Ah, the elusive beautyblender! Here comes one in its pristine state… I’m hoping it’ll stay in my possession for longer than a week (or a month! — dare to dream), because I’m not the only one in Novato obsessed with these marvelous makeup sponges. All of the little animals I live with — a.k.a. “the boarders,” a.k.a Tabs the Cat and Connor Claire the Coywolf — are obsessed with them, too. They hide them, one (the furry one) bites them, and they rip them apart with their claws.
If it happens again, at least I won’t have to go far to find a new one, because now they’re also available at MAC.
#MACLOVESBEAUTYBLENDER
- beautyblender original — pink ($20)
- beautyblender pro — black ($20)
- beautyblender beauty blusher — gray ($16)
- beautyblender micro mini — chartreuse ($18)
- blendercleanser solid ($16)
This black one is the $20 beautyblender pro, and it’s my favorite. The black keeps it looking cleaner longer, compared to the iconic O.G. pink beautyblender, which is also $20 and also available at MAC. They both work just as well as the other, but the pink one, which is SUPER CUTE, shows off every single product that has ever graced it. It looks messy, and I’m not about that life.
I sure do love the pink ones when they’re new, though.
I primarily use mine to apply liquid foundation and concealer, but I have seen people use them for powders and eyeshadow. I use the larger end of the sponge to cover large swaths of skin, like my forehead and cheeks, and the pointier end for the nooks and crannies, like the inner corner of my eye, and the corners around my nose and mouth.
It’s true, you could use any old makeup blending sponge. There are lots of other non-latex makeup sponges for blending and application, and most of them are pretty good, but I’ve always liked that the beautyblenders are un-textured. When I blend my foundation or concealer, I don’t see a pattern from the sponge on my skin, so the coverage looks natural. Plus, they absorb juuust the right amount, so I don’t feel like I’m wasting much product when I use them (some makeup sponges are too absorbent, IMO).
Here’s a trick I use: before I sit down to apply my makeup, I wet my beautyblender with water — like really, really soak it. I completely drench the thing! Then, I set it aside and do whatever else I’m going to do, like my brows, curl my lashes, face primer, whatever, and then, right before I do my foundation or concealer, I spritz it with MAC Fix+ all over to re-wet it slightly. Then I apply/blend my foundation or tinted moisturizer, BB cream, etc.
The layer of Fix+ really helps my face makeup adhere closer to my skin, or something, and the coverage looks even more natural. I think it also adds a little extra moisture, and my combo skin is mostly dry, especially now that it’s winter, and every little bit of moisture helps.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Genesis says
January 9th, 2018 at 7:54 pmI am going to give that MAC fix plus spray a try. Did you see that Ulta has the MAC fix plus in the coconut scent and ones that were LE? Excited to see if they have them in store.
Karen says
January 9th, 2018 at 8:45 pmHi Genesis,
I love my Fix+! I use it every day. Really happy about the new scents; got the Rose and the Coconut one today. I’m really surprised that it took them so long to make them permanent, but I’m glad they finally did because I was hoarding mine from the first time they were released.
Hope that 2018 is treating you kindly so far. What did you do for new years?
Linda Libra Loca says
January 10th, 2018 at 6:19 amWetting my Beautyblender is the first thing I do when I sit down to do my makeup, too. It helps having the right amount of wetness once you actually need it.
Linda Libra Loca recently posted … Best of Beauty 2017 – My makeup and skincare favorites
Karen says
January 10th, 2018 at 10:57 amGreat minds think alike! I usually squeeze most of the water out before I sit down; do you do that too, or do you leave it damp?
Kristen says
January 10th, 2018 at 8:16 amYou should try out the foundation blender from L’Oreal, if you haven’t already. I used to buy the beautyblender all the time, but I was looking for a more cost-effective option. None of the copy-cats I tried worked as well, but I swear this L’Oreal one works just as good if not better. And it’s only $8 at Ulta!
Karen says
January 10th, 2018 at 10:52 amHi Kristen,
Thank you for the tip! I was planning an Ulta visit soon (when I finally kick this cold, ugh), and have a lot on my list… Adding this sponge!
Off topic, but a while back you mentioned that you got some Ralph Lauren frames from Lenscrafters. I looked it up because I was curious about the styles and they’re so cute. Just enough sass to keep things interesting but not too flashy. I ended up getting a pair from Kate Spade because I liked the fit, but I would’ve been happy with this pair of tortoiseshell frames too:
http://www.lenscrafters.com/lc-us/ralph-lauren/8053672758115
Kristen says
January 10th, 2018 at 11:00 amMine are tortoiseshell! I was pleasantly surprised to see how many cute frames Lenscrafters had when I went shopping. They had some super cute Tiffany frames too, but they were a little too pricey for me.
