The secrets of blending sponges

Blending sponges come in all different shapes and sizes. But did you know each design has its own unique purpose?

Here's what you need to know!

The original ‘egg’

This multi-purpose sponge is the ol’ faithful.

The original egg-like blending sponge is designed to bounce on the face and cover a large surface area for a quick and efficient blend, which is particularly useful when applying foundation.

It also has a pointed tip to get those hard to reach spots when concealing and for accuracy when contouring and concealing.

We recommend:Swosh Beauty Sponge Assorted Colors ($3.95)

The mini ‘eggs’

Is there a reason why we need a miniature version of the OG blending sponge other than because it’s super cute? Yes, there actually is!  

Whilst the original sponge is excellent for covering large surface areas and making foundation application an absolute breeze, the mini ‘eggs’ ensure more precision and accuracy. They’re great for spot concealing and highlighting.

We recommend:ModelCo Mini Magic Makeup Blender ($4.95)

The triangular wedge

This sponge design was the predecessor to the ‘egg’.

These sponges are very popular amongst makeup artists as they are disposable and affordable.

Their sharp edges and flat sides make them perfect for applying makeup under the eyes, along the sides of the nose and along the cheekbones. Razor sharp contour? Coming right up!

We recommend:Indulge MakeUp Sponge Powder Puff 16pk ($4.95)

The flat sponge

Similar to the triangular wedges, this design has two flat sides which ensures a completely even blend when applying foundation or concealer.

It also has two pointed tips with sharp edges to sculpt out a defined contour which can then be blended out seamlessly with the flat sides. 

This is your ideal sponge for flawless foundation and a precise contour. 

We recommend:L'Oreal Infallible Blend Artist Contour Blender ($3.95)

The slanted edge (round bottom)

What happens when you take the original ‘egg’ design and give it a slanted edge? You create the ideal beauty tool for concealing and baking underneath the eyes.

Its slanted edge and pointed tip is able to get into all those hard to reach areas near the eye socket to blend, bake and brighten up the undereye area.

But just like the ‘egg’ design, this sponge also has rounded surfaces that are great for bouncing and blending foundations and cream products into the skin.

We recommend:L'Oreal Infallible Foundation Blender ($6.95)

The slanted edge (flat bottom)

This sponge is almost identical to the above concept, except it incorporates a flat bottom rather than a rounded one.

You can still bounce foundations and other liquid products into the skin with the rounded side, but its small flat bottom gives you the ability to blend concealers and liquid/cream highlights and contours with ease. 

We recommend: L'Oreal Infallible Blend Artist Concealer Blender ($6.95)

The hourglass

The unique shape of this blending sponge is crafted to ensure a better grip for users.  However, this aspect goes beyond just comfort.

The idea is that gripping the sponge at the indents will encourage a more intense application. Contrastingly, holding the sponge at the rounded end will lead to a lighter application.

This makes this sponge useful for a variety of purposes from blending out an intense contour to gently dabbing some liquid highlighter onto the cheeks.

We recommend:BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Perfecting Sponge ($7.95)

Shop our entire range of beauty tools and sponges by here!