Should You Apply Foundation With a Brush or Sponge?

How to Apply Foundation with a Sponge

Applying foundation with a sponge is likewise pretty straightforward. First, you’ll want to select your tool. Makeup sponges come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and textures, but foam-based sponges tend to be the most common. One of our favorites is the NYX Professional Makeup Marshmellow Blender Sponge, which is made from a unique material that helps ensure seamless blending with minimal product waste. You may also want to consider grabbing a few smaller sponges (we like the AOA Studio Collection Mini Makeup Sponges) to blend and apply on hard-to-reach areas, like around your nose.

Next, run your sponge under lukewarm water to wet it. Then, squeeze out the excess water—it should be damp, not sopping wet. Then, dispense some of your liquid foundation onto the back of your hand and dip your sponge in it. Lightly bounce the sponge onto the back of your hand to remove any big globs of excess product. Then you can begin applying your foundation, starting at the center of your face and gradually blending outward. When applying foundation with a sponge, you’ll want to use a bouncing motion, patting the product into your skin rather than wiping it across your face. This helps diffuse the product and creates a gorgeous second skin-like finish. Repeat this process, building the foundation up to your liking, until you achieve your desired end result.

Editor’s note: If you’re using an oil or silicone-based foundation, it may be best to skip the sponge-dampening step altogether, since water and oil (famously) don’t mix well. Be sure to read the instructions on the foundation you’re using for a clearer understanding of how to apply it for the best results.

What Is the Best Way to Apply Foundation?

Knowing whether to use a sponge or brush for foundation—and how to properly wield each tool—can help ensure a gorgeous-looking makeup application. But there are some other helpful tips you may want to keep in mind, too.

First, and perhaps most importantly, always start with a clean, primed base. Your makeup won’t apply smoothly or evenly if you’re applying it to second-day (read: not-freshly-cleansed) skin, and it may not last as long as you’d like. Washing your face, moisturizing, and prepping your skin with a makeup primer can go a long way toward ensuring your makeup looks great and stays put.

Generally, foundation should be the first product you apply after your makeup primer. If you’re using a liquid or cream foundation, you can layer cream, liquid, or powder products on top of it to complete your look. But if you’ve selected a powder foundation, you’ll want to stick with all powder products. Putting liquids and creams on top of powder foundation can make your makeup appear blotchy or patchy. That being said, it’s always a good idea to set your look with a makeup setting spray to help prevent smudging or fading.

Finally, while not exactly a foundation application tip, we’d be remiss if we didn’t stress the importance of cleaning your chosen tool—whether that be a foundation brush or a sponge—regularly. Using dirty tools to apply your foundation can result in an uneven application and may eventually contribute to skin concerns like irritation or breakouts. If you’re unsure how to clean your makeup tools, we break it all down in our article How To Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges in 5 Easy Steps.

Next Up: How and Where To Apply Concealer—Plus 10 Editor-Approved Options To Try