Makeup sponges

So I did a search and I didn't come across this being discussed....
I've read up on sponges and what you guys like and don't. I grabbed a small pack of sponges from micheal's yesterday but I was wondering....why does nobody use the triangles that you use in everyday makeup? Is there a reason like hygiene, or do they just not work well with face paints?

They don't work very well for water activated make-up. They absorb all the water and you will have great difficulty applying/spreading the make-up then. The cosmetic wedges are meant for use with oil based products, as they absord the excess oil, leaving the foundation pigments on the skin.

And they are not reuseable.

Aha! I knew there had to be a good reason (or three). lol! Thanks so much for that info!

They can be useful... they work okay for applying pressed powder, or for "stamping" type texturing.

really?? I use those all the time when I paint. I wash them out and everything and have no problems. They are so much cheaper and have a high density which is nice for blending... what's so wrong about them?

Well... they aren't meant for more than a single use, and definitely not for reuse on another person.

Have you tried using high density foam sponges instead as you may be surprized how much easier it is to blend etc. with a more suitable sponge?

People do use them, but they are not the best thing to use. Yes, they are cheap... but they are meant to be disposable too.

The white foam "rubber" is just too absorbent to work optimally with face paints.

Well, I'm by no means saying they're the best to use, I know that. But they do work well enough for my liking.

But I also know I can't afford to go out and buy hundreds of sponges to use... especially since they can be pricey. Their just out of my budget, especially seeing as I'm now currently out of a job... (substitute teaching isn't very lucrative in the summer), and my pay while working isn't that much after my car loan and college loan payments.

Car wash sponges are the way to go. Great density. $1.00-$1.50 each & you cut them into the shapes you need. You'll get a ton of sponges out of just 1!

Psalmbook wrote:Car wash sponges are the way to go. Great density. $1.00-$1.50 each & you cut them into the shapes you need. You'll get a ton of sponges out of just 1!

Like the big orange looking kind?

Buy two car wash sponges for under $5... cut them into small pieces and you'll have more than enough sponges for even the busiest full-day gig...

The large peanut shaped ones that are labelled for washing cars - soft high density foam, usually yellowish amber colours.

Shannon Fennell wrote:Buy two car wash sponges for under $5... cut them into small pieces and you'll have more than enough sponges for even the busiest full-day gig...

The large peanut shaped ones that are labelled for washing cars - soft high density foam, usually yellowish amber colours.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find these at Walmart on Maui. Sometimes it's hard to find things I need here. This will be an easy and affordable option.

Yep! Those are the kind. Dollar stores, walmart, hardware stores...

I love you guys! I've gotta get started on my practicing so I can offer this with our Bouncy Castle parties. I need to show my hubby that my paint purchase was worthwhile so I can buy more paints hahahahaa

Okay went to "Wally World" today and looked for the old style peanut sponges, but of course my Walmart only has these new colorful swirl kind...I bought one anyway to try it out. For $1.78 I was able to get 24 sponges total, and I'm not too sure if I cut my pieces too big...maybe I could've gotten more. In any case I think they will work just fine. This was my project today...

they might be a little bit big still, but try them and see how they feel for you. Mine are about half that size.

Try cutting them into 'egg' shapes. They are great for blending and getting into eye socket areas. They're a pain to trim (the bits get 'static' and stick to everything), but then they lose the sharp edges and can give a nice soft edge to your base/design. I use a combo of the dollar store sponges cut into egg shapes and the 'tack' sponges cut into semi circles. The tack sponges are great for bases for eye designs and butterflies.

excellent. thanks for the car wash sponge idea!!

Your welcome(I got the idea from the forum). I gave a bunch of boys "black eyes' w/ my carwash sponges today. Literally... dry-sponged on paint to give them black eyes & road rash w/ bloodied lips. They loved it & everyone thought it looked so real!

Punky, I started out with those wedges and I found out within 2 faces that they were not right for the finish I wanted to produce...but that's just me. You have to do what's right for you. From an economical standpoint, the suggestions for the car was sponges are spot on AND they ARE intended for reuse. Those cosmetic wedges 'eat' more paint than they put on the face and they are so dense that it's hard to get that paint out (other than in the sink). I would think they'd be bacteria breeding grounds but I'm not scientist. I have a big bag of sponges that I cut and they cost me about $3 total. I now use my FWW sponges but the bag of sponges are a nice fall back.

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but where do you guys get those big peanut sponges? I can't find them ANYWHERE!

Izzy, try walmart's automotive department or any store's automotive department...they're intended for use in car washing, so they are soft but firm. At about $1 each, you can get at least 20 or 30 sponges out of one if you cut it right. Good Luck!

i found some sponges on ebay a few weeks ago..the are called hydro sponges i got 16 per bag and cut them into 3 pcs each..the bag was 2 dollars and i got 2 bags..i spent around 10 dollars total..but I think these will last along time.
ebay has the circle ones you get at michael. 30 for 9.99 free shipping you would have 60 when cut in half...you would spend 20.00 at micheals for this many..look under hydra sponges...

if you go to ebay and look under hydra sponge you will see the ben ney ones and the hydra sponge bargin pack thats the one I got.. you get alot for the money the peanut shaped ones are there also I hope this helps

awesome tip! I have been going crazy trying to find the right sponge. I will use this technique. Do you know how to get them round???????

I worked at a place where I got free makeup sponges..It didn't work too well..so shannon suggested the carwash sponges to me. Just get one and cut it up, then use both on the arm. The difference will speak for itself.

Although I do keep makeup sponges on hand. They are good for certain blending, or laying down a thinner layer more transparent, like a background on forehead or a blushing on the cheeks. But to cover a large area, they absorb the paint and water too much, I think It ends up wasting enough paint that it's cheaper to buy the other sponges.