Sponge Archives - The Luxe List

Lauren 23rd May 2016

The Original Beauty Blender

Beauty Blender

It’s not often that a product completely sweeps the market and pretty much revolutionises the beauty world. But I have to say, I think the Beauty Blender has done it! Before the neon pink sponge same onto the scene, most beauty blenders and sponges were big wedges of latex which pretty much smeared formula around. But now, beauty aisles are filled with egg-shaped sponges of varying colours promising flawless applications.

Beauty Blender 1

Despite dabbling in a number of rather expensive copy-cats, when I popped into Boots the other day, I couldn’t resist buying a second one. I did grab one a couple of years ago in East Hampton (review here) but I’m not too sure where that one ended up!

Beauty Blender 2

I’m happy to say, I think I love it even more than I did then! To use, I run the sponge under some lukewarm water to dampen it, and loosen it up a little. When the Beauty Blender soaks up water, it grows by about half its size, meaning it’s one of the largest sponges in my collection. It’s a complete dream to use. I’ve been using it with YSL’s new Touche Eclat Teint foundation (review to come) and I’m in love with the sheer, yet buildable coverage it gives. It gives skin a wonderful, perfected look, that feels incredibly natural and wears well all day. To be honest, I’m not sure why I got separated from my first Beauty Blender, but I do know that I’m a bit of a re-convert, and am going to pick up a spare the next time I see them! I’ve also seen that the Beauty Blender range has grown considerably, and I’m really quite keen to try the baby versions too!

The Original Beauty Blender is priced at £16.00 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Lauren 25th February 2016

Dior Forever Sponge

Ok, so I know that a new makeup sponge might not be the most exciting part of a beauty toolkit, but it’s a seriously important one! For the past 18 months or so, whenever I’ve not been using my fingers to apply foundation or concealer, invariably, I’m using my Dior Backstage Blender (review here). So, when I found out that the brand was releasing a brand new sponge to accompany their brand new Forever Foundation, I popped down to the nearest Dior counter to check it out!

Unfortunately, the Forever Foundation was too heavy for me, so I grabbed a bottle of my go-to Star Foundation and I was kindly gifted this sponge when I asked about it. Unlike the Backstage Beauty Blender, the Forever Sponge is white and it has a tighter, denser feeling. It’s also got a new shape, with a new, flat edge which is designed for getting into hard to reach areas. Unlike a lot of sponges, the Dior Forever doesn’t seem to suck up a tonne of product, although the fact that it’s white, means it does look super messy from the first time you use it.

If you’re at a Dior counter, I would definitely try it out, and see if they can give one to you too! If not, it’s priced at £14.00 and is available here (UK) and here (US)

Lauren 15th October 2015

Glossybox October 2015 – UK*

Getting my monthly Glossybox always feels like a real treat – from the pretty pink gift box to the surprises tucked inside layers of tissue and packing paper, they are always a joy to delve into! I always think Glossybox strike a great balance between brands and products, and this month is an absolute delight! Rather than the usual mix of deluxe samples with one or two full size products to enjoy, this month’s box is made up entirely of full sized products!

The product that first caught my eye was the Nicka K Airbrush Blending Sponge. A bright pink, almost egg-shaped sponge, it’s a new take on the ubiquitous beauty blender.

The sponge feels beautifully soft, and I love the tight texture which prevents too much foundation soaking in. The fun shape allows for a super precise application of makeup, and it leaves a flawless finish.

Jelly Pong Pong have to win the prize for the most adorable packaging around – and their Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara is no different.

Packaged in an adorable burgundy tube, the mascara is black, waterproof, and promises to curl lashes to the perfect flutter.

The formula looks like it’s a perfect thickness, and the bristled brush looks like it will really comb through my lashes – I can’t wait to try it out!

Since my skin gets super dry in colder weather, I was really excited to see the tube of Talika Hydra Day Cream. Despite the cream having a super light, almost gel-like texture, it goes deep into the skin to hydrate and nourish.

Next up is So Susan’s Haute Light highlighting pencil which promises to give skin lightness and radiance instantly.

The chunky pencil is so pretty with the turquoise and peach logo, I couldn’t wait to try out Haute Light! It’s quite similar to Benefit’s High Brow pencil, so if you’re looking for a lower cost dupe, this is a great option.

I’ve been using the Haute Light pencil mostly around my eyes – it’s a great way to define brows, and a little in the inner corners of my eyes makes me look wide awake!

I think my favourite part of this month’s box is the full sized tube of Lanolips’ Golden Ointment. This is one of those cure-all products which every girl needs in their stash!

The formula is super rich, and almost sticky to apply, but considering it is 100% natural, consisting of only natural lanolin, manuka honey and Vitamin E, even the most sensitive skins are able to enjoy the Golden Ointment. I tend to use it as a super nourishing lip balm, or I dab a little on my cuticles every evening to heal them and keep them moisturised.

This month’s box was absolutely amazing! You can subscribed to Glossybox for £10+p&p here

Lauren 4th December 2014

Dior Backstage Beauty Blender

Even though I’m not the world’s biggest foundation wearer, I get super picky about sponges. Lately I’ve been relying on my Estee Lauder Enlighten EE cream (see here) for a natural day look, and the best way of applying it, I’ve found, is with my new Dior Backstage Beauty Blender.

I picked it up when I was grabbing a bottle of Dior’s Star Foundation (it’s great and a review is in the works), and since I’m already a fan of the Original Beauty Blender (this one) I figured I would give Dior’s a whirl.

First off, I love the fact it’s black. I absolutely hate it when you stain sponges the moment they hit foundation, so the black stays looking identically chic no matter how much base you smear on it. The sponge also feels great to use – it’s a little larger than the Beauty Blender, and it feels heavier and more substantial too. Unlike it’s pink predecessor, it doesn’t need to be dampened prior to use, so it’s perfect to use on the go too! With my EE cream, I apply the formula direct from the tube in a couple of lines onto my face (one on my forehead, and one either side of my nose – and yes, for a few seconds I look like a crazy person) then buff it outwards using the pointed end. The shape means that blending difficult to reach areas a breeze, and it doesn’t seem to suck up foundation either.

The sponge costs £12.00 and is available from Selfridges

The Original Beauty Blender

Dior Forever Sponge

Glossybox October 2015 – UK*

Dior Backstage Beauty Blender

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