Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I'm a huge fan of Real Techniques, we all know that by now! I think I've tried every single brush, I'm never short of being completely pleased with them. There's one member of the Real Techniques product selection however that isn't a brush and took me a while to try...it's the Miracle Complexion Sponge. Designed by Samantha Chapman the sponge offers an innovative way of applying your base and achieving a pixel perfect, flawless finish. Sponges are usually an absolute no-no for me when it comes to cosmetic application - I always use a clean brush or at my most desperate a clean finger. Complexion Sponges/Beauty Blenders are the only thing to have ever tempted me away from my beloved brushes, they are raved about across the world and used professionally too. So I caved and gave the Miracle Complexion Sponge a go...

The Miracle Complexion Sponge has a rounded 'body' with a slanted end and a pointed end. My sponge is not pointed correctly at one end due to a packaging fault, it shouldn't have the nodule! If yours does turn out to be a little faulty, after a few washes the nodule should bounce out into a point and don't worry too much because it still does what it needs to do. You can use the rounded body to bounce product onto the skin, use the slanted end to conceal and contour and use the pointed end to get into those hard to reach areas like around the nose. I also like to use the pointed end to buff in concealer underneath my eyes. You can use your sponge wet or dry - I most enjoy using mine slightly damp, so I run it under warm water and wring it out fully before tapping it into my product and buffing it onto my skin, I find it gives my skin a really healthy finish that's even too. Although there are suggested ways of using your sponge like I've mentioned, you can really experiment with it and just use it in the best way that works for you. It's best used with liquid products, it's okay with cream and obviously doesn't work at all with powders.

The finish the Complexion Sponge gives is very nice - my skin always looks really fresh and perfected after I use it. But - and it's a big but - so many of the worries I had about using a sponge to apply my makeup were confirmed as I trialled it. The good things about the sponge are the finish, how easy it is to use and how wonderfully soft it is to the touch. The bad things are that it gets dirty and discoloured really easily. It's also hard to wash completely and I'm never sure if it's actually properly clean - I clean mine by rinsing it under warm water, applying baby shampoo and massaging it in until the water runs clear and soapy, before rinsing it once more under cool water and wringing it dry. A couple of days after I started using the sponge, despite washing it thoroughly after every use, I started developing small white heads all over my skin which disappeared when I took a break from using it; I must not have been able to clean it properly or something like that because the same thing happens if I don't clean my brushes on a regular basis. Generally I'm averted to sponges because I feel like they harbour bacteria and cause blemishes - that's my personal opinion though and not gospel! Another thing that disappointed me was how much product I had to use to get good coverage - even from my highest covering to my sheerest foundations, they all sunk into the sponge within seconds. I found myself using almost double the amount I would use with a synthetic foundation brush which to me is just an unnecessary waste of product.
All in all, this just feels like a whole lot of effort to achieve the same effect as I could with a trusty brush. After using the sponge on and off for two weeks it eventually ended up in the bin - sponges just aren't for me. Although the finish is lovely I feel like the cons really outweigh the pros, I'd rather just pick up a brush and stipple away to achieve the same effect. Some people out there will try this and absolutely love it, I think I'm so averted to sponges that I'll never like one...at least I gave it a try though hey!
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponges cost £5.99 and is available at Boots.