tend to have a rubber smell.
Its pores are also uneven and visible, making makeup application splotchy. Latex sponges have the tendency to chip quickly, which leads to buying more and contributing to waste.
Hydrophilic polyurethane is another material for beauty blender sponges. It does not have latex in it, so it’s safe for those with latex allergies and all skin types. Some contain vitamin E, an added bonus that's good for your skin.
Going for this kind of sponge means that there will be no rubber smell, and it's more durable than latex. It also has a uniform density, which will make it easy for you to apply your makeup smoothly. Plus, these are a breeze to clean!
Silicone blenders have debuted recently and have been getting some attention. They're easy to clean and won't absorb any makeup product as they're non-porous. This helps in applying a thick layer. Use a circular motion instead of patting as you would with a sponge, and the silicone blender simply slides the makeup all over your skin.
However, silicone sponges may not give you the seamless look you want to achieve because they do not do the best job in blending. A porous sponge helps you achieve a more natural look by buffing the product into the skin.
To help you blend your makeup better and achieve a seamless look with a silicone sponge, you can use your fingers! Just be sure that they are clean and sanitized.
There are beauty blenders with rounded parts, narrow pointed parts, or flat and angled surfaces, each serving different purposes.
Makeup sponges with rounded surfaces are best for blending makeup on larger and smoother areas like your cheeks, forehead, and neck. You will often see a rounded surface like this with teardrop and pear-shaped blenders.
These are great for applying your primer, foundation, blush, and more. Teardrop beauty blenders also feature a pointy end that helps apply makeup in smaller areas like under your eyes.
Pear-shaped makeup sponges are similar to teardrop sponges. The only difference is that they have an hourglass shape making it easier to hold and maneuver.
Beauty blenders with narrow and pointed parts can help you apply makeup in corners and crevices like the sides of your nose and around your eyes.
Some sponges are oval-shaped, featuring two pointed and narrow ends. These are great to use to blend your concealer under your eyes and erase mistakes you might make. The two pointed elements allow you to erase your mistakes precisely.
Sponges work best with cream and liquid foundations, providing a streak free application and even coverage. Using the pointed areas is easiest so you don't end up having too much product on the face and having to remove it.
Having a pointed end can help create a harsh line to bake under the eye and to create a shape contour look to your face. The pointed end is to apply your concealer under the eye or hide any small blemishes.
Beauty sponges with flat and angled surfaces can help you contour and highlight your face. You can also use this kind of sponge to set your face with powder.
There are beauty blenders that have a rounded and flat surface on each end. You can use sponges like these to apply highlighters, contour, powder, and even your foundation. The flat and angled surface efficiently contours your nose and cheekbones.
Bigger sponges, from two and a half to three and a half inches, are great for covering larger areas. Standard sized ones are generally from one and three-quarters to two and a half inches. Minis, sized one and a quarter by three-quarters of an inch, are better for covering hard-to-reach nooks and crannies and to blend your eye makeup.
It's also important to note that a beauty sponge expands to twice its size when you wet it. But if you like to spray it with a little bit of facial spray, you don't have to worry about this.
Thin and small sponges are great to travel with. You can easily fit these in your makeup kit and bag. Rounder and bigger sponges can be quite bulky; these are great to use at home.
The larger the sponge, the easier and faster it is to apply your base. The smaller blenders are meant for smaller places of the face or for a touch up tool to keep in your bag. The rule for makeup brushes is that the smaller the area, the smaller the brush; and the larger the area, the larger the brush.
This is the same for sponge sizes. Size matters. There are even sponges that are best sized for applying blush, bronzers, and highlights. Each size sponge has its advantages and it depends what look you are trying to achieve. Having all size options will help your next makeup application go smoother and faster.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Beautyblender Original Beautyblender Makeup Sponge | ![]() | Your Classic Latex-Free Beauty Blender | |
2 | Beakey Makeup Sponge Set|5 pack | ![]() | Never Run Out of Blenders With This Versatile Set | |
3 | Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Precision Makeup Sponge 100 | ![]() | Highlight and Contour Your Face With This Blender | |
4 | L'Oreal Paris Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender | ![]() | Pear Shaped and Easy-to-Grip Makeup Sponge | |
5 | Real Techniques Miracle Mixing Sponge|4 pack | ![]() | Two-in-One Foam and Silicone Beauty Blender | |
6 | Real Techniques Mini Miracle Complexion Sponges|4 pack | ![]() | Mini Beauty Blenders for Small Surfaces | |
7 | Miss Gorgeous Makeup Sponge Set|6 pack | ![]() | Have All the Kinds of Blenders You Need With This Set | |
8 | Juno & Co. Microfiber Velvet Sponge|4 pack | ![]() | Makeup Sponges Made With Microfiber | |
9 | EcoTools Perfecting Blender Duo|2 pack | ![]() | Two Kinds of Environmentally-Friendly Beauty Blenders | |
10 | Swisspers Premium Pro Cosmetic Wedges|16 pack | ![]() | Reusable Latex-Free Makeup Wedges |
These are the very first beauty blenders made with a latex-free material that allows you to seamlessly apply makeup without the sponge soaking up your product. Its shape allows you to apply makeup precisely on large surfaces and corners and crevices of your face. They use non-toxic water-soluble dyes for their fun colors.
Some reviewers noted that the product does not work well with mature skin. A few of them felt that it doesn't blend product well, and some tends to settle in fine lines. Nonetheless, a lot of people think that this product is worth all the hype. They shared that it applies makeup flawlessly and is best to use for natural makeup looks.
This set of beauty blenders will keep you in stock for a couple of months! They are made with latex-free material that's very easy to clean and can last up to two months.
However, a few reviewers noticed that it soaks up a lot of product. Some of them also mentioned that they found the sponge too stiff for their liking.
