Battle of the Budget Beauty Blending Sponges

When it comes to beauty tools, sponges seem to be a makeup artist's best friend. Sponges can be used for pretty much anything! They can blend out foundation and concealer, apply a cream highlight, and some people even swear that sponges set powder beautifully. While many swear by the Beauty Blender, I just can't bring myself to spend $19 on a sponge that I'll have to replace. Since I'm not ready to splurge on a Beauty Blender, I've been on the hunt for the best budget sponge on the market. My journey brought me to the following two contenders: the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge and the Earth Therapeutics Precisso Beauty Blending Sponge. Which one is the best budget sponge? Read more to find out!

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, $5.99
Pros
- The flat edge makes applying foundation incredibly easy
- Has narrow edges which makes blending out concealer a dream
- Extremely soft on the skin
- Applies foundation beautifully
- It's available at Ulta, Walmart, Kohl's, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, and Bed Bath & Beyond

Cons
- Retains a lot of water, so you have to squeeze quite a lot before usage
- It also retains some foundation
- I also find that it doesn't spring up as much when it's wet
- It falls apart quickly, mine had tears within the first wash
- The shape is a bit awkward to hold at the times
- Foundation will eventually stain the sponge, making it look dirty even after being washed

Earth Therapeutics Precisso Beauty Blending Sponge, $6
Pros
- Extremely soft but still springs up when wet
- Doesn't retain water or foundation
- Blurs out pores and imperfections
- The egg shape feels very comfortable on your hand
- Narrow tip fits really well around the eye and nose
- Very easy to use, there's no learning curve required

Cons
- I've only found it at Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohl's
- All colors aren't created equal, don't buy anything but the pink version
- It's also delicate when washing
- Foundation also stains the sponge, making it look dirty even after being washed

Both sponges do an amazing job blending both foundation and concealer, but the winner of this battle is the Earth Therapeutics Precisso Beauty Blending Sponge. Not only does the Earth Therapeutics sponge feel more comfortable on my hand, but I also find that it applies product better. If you look closely at the comparison picture you will be able to see pores on the Real Techniques side, while the Earth Therapeutics side looks very smooth. Another reason why I personally prefer the Earth Therapeutics sponge is because it swells up when you add water, but it still retains some firmness which allows the sponge to spring up when bounced on the face. The same can't be said about the Real Techniques sponge, I find that it can get flimsy at times when moist.

The two sponges are great, but the best has to be the very underrated Earth Therapeutics Precisso Beauty Blending Sponge. If you've tried another great sponge let me know in the comments below! I would also love to hear about the Beauty Blender if you've tried it. Maybe this year will be the year that I splurge on that damn sponge just to see what all the fuss is about.