Forget the manky sponges that sometimes come with powder and cream compacts, what’s now on offer is far more sophisticated. Complexion-perfecting sponges, used damp to buff in foundation, are back with a bang.
As a devotee to quite the ridiculous collection of make-up brushes, it took me a while to get excited about the beauty sponge trend. With enough buffing brushes to last a lifetime, I was still set on trying a few, though – all in the name of research, of course.
Sponges of this type are super-absorbent and best used damp. Run a clean one under the tap, squeeze well and repeat a few times – it should expand quite a bit. Dot foundation on with your fingers, and use the sponge to buff and blend as much as you see fit. You might need a second layer and it may take longer than using a brush, but the result will be far more seamless and ‘skin-like’. I especially love these sponges for working concealer into the undereye area.
Any downsides? As well as taking longer to use, cleaning and hygiene are also a biggie with these sponges. The best way to wash them is with baby shampoo, and alcohol from the chemist is good for disinfecting them, too. Oh, and make sure to keep sponges in a sealed container to ensure that they’re not rolling around in dust or dirt of any kind – bleugh!
The Beautyblender (€21 from cultbeauty.co.uk) is what set this trend alight. Mario Dedivanovic, the makeup artist most famous for Kim Kardashian’s signature look, has created a huge amount of hype around the original makeup sponge, and uses it not only for foundation, but also powder and even moisturiser from time to time! It was the first sponge I tried and remains my favourite; I love the pointed shape and I cannot achieve the finish it gives with any other tool. We might think of sponges as cheap, throwaway items, but these are really sophisticated and will last a long time if cared for correctly. If you’d prefer not to order online, it’s also available in Make Up For Ever on Clarendon St.
Blanaid Johnson, owner of Irish online beauty retailer Cloud10Beauty, reckons that ‘there are some pretty poor sponges out there… the materials used either absorbs too much product or is not soft enough for a flawless application. I like the flat edge on the Real Techniques one. It’s a simple addition which for me made it much more useful’. The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is also a winner for me; not quite as amazing as the Beautyblender, but definitely great in its own right. The flat edge is really handy, and it’s also far better budget-wise at just €7.99 in Boots.
Blank Canvas Cosmetics, an Irish makeup brand, have their own version, the Airbrush Blender Sponge (€7.99). This is the largest and heaviest of the three sponges I’ve tried. Though the quality is still there, I found it just a little too big for getting into all of the various nooks and crannies of the face. I might just reserve this one for powder, Mario-style!
Deirdre Foley is a history grad, sceptic, wearer of red lipstick and self-confessed 'beauty maniac'. She is also the co-founder of fabulous Irish beauty blog, Viva Adonis.
