Applying Foundation - Which is better fingers/sponge or brush?

[MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff]

I just use my fingers at the moment, I used to use a lovely brush (which I'm sure I could dig out if I looked) but I think I remember feeling a bit 'plastered' when using it. Are the sponges just a breeding ground for bacteria?

Which do you find is the best way to apply foundation (or tinted moisturiser or bb or cc cream)?

I'm just rethinking how I do my make-up so am very interested in how others do it

Hopeful bump for the evening crew

I always use fingers. My foundation is expensive and I feel a brush and sponge would cause waste

I use a brush and it doesn't waste the foundation at all. I love the coverage I get from a brush. Used to use my fingers but I find I nearly rub it off as I'm running it on! Now sponges waste foundation!

It generally depends on the foundation but I LOVE the real technique sponge and won't use anything else now. In fact I stock pile when I see them on offer. Sponges do use a little more product but for the finish I get it's so worth it. Friends use a kabuki brush and love it and I did use my fingers in the past and that's ok too but as I say it's sponge for me.

I for got to say I wear foundation 3 times a week and a bottle of Doublewear lasts about 6 months with a sponge.

You wet the sponge first so it dosnt soak any product. I sometimes use brush and then dab with sponge for a flawless finish

I use the proper beauty blender, it doesn't absorb too much, and wash it weekly.

The Real Technique one is cheaper but I had two, one was really good the other absorbed everything and sheered the product out loads so I had to put more on until it covered. It might have just been a defective one though.

I use an ever so slightly damp Real Techniques beauty blender. I get pretty flawless coverage and it soaks up very little product. I wash it in hot soapy water after each use and replace regularly.

I use a damp real techniques make up sponge. It somehow makes full coverage foundation look almost skin like, it blends beautifully and I don’t feel it sucks any product up. I also use double wear, but I have to apply with a brush as it sets so quickly it doesn’t leave me enough time to blend it out with a sponge. I never use fingers, I suffer a lot with my skin so wash my sponges and brushes weekly and try to rarely touch my face.

I use fingers because I find this gives me the most natural coverage. A brush is better for the heavier coverage foundations.

Sponge, no. It looks like an Artex wall covering.

Also, fingers are the easiest to clean.

Also, I'm trying to minimise my usage of plastic and fingers are better than sponges, environmentally.

Brush first, then a bit of a top up with a beauty blender. I have really crap skin though!

Sponge all the way, I use the L’Oréal one

I absolutely swear by the Beauty Blender. I've tried a couple of dupes and binned them both within a week.

Totally depends on the foundation. Personally I tend to apply heavier coverage foundations with a sponge, as i feel I get more control over the level of coverage. I have a couple of foundations that are definitely better with a brush, e.g. Chantecaille Future Skin which has more of a gel texture.

Beauty blender (£18) or a real techniques sponge (£6 and works just as good)
Wet the sponge so it increases in size and has more coverage space, also doesn't soak up foundation nearly as much as my foundation brushes.
I use water lauder double wear or mac studio fix every day and it gives great coverage

Fingers spread way more bacteria than a sponge which should be washed every day with an anti bac soap.
I have about 11 foundation brushes and the sponge is still a firm favourite. im a brush hoarder

Definitely meant Estee not water. Should preview my posts!

I wish my hands before doing my makeup, no way are my fingers dirtier than a sponge.

I prefer to use a couple of Real Techniques brushes. There's a pink one called a Contour brush which is brilliant for foundation as it's angled and fits everywhere.

I have several beauty blender things but I think I prefer a medium coverage and find the damp sponges give a too sheered out finish. They're great for a natural skin like finish though.

I just love the speed of buffing it in with a brush. Literally 20 seconds. The sponges take longer and you need to go to the sink to wet them etc. Meh.

I sometimes use a brush or use my fingers, however I always finish off with a Real Techniques stippling brush for a flawless cover.

I apply “spots” with a small brush then blend with a beauty blender.

I tend to only wear makeup for work so at the weekend I throw the blender in the washing machine machine with some towels on a hot wash.

For fuller coverage (night out/special occasion) I use a silicone sponge thingy

I use my fingers. I tried using a brush (haven't used sponges in years as feel they soak up too much product) but felt that the brush also used more product and didn't give me as good coverage as fingers. I find a bottle of Double Wear lasts me 5 - 6 months and I wear everyday.