Take a makeup sponge, then try to imagine why it should possibly cost a thousand bucks. Can you? I couldn't. I've said several times before that I am skeptical when it comes to the Beauty Blender hype. Until I got my own, that is! This was a surprise from Digital Traincase after attending her workshop with Jigs Mayuga (more on that soon).

Anyway, now I know why makeup artists adore the Beauty Blender. It blends wet makeup (liquid or cream) onto the skin seamlessly! I've tried brushes that blend makeup seamlessly before, sure, but the process is not as effortless and simple as using the Beauty Blender. With brushes, I end up blending and patting several times to achieve what Beauty Blender can do in two passes. This stuff really works!

What makes the Beauty Blender so different...and so expensive?

This sponge is non-latex, non-comedogenic, and doesn't have that weird chemical smell from cheap sponges. I didn't break out from using this at all! The shape is also ergonomic so it fits into the awkward corners of the face.

But that's just superficial, and obviously easy to copy. The difference lies in the material of this sponge. It swells up to twice its size when its wet, thus becoming exponentially softer and increasing its ability to deposit and blend the makeup perfectly. With little effort, might I add!

You know I gotta mention the Beauty Blender sponge here, right? It's only proper. :P I've never tried it before so unfortunately I can't compare, but I was just never convinced by the hype. Sure the sponge is conveniently shaped for reaching awkward areas around the face, but a thousand bucks for one sponge? Hmm, I don't think so. Maybe I'll change my mind in the future. Until then, I'll go for more reasonable alternatives!

The Too Cool For School Marshmallow Puff Sponge (P279) has been sitting on my vanity since March. I never got around to using it after my first try though, because I felt that the sponge just ate the liquid foundation and didn't do a good job of applying it. BUT! I was just using the Puff all wrong, it seems.

Instead of sheer watery foundations, the TCFS works amazingly with cream compact and thick liquid foundations. It does a wonderful job of buffing in such formulas seamlessly!

During my graduation photo shoot a few years back, the organizers hired some makeup artists to do everyone's faces. I didn't bring any of my stuff with me because I expected a certain standard - fresh applicators, at the very least.

Imagine my horror when I got there and saw the MUAs reusing the sponges and the brushes ON EVERYONE. Wet foundation sponges, eyeliner brushes, lip brushes, all reused and not sanitized. It's a nightmare but I didn't want to walk out because the place is in far away QC and I don't want to go back. So I just swallowed my disgust and let them do their worst. (I got pimples ugh)

Okay now I sound like a jerk. But my point is, please don't subject yourself to such unsanitary practices for any reason. If you're having your makeup done (by you or anyone else) always make sure that the brushes are clean and your disposable applicators, fresh. Sometimes it's not the product itself that causes the pimples - it's what you use to apply them! 

Anyway, one brand that has made a commitment to keeping makeup application as hygienic as possible is Nippon Esthetic Solutions. They have a wide range of products that makeup artists and personal makeup mavens will love, from disposable lip gloss applicators, lipstick and mascara brushes, to brush cleaners (remember Parian? Love that one!).

The effervescent Sydney of Nippon sent me a few stuff to try, and I have been using them since! Here's what I think of them.

I was dawdling in First Aid, Greenbelt 5 while waiting for a movie to start. There's a wide range of practical beauty products and tools that's exclusive there such as my fave Sebamed Face & Body Wash! Anyway, I ended up buying my first ever pack of cellulose sponges and you know what? I can't believe I only got one now.

This stuff is amazing. A pack of two Aqua Massage sponges is only P52 (crazy) but you can do a lot of things with it! Here's how I like to use these sponges:

• With my facial wash as a pore cleanser and exfoliator. The sponge is soft and firm at the same time so it can take off deep-seated dirt and flaky skin without being abrasive. 
• As a physical makeup remover. I soak it in warm water then gently rub it on my face to dislodge the makeup. No need to use anything else while doing this.

The Clinique Party last Saturday was a blast! United by a mutual love for Clinique, bloggers and their guests got to hang out over makeovers and dinner. I'll talk more about it soon, but for now I want to share a cool tip I got from a makeup artist who did the makeovers at the counter.

Mina, my date to the party, and the makeup artist (didn't catch her name, dang it!)

I was watching the MUA do Mina's face when I noticed this sponge in her kit. I wasn't sure what it was for exactly - could be foundation or just for blending - but I thought this type of holey sponge is an odd choice for those purposes. So I asked her.

It's what she uses as a lip scrub! She said that the whole look doesn't come out right if the client has dry lips under the lipstick. I totally agree with that.