4 Tips: When To Use A Brush And When To Opt For A Sponge While Applying Makeup Jun. 21, 2022 Share:

 

 

When it comes to applying makeup, do you ever wonder if you should use a makeup brush or a sponge? Why are there so many brushes for applying makeup, and now such hoopla around blenders? Do they do different things? If yes, when should one opt for which? We explain.

 

Table of Contents

ㆍWhile applying a product from the bottle to the face, use a brush While trying to blend said deposited product seamlessly into the skin, use a sponge

ㆍWhen you need heavy coverage by depositing the maximum amount of pigment, use synthetic brushes

ㆍNeed to cover a pimple? You obviously need a thin brush

ㆍWorking with a product which looks too loud, dark, or stark? Use a sponge to soak up excess product

 

1. While applying a product from the bottle to the face, use a brush. While trying to blend said deposited product seamlessly into the skin, use a sponge

 

Sponges are good for pressing a product in after you have deposited it on the skin with a brush. This is because using a sponge to pick up a product and apply it on to the skin leads to a lot of wastage, because sponges soak up the product and deposit minimal amounts.

 

That means, use a stippling brush to place your foundation and concealer where needed, and then tap over the face once with a sponge for a seamless blend. The same goes for highlighter or blush. Apply it with a brush, but press it in with a sponge so that it looks streak-free and diffused.

 

So, following the aforementioned method is what everyone should ideally do under normal circumstances for medium coverage when it comes to any product.

 

2. When you need heavy coverage by depositing the maximum amount of pigment, use synthetic brushes

 

A lot of us people who like heavy coverage don't want the skin underneath to show at all. If that is your preference too, and if you want to completely cover your skin, use a brush. This is because, if you are trying to cover a pimple, or some kind of discolouration, you need the maximum amount of coverage. Using a sponge in such a situation will nearly always leave you frustrated, because as you go over your foundation-covered pimple with a sponge, you will only see the foundation get more and more sheer.

 

This won't happen if you use a fluffy, tightly-packed, synthetic stippling brush, aka the standard foundation brush. Synthetic brushes don't absorb anything, so they deposit exactly what they've picked up. This goes a long way in giving better coverage, and doesn't remove anything from the skin when you blend. However, it's important to make sure your brush is fluffy and soft, because spiky-tipped brushes leave streaks.

 

 

3. Need to cover a pimple? You obviously need a thin brush

 

Sponges are the worst when it comes to concealing acne, and not just because they absorb a lot of your concealer. This is because even the smallest ones don't have tips which are small enough to not spread around the concealer. Using a synthetic lip brush or pencil brush is a much better idea, because that way, you use the brush to press the concealer in only where the spot is instead of moving it around.

 

So, if you want to do precise makeup such as concealing spots or pin-point highlighting, you need a brush. Sponges will spread the product too much.

 

4. Working with a product which looks too loud, dark, or stark? Use a sponge to soak up excess product

 

That's what you need to remember about what sponges do. Need your makeup to look natural and non-cakey? You need a sponge for that.

 

Contour lines look too harsh? Use a sponge and go over it so that it soaks up excess product and blurs the lines. Used too much red blush? A sponge will pick up the excess and press the rest into the skin more evenly.

 

Whenever you need a natural, minimal finish which looks skin-like and blended into the skin, use a sponge.

 

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