Putting on makeup with a sponge

[hipslikecinderella]

Foundation is apparently supposed to be applied with a sponge or foundation brush.
Mua was aghast that anyone would use their fingers, as it would spread germs over your face.
Doesn't everyone use fingers for foundation and sun cream etc? If you have washed hands I cant see why foundation is special (except that it takes up way more with a sponge because 3/4 of it soaks in....)?

Chances are more germs will be lurking on a manky sponge than on washed hands. Few people wash heir sponge after every use, the state of some sponges I have seen women use on trains is frightening.

I find fingers better, the warmth helps the products apply, it's cheaper, more hygienic and does not waste anything.

Try the silicone applicators.

I use a sponge because it looks better. If you dampen the sponge first the foundation doesn’t soak in, and it goes on very smoothly

@Jackiesa95
It actually changes the colour of the foundation applying it with your fingers so a brush or sponge is better

Genuinely curious... how does it change the colour? Never heard of that before?

Sponges should be washed after every use, most cleaners are antibacterial - takes 30secs at most. The sponge should be saturated before use & then wrung out - it stops the sponge absorbing as much product.

But the main reason for using a sponge (even more so than brush, IMO) is the finish. Foundation should be applied in a stippling motion for most efficient use of the product, as opposed to a swirling motion, brushes and fingers won’t leave a smooth finish like the sponge with this technique.

I’m a professional 🤗

Thank you bloodless everyone just ignored me when I said foundation wasn’t to be rubbed in like a cream and seem hung up on germs in a sponge but you wash them it’s not rocket science .

I use a beauty blender, but only because it makes my face look more presentable. I find I can't achieve the same coverage with my fingers. I put cream and concealer on with my fingers though. No worries about germs. In fact more germy on sponges - I don't wash my blender every time.

Are there really any recorded instances of anyone getting an infection from using a make up sponge? I have used one for years with no ill effects. And no, I don't wash it in antibacterial lotion. I buy a bag of little sponges from Poundland and when one gets too clogged up and mucky I chuck it. But certainly not after each use.

I use my fingers too - sometimes take off excess with a damp beauty blender afterwards.

There's no one right way to do it - depends on your skin type and the foundation you're using. E.g. I have horribly dry skin - if I use a brush, foundation just settles into all the little cracks and looks much worse than when I can "press" it in with my fingers.

You wouldn’t get an infection if it was only yourself using the sponge but the bacteria could cause breakouts. ( If you had a cold sore or other infection you could spread it though.)

Obviously as a makeup artist I have to clean between every client but I also clean my own sponges & brushes after every use because clean tools mean a more flawless application.

I can guarantee my sponge is cleaner - I wash it daily and then microwave it in antibacterial soapy water.

Can I also just say - not every foundation can be applied with fingers. The make up for the foundations differ. For instance - it would work with NARS, but not with EL.

Haven't applied foundation with my fingers since the "dream matte mousse" days in secondary school
PPs are right though, foundation should be patted onto the skin not rubbed in.

Best beauty blenders I've ever bought are from Primark, cheap as chips so can replace as often as needed.

foundation should be patted onto the skin not rubbed in.

Agree, but I don't see why I can't do that with my fingers.

@chardonnay I honestly don't know how anyone manages to get an even coverage by patting foundation on with their fingers - small face or really massive fingers?
Also I'd be worried about transferring all the natural oils of my fingers over my face but then again I'm acne-prone so I'm abit OTT when it comes to touching my face more than I should.

I suppose it would depend on the coverage of the foundation, if you are using more of a sheer coverage you probably wouldn't notice how un-even it is.

I just use my fingers. I’ve enough to be doing without faffing around with sponges.

It’s not like I’m a Vogue cover girl or anything, so pretty sure I get away with it.

That might be it, actually, I use sheer to medium foundation or TM.

It's definitely not uneven though.

@UmpetyLumpety
It actually changes the colour of the foundation applying it with your fingers so a brush or sponge is better

Genuinely curious... how does it change the colour? Never heard of that before?

I'm not the poster you were asking but I think it's because the foundation reacts differently to the oils in the skin on your hands than to the skin on your face.

To answer the thread; I use a Primark beauty blender for every day use but a foundation brush if I'm going out at night and want a really perfect finish. The brush takes too long to do every day.

@tilikum which foundation brush do you use? I can never get a streak free finish with a brush.

Hi @snowfalling

I use this bamboo brush I bought a set of all styles of bamboo make up brushes from Groupon a few years ago and they're still going strong.

Yes, the streakiness is an issue with brushes. Try to use much less product than you would normally, and then add more little by little to build up the coverage. By the end your skin will look flawless, and your foundation lasts much longer than applying with a sponge, but it's very time consuming.

Thanks @tilikum.

I see what what you mean by time consuming, I have been slapdash with brushes, hence the streaks. I guess it's more of an art and certainly not somethings to be rushed.

I use fingers for Mac face and body and a beauty blender type sponge for thicker foundations. It really depends on the foundation IMO.

I really don’t get all the people on YouTube who go on about ‘hygiene’ issues with pots and fingers, if you’re only using your products on yourself and you wash your hands regularly what’s the problem?!

I use a beauty blender or an oval brush that is good for blending

I used to use a sponge for a few years but started to feel it wasn't sitting well on my face anymore so I've switched to fingers, I feel like I have much more control over it now to make sure I get an even coverage etc.