Makeup tools are important whether you put on your whole face every day or just for special events. The only thing that’s missing from today’s beauty kits is a couple of sponges.
With liquids, creams, and powders, beauty brushes can do everything from applying and shaping makeup to blending and setting it. They come in many different sizes, shapes, densities, and textures besides the usual sharp ones.
5 Best Makeup Sponges of 2023
1. L’Oréal Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender
We chose L’Oréal’s Blend Artist as our favorite drugstore choice in the end. This soft, bouncy sponge works well with water and doesn’t soak up too much, so it won’t lose all of your product. Our tester called it “the Goldilocks of beauty blenders.”
Even though the pointed pear form isn’t very original, it’s very useful and flexible. It’s great for blending, contouring, putting makeup, and smoothing out the corners of your face. It’s also very easy to clean this makeup brush.
- Material: Sponge
- Shape: Pointed pear
- Size: Large
Pros:
- User-friendly
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Not recommended for wet use
2. Beauty Blender Original Makeup Sponge
Beautyblender is a big favorite of makeup artist Renée Loiz. “They have a ton of different shapes to cater to specific parts of your face,” This soft, springy sponge felt good against our tester’s skin.
You can apply, shape, blend, set, and bake makeup with the Original Beautyblender whether it’s wet or dry. Our tester said that the egg’s big side is great for the forehead and cheeks, and its pointy end is great for blending makeup under the eyes and around the nose. The only thing we don’t like about it is how hard it is to clean and get all the makeup out in one go.
- Material: Latex-free polyurethane foam
- Shape: Egg with a pointed tip
- Size: Large
Pros:
- Soft and bouncy
- Versatile
- MUA-recommended
Cons:
- Pricey
- Tricky to clean
3. Essence Makeup & Baking Sponge
In a tight spot? This sponge is great because it won’t break the bank. The tester liked that the thick but springy foam didn’t soak up all of her product and was easy to blend. We like that you can use it wet or dry, even though it gets bigger when it gets wet (over twice its original size).
The egg-shaped form has one flat side and a pointy tip. The tester used the wide, rounded base to put on creams and smooth out bigger areas. The flat side was used for smaller areas, and the point was used for corners. Also, it’s very simple to clean—when we tried to wash it, all the makeup came off right away.
- Material: Dense foam
- Shape: Pointed egg with flat side
- Size: Medium
Pros:
- Affordable
- Dense yet bouncy
Cons:
-
Gets very large when damp
4. Fenty Beauty Precision Makeup Sponge
I tried a lot of makeup brushes and found that Fenty’s Precision 100 was the best. This mid-sized latex-free sponge is light and airy, and it feels soft and springy. It soaks up some makeup, but not so much that it doesn’t leave any for your face. The tester also liked the shape’s uniqueness. This beauty sponge looks like an egg, with one flat side and a mini-moon-shaped tip that has been flattened.
You can carefully put on liquids and creams and then blend them out to make the skin look like it was painted. You can also stamp on finishing powder with the flat side and moon tip, and you can buff all over with the rounded bottom. The makeup is pretty easy to wash off, and the beige color of the sponge makes it look less dirty overall.
- Material: Latex-free sponge
- Shape: Egg with a flat side and tip
- Size: Medium
Pros:
- Unique shape
- Good for blending
Cons:
- No precision tip
5. Ulta Fingerprint Silicone Blender
The Fingerprint Blender from Ulta is a great way to try silicone if you haven’t already. The smooth, non-porous material is great for putting on makeup, and since it doesn’t soak up anything, it’s also very easy to clean—everything just rinses off.
The user said the silicone was smooth on the skin. When they put on and blended full-coverage foundation, they loved how well it worked. The tip is slightly pointy, which makes it easy to get under your eyes and around your nose.
- Material: Latex-free silicone
- Shape: Flat egg
- Size: Medium
Pros:
- Good for applying
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Not absorbent
Conclusion:
The best one for us is the Fenty Beauty Precision Makeup Sponge 100. The unique shape of it makes it great for both wet and dry use. It blends makeup so well and leaves your skin feeling so smooth. If you want something cheaper, though, we suggest the Essence Make-Up & Baking Sponge, which is thick but springy and easy to clean.
FAQ’s
Q1. What are makeup sponge alternatives, and why should I consider using them?
Some tools and methods can be used instead of makeup sponges. These are called “makeup sponge alternatives.” You can use them in different ways, they cover more ground, and sometimes they are cheaper.
Q2. What are some popular makeup sponge alternatives for 2023?
Makeup brushes, silicone makeup applicators, stippling brushes, beauty blenders, and even your fingers are all good options.
Q3. How do makeup brushes compare to traditional sponges?
When putting on makeup, makeup brushes help you be precise and in charge. They work great for blending, contouring, and putting on makeup or concealer. For a smooth finish, pick brushes with soft bristles.
