So today I will be discussing the 'Real Techniques' miracle complexion sponge. Is it a Dupe or a Dud?? A few weeks back a friend of mine asked me if the Beauty Blender was worth the hype and money. I immediately told her, "YES!!"
I have never experienced a sponge like the Beauty Blender. To be honest, it's an amazing sponge. When I worked for Estee Lauder, (many moons ago) we used the regular triangle sponges to apply foundation. I noticed that the triangle sponges soaked up A LOT of product and that was frustrating.
Currently I'm taking a Makeup Artistry class at a Cosmetology school in Austin, and we use the triangle sponges. A small part of me cringes inside. When I'm officially a certified Makeup Artist, I will definitely be using the beauty blender, and keep a few in my kit. I honestly think it's worth the money. The beauty blender is made with a special technology, so it won't soak up all of the product. Whether you are using a liquid or a powder, the product will lay on the outer layer of the sponge.
**HOWEVER**
I wanted to try this knock off, or 'dupe,' to see how it compared to the beauty blender. If you are someone who is really into makeup, I suggest investing in a beauty blender. The beauty blender honestly gives me an airbrushed look that the foundation brush alone can not achieve. Now if you're someone who enjoys makeup, but it's not a huge priority, then invest in the Real Techniques sponge. You can find it at the drugstore for only $5.99! That is a HUGE steal compared to the beauty blender which costs $20. Plus you have to go to Sephora, or shop online to purchase it.
Hands down I was impressed! If you see the picture below, you will notice that they are both comparable in size. **SIDE NOTE** Make sure to WET your sponges before applying liquid to the face. The moisture activates the sponges and gives a flawless finish. If you are using a cream base, I suggest not wetting the sponge. Cream bases are mostly made with silicone and a wax ingredient which will counter act with water.
I wet both sponges in these pictures to show the comparison.
(*Nail credit goes to my friend and coworker Alex Hammer. Thanks Alex! ;) )
The beauty blender is an egg shaped sponge, while the real techniques sponge has a flat bottom and a pointed edge. In my opinion I find it easier to blend around the eye area with the beauty blender. I did some research on both sponges, and the real techniques sponge had information that was hard to find.
Here are some interesting facts about the beauty blender:
*It is 100% recyclable.
*The plastic container it comes in is also 100% recyclable.
*Minimum water retention - so it only holds what is necessary for application
*Makeup sits on the surface of the sponge, so you can use less product. (saving you money in the long run)
Here are some interesting facts about the miracle complexion sponge:
*It is 100% cruelty free. They do not test their products on animals.
*It claims to be designed with a revolutionary foam technology to evenly blend makeup. (I couldn't find more info on this)
* The flat edge helps to contour around the eyes and nose.
In my honest opinion, the miracle complexion sponge is VERY comparable to the beauty blender. They both blend very well and I can achieve the same look. The miracle complexion sponge seemed a little harder to clean because it soaked up a lot of water, which means it will likely soak up a lot of product. My heart will always lean towards the beauty blender, but I love that real techniques has the next best option for a fraction of the cost. So would I consider this sponge a dupe or a dud? My answer is DUPE! You can easily achieve a flawless look with this sponge while saving some money.
I hope you all found this to be helpful, and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at amylynbeauty@gmail.com.
Have a BeYOUtiful Day!!
xoxo - Amy