After a year of owning this much-talked-about hot pink sponge, I am still undecided each morning on whether I want to reach for it, or not. By weighing up my pros and cons it will hopefully paint a picture of whether it suits your own needs. I personally enjoy a full coverage, flawless finish, but am wary of it becoming cakey. I have tried many brushes and have never been pleased with the finish, so I either use the Beautyblender or my fingers. When I use my fingers there is no product wastage and it gives me the smooth, full coverage finish I am looking for.
When using the Beautyblender it run it under the tap before squeezing out any excess water. I then apply foundation either to my face or directly onto the Beautyblender. The sponge and water combo makes for a refreshing application. Using the Beautyblender takes a little more time and care than using my fingers, but the end result is an even, smooth, full coverage but not quite flawless finish. I also use the Beautyblender for applying concealer and it is particularly effective around the eye area. I certainly need to have a close check before putting the Beautyblender down, as it can be easy to miss spots such as the corners of my nose. The finish is lovely - full but not cakey. It is particularly lovely when I have a clear complexion. When I have blemishes, I do find that they are more effectively covered with my finger than the Beautyblender.
The two reasons I don't always reach for the Beautyblender are that it takes a little longer, and uses more product. There is a significant difference between the amount of product I use when I use the Beautyblender, compared to when I use my fingers. I'm not convinced that the difference in finish justifies how quickly I will go through foundation and concealer.
I have found an in between, and will often use my fingers for foundation and the Beautyblender for concealer and cream highlight. Would I repurchase the Beautyblender? No. It really is a product that you have to try for yourself, but I imagine it would be enjoyed more by someone who likes a medium, natural coverage or a dewy finish with lots of cream products.
I was very keen to try the original beauty blender after hearing all the rave reviews. And while I think it is a handy tool I am not convinced it is the be all and end all.
The original beauty blender is a sponge with one rounded and one pointed end.
To use the sponge I find it best to put the sponge under the tap first. While this makes applying the foundation feel a little weird, it means the sponge doesn't absorp the foundation the same and it all comes out a lot easier when cleaning the sponge.
I found the sponge useful, but I also felt it used a lot more product for not that different looking results and that the original beauty blender didn't work a lot better than any of the dupes I've tried.
Tips: In terms of cleaning the sponge I find a solid soap bar is the most effective at removing make up stains.