Review: Beautyblender

Beautyblender is one of the latest makeup tool innovations. It's supposed to be the ultimate tool to apply makeup, giving you an airbrush look and a flawless finish. Many celebrities have been "blended" including Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Shakira, Carmen Electra, and Tyra Banks to list a few.

What is Beautyblender?
Beautyblender is actually a sponge, but a very special kind of sponge that's latex-free, ordorless, and hypoallergenic. It's not your typical wedge that you dispose of after use. It's a bright pink, elliptically-shaped sponge like that of a rain drop. It was created to apply any kind of makeup from foundation to eyeshadow. It's unique design allows for even application and can reach the difficult areas such as around the nose. And what makes this sponge extra special is the fact it's reusable for up to 1 year with Beautycleanser.

How do you use Beautyblender?
Well, it's best used damp as directed (and from experience). The sponge swells up to about twice its' size when wet. You don't smear or wipe on makeup, but rather bounce the sponge around. Essentially, you stipple your foundation or blush. You can also use the small ended tip for under eye concealing.

What else can Beautyblender be used for?
You can use it to apply a self-tanning lotion without any streaks or precise acne spot treatments. When used with your facial cleanser, it can be a makeup remover. You can smudge your eyeliner or create smoky eye looks.

After using my Beautyblender, I can say that it really does do a great job of applying foundation evenly. I used my Everyday Minerals foundation and just stippled it on. I was skeptical at first about using a sponge for loose mineral foundation, but I was very impressed with the application. It instantly blends in with your skin without the fuss of buffing and doesn't feel cakey. Plus, because the sponge is slightly wet, I get a very dewy, glowing finish.

Beautyblender has fantastic pick up power, which I thought would be bad. I'd think the sponge would want to soak up and hold on the makeup, but it releases makeup with a simple bounce. This also means that you won't really be wasting makeup because it's stuck on the applicator. Beautyblender allows for seamless transfer. The small ended tip makes it very easy to apply foundation around my nose and applies my concealer nicely. I actually prefer to apply concealer with Beautyblender rather than a brush now.

Although it does what it claims, I find it a bit tiresome to stipple my entire face. It's not like a brush that I just quickly sweep and buff. It takes more effort and much more time to bounce this little sponge, making sure I stipple every part of my face. I think I added a good 5 minutes to my application time with the Beautyblender. It just gets tedious after a while, even though it does result in a very smooth, even finish. You can also use Beautyblender dry, but it's best when wet which maximizes the size to reach a larger area with each bounce. However, best when wet means that it's not best for travel and on-the-go. It's just not practical to carry a damp sponge in a ziplock bag with you.

To be honest, I find it slightly inconvenient to wash it after each use. With a brush, you can get away with using it a few times before washing it. The sponge is visibly dirty especially when using multiple products with it and you'd definitely want a clean applicator for the next use. So, at least it keeps you hygienic as many of us are lazy about washing our brushes regularly. However, it is recommended you use the Beautycleanser solution and not regular soap to clean it. Beautycleanser is an environmentally friendly, soy based cleanser formulated to maintain the integrity of your Beautyblender.

Beautyblender is without a doubt better than your average sponge and maybe even your favorite brush, and only runs you $20 a pop. $20 is relatively inexpensive compared to a handmade MAC brush, but you have to buy Beautycleanser which is $18 a bottle. A duo pack of both will cost you $35. If you run out of the cleanser, you'd have to buy another and eventually you'll have to dispose of your sponge. So, the cost does add up which might be a deal breaker. Keep in mind though, it is versatile and can be used to apply all sorts of makeup, not just foundation.

Product: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5
Cost: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5