Sponge eyeshadow applicators vs eyeshadow brushes

I know these are supposed to be completely useless, and that one is supposed to throw them away and use proper eyeshadow brushes to apply eyeshadow. But I have to confess: I love sponge tip eyeshadow applicators. Give me these over my Bobbi Brown eyeshadow brush any day. I just get such better control with the sponges, and find blending much easier with them as well. This makes me feel I must be doing something wrong, but if it works for me, then it must be...right. Right?

On what side of this issue do you come down?

Comments

[Nuria]

I´m with you, sponge applicators are much, much easier to use and for whatever reason the colors go on brighter and last longer..

Nuria

[michel]

I agree that if it works, it works, period. Back when I used to do makeup for Senna Cosmetiques sponge applicators were akin to the devil. Recently, though, I decided I like the sponge for certain things: smudging shadow/liner under my eye and applying anything to my lid. For the brow bone area though I can only use a brush.

[Jackie Danicki]

The other thing I love about them is, they are so cheap. I bought a package of 20, for 99 cents or something, at Duane Reade in NYC. It will take me years to get through all of those.

[Suzanne]

SPONGE. Brushes leave debris all over my cheekbones and temples (or maybe I am just messy). They aren't precise in any way I can control and are better suited to the application of concealer.

Also, I use the tip of the sponge to create a smudged look at the lashline and have become very adept at that--it's a kindergarten skill that looks softer with shadow than it would with liner.

[Jackie Danicki]

Suzanne, I get the debris from using brushes, too. Brown dust on my cheeks is not my idea of a good look.

[Laura Linger]

I'll even go you one better: I'm a fingertips girl! Give me a pot of MAC shadow and the ring finger on my right hand, and we have shadowed and blended eyes, people!

I'm going to be doing a post over at my site about "Your Biggest Beauty Breakthroughs" for 2006. I mention this only because your post is exactly the kind of thing I am talking about for myself in the post. Sometimes defying the "conventional" wisdom is the best thing you can do. Like going back to brunette after believing erroneously for years that Blonde Is Always Better.

Or realizing that I can cut and color my own hair and have it look every bit as good, if not better, than when I pay $150 to have it all done in a salon.

I invite you and your readers to share your own 2006 beauty breakthroughs in the comments, and when I return from Japan in early January, I'll post them all in their own entry. :-)

p.s. Not shilling for my site...I just thought that it might be fun.

[michel]

Yeah, I like the cheap factor. Brushes are WAY overpriced. It's a crime, really. You can buy paint brushes at an art supply store and cut them to size and shape, for much less.

[Kath]

Could someone please explain to me the style differences between the major makeup artists, i.e. Nars, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Mac, etc.? Or can you point me to a website or book that talks about it? I can't seem to get a clear answer from anyone. Thanks.

[Jacq]

I like brushes for the base layer of eyeshadow, but definitely sponge applicators for any fine work. Brushes are just too inprecise. I like a paler base colour with a darker colour applies close to the lash line (like eyeliner, but without the actual 'line'), and the only way I get it the way I like it is to use a moistened sponge applicator and powder eyeshadow.

[Ivy]

I use brushes if I want to get a more 'natural' look, and especially if I'm applying light color shadows. Sponge applicators rock, you can get defined lines and color exactly where you want it. One thing though, I buy sponge eyeshadow applicators with long, brush like stalks, because the tiny ones don't go well with my long nails.

[Andrea Dickson]

Brushes. The sponge applicators are too scratchy for my eyelids. I'm sure there are nicer ones than the ones I get with my eyeshadow, but as a rule, I throw them out. Maybe I should rethink this?

[Emily]

I think sponge applicators. My husband bought me a beautiful set of Laura Mercier brushes and I was all set to be really "grown up" with my makeup application and I just find it too hard!

[Ann]

Hi everyone!

I use a brush to cover the eyelids to the brow with my base eyeshadow (Mylar by Mac) and to shade the crease area but you can't beat a good sponge applicator to add more colour to the lids and for more precision when putting eyeshadow on top of your eye pencil eyeliner. (to make it last) The best I've found are a multi-coloured pack by Shu Uemura. They have a rounded end on one side (good for eyelids) and a more pointed end on the other. (good for covering eye pencil) They don't sell them in every country. I bought mine in Hong Kong but am now back in Europe. Has anyone seen them in London or Paris? (or anywhere else? I can always do a mail order) I highly recommend them.

[Ellen]

I've spent the last hour backtracking through your blog, so I apologize that this response is coming so late. I must tell you that prior to my Laura Mercier brush purchase, I was a finger paint girl. Last summer I bought 2 brushes, both Mercier. The #23 angle crease contour brush is the be all, end all of eye shadow brushes. It does it all, except liner. And the second was the #5 powder brush. I use this for blush, bronzer and face powder. An investment yes - but they have both changed my make-up face forever.