Beauty blender: what is it, cost
A beauty blender is not an ordinary sponge, but a specific device used for professional makeup. The original is the product that produces.
The sponge has a recognizable original shape and is used for applying cosmetics with a creamy texture - correctors, foundations, liquid shadows, blush. The specially designed shape and soft velvety structure ensures even coverage without irritating the skin upon contact.
The beauty blender has a special shape that resembles a drop of water, which provides maximum functionality to the tool:
- using the pointed end, you can work on small, hard-to-reach areas of the face - the corners of the eyes, the wings of the nose, the area under the eyebrows;
- The wide oval end of the sponge makes it possible to evenly distribute products, adjusting the coverage density;
- The rounded shape prevents the appearance of blurry, sloppy lines or sharp boundaries when applying foundation.
The cost of a branded beautyblender makeup device on the official website varies from 16 to 22 US dollars.
Remove surface contaminants
Keeping your beauty blender clean will not only extend its life, but will also help keep your skin clear. Beauty experts recommend washing blenders with special solutions, soap or micellar water. It is better to do this immediately after applying makeup, because every day the foundation will penetrate deeper into the sponge, and it will become more difficult to wash it off.
Beauty bloggers recommend immersing the sponge in soapy water for 10-30 minutes to remove any remaining makeup from the inside. The original method is recommended by beauty blogger Huda Kattan, who founded her own cosmetics brand, Huda Beauty. All you need is a dirty sponge, a washing machine, washing liquid and a sock. Just place the sponge in the sock and put it on a short wash without spinning.
What is it made of?
The original beautyblender gadget is made from a unique synthetic nanomaterial, the structure of which resembles fine-pored foam rubber. It has bactericidal properties, is odorless, and does not favor the growth of bacteria and microbes.
The composition does not contain latex. For this reason, the sponge does not cause an allergic reaction upon contact with the epidermis.
Thanks to its unique structure, it perfectly absorbs water, so when wet it can almost double in size. The more water the sponge absorbs, the softer and more pliable it will be, while absorbing less amount of cosmetic product.
A damp sponge provides even, thin coverage, masks flaking, and cares for skin prone to dryness and irritation . The pleasant elastic structure feels similar to velvety suede, the texture is uniform, lint-free, and therefore, unlike brushes, does not cause irritation. The tool can be used for the most sensitive areas.
Wash the sponge
Source here and below: @beautyblenderrussia
Because the Beauty Blender comes into direct contact with your face and is used while wet, bacteria and germs can easily accumulate in it. Therefore, it is extremely important to wash your beauty blender, ideally before each use. This way, your tool will not only be damp and ready to use, but also clean and hygienic.
Advantages
A beauty blender is an indispensable tool for creating professional makeup.
It has a lot of advantages:
- Convenience. To use the sponge, no special professional skills are required.
- Functionality. Thanks to its special shape and soft texture, the beauty blender distributes decorative and care products on the skin in an even layer, including in hard-to-reach areas.
- Compactness. The original cosmetic device has miniature dimensions: when dry, it is 5.5 cm high and 4 cm wide.
- Versatility. The device is used at every stage of makeup creation; it is convenient to apply foundation, tonal correctors, liquid blush and shadows, highlighter and other products.
- 5 in 1. Can replace several brushes for applying a particular product, which significantly saves space in your cosmetic bag.
- Natural effect. After applying and blending correctors, blush, highlighter, and many other products, you get natural makeup without creating an artificial mask effect.
The sponge can be used both for applying decorative products and for removing excess. To remove excess, just blot the areas with the dry side of the sponge.
How to use a sponge correctly
Due to the fact that the beauty blender has an unusual sponge shape and is presented in an egg shape with a pointed tip and a wide round base, it is very convenient for them to apply cosmetics to different areas of the face. Let's figure out how to properly use a beauty blender for the face when applying cosmetics.
Before applying makeup, you need to soak the beauty blender well in water, and then squeeze out excess water with your hand, as in the photo
The sponge should increase in size. Soaking it in water helps make the egg-shaped pad soft and comfortable to use. The pores of the sponge, capable of absorbing moisture, remove excess sweat and fat secretions from the facial skin. The ability of the beauty blender to increase and decrease in size makes it very convenient and compact to store and carry.
