How to Use a Beautyblender for Even, Blended Makeup

The art of makeup application is similar to that of painting. You have the cosmetics (paints) you'll use, such as foundation and concealer, and the tools needed for application. Anybody who has ever applied face makeup, or has used paint on a canvas, knows the importance of using the right tools to make your products go on flawlessly. After all, finger painting won't exactly provide the same results seen on a Degas. In the cosmetics world, people tend to use makeup brushes and sponges, and of the latter, the Beautyblender ($20) undeniably reigns supreme. The question then remains, what's how do you use a Beautblender correctly? Going back to our painting analogy, let's dissect water coloring quickly. You need a specific brush that has to be wet or damp to grab the pigment from the palette and apply it `on the canvas. In the same sense, the Beautyblender has its list of do's and don't's. For example, you need to damp it before using it.

To best understand how to use a Beautyblender, we tapped two celebrity makeup artists. Ahead, Beautyblender's global makeup artist Aline Elasmar and celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney share exactly how to use a Beautyblender.

Step One: Prime Your Skin

Before blending your foundation, BB cream, or CC cream with a Beautyblender, Henney recommends priming the skin with a luminous formula. We recommend Laura Mercier's Pure Canvas Primer ($47) as it's silicone-free and gentle for all skin types. Plus, this skin-dewer will enhance your natural glow before segueing into your foundation routine.

Step Two: Dampen Your Beautyblender

According to Elasmar, all Beautyblenders should be used damp, and this is essentially a non-negotiable: “Your Beautyblender should always be used wet. You'll know your Beautyblender is in perfect condition when it has expanded to twice its original size,” she adds. If you're not sure how wet your Beautyblender should be, the brand's Shadeshifter Makeup Sponge ($20) uses heat-activated technology and changes colors when it's absorbed enough water for proper usage.

Step Three: Squeeze Out Any Excess Water

"It's really important that you don't use the Beautyblender dry because it will eat up your makeup product," says Henney. "Just dampen it under water and squeeze out any excess liquid... you just want it so it's a little bit damp. You don't want it dripping water." A quick tip is to invest in a few sponges so you have a few at the ready and you're not waiting on your favorite makeup applicator to dry before heading out to your next big event.

Step Four: Bounce Your Sponge, Don't Drag It

Elasmar recommends that you avoid dragging the blender across your face. Instead, “bouncing the sponge allows for seamless blending (with no streaks or lines of demarcation) and the most product payoff on the skin. You can either use the tip or base for bouncing.”

Henney also likes to use the bounce method to create a more natural finish. "I like to just put the foundation onto my hand, and then I bounce the Beautyblender onto the product," she says. Working from the center of the face-outward, "I just do soft bouncing motions, and it really pushes the product into the skin. It will make your foundation look natural." Bounce is the namesake for the brand's first-ever foundation, after all.

Step Five: Fine Tune With the Pointed End of Your Beautyblender

The Beautyblender has always stood out due to its playful color and unique design, which was an intentional in its design. Elasmar says, “The pointed end is designed to cover blemishes; blend hard-to-reach places like around the nose and mouth; and to apply the product on the apples of the cheek. The base should be used for applying and blending products on larger areas of the face. It can also be used to apply powders for ‘baking’ and bronzing.” The Beautyblender also comes in a smaller size — appropriately named The Micro Mini ($19) — for precision concealing, contouring, and highlighting. Use the same technique as your Beautyblender: Wet, squeeze, and bounce.

How to Care for Your Beautyblender:

To elongate the life of your Beautyblender and prevent the spread of acne-causing bacteria, it's important to clean your makeup sponge in between uses. The brand sells two types of cleanser — a Liquid ($15) and Solid ($9) — that were formulated specificaly to get into the pores of the sponge. “Swirl and compress a wet Beautyblender, working into a lather, and repeat if necessary," recommends Elasmar. "Gently squeeze your Beautyblender and rinse it again to remove any excess cleanser and water. Finally, squeeze away excess water with a towel and set your Beautyblender out to dry completely in a clean, well-ventilated area to re-use. You can use the lid of the canister as a drying pedestal.” If you want to avoid unwanted breakouts, don't even think about skipping this step. We're serious. Fit this new cleansing routine into your schedule weekly (or bi-weekly, we won't judge) and it'll soon feel less like a chore.

Unlock Your Beautyblender's Secret Uses:

• Apply eyeshadow: You can use your Beautyblender to apply eyeshadow. “Create an easy, pulled-together, monochromatic look using the Micro Mini. Grab your favorite three-in-one cream product and use the rounded end of a damp Micro Mini to apply a sheer layer of color to your eyelids. Concentrate on placing product close to the lash line, and then use the side of your blender to diffuse the color towards the crease,” advises Elasmar.
• Create monochromatic lips and cheeks: “Then use the rounded end of the Micro Mini to apply the product to the apples of your cheeks. Finish the look by using the pointed end to add a wash of color to your lips. Instant, easy glam on the go,” she says.
• Use it as a nail sponge: Before throwing out your used Beautyblender, you can use it for various things. “After painting your nails, use the pointed end at a 45-degree angle with a contrasting nail polish shade to add a pop of color to the tip of your nails. Or use it all over to create two-tone nails,” says Elasmar.
• Touch-up your roots: “You can also use a Beautyblender with matte shadow to touch up roots if you’re in a bind,” she continues.