Still, more reviewers thought they were very bouncy and easy to use. Most of them confirmed that the product is good to use whether wet or dry, allowing you to do a full or light coverage.
This beauty sponge is very versatile, featuring an angled flat side that's great for contouring or highlighting your face, a moon-shaped side for blending your concealer, and a rounded side for buffing your makeup. It's made from latex-free material and safe to use by all skin types.
Some reviewers did not like how soft and plush it is. They wished it was a bit more firm so it could blend better. But, more reviewers were happy with the shape and how it allows them to work with all parts of their face. Reviewers also confirmed that this sponge is great for people with sensitive skin.
L'Oreal's makeup sponge features a latex-free high-quality material and an easy-to-grip shape. These features make blending and applying makeup easier. You can use this beauty sponge wet or dry, depending on what look you are going for.
A few reviewers thought that the beauty blender was too firm and suggest that you wet the product for easy application. They also say that it falls apart too quickly.
Even so, many confirmed that the sponge makes the process of applying and blending their makeup simpler. They also liked how easy it is to clean and how it's just the right size. They can easily fit the sponge in their makeup kits.
This makeup sponge features a fingerprint silicone edge that helps in mixing your makeup, creating foundation shades, and is non-porous to prevent wasting product. It also has a rounded side and a precision tip made from non-latex material that will allow you to blend large areas and cover blemishes.
Some reviewers noticed that the product's foam side could be delicate and prone to tears if not handled carefully. Still, a lot of the reviewers loved how unique and efficient the sponge is. They shared that it laid their makeup smoothly and helped to achieve that airbrushed look.
Mini beauty blenders are great to have when traveling or working on small areas. These sponges have rounded and angled sides and are made with latex-free foam that allows you to blend and apply makeup evenly.
Although some thought they were hard to hold because they're so small, many reviewers thought these were great sponges to have. Most of them loved using these in applying and blending their eye makeup. They also liked how soft and easy-to-use they are!
Get three standard-sized and three mini-sized differently shaped beauty sponges with this set. Leave the standard-sized sponges at home and keep the mini ones in your makeup kit to bring on the go. They're non-latex, soft, bouncy, and colorful!
However, some reviewers found the sponges too flimsy. Still, more reviewers loved how you get every kind of sponge you need in this set. Reviewers also shared that the beauty sponge leaves you with a smooth and flawless look. They are easy to clean too.
This beauty blender set from Juno & Co. is made of anti-microbial microfiber material. It is very soft and gentle on the skin, with microscopic fibers that will hold onto your makeup making sure it spreads on your face smoothly without soaking it all up.
Some reviewers thought the sponge was too rough, but most loved how they did not soak up their makeup products. People use this product to achieve light to full coverage. They also thought the sponges were easy to clean.
Ecotool's beauty blenders are a more environmentally friendly option made with 70 percent plant-based materials. Its packaging is also tree-free, made of cotton and bamboo fibers. You get a bigger blender that's soft and flexible for buildable makeup application and a firmer mini sponge for smaller areas of the face.
Some reviewers noted that the product could get damaged and start to rip after a few uses. Even so, they loved how soft it is and how well it applies and blends their makeup. They thought the shape made it easy to get flawless results.
These jumbo wedge-shaped beauty sponges are made for precise blending and application of makeup. They are latex-free and are great to use around your nose and eyes. These sponges are easy to use and wash!
However, some reviewers said the product was rough and broke apart. A few of them thought the product has a strong smell. Still, many of the reviewers liked the dense material that doesn't soak up makeup. You can use the sponges for nails, too!
I recently found the cutest packaging of beauty blenders and it is the Blending Eggs Beauty Sponges. There are six eggs to pick from, which is great if you purchase this for yourself, and you just set it back in the packaging when done using. It has six of the same beauty blenders which can save time, - if you didn't get to washing the one beauty blender, you can grab a new clean one to use.
In addition to reviewing and commenting on our buying guide, Natalya also took the time to answer some commonly-asked question about makeup sponges.
"The best way to clean a beauty blender or sponge is by grabbing yourself the beautyblender Blendercleanser at Sephora or your local makeup store. This is the easiest, fastest, and cleanest way to get rid of product and bacteria sitting on the sponge," says Natalya.
But she gave us a great tip, "If you do not have this cleaning product, you can DIY a sponge cleaner with just some ingredients in your kitchen. Rinse the sponge under warm water and squeeze baby shampoo or soap on to the blender and rub the cleanser in. The more you squeeze the soap in, the deeper it will get in the sponge and lift the makeup off the blender. Repeat rinsing and adding more soap until clean, and let air dry.
If the beauty blender is still not perfectly clean, you can give your sponge a bath in soap and water and by the morning rinse the blender and it should look as good as new."
"The brand beautyblender has a protective case that allows air to breath but yet keeps it from rolling on the ground and collecting dust and bacteria," Natalya recommends.
"On Amazon there are also super cute beauty blender holders, like this one from LankXin, so as you apply your makeup you can place it in the holder to keep from rolling away or getting messy with your other makeup products. If you do not purchase these holders, you can always just use a Ziplock bag to store it in, but be sure to make sure it's fully dry before sealing it so it doesn't trap moisture."
There's nothing wrong with investing in yourself and what makes you feel confident! Express yourself with these other great makeup products.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary, as well as extra tips and advice. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Beautyblender|Original Beautyblender Makeup Sponge
No. 2: Beakey|Makeup Sponge Set|5 pack
No. 3: Fenty Beauty By Rihanna|Precision Makeup Sponge 100
No. 4: L'Oreal Paris|Blend Artist Infallible Foundation Blender
No. 5: Real Techniques|Miracle Mixing Sponge|4 pack
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