Karen says
January 10th, 2018 at 11:06 amThere are two Lenscrafters within driving distance to me and both of them have some really cute frames. The one that’s farthest away in Southern Marin has a bunch of high-end designers, too — Givenchy, Chanel, Prada. When did Lenscrafters get so bougie?!
I tried on some Tiffany frames, too. Very cute, but a little big for my face. The place where I got my frames was having a 50% sale on frames, so I got the Kate Spades for a steal! I’m regretting not getting an additional pair of sunglasses, sigh.
carol says
January 10th, 2018 at 11:53 amHi
Could you give the number of mac brushes in the photo?
Karen says
January 10th, 2018 at 12:12 pmHi Carol,
Sure. The rounded brush is the MAC 109 Small Contour Brush. Great for bronzer and blush placement in specific spots. The big one is the 138 tapered face brush (I think? The number’s worn off). You can use it for applying highlighter or powder to areas like the sides of the nose. HTH! Let me know if you have any other questions about the brushes or beautyblender or anything MAC related.
carol says
January 11th, 2018 at 11:13 amthank you very much for your kind response. have a great day!
Karen says
January 11th, 2018 at 11:15 amYou’re welcome! You have a good day too.
Kim says
January 10th, 2018 at 11:58 amI’m with you on the black blender. I tested a lot for a project we’re doing and I can’t stand how they won’t come completely clean. At least it’s not as noticeable with the black! 🙂
You have a cold, too? The flu went around here and it was awful and taking people out left and right. I’m glad I didn’t get that but I do have an annoying dry cough going on. I woke up coughing at 3:30 this AM. And every 10 minutes afterward. Sigh. Could be much worse, I know!
Karen says
January 10th, 2018 at 12:25 pmYes! The pink one is cute for about two seconds. There’s a light pink one that I’ve always wanted, but I know it’ll make me CRAY the moment it’s stained with foundation.
Yeah, I have another cold. Poor Connor finally recovered from the one she caught on Christmas (which I also got) only to get ANOTHER one last Friday, which means now I’m sick. I’m at the point where I just lean into it when she gets sick, because I know it’s gonna hit me, too. I do try to bombard my body with Emergen-C and Cold Eeze! Gonna chug another glass right meow…
I don’t know how you got through this stage with two little ones constantly bringing germs home. I bet you were sick all the time!
Kim says
January 11th, 2018 at 9:52 amI agree – I saw some really cute rainbow striped ones but thought they’d look like that until the first use and then be a mess, especially the yellow part.
It really is a hard age for sickness. One of the boys was constantly on a nebulizer until I just put my foot down. All those inhaled steroids made him more miserable than the colds.
They were a bit younger than Connor when they started daycare but, I’ll tell you, they got EVERYTHING then. You’ll learn about things you never knew existed (hand, foot and mouth?). We never caught any of that, but certainly had our fair share of colds. The upside was that, by the time they were in school, they were very hardy. I know that’s a long time from now with Connor but it will get better. 🙂
Suzanne C says
January 10th, 2018 at 1:01 pmIt’s hilarious, ironic, and perfect that both the daughter & the cat of a beauty blogger steal her Beauty Blenders. 🙂
I was extremely tempted by the pink and white swirl blender from Sephora, but keeping that clean is a lot of stress for someone with OCD. I like my dark purple one.
Karen says
January 10th, 2018 at 2:34 pmI have no idea why they love them so much. Tabs in particular enjoys tearing them apart. SIGH!
Oooh, I didn’t know they had a dark purple! Does it pick up lots of product stains? The black one is pretty good at avoiding that.
Suzanne C says
January 10th, 2018 at 3:19 pmIt’s not bad at all about stains, unless I haven’t been using it damp enough or haven’t washed it recently. Neither of which EVER happens. (Hides extremely dirty blender that hasn’t been washed in weeks.)
Why have I never thought of blending eyeshadow with them?!? I’m definitely trying that this weekend.
Karen says
January 11th, 2018 at 9:34 amI know, right? It works best with a small beautyblender but you can also do it with a regular-sized one too. Try to keep area where you apply the wet sponge to a designated corner of your shadow, too. That way you won’t have to do with the shadow getting hard or crusty over the entire pan (although there is a fix for that too).
