Makeup Myth - Damp Sponge Blending

Today, we debunk a social media-driven #MakeupMyth that has absolutely no relationship to science.

MAKEUP MYTH:

Should you "blend" your self-setting, long-wear foundation or full-coverage concealer (formulated with silicone polymers and copolymers) with a DAMP BEAUTY SPONGE?
That would be a BIG NO.

Why?
Once you understand the properties of the cosmetic ingredients at play here, you will immediately understand why this makeup hack is A FAIL.
Oil and water do not mix, and silicone is a synthesized OIL. Let’s repeat: oil and water DO NOT MIX, so silicone and water DO NOT MIX.

Don’t believe me?
Try mixing water into a self-setting, long-lasting foundation or full-coverage concealer that contains silicone or silicone copolymers. IT WON’T MIX.

MAKEUP FACT:

"Bouncing" a damp beauty sponge does not "blend" or sheer out a silicone-based foundation or concealer. The only thing a wet beauty sponge does is RESIST the silicone in the formula. As you bounce that damp egg on your face, you're not blending or sheering out; you're POUNDING the foundation/concealer into your pores.

I repeat: all you are doing is packing foundation into your pores. (I can feel the estheticians in the group cringing right now, lol.)
And, of course, I hear the excuse, "But it looks so smooth..."
Sure, it looks smooth—you've just spackled a continuous layer of product onto the surface of your skin by bouncing a wet sponge over it, which did NOT sheer it out; it just moved it around.

”But their (beauty influencers) makeup looks so perfect in pictures and videos…”

Of course, it looks great! That’s because of filters, lighting, digital editing, post-production, etc.
Have you met any of these social media beauty influencers in person when they’re wearing the same amount of makeup they apply on camera? Without the filters and special lighting, they look like they’re wearing thick, cakey stage makeup. The funny thing is, it would look less horrible if they bothered to learn how to match their skin tone (yes, that was me being shady) - but that’s for another conversation.

MAKEUP SOLUTION:

For a beautifully "blended" (not bounced) foundation application, dot the correct shade and undertone of foundation/concealer on well-prepped skin - BUT ONLY WHERE YOU NEED IT.
If you’re using the correct shade and undertone of complexion makeup, you don’t need to slather it all over your face - it should match bare skin areas seamlessly, especially the neck and jawline.
Now buff out the foundation/concealer with a DRY synthetic makeup brush (preferably with a dense kabuki-style brush head).
Need more coverage? Repeat these steps until your complexion looks the way you want.

Extra Credit:

The application tip above also applies to oil/wax-based cream complexion makeup. It's the same science: oils and waxes are incompatible with water and resist it. Try buffing with a dry synthetic brush on well-prepped skin.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The information provided here is not an OPINION - it is a scientific fact.
Facts are facts. Opinions are a point of view related to the FACTS.
So all the wet sponge bouncers feeling personally attacked by this post and heading towards a public meltdown, I say this with all due respect…calm the f*ck down.
If you love pounding complexion makeup into your pores, I’m not here to stop you. Knock yourself out and get a good dermatologist to fix the clogged pores you’re creating.
BUT don’t waste your energy trying to find data to prove me wrong and validate your damp sponge obsession - BECAUSE SCIENCE. PERIOD.