The disadvantages of a beauty blender include the fact that it not only uses cosmetics uneconomically, but also it itself will not last long.
Like a regular sponge, it will eventually lose its elasticity and begin to crumble. One porous egg will last about a month for 4 daily uses.
Squeeze a little foundation onto the round part of the dampened roller.
You can apply the product to your hand and gradually dip a beauty blender into it. Then, using tangential movements, begin to apply the product to the skin. As needed, add foundation to the sponge. Apply gradually in small bursts, evenly covering the entire surface of the face.
The sharp tip makes it very easy to paint in hard-to-reach places: in folds, around the eyes and lips
To save foundation, so that the sponge does not absorb excess, you can apply the foundation with a brush, and then use a beauty blender to blend the foundation over your face. Applying makeup using this sponge takes longer than using conventional tools, brushes or fingers. But the effect is really noticeable, the cream spreads evenly, hides wrinkles and leaves no streaks. Even a not very expensive and high-quality foundation applied to the skin using a beauty blender will show good results.
Demonstrative video on how to properly use the new popular gadget for applying foundation to the face:
You can use a beauty blender for more than just makeup foundation. It is also used with concealer; it is convenient for drawing contour lines. You can apply powder, blush and even eye shadow.
Don’t forget that when using one roller for different cosmetic products, you need to rinse it well after each use so that, for example, there is no shadow tint on the blush.
After each use of the beauty blender, it is recommended to wash it with soap - this makes it hygienic. You can use regular liquid soap.
Flaws
Despite most of the advantages, there are several disadvantages to using a beauty blender:
- The cost of the original beautyblender device can reach more than $20, which is not affordable for everyone.
- The shelf life of the instrument, subject to storage and care rules, is no more than 6 months.
- The instrument requires high-quality care, otherwise its service life will be significantly reduced.
- When applying creamy products, their consumption may increase significantly.
- Using a sponge, only liquid products are applied, preferably of the same shade and texture. Mixing them can give ambiguous results.
It is worth noting that the defining functionality of using a beauty blender is only in wet form. The more it is saturated with water, the more economical the product is used. It is water, filling it from the inside, that prevents excessive absorption of the cosmetic product.
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Where to buy a beauty blender
As already mentioned, the original beauty blender is produced only in the USA, so the price is a little steep. You can order a pink egg-shaped pillow on the company’s official website – where it will cost about $20. There is an official representative office of beautyblender in Russia, and you can order a makeup sponge on their official website https://beautyblender.ru. This newfangled device will cost about 1,500 rubles.
There are several analogues of the beauty blender, there are more budget parodies of the original
They have similar properties, differ in quality, sponge shape and, of course, price. They can also apply makeup correctly using the old traditional methods using a brush and fingers.
After watching a video comparing the original beauty blender with a cheap analogue, brush and fingers, you can understand why the device is worthy of its price:
Types of beauty blender
Americans are offered several sponge models:
- The first model in the line, its distinctive features are its characteristic neon pink hue. The Original beauty blender can be used by professionals in the field of makeup, as well as by anyone who wants to use the device at home. Used primarily for foundations, primers, and liquid-based correctors.
- The sponge is charcoal black in color and is made from a similar patented material, but with a denser structure. It makes it easier to apply cosmetics with a denser coverage, which is valuable when creating professional makeup for photo shoots and video filming.
- Instrument from the original line. It has a bright light green hue, a delicate, delicate finely porous texture, and smaller dimensions. It is used for applying products to small areas of the face (in the periorbital area, in the sub-eyebrow area), as well as for emphasizing individual zones with color correctors.
- The model is presented in white color; a special feature is the particularly delicate texture of the sponge. This sponge is used to apply BB or CC creams and foundations in the form of a thin, uniform veil. Not used to correct problem areas.
- Royalty, Red Carpet are alternative new models to the Original sponge; the difference is only in the color scheme, but at the same time all the properties and characteristics of the original model are preserved.
All models of the original line are supplied to the world cosmetic market only in the form described above; other variations in colors, properties, and material structure features are fakes.
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How to choose a beauty blender
The cult device is awarded various international certificates, but its popularity entails many counterfeits of the beauty blender. To choose a branded soft makeup gadget, you need to know the main characteristics and differences of the beautyblender device.
