While cleaning after use with liquid foundation, more makeup goes out of the Pro, which is why I suspect that it takes in some product. Mind you, this is just my feeling. I have no concrete proof that it does. The Beautyblender is an award-winning, egg-shaped makeup sponge with a cone-shaped tip that's in the pro kits of makeup artists and cosmetic bags of beauty enthusiasts across the world. It promises to create an undetectable, second-skin finish. What’s the buzz about? Founded by renowned Hollywood makeup artists Rea Ann Silva, beautyblender allows you to achieve an award-winning look beyond the red carpet. Having transformed the face of cosmetic applications, the brand’s signature sponges ensure a flawless finish thanks to its supremely soft foam composition and edgeless gentle touch. Helping you get an airbrushed complexion (without any editing involved), the tool eliminates any visible lines and streaks while keeping the natural texture and tone of your skin.

For the purpose of this post, let us forget that such a thing as the white Beautyblender exists. I believe the Pure version was intended for skincare. I, for one, would never use a foundation on a white sponge - being as @nal-retentive as I am, I would never rest until I got every bit out of it. Nor am I going to talk about the limited edition Royal Purple one, even though I am lusting after it, or any of the coloured and swirl versions that have arrived since. As a beauty editor, I know that not everyone wants to splurge on beauty products and tools, no matter how promising they seem — so considering products at all price points is incredibly important to me. ➥ How We Use It Don't use it dry: A Beautyblender should always be used wet. A dry sponge will soak up makeup, and I would never want to waste my holy grail foundations. Also, we are not talking about any kind of dupes, replicates, reproductions, random sponges and so on here. This is the real deal. The Original Beautyblender, as developed by Rea Ann Silva.The last step is to grab a clean, fluffy brush and s wipe away excess powde r and any eyeshadow that might have fallen down onto the undereye area. And there you go, a mattified, creaseless look that will last you all night long. Ring out excess water: Place the Beautyblender under a running faucet and once it doubles in size, turn off the sink and squeeze out the excess water. The goal is for the Beautyblender to be damp and fluffy, not dripping water down your hand and face. Dip the damp Beautyblend in your loose powde r of choice. Be sure you have a generous layer of product on the makeup sponge, bounce on the setting powder, and let it sit, aka “bake” under your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes. This waiting period is an excellent time to start applying eye shadow. Celebrity fans including Meghan Markle, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Regina Hall, Madelaine Petsch, Christie Brinkley, and Mario Dedivanovic

FWIW: Price isn't always indicative of quality when it comes to beauty tools. Having said that, I don't think any of these affordable sponges negatively impacted my application, especially since they're all made from latex-free materials. Traditional foundation sponges are usually egg- or teardrop-shaped – this style is perfect for blending large areas, while the tapered tip will get into those hard-to-reach spots such as the crevices around the nose. Bounce, don't drag or swipe: Now that the sponge is prepped, grab your go-to foundation and add one pump of product on the larger end of the Beautyblender, then start bouncing it all over. Using this tapping motion helps push the makeup into your skin for the most seamless, second-skin finish. You can always add more foundation as necessary. IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush is my go-to for medium-to-full coverage, so you know my standards were high while comparing it against the Beautyblender. The Beautyblender soaks up more product, but since I use it damp, the sponge adds a more radiant finish to my foundation, which was a welcome surprise.Almond-shaped sponges, on the other hand, are perfect for contouring and precision. The slanted edge offers controlled stippling, while the rounded edge is, again, perfect for wider areas such as the cheeks. You’ll also find curvy pear-shaped varieties, which are great for targeted coverage and a more opaque finish. When it comes to size, dinkier versions allow for greater precision, but much of your decision will come down to personal choice and what you need it for. How much should I spend? While the texture is beautiful, the Beautyblender shines most with how it applies foundation. Thanks to its edgeless design, my foundation goes on flawless — leaving no embarrassing brush marks or streaks behind. Also, using a damp Beautyblender adds some radiance to my matte foundation, which is a welcome surprise, although not a look I typically go for since my skin is very oily. As our beauty editor, I can safely say that Beautyblender is the most iconic makeup sponge available, and given its success, the brand created specific Blenders for blush, concealer, and body makeup. (You can also use the original Beautyblender sponge for those cosmetics products.)

Grab a loose powder: I recommend using either a loose powder such as Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder or a banana powder like Sacha Buttercup for a brightening effect. I also love Beautyblender's BOUNCE Setting Powder because it blurs my large pores and provides a natural, velvet finish to my oily skin. With that being said, baking is still an excellent technique that I'd reserve for formal milestone events, and if you want to explore baking with a Beautyblender, here are a few tips to follow: Use the cone-shaped tip: This pointed end is ideal for working in smaller areas like around your eyes, sides of the nose, around your mouth, and blending into your hairline. I also noticed that my large pores looked slightly smaller while using a Beautyblender, making it easy to understand why these egg-shaped sponges are a staple in the red carpet kits of celeb makeup artists. Depending on your Beautyblender's dampness and what foundation you're using, you can really achieve a natural, medium, or full coverage. ➥ How It Compares to Other Beauty Tools