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An airbrushed and flawless makeup application starts with the right tools. One of those tools includes a beauty or makeup sponge whose sole purpose is to ensure precise application of all your liquid, cream, and even powder products.
While we are all familiar with the OG of makeup blender sponges, you may not know there are plenty of blender options available with a slightly more affordable price tag. Below we have rounded up a few of those options that all come in sets of five or more sponges in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
These makeup sponges are all made with a soft, latex-free material, and the variety of size options can cover a multitude of makeup application needs. These sponges can also be used both wet and dry and when it’s time to switch one out, it’s comforting to know there is another one waiting right under the counter.
Premier Blender Alternatives in Detail
BEAKEY Sponge — Best Overall
This set of five brightly-colored sponges is essential in any makeup lover’s arsenal. Each of these sponges is distinguishable by its color and the five options ensure you can use a new one each day of the week, giving you time to clean your sponge’s in-between uses. These sponges are also made from non-latex material, can be used wet or dry, and have a seamless design with a pointy top that allows you to cover any harder-to-reach creases and crevices in the face.
Pros
- Get a more natural makeup look with these sponges
Cons
- These should be replaced every two months
InnoGear Sponge — Runner Up
If nine pieces weren’t enough, this set comes with a whopping 10 different makeup sponges in two different shapes – your basic teardrop round shape and a teardrop shape with a flat surface design. Easy to use and clean, these sponges come in every bright color of the rainbow and can basically be used for an entire makeup routine. Use the pointed end to apply concealer in those hard-to-reach places, use the round end to apply foundation all over and the curved edges are great for applying contour to help sculpt the facial features.
Pros
- These are made from non-latex, non-allergenic materials
Cons
- These should be changed out every 30 days
Miss Gorgeous Sponge — Honorable Mention
This multicolor pack of beauty sponges includes six different sponges for a variety of uses. Included are three regular-sized blenders and three mini-sized ones all in different shapes, sizes, and colors. These sponges are soft on the skin, can be used wet or dry and the different shaped ones make it easy to apply makeup in hard-to-reach places.
Pros
- These sponges come with a handy storage container
Cons
- You may use some of the sponges more than others
Buying Guide: Blender Sponges
Makeup sponges are pretty popular and see a lot of use these days, and while they may not be as high-quality as the original BeautyBlender, there are still plenty of makeup sponge alternatives that you can get your hands on. Learn more about the top blender swaps in 2024 in this brief guide.
What Are Blender Sponges?
The sponge is known for its unique shape, resembling a combination of a teardrop and an egg. The sponge is also very versatile, and you can use it in various ways to blend your makeup in various manners.
Why Do You Need a Blender Sponge?
It’s versatile
One of the key advantages of blender sponges and makeup sponges of similar design is that they can be used in more ways than one. The shape of the sponges gives you multiple ways to blend your makeup. You can use the pointed end for more precision, or go for a larger surface area with one of the curved edges. Some blender sponges also have different shapes that give you even more ways to blend your makeup, and with blender sponge sets, you’ve basically got a plethora of methods at your disposal.
It’s easy to hold
Another key advantage of blender sponges is that they’re very easy to hold. Unlike other types of blending tools, makeup sponges and blender sponges have a shape that’s easy to grasp with your fingers. Even if your hands are very, very small, you should hold them up with no issue. Whether you’re using one end of the sponge or the other, you’ll find that it’s actually fairly simple and effective.
It comes in all sorts of colors
Makeup is all about looks, and if you’re like many others, you probably also care about the appearance of your makeup products. One of the great things about makeup sponges is that they come in many different colors, and since the color itself doesn’t really affect how useful the sponge is, you can pretty much get any color you want and still get the same results.
Things to Consider When Buying a Blender Sponge
Color
When choosing a color for your makeup sponge, think about what colors you like and what colors you plan on adding to your collection. If you’re a fan of collecting makeup sponges, you may want to consider getting colors that you don’t already own. Or maybe you just want to get more of the same color - the choice is yours. Alternatively, you could color-code your sponges, which we’ll get more into later.
Number of sponges in a set
They can be sold individually, but they are often sold in sets instead. These sets of sponges can either come in various shapes or the same shape, and you can get anywhere between 3 to 7 or more sponges per set, depending on where you’re buying them from.
So, how many sponges do you need? Well, it all boils down to what you intend on using the sponges for and how you plan on using them. If you intend on using the sponges one at a time, replacing an old one for an unused one as necessary, then you may be fine with getting a small set as that’ll still last you at least half a year or so. On the other hand, if you like color-coding your sponges, then consider getting larger sets in assorted colors.
Shape
Makeup sponges come in a few different shapes, with many resembling the BeautyBlender sponge and many others having slight variations of the shape. The shape itself doesn’t really matter too much, and it’s mostly a subjective preference, but we do recommend trying out different shapes at least once to get a feel for what you like the most.
Tips for Using Blender Sponges
Consider color-coding
One way to take your make-up game to the next level is by color-coding your makeup sponges. You can use a certain color and assign it for specific makeup products or for certain blending patterns, depending on your preferences. Now, you’ll likely be washing all of them after each use anyways, but this not only helps improve the lifespan of each sponge but also makes your makeup routine a little more dynamic.
Clean your sponges regularly
Cleaning your sponges regularly is key to keeping your sponge in good condition and ensuring that you’ll be able to blend properly the next time you use the sponge. Cleaning your sponge is fairly simple, and you can do so with just some water and soap. Ideally, you’ll be cleaning your sponge after every use, and you should aim to do so, but if you’re not able to clean it right after using them (such as when you’re using your sponge while in the middle of a party or event), remember to wash the sponge when you get home. The last thing you’d want is for your makeup to mix with leftovers from your last usage.
