So That’s How You Use It {Complexion Sponges}

So you bought a beauty blender… now what?  I recently wrote about beauty blenders and my top pick of what’s out there right now.  Now, let’s chat about how to use them. I think it’s super easy to be overwhelmed with these makeup sponges, but you really don’t have to be. Once you learn how to work them into your beauty routine, I promise you, you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.  

I’ll be focusing specifically on the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, because it’s awesome and it’s the one I use right now, but the basic steps are the same for all sponges.

Step 1

Run your sponge under water until saturated.

Step 2

Gently squeeze out water with your hand and then again in a clean towel.

Now your sponge is ready to use! It’s imperative that you do this otherwise it will not work properly. Trust me. When I received my first Beauty Blender as a gift, and tried to apply my makeup without looking at a tutorial and I thought the product was such a piece of crap. Then, I realized what I was doing wrong, felt like a total idiot, and tried using it again after the water squeeze. MAGIC, I tell you. Magic.

Okay, so you’ve got this damp sponge. Here’s how you can use it:

1- Dip the Sponge in your concealer – or – Apply dots of concealer on your T-Zone (forehead, nose, inner cheek, and chin).

I personally prefer option 2 because I can control how much product I use. Less is more.

2- Stipple. Once the sponge is dipped or your dots are done, take the pointed end of the sponge and start dabbing the makeup into your skin. Imagine you are giving your face a million tiny high fives – lots of tiny pats are needed here. This is called Stippling. Start at the centre of your face and work your way out to your forehead, inner cheeks, under your nose and chin.

I am using BareMinerals BareSkin Concealer in Light

3- Repeat with foundation using the rounded side of the sponge. Here, you can drag the sponge across your face and then stipple. I do this as a contour/highlight with my foundation and concealer — applying my foundation to specific areas of my face and then making sure they are super blended.

I am using Tarte Cosmetics Rainforest of the Sea Foundation in Light Neutral

4- Set with a small amount of mineral foundation or translucent powder. I use Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Medium Beige on my Real Techniques Buffer brush. A little goes a long way here. Dust your brush with the powder and tap off the excess. Using circular strokes, gently buff the setting powder into your skin. Again, I like to start in the centre (T-Zone) and work my way out.

5- Finish the rest of your makeup as usual. For this look I used:

• Bare Minerals All Over Face Color in Touch of Sun
• Maybelline Mascara
• Anastasia Brow Wiz in Soft Brown
• Kylie Lip Kit in Candy K

Now get to it! Practice makes perfect, and it’s actually a ton of fun to stipple your face 🙂 Let me know how you do!