These are the following characteristics:
- The standard size of a branded sponge (except for the Mini model) is 5.5 x 4 cm.
- The shape is strictly drop-shaped; beauty blenders are not available in any other modification.
- The color scheme is strictly neon pink, lime green, black and white. New shades include purple and red, as well as a limited edition marble pink shade.
Beauty blender in original packaging - When dry, the material is soft, the texture is similar to velvet or suede, the texture is finely porous. The sponge can be easily changed and instantly restores its original shape without deforming during use. Counterfeits are made from denser material with larger pores.
- When wet, the original sponge doubles in size. The fake will not absorb moisture well and may give a feeling of pressure when in contact with the skin. The original product is soft, delicate, pliable, and is practically not felt on the skin.
- The original sponge comes in a transparent cylinder package marked “allure”; the set can include two sponges or 1 sponge + Solid (cleaner), as well as a stand for storage and drying.
When choosing a high-quality branded device, you need to pay attention to the country of origin; the original beautyblender is produced exclusively in the USA.
What is a beauty blender sponge made of?
The beauty sponge feels like soft suede or fine-pored foam rubber, but in fact it is made from a specially developed artificial material with nanoparticles. This material has a number of advantages compared to conventional foam or fabric sponges:
- odorless material;
- special bactericidal properties prevent increased proliferation of microbes;
- the material does not include latex, foam rubber, or cellulose, which means that the sponge blender does not contain allergens;
- absorbs water well, a wet sponge can double in size;
- smooth texture does not cause irritation to sensitive skin;
- Using water, you can regulate the amount of cosmetic product; the wetter the beauty blender, the less amount of cosmetics it will absorb.
For which creams and decorative cosmetics is it suitable?
The beauty blender is a universal tool. This device is used for applying various creams and decorative cosmetics.
Depending on the chosen modification, you can apply:
- Primers, makeup bases, liquid foundations-correctors, creamy powders and blushes. For these purposes, use a neon pink beauty blender.
- Serums, cosmetic emulsions, BB and CC creams, masks, any liquid-based skincare products. They can be applied using a white (Pure) sponge designed for sensitive skin and delicate care.
- Long-lasting pigments, foundations with dense coverage. For these purposes, a black sponge with a dense texture is used.
- Liquid shadows, concealers, correctors, blushes, highlighters and bronzers with a creamy base. For ease of application, you can choose any sponge, depending on the density of application and the characteristics of the skin.
Rating of the best beauty blenders
Below is the TOP 10 best drop-shaped sponges today:
- Original Beautyblender
The original by which all other manufacturers are compared. The best beauty blender to date.
- Real Techniques
Excellent sponge, the quality is not inferior to the original one. The design is not as colorful, but the price is nicer.
- Dior
Own development of the brand, intended for foundation Backstage Blender, Dior . Easy to use, wash and store. Does not lose its color for a long time.
- Dior Forever Sponge
Another sponge from Dior. Designed for applying fluids.
- Sephora
The advantage of this blender is the price; you can turn a blind eye to some of the disadvantages.
- Sponge Applicator Yves Rocher
Another inexpensive option, nevertheless it adequately copes with the tasks.
- Oriflame Professional Make-Up Sponge.
Very similar to the Yves Rocher sponge. Inexpensive and high quality.
- MAYBELLINE
Unlike the previous sponges in the rating, it does not increase in size when wet. However, they distribute makeup well and are suitable as analogues of cylindrical sponges.
- MAC BeautyBlender
The main difference from other brands is that the sponges are impregnated with vitamin E. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on how the skin reacts to the impregnation.
How to use a beauty blender correctly
A beauty blender has the properties of an ordinary sponge, so the basic principle of manipulation is a simple algorithm, including 3 steps: wet, squeeze and apply.
Detailed instructions:
- Moisten the sponge with slightly warm water. The density of the coating will depend on the degree of wetting. A wetter beauty blender will apply a less dense coating.
- Squeeze out the water and blot the surface with a dry cloth. The sponge should be fairly damp, but not wet.
- Using a prepared device, a cosmetic product is applied to the back of the hand.
