I ordered the AliExpress dupe to the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge back in January last year, and it only cost me $0.70. 😀 But in order for me to truly compare how it looks and feels against the real thing… I had to get the real thing:
The price for the Real Techniques sponge ranges from $7.69 online from the RT store to $11.99 from Rexall (drugstore). I bought mine for $9.99 off NailPolishCanada.com
EDIT: Check out the follow up post here (exceptional customer service!)
A couple of housecleaning items to kick off today’s post. First: May the Fourth be with you! 😀 And second: I seem to be in spam hell once again. I’ve left a bunch of comments yesterday on various blogs and they all disappeared. It’s so frustrating when that happens – can you please check your spam box? Click here to see where your spam is located. Thanks!
Onward to my April Trash Stash! This month turned out to be ok for empties – I thought I’d have only a few to show but I am on an ambitious plan to clear out my cabinets of items that just aren’t working for me.
It was fairly well balanced in terms of skincare, body, hair and makeup stuff, actually.
[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)
stash matters 