DEAL OF THE DAY: Get up to 70% off at Walmart's luggage clearance sale!
Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Beauty Sponge

Last updated on September 29, 2022

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

People who use makeup sponges swear by them because these products allow users to create flawless finishes without getting their fingers dirty. Unlike cotton balls, you can wash and reuse sponges repeatedly. They are great for applying tinted moisturizers, BB creams, foundations, blushes and bronzers and will not leave streaks when you use them correctly.

Makeup sponges come in different sizes for different purposes. The teardrop looks like what it sounds like and is a solid multi-tasker. The larger, rounded part works well on bigger parts of the face, and the tip is good for harder-to-reach areas like around the nose and the inner corners of the eyes.

Some of these also have flat sides that you can use to apply powder or press and blend concealers and contouring powders. The flat side is also suitable for blushes and bronzers.

An oval makeup sponge can help you apply concealer precisely; some even have dual tips. Pear-shaped makeup sponges generally have smaller top portions and slightly larger bottom portions, with indented areas in the middle.

These can be easier to grip, but since the sponges are all made from foam, they are usually easy to hold and maneuver. Since you don’t have to put your fingers into your makeup when you use sponges, they are also more sanitary.

A makeup sponge should be dense but feel bouncy and lightweight without containing any latex that could cause allergic reactions. They are generally made out of polyurethane foam or silicone. You can buy them individually or in sets, and some of the latter include different shapes and sizes. Look for sponges that will fit nicely in your palm with a shape that meets your needs.

Our Picks For The Top Beauty Sponges

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

BEAKEY Non-Latex Blending Beauty Sponges, 5-Count

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

BEAKEY

Non-Latex Blending Beauty Sponges, 5-Count

This five-piece makeup sponge set is crafted from soft, elastic non-latex material and features microscopic pores that create a uniform finish on your skin each time you use them to put on dry or wet makeup.

Overall Take

For Perfectly Even ApplicationsThese sponges are easy to use and clean and will quickly become a part of your daily routine.

 Runner Up

Real Techniques Cruelty-Free Beauty Sponges, 4-Count

Real Techniques

Cruelty-Free Beauty Sponges, 4-Count

With a flat edge, round sides and precision tip, this highly-rated makeup sponge works with your makeup to contour, blend and cover imperfections with little effort. It is latex-free, vegan and 100% cruelty-free.

Overall Take

The Right Skin SolutionThis sponge makes being beautiful easy, and you’ll feel like a pro each time you use it.

 We Also Like

InnoGear Wet & Dry Use Beauty Sponges, 10-Count

InnoGear

Wet & Dry Use Beauty Sponges, 10-Count

Innogear’s beauty sponge includes five teardrops and five cut surface design shapes. You can use them with wet or dry makeup like concealers, liquid and powder foundations and all kinds of blush. Don’t worry, because you can clean and reuse them repeatedly.

Overall Take

Two Kinds of ShapesBlend to your heart’s content with these sponges.

 Strong Contender

Aesthetica Vegan Foam Beauty Sponge

Aesthetica

Vegan Foam Beauty Sponge

This 1.5-inch by 1.5-inch by 2.25-inch makeup sponge is made from non-latex foam, with a firm, dense surface for powders that can be soft and flexible for liquids and creams. It is 100% cruelty-free, vegan and simple to clean.

Overall Take

The Professional’s ChoiceMask those minor imperfections and make the most of what you’ve got with this high-quality sponge.

What to Look For

  • To use a makeup sponge, run it under clean water, squeeze out the excess and apply your makeup to its surface.
  • Use a dabbing motion to apply makeup to your face with the sponge’s round edges.
  • The flat edge is suitable for contouring around the nose and eyes.
  • Darker-colored sponges allow you to see exactly where the makeup is on them, before, during and after use.
  • Even if a beauty sponge claims to be “anti-microbial,” it should still be washed often.
  • You can clean makeup sponges with dishwashing liquid, or you might want to use a special makeup sponge cleaner for this purpose. When finished, rinse well, squeeze out the water and air dry.

More to Explore

Sponges that live in oceans and other bodies of water have been around much longer than household and makeup sponges. It’s estimated that they have been on the planet for about 600 million years.

There are about 8,550 living species; like corals, sponges are immobile aquatic invertebrates. They are essential to ecosystems because they collect bacteria, filter water and process things like phosphorous, nitrogen and carbon. Like makeup sponges, these sea creatures come in fascinating sizes, shapes and colors, too!

More to explore