- Apply the product using a tapping motion and treat the entire perimeter area. You shouldn’t rub it in, as you can ruin the structure of the sponge and the coating won’t turn out neat.
- The wide part is used to treat large facial areas, and the pointed end is used to treat small areas.
After applying the product, you need to blend it over the entire surface, walking with the clean side. To achieve even coverage, use quick, short strokes.
About mini beauty blenders
In one of my previous goodie bags I also came across the BeautyBlender Micro Mini sponge. This is such a “little thing”, probably four times smaller than the original beauty blends. In terms of the mechanism of use, the same “wet-squeeze-drive” scheme works here.
By the way, a very convenient thing for spot application of concealer or corrector, highlighters or moody shadows. The baby beauty blender does an excellent job of applying liquid and cream textures (just like the mother beauty blender), applies the product in an even layer (without spots or streaks), lightly polishing the surface during application.
How to clean a beauty blender in 1 minute
The beauty blender can be cleaned in different ways, one of the most popular is the express method in 1 minute.
Algorithm for quick cleaning of the sponge:
- Place the tool in a non-metallic bowl of hot water.
- Add a few drops of dishwashing detergent.
- Place the container in the microwave on preheat mode (1 minute).
After express cleaning, the sponge is cleared of germs, bacteria, grease stains, and cosmetic residues.
Cleansing immediately after makeup
A beauty blender is a cosmetic device that comes into contact with the skin. Therefore, it is extremely important to clean it on time, without delaying it for later.
The algorithm is simple:
- Immediately after makeup, the sponge can be cleaned with a special cleaning product.
- You can use any eco-liquid to remove grease stains.
- Leave to dry on a flat surface.
- The longer the sponge is not washed, the faster it loses its properties.
Using a special tool Blendercleanser
It is recommended to clean the beauty blender with a professional Blendercleanser, which will carefully remove any dirt without disturbing the delicate finely porous structure.
Instructions:
- Apply a couple of drops of liquid to a damp sponge.
- Beat until foamy, kneading vigorously.
- Remove dirt stains with massage movements, rinse with warm water.
- Squeeze out the water thoroughly and leave to dry completely on the small tray included in the kit.
- It is prohibited to use heat devices such as hair dryers, radiators or heaters for drying.
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Economical cleaning methods
Considering the high cost of professional sponge cleansers, care is not budget-friendly.
There are no less effective, but more economical alternative methods of cleansing:
- Use an inexpensive cleanser for oily skin.
- Use regular soap for cleansing. It is recommended to make a soap solution from products that do not dry the skin.
- Use cream soap for cleaning, for example, Dove (Beauty Bar).
- Clean with dishwashing detergent. It is advisable to use products containing a softening balm or conditioner.
- Wash with regular shampoo, carefully massaging the sponge.
How to make a beauty blender with your own hands
The Beauty Blender has repeatedly received the title of “Best Cosmetic Gadget.” It has a certain structure and shape, so it will not be possible to make exactly such a sponge at home. You can make simple devices for applying liquid cosmetics with your own hands using fine-pored soft foam, cardboard templates and scissors.
Manufacturing scheme:
- Draw a pattern of the future device on a sheet of cardboard.
- Transfer the template to the foam sheet.
- Cut the workpiece with scissors or a stationery knife.
Using foam rubber of different densities and thicknesses, you can make sponges of any size and shape for easy makeup application.
A beauty blender requires compliance with the rules for applying products and special care. This will help extend the life of the cosmetic tool.
Such a professional product must always be in your cosmetic bag, since makeup with a beauty blender is flawless.
Article design: Svetlana Ovsyanikova
Cleaning the sponge
Like any other makeup tool, the beauty blender must be washed. And this should be done not from time to time, but after each use. Washing the sponge does not cause any problems, because all you need to do is wet it, rub it with toilet soap, squeeze it out a little, rinse and squeeze it out again.
You can also use special cleaning compounds and products to clean the sponge, which will extend its service life. This could be, for example, wax soap for cosmetic brushes. But this is not at all necessary.
The sponge takes quite a long time to dry, and that is why many girls buy sets of several pieces. You can simply dry the applicator by placing it on a shelf in the bathroom. Do not place the sponge on the battery to dry.