Tatiana says
January 10th, 2018 at 3:46 pmCats just like toys. And anything can be a toy for them. Dear Daughter is out of town and we found a box of toothpicks all over floor that Nibbler kitty was playing with. My cat Nora jumps on the bathroom counter when I brush my teeth or do my makeup and she paws at the container of cotton swabs. She loves for me to throw one around for her to chase. Go figure.
I must be the only person on the planet who does not like beauty blenders. Hate the damp feeling, hate the bouncing, hate trying to get them clean.
Karen says
January 11th, 2018 at 9:32 amIsn’t it funny how cats love playing with things that aren’t designated play toys? I could buy Tabs all the toys in the world and the only thing he’ll want to play with is a ribbon. Silly kitties!
It’s also the same thing with kitty beds/places to sleep!
Tatiana says
January 12th, 2018 at 8:21 amYeah, we quickly stopped buying fancy cat beds because the cats will sleep where they want to. And if you disturb the spot one of them has been sleeping by say vacuuming up the large quantity of cat hair, they’ll just move someplace else to sleep that suits their whimsy. Nora loves to sleep in shoe boxes or Sephora shipping boxes. Tight squeeze, but she loves it.
Karen says
January 12th, 2018 at 11:23 amKitties in boxes are the best. When Tabs isn’t sleeping in sinks, he’s sleeping on Connor’s blankets. LOL If it’s officially the baby’s, then it’s also officially his. I’ve yet to find him in her crib though!
Chelsea says
January 10th, 2018 at 5:25 pmI’ve never owned a beauty blender! I typically use a foundation brush. Maybe I should pick one up.
Karen says
January 11th, 2018 at 9:31 amHi Chelsea,
I think you’d like it! So will the fur babies… LOL!
Do you use a flat foundation brush for application and blending? I like how those feel as they glide across my cheeks and forehead but I always end up with streaks on my skin.
Chelsea says
January 14th, 2018 at 5:52 pmNah, I”m not a fan of the flat foundation brushes – I usually use more of a buffing brush. I have the old Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush and a Real Techniques Flawless Face brush.
Rachel Runyan says
January 10th, 2018 at 11:01 pmThat bouncing beauty blender really tickles my funny bone! 😀
Rachel Runyan recently posted … Love Thyself, Bitches: Body Positivity Goods for 2018
Karen says
January 11th, 2018 at 9:22 amIt’s cute, right? Now if only someone could invent one that instantly just bounced and did all the blending for me. LOL!
Husna says
January 11th, 2018 at 10:02 pmHi Karen
I am a silent reader of your blog. Recently, read in past 6 months, I started makeup. So although I am in my thirties, I am still a beginner. Before buying anything new I always read up your reviews and honestly they habe never disappointed me. I like MAC alot partially becuase I love their packaging haha… but the products are great. I am slowly buying their brushes and I want to ask which Mac brush would you suggest for blush. I tried asking their help but they give a list of brushes and obviously I don’t wanna buy all at once. So if you could please guide me through it. I recently baught their slanted foundation brush and I am in love with it. Should I get a beauty blender too?
Sorry for stupid questions but help a beginner please.
Lots of love
Husna
Karen says
January 12th, 2018 at 11:44 amHi Husna,
It’s very nice to meet you! I’m glad you decided to pop in and say hi. You’ve got a lot of options from MAC for blush brushes.
If you use mostly neutral shades on your cheeks, like pinks/plums/peaches/browns in powder blush form, then you could do either the 116 or the 109. I actually prefer the 109 (which is one of the brushes pictured here; it’s the one with the rounded, not the pointy, shape) for blush because the shape allows it to double as a bronzing brush.
If you’re working mostly with cream blushes, then you can probably just skip the brush and use your fingers. They’re the best tools for the job, IMHO.
Now if you’re into very bright blushes — intense reds, purples, oranges, that kind of thing — a fan brush will be your best bet, or a skunk brush. Something like the 184 or the 188 would be good.
If it was me starting from the very, very beginning, I’d do the 116 or the 109.
HTH! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Husna says
January 13th, 2018 at 6:59 amThank you very much for your reply Karen. Today I visited a store and I was looking for 129 but I didn’t like it. It was rough, or may be not as soft as I expected. My favorite sales girl wasn’t there so I came back without buying anything. The other girl suggested to buy 187. But I wasn’t sure so came back. I will look for 109 or 116. Thanks for help. I will definitely keep on asking questions ??
Karen says
January 13th, 2018 at 7:41 pmHi Husna,
The 187 is also a good choice. I have that one too. You can use it both for powder and cream blush application, and because it does a lighter application of product, you get a *lot* of control. This is especially useful if you’re a beginner and tend to go heavy handed. It also works as a highlighter and a bronzer brush, too.