Real Techniques is a brand of makeup brushes sold at many drug stores including Ulta, Walgreens and CVS. When looking through their brushes, I chose their Expert Face brush. This brush is specifically made for the application of foundation. This brush’s bristles are made to be denser than a powder brush, which helps it blend foundation into the skin. To test this brush out, I used my favorite, everyday foundation: The Dior Flawless Finish liquid foundation.
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I began applying a swatch of foundation onto my face and then blending it out with the brush. My first impressions were how soft the bristles were as well as how nicely the brush maintained the foundation’s medium coverage while blending. I applied a second layer of foundation to see if it would create a grainy finish and was pleasantly surprised by the lack thereof. To really test the brush’s application, I also applied my Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer under eyes and to highlight different areas of my face.
The Expert Face Brush was able to seamlessly blend the product without moving the foundation underneath. Although the application was going well, the shape and size of the brush made it difficult to cover one side of my face quickly or get into the inner corners of my eyes. Cleaning the brush was a simple task, with a little baby soap, water, and my hands I was able to quickly remove the foundation to prepare for its next use.
In the past, I have tried a variety of drugstore makeup sponges, which left my foundation application patchy and uneven. I hesitated to purchase and try out the popular $20 Beauty Blender sponge due to my previous experiences with makeup sponges. However, after trying out the Beauty Blender sponge, my opinion of them changed. The key to most makeup sponges is to wet them until damp. When wetting the Beauty Blender, I was pleased with the soft texture in comparison to the previous sponges, which stayed very dense and hard.
Blending with the Beauty Blender sponge was effortless. Although, I was not as impressed with how it made my foundation coverage lighter. Due to the water in the sponge, some of the liquid foundations will get soaked in; resulting in lesser coverage. Upon looking at the first layer, I found myself having to go over areas where I had blemishes to fully cover them. The application itself was easy, it left a dewy finish to my skin.
Again, to test the versatility of the tool, I tried blending out some concealer. This too blended wonderfully, not moving my foundation, although it still took some of the concealer’s fuller coverage with it. Despite that the Beauty Blender gets points for versatility with its pointed top, fitting easily in the corners of my eyes.
The maintenance for this tool is not as simple as I would have liked. With the foundation getting soaked into the sponge, using just soap and water wasn’t cutting it. Thankfully, the Beauty Blender company has created its own line of cleaner tools and soap to clean the sponge; even though it’s another item to purchase.
Overall, both tools worked well in applying my foundation and were easy to use.Personally, I will be reaching for the brush again the next time I have to do my makeup. While the brush was not able to cover the surface area as quickly, its appeal for me is the ability to maintain the coverage of my foundation. The cleanup of the brush was also easier, and if you’re anything like me, easy is ideal. The Beauty Blender is still a great tool that I’m sure I’ll use again, on my lighter coverage makeup days or solely using it for my under eye concealer.
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Applying foundation with a sponge is likewise pretty straightforward. First, you’ll want to select your tool. Makeup sponges come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and textures, but foam-based sponges tend to be the most common. One of our favorites is the NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Blender Sponge, which is made from a unique material that helps ensure seamless blending with minimal product waste. You may also want to consider grabbing a few smaller sponges (we like the AOA Studio Collection Mini Makeup Sponges) to blend and apply on hard-to-reach areas, like around your nose.
Next, run your sponge under lukewarm water to wet it. Then, squeeze out the excess water—it should be damp, not sopping wet. Then, dispense some of your liquid foundation onto the back of your hand and dip your sponge in it. Lightly bounce the sponge onto the back of your hand to remove any big globs of excess product. Then you can begin applying your foundation, starting at the center of your face and gradually blending outward. When applying foundation with a sponge, you’ll want to use a bouncing motion, patting the product into your skin rather than wiping it across your face. This helps diffuse the product and creates a gorgeous second skin-like finish. Repeat this process, building the foundation up to your liking, until you achieve your desired end result.
Editor’s note: If you’re using an oil or silicone-based foundation, it may be best to skip the sponge-dampening step altogether, since water and oil (famously) don’t mix well. Be sure to read the instructions on the foundation you’re using for a clearer understanding of how to apply it for the best results.
Knowing whether to use a sponge or brush for foundation—and how to properly wield each tool—can help ensure a gorgeous-looking makeup application. But there are some other helpful tips you may want to keep in mind, too.
First, and perhaps most importantly, always start with a clean, primed base. Your makeup won’t apply smoothly or evenly if you’re applying it to second-day (read: not-freshly-cleansed) skin, and it may not last as long as you’d like. Washing your face, moisturizing, and prepping your skin with a makeup primer can go a long way toward ensuring your makeup looks great and stays put.
Generally, foundation should be the first product you apply after your makeup primer. If you’re using a liquid or cream foundation, you can layer cream, liquid, or powder products on top of it to complete your look. But if you’ve selected a powder foundation, you’ll want to stick with all powder products. Putting liquids and creams on top of powder foundation can make your makeup appear blotchy or patchy. That being said, it’s always a good idea to set your look with a makeup setting spray to help prevent smudging or fading.
Finally, while not exactly a foundation application tip, we’d be remiss if we didn’t stress the importance of cleaning your chosen tool—whether that be a foundation brush or a sponge—regularly. Using dirty tools to apply your foundation can result in an uneven application and may eventually contribute to skin concerns like irritation or breakouts. If you’re unsure how to clean your makeup tools, we break it all down in our article How To Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges in 5 Easy Steps.
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