In attempts to improve or replace the holy grail of makeup sponges, the beautyblender, people have used a lot of weird things to put foundation on their faces.
Here is every single one of them, ranked from best to worst.
And the worst is REALLY cringe-inducing.
Foam hair rollers
Whoever thought of this might be a genius. Those sponges might not be as soft, but they're dirt cheap and still manage to blend every crevice perfectly.
Memory foam pillows
You know, as long as the pillow is cut into a shape that can blend corners and creases, this hack could have legs.
Dish sponges
Dish sponges are more porous and therefore more absorbent than the beautyblender, but for their ubiquity and affordability, it's not a bad idea.
Socks
Some people put their beauty sponges inside of socks, some stuff the sock with other socks, and some people just use their sock-covered hand. Surprisingly, it all works — it's just too absorbent and high-maintenance.
Squishy children's toys
Ok, so people aren't rushing to replace their high-quality makeup sponges with strange children's toys, but it's surprisingly efficient.
Spoons
No product absorption, tapered edges for under the eyes, and a nice, cooling touch? Not bad.
Tampons
This is ridiculous. It's small, and that cotton probably gets everywhere, but it kind of works? Who would've thought?
Silicone makeup sponges
The internet nearly died at the thought of a makeup sponge that blended seamlessly without soaking up every last bit of product, but the Silisponge (and its many imitators) still require a lot of work.
Silicone bra inserts
When the silicone sponge went viral, the internet attempted to find cheap and readily available dupe. The bra insert was by far the strangest.
Plastic-wrapped makeup sponges
Hot on the heels of the bra insert, wrapping a beautyblender in plastic clingfilm seemed like a good idea — if you don't mind the wrinkles.
Tape
An even worse iteration of the silicone sponge, using tape was just as useful at applying makeup as… well, a makeup-removing wipe.
Condoms
No. No. No. No. No? NO.
Putting your beautyblender inside a condom is insanity. Not only is it not that great for makeup application, but unless you've washed that condom really well, inside and out, it may also wreak merry hell on your skin. I mean, spermicidal lube!
I'll stick to my regular beautyblender, thanks. A little foundation absorption is a small price to pay.
