I know, I know... Sponge tip applicators are so passé, aren't they? I can't even tell you how many I've just tossed in the trash when I got a new palette that came with them included, and I have to admit that I'm kicking myself as I type this for that very action. Why, you ask? You have a ridiculously unnecessary collection of makeup brushes, why do you need to go back in time, you (and my inner monologue) ask? I know. Brushes are the standard! Everyone loves brushes! Brushes get the job done better and more professionally than sponge tips! But... Do they? I'm gonna give you 5 reasons why I'm bringing sponge tip applicators back into my makeup routine, and why you might wanna think about doing it too!

Before we start, I will say that I am definitely by no means saying that you brushes don't have their purpose or even that I think you can do a whole look start to finish with a sponge tip. I don't think you can get a beautifully blended eye look without brushes - but I do think that spongetip's have their place!

Let's get started...

1. They Pack Like Nobody's Business... Precisely!

I can't even tell you how many times I've thrown my hands up in frustration when a beautiful shadow doesn't show up on my eyes the way I want it to, even when I use my best, most dense packing brush. I very sincerely feel that when it comes to packing colour onto the lid, a brush simply can't compete with a sponge tip applicator. Also, I know so many people who love that bright inner lid as much as I do, and I don't know about you but I just find that my finger doesn't get in there anywhere near as precisely as a spongetip does to give me that pop of light and pigment that I love in that area.

2. Hold The Fallout, Please!

I think we all know the struggle is real when it comes to finding fall down all over your undereyes from even the highest quality shadow. I find, personally, that when I used a sponge tip to pack on the colour and press it into the lids I'm a hell of a lot less likely to end up with specks of glitter and pigment under my eyes. I also find that with some of those beautiful, but crumbly shimmer shadows that have been so popular recently (I'm looking at you, L'Oreal Infallible - some of my favorites, but also a pain in the ass with a brush), pressing them on with a sponge tip makes them adhere better so you don't experience a bunch of fall out during the day.

3. So. Much. Better. Than. Fingers!

I admit it, I've been applying eyeshadows with my fingers instead of reaching for a sponge tip for the past few years... but WHY? Not only is it a hell of a lot less hygienic to keep shoving your fingers into your shadow pans, but in my experience it also tends to cause a lot of hard pan where there might not have been any otherwise. I find that shadows that have a tendency to hard pan hold up a lot better without the added oils from your fingertips.

4. Cheap & Disposable

I picked up a couple of packs of 10 of the sponge tips that you see in the photos for $1 a piece and all of the other packages I've seen while I've been percolating this post in my head have been under $3. With a total of 40 sides that you can use to pack on shadow, that's not a bad price at all - especially when it means that you don't have to clean a brush every time you use a different eyeshadow colour. With these, you can use 'em and toss 'em, or use 'em and hold onto them for all of your most used shades. Either way, it makes it kind of a no brainer.

5. Making Shitty Shadows Work!

Let's be honest, we all have shadows in our collection that just don't apply that well with a brush. Whether it's because they're pressed too hard in the pan or they just don't have the pigmentation necessary to get that punch, sometimes a brush just won't work with shadows. I find that those are the shadows that really call for the spongetip - because it can really get in there and pick up colour and then deposit it heavily on the lid so you get a little more payoff than you might otherwise. 

That's my case, my friends! I know that not everyone is going to jump back on the sponge tip wagon and I know that they'll probably continue to be considered, by many, to be an antiquated beauty tool that has been replaced with modern brushes... But I have to tell you that in my collection, they've become a staple to be used alongside my favorite blending brushes once again!

I'd love it if you would weigh in: Are sponge tips antiquated or awesome???