little white truths

I want to kick-off this review by saying that I haven't tried a lot of makeup sponges because I prefer using my fingers for foundation, so I'm not an expert on these things and that needs to be noted.

However I received one as a GWP at the beginning of the year, and I found that I liked having one on-hand for use after I've applied my foundation and concealer, because I find that a quick run-over with one of these ensures that my blending is finished faster, and also helps lift off a little product if I've applied too much foundation and want less coverage (I prefer a natural look).

So after my last sponge died, I went into Priceline and chose this one for the simple reason that it was the cheapest one available in the shape I wanted - and makeup sponges are more expensive than you might think, so the price mattered.

What I've found, though, is that this is nothing like I expected. It's hard, it doesn't soften when you add water, and it doesn't clean as well as the other sponge I used. I also don't enjoy using it because it's on the hard side and I don't think it's as effective at blending things out. More on that below.

Manicare claims/product details:

• A precision blending sponge designed for easy application of foundation, concealer, blush and bronzer
• This non-allergenic and antibacterial sponge features a 3D shape, ensuring a mess-free and streak-free application
• Inspired by makeup professionals for the application of foundation, concealer and blush
• One sponge creates the complete foundation look: the pointed end is perfect for intricate spots and angles; the rounded end covers large areas of the face
• This advanced contoured tool has extra fine suede textures, achieving the ultra-light finish without streaks
• RRP $11.49 AUD

Verdict

I don't like this sponge at all, and I'm going to get myself a new one asap because I can't deal with this one for much longer.

It's a purple sponge with that pear/hourglass shape that many sponges have these days, and I chose it not only because it was cheaper than the other available sponges, but also because I like this particular shape: you can use it for different things and the tip gets into corners well.

Unfortunately, though, that's where the good stuff ends. This is quite a hard sponge so it doesn't feel as nice on the skin and I don't think it's as effective as its softer counterparts for that reason. It just doesn't blend out my makeup as well, so I need to work harder at things (which takes longer) and that's not what I want.

It also doesn't take in water and expand like other sponges do, so don't expect it to do that because you'll be disappointed. I think this also contributes to the fact that it's too hard in texture and doesn't work as effectively, so I'll be sure to look for an expanding sponge next time.

On top of that, because it doesn't take in water and expand, it's also harder to clean. I've washed mine a good few times but I really can't get the makeup out of it properly - and this means it's likely a breeding ground for god knows what, so in terms of longevity, it falls down there too.

Overall I don't like this sponge and I don't recommend it. It's too hard so it doesn't work as well as other sponges, I don't like the feel of it on my skin, and it's hard to wash too. For these reasons, I've given it a 'disappointing products' tag.

Not for me.