Beauty on a Budget

Worth the splurge: Beautyblender

By Lauren Kelly, Assistant Editor

In my previous columns I’ve made sure to focus on cheap products—mostly under $10. However, I have recently started using the Beautyblender sponge after trying multiple cheaper versions and being very disappointed. A friend swore that for this product, you had to buy the real thing, so I splurged on it. It is definitely worth the $28 price tag.

The Beautyblender is an egg-size sponge with one round end and one end that tapers into a point. The round is for the majority of your face, but the point can be used for anywhere needing a more precise application, such as around your eyes and nostrils. To use it, you need to wet and squeeze it out first, then dot foundation onto your face use the sponge to blend it in using light handed patting motions. It comes in many sizes, colours, and purposes now, but the hot pink one is the basic and most famous version.

I have a fantastic MAC foundation brush, but I’ve found that it takes so long to make my face look perfect with it, and I don’t usually have the time to do it. The Beautyblender has been a huge time saver for me. I’ve even been able to do most of my face without a mirror while I’m doing other things. The coverage is great as well, and very buildable which is exactly what I need.

Just a few words of caution before you get one. When I purchased mine, I made the mistake of going with the “Red Carpet” version because I loved the colour. On my first use of it, I noticed some red dye bleeding, but I assumed that would stop after a few uses. It’s still bleeding after three weeks, and I am planning to exchange it for another one. After researching the product after to see if mine was faulty, almost all reviews of this colour mentioned it, and most recommended switching to the aforementioned pink Beautyblender, or the black Beautyblender Pro. Make sure to watch for these when shopping for one!

The Beautyblender line of products is available at Sephora, as well as cleaners for their products. However, you can wash them with soap as well to save more money. Just make sure to ring the soap out well before you use it. Enjoy!