Beautyblenders have started a full-on movement. Nowadays, just about every brand out there has their own take on the iconic little egg-shaped makeup sponge, from the fanciest department store counters to the drugstore aisle of your local CVS.
So, which makeup sponges should you buy if, for whatever reason, you're feeling like taking a break from your beloved Beautyblender? Luckily, there are a lot of options out there, with products in just about every color, shape and price point imaginable. Mix it up with a wedge-shaped sponge specially designed for contouring or a dual-ended, chisel-tipped sponge made for highlighting and powder. The world is your oyster.
Image via @tartecosmetics
This beauty blender has a great texture to it — it's very firm, which makes makeup application a pleasantly springy and bouncy experience. It washes well, which adds to its appeal, and the sharp wedge shape makes it good for contouring and other types of precision work.
Leave it to Rihanna to throw her hat into the beauty blender ring, eh? This makeup sponge is on the softer side, which means it feels luxuriously gentle on your face, and the little flat edge on the top is great for blending in your concealer. Plus, the beige-y millennial pink hue makes it kind of a must, aesthetically.
Full disclosure: This one's probably not going to be for everyone. Its non-porous surface works both for and against it. On the one hand, you'll waste less product and it's easier to clean, but on the other, it takes some elbow grease to blend your makeup. Still, you can get a great full-coverage finish with some careful dabbing and blending, and it's very pretty; packed with flecks of holographic glitter and housed in a matching holographic pouch. If you're a fan of the unicorn beauty trend, you're definitely going to love this one.
Often touted as the best budget alternative to the beauty blender (it even has 4,449 and counting reviews on Ulta much to that effect), the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge is well on its way to being a cult favorite in its own right. The orange one is the classic but if you're feeling a little adventurous, the Miracle Diamond Sponge is a lot of fun as well.
