Dearest reader, there’s one makeup staple that I – and you – cannot live without. It’s none other than the humble beauty blender. Also known as a makeup sponge, the right beauty blender helps you apply products evenly and seamlessly while facilitating effective blending. Your go-to for a non-cakey, flawless finish, this beauty bag must-have is more than just a piece of sponge. Beauty blenders come in different shapes, sizes, and cuts to ensure efficient blending and how you use them can determine the longevity of your makeup.
Beauty Blender vs. Foundation Brush
This one’s an age-old conundrum. While I’m a beauty blender girlie, you may not be. So, let’s break down the different finishes the two makeup applicators lend, for you to make an informed decision about sticking to your choice of product or switching sides.
● Beauty Blender: If you’re looking for a smooth and well-blended finish, a beauty blender is your best bet. While it does tend to soak up excess product, it effectively reaches the crevices of your skin and can save you from the streaks that a foundation brush may leave behind. Beauty blenders work well with liquid, cream, and pressed formulations.
● Foundation Brush: A foundation brush helps you save on product while giving you a high-coverage, even-toned look. While dragging strokes help with sheer coverage, a stippling motion can lend you medium to high coverage. If you possess sensitive skin, opt for a buffing foundation brush. Foundation brushes work well with all kinds of formulations.
All said and done, many a time your fingertips can work just as well, or even better. They help mix and blend products that require a bit of warming up and can reach every nook and corner of your face. In the end, it boils down to personal preference.
How to Use a Beauty Blender Correctly
When using a beauty blender, it comes down to the type of coverage and finish you’re seeking. For light coverage and easy blending, dampen your blender before use. Whereas, for fuller coverage, consider using a dry beauty blender. For difficult-to-reach areas, such as the contours of your lips and eyes, apply the product with the tip of your teardrop-shaped sponge. While for your forehead, cheeks, and other regions, you can use the flat and wider side to apply the formulation.
The Best Makeup Sponges and Beauty Blenders to Shop
Nykaa BlendMaster Sculpting Blender
Rating: 4.1
Price: INR 450
Nykaa’s non-disposable, high-definition cosmetic offering helps you sculpt, conceal, and contour with absolute ease. The latex-free, curvy pear-shaped blender is washable and reusable, and works well with all formulation textures. Super-durable, it lends a streak-free finish for buildable coverage.
Lakmé Absolute Makeup Master Tools - Dual-Sided Beauty Blender
Rating: 3.8
Price: INR 399
This versatile, dual-sided beauty blender is super-soft and bouncy and absorbs water – not your makeup – to expand for seamless use. You can use the pointed tip for your under-eyes, the flat side for baking and contouring, and the rounded end for your cheeks and forehead.
PAC 2D Beauty Blender
Rating: 4.5
Price: INR 695
This two-dimensional makeup sponge comes with a mini container box! The innovative design helps prime, conceal, sculpt, and highlight with utmost precision, and works wonders with cream, powder, and liquid formulations.
Matra Professional Makeup Blender
Rating: 4.1
Price: INR 249
This easy-to-use mushroom-head beauty blender comes with a handle for greater control and hygiene. It is ergonomically designed, latex-free, and eco-friendly to ensure even makeup application with both dry and liquid formulations.
FYOLI Triangle Pizza Powder Puff and Blender
Rating: 3.9
Price: INR 150
These triangular powder puffs feature a satin ribbon for better grip and control. While you can use them with all types of formulations, they are ideal for powder variants. The triangular shape of the product helps reach the inner corners of your eye, around the nose, and other hard-to-reach spots.
Earth Rhythm 3-Cut Beauty Blender
Rating: 4
Price: INR 399
This latex-free, washable, and reusable multi-dimensional makeup sponge helps give you an airbrushed finish with its geometric cuts. Ideal for liquid formulations, the blender effectively accesses your delicate eye and nose region.
Gorgio Professional Microfiber Beauty Blender
Rating: 4
Price: INR 499
Turn to this microfibre variant for professional contouring, concealing, and colour correcting. Ideal for all formulations, the mini beauty blenders are super convenient to use and carry around for a touch-up on the go! But bear in mind that when wet, the sponge will double in size.
Sigma Beauty 3DHD Blender
Rating: 4.3
Price: INR 2,000
This high-definition offering helps you reach every corner and edge of your skin for precision blending of creams, powders, and liquids. Formulated with synthetic Sigmax HD filament, the beauty blender lends sheer to medium coverage and is super-easy to use.
Insight Cosmetics Beauty Blender Sponge Applicator
Rating: 4.5
Price: INR 130
Insight Cosmetics’ ergonomically designed makeup sponges leave you with a flawless finish. Limiting product absorption, the blender covers both delicate and larger areas of the skin to help conceal blemishes and imperfections for a natural finish.
Bronson Professional Pink Diamond Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge
Rating: 4.3
Price: INR 250
A diamond-shaped blender is ideal for tough-to-reach areas. The Bronson Professional Makeup Sponge lends streak-free application and is best suited to cream and liquid formulations. The soft fibre material also ensures that too much product isn’t absorbed and wasted.
