[I’ve had this post in draft mode for ages! Random timing to post this but no time like the present!]
The Beauty Blender needs no introduction. These hot pink egg shaped sponges cost a whopping $26 each and have spawned a slew of BB-like sponges. So is a $26 sponge 26x better than a $1 one?
For years, I refused to succumb to the Beauty Blender. I resisted and bought the dupes to satisfy my Beauty Blender curiosity. I simply could NOT justify paying $26 for a flimsy little egg shaped piece of foam. So I bought some off ebay, and a few from drugstores before I finally decided to get the real thing during the Spring 2013 VIB sale. I’ve been using my stash of makeup sponges for a while now. Let’s have a look at how they stack up the the original Beauty Blender:
L to R [These are arranged from the most airy / porous (L) to the most dense / heavy (R)]:
• Beauty Blender (hot pink) – $26 [note: I paid $26 for mine but I see that it’s now $28 – damn that exchange rate!] (Sephora)
• MAC Pro Performance Sponge (orange) – $24 (MAC)
• Quo Blending Sponge (purple) – $5 (Shoppers Drug Mart)
• Sephora Airbrush Sponge mini (teal) – $12 for 2 [bought this during Black Friday sale 2014] (Sephora)
• Blending sponge from eBay (black) – $1 (shipped from China)
• Kit Super Blenders (mint) – $12 for 3 (Rexall)