“PREPARE TO NEVER WASTE MAKEUP AGAIN!”

For those of you that know me well, you know I am a makeup sponge girl! I personally don’t like a lot of foundation, so I use a damp blending sponge everyday to apply my makeup. It’s the best way to achieve a natural look without being streaky or cakey. It’s also extremely quick!

There’s been a new trend in makeup applicator’s and many companies have come out with various silicone pads to apply your makeup. The ad’s claim that you won’t waste as much makeup if you use their tool.

I’ve been asked what I think about the makeup blending sponge vs. the makeup silicone applicator. So, here are my thought’s regarding the pros and cons of both, as well as my personal preference.

BLENDING SPONGE

Pros:

*Smoother, more uniform blending, no streaks or unevenness.

*You can control how much coverage you get, and place it exactly where you want it. (If you have a blemish you can put more coverage only on the blemish without        having to add it all over your face.) You can build coverage, but it doesn’t start out applying a ton of product.

*Smaller tip allows for easy access to get into areas around nose and under eyes.

*You can easily apply highlighter, foundation, or cream blush with it.

Cons:

*It takes a bit longer to wash out products than the silicone applicator.

*Can tear and wear out easier than the other applicator.

SILICONE APPLICATOR

Pros:

*Foundation won’t soak into the flexible, non-porous silicone surface of applicator. This means you use less product than if you apply it with a blending sponge.

*Easier to clean and lasts longer than a blending sponge.

Cons:

*Gives uneven coverage and a streaky application.

*No good way to get into crevices and smaller areas around nose or under eyes.

*Applies a ton of makeup, you have no control over how much coverage you get. It is a very heavy application.

*Cannot apply cream blush or highlighter with it.

Needless to say, overall I am not a fan of the silicone applicator. I feel like you get the very best application with a slightly damp makeup blending sponge. Even if you like a heavier application, you can always build the amount of coverage with the sponge. I would even recommend a brush before I would recommend the silicone applicator for more even coverage.

In defense of the silicone applicator, I do have to say it works great for applying a serum or gel. I have used it instead of my fingers because it doesn’t absorb as much product. It really does help all of the product go directly onto the skin.

Hope this review helped you. Bottom line, it’s all about personal preference. If you want heavier coverage, check out the silicone applicator. For softer, more buildable coverage, use the sponge.

SILICONE APPLICATOR

MAKEUP BLENDING SPONGE

SILICONE / SPONGE – These are only from swiping foundation on arm once. You can see how incredibly thick and uneven the silicone application is vs. the sponge.

SILICONE / SPONGE – Just blotting a small amount of foundation on my arm.

The old saying, “You get what you pay for” is so true! Hiring a budget makeup artist not only ensures a poor makeup application that doesn’t last, but also increases your chances of getting horrible infections. Professional makeup artists realize the importance of using sanitary brushes and makeup. Your personal artist needs to have excellent hygienic practices!

Cosmetics have a shelf life, but you may not realize that they need to be cleaned too. Not only do brushes need to be washed, but since you are dipping into that powder blush every day, you better keep it clean too.

Here are some bad habits of inexperienced makeup artists that you need to watch out for:

Blowing on makeup brushes

Never, ever, ever should a makeup artist blow excess product off of a brush. It absolutely spreads bacteria and is an unprofessionalism that you shouldn’t be paying for.

Not using disposable mascara wands and double-dipping

Mascara is something that should only be used on one pair of eyes, unless disposable mascara wands are being used. A tube of mascara is the perfect breeding ground for conjunctivitis and other eye infections, so its good sanitary practice to use disposable mascara wands for each client. And mascara should never be double-dipped!

Not sanitizing their hands between clients

Doing makeup is an intimate business. Touching products, tools, and someone’s face without sanitizing your hands is gross and disrespectful. Don’t trust someone who doesn’t sanitize their hands before getting started on your face.

Using dirty cosmetics

When you see powder products that are cakey looking, that means they are not clean. Cream products that have been re-dipped into for many faces can actually grow bacteria. Sanitizing makeup is just as important as cleaning makeup brushes.

Using dirty brushes

Using dirty brushes can spread infections, viruses, and bacteria. This is a whole other problem in itself. There are SO MANY reasons to use clean brushes on each face! Here are some important things to think about if your artist is only using one set of brushes on everyone:

1. bacteria builds up

2. causes breakouts

3. can clog pores

4. causes many viral infections – pink eye, herpes, staph infection, and more

5. offers a bad makeup application – muddy looking, streaky, uneven due to too much old product. If they’re already caked with makeup, how can they apply it properly?

6. damaged brushes – dirty brushes lead to them wearing down more quickly causing them to shed on your face during a makeup application.

7. you risk accelerating wrinkles – dirty makeup brushes can expose the skin to oxidative stress from free radicals, which causes a breakdown of collagen and elastin and can result in premature aging.

On a personal note, dirty brushes ruin your investment. Cleaning your brushes keeps them in good shape and prolongs their life. Decent brushes often cost as much or more than cosmetics, so it’s worth the few minutes you’ll spend cleaning them. This will keep them looking nice and lasting for years to come.

Take a second and try to think of the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes. If it wasn’t recently, I have listed many reasons above that should make you run to the bathroom to clean them.

So, in summary, don’t hire a cheap, inexperienced makeup artist, and clean your makeup and brushes!

Here are some quick instructions on how to clean both.

How to clean your makeup – Beauty So Clean

Beauty So Clean’s chemical-free makeup sanitizers are easy to use and loved by makeup pros. Unlike pure alcohol or a water-diluted version of alcohol, the formula won’t dry out creams or powders. They sell small wipes, or my favorite is the cosmetic sanitizing mist. You can either use the wipes on lipstick or the sanitizing mist on powder and cream products. Follow the more detailed instructions on the bottle.

How to clean your brushes – Randee Strand Artistry Brush Soap

I sell a special curd soap that is made in Germany. This not only cleans the brushes, but it conditions and sanitizes them too. This is something that baby shampoo and dish soap won’t do for you. It smells great and a little bit goes a long way so it lasts forever.