We've all heard about the amazing performance of the original beautyblender by now and how it gives a beautiful, airbrushed finish to every makeup look... But I think a lot of us balk at the price point, because over $20 for a sponge is just a little more than we can justify. And then, when Real Techniques released their Miracle Blending Sponge everyone was pretty much dying to get their hands on it and everyone was talking about it's a dupe for the beautyblender at a much lower price point. But how do they stack up? And for us Canadian girls, is there a comparable drugstore dupe at an even lower price point? I wanted to take a look at 3 different blending sponges and put them to the test in a SPLURGE VS. SAVE Faceoff! Like my other Faceoff's, I'm going to compare them by 3 different categories: Value, Design, and Performance.

For the full comparison and my ultimate pick, keep reading!

I've always defaulted to cleaning my makeup brushes with baby shampoo. It's gentle enough that it won't damage them but does manage to get all the gunk and grossness out of them if you scrub them well enough. That's the part I don't like. I have a lot of makeup brushes, so after swirling them each around in a palm filled with baby soft long enough to get each of them clean, my skin feels like the process mutated me into some sort of lizard creature. I was definitely looking to try something else, something solid, something that was a no brainer. Thank you, internet, for giving me both of these options! 

So... Technically the Dr. Bronner's soap isn't a brush cleanser... but it is one of the best things I've ever tried for cleaning my brushes and the most comparable lower cost option that I've been able to find for the blendercleanser by beautyblender. Much like my last FACEOFF post, I want to approach this in a kind of three-pronged comparison for, I think, the best possible conclusion.

Keep reading for ... THE FACEOFF!

So... Let's be honest... This post is basically an excuse for me to fantasy online shop for my own gifts, most of which I will not receive, but also an opportunity to make suggestions for those of you who might be picking up gifts for a beauty obsessed friend or family member this year. This really is the most wonderful time of year for us beauty lovers because companies far and wide are putting together their gift and value sets, usually expertly curated and greatly discounted. It's admittedly pretty hard to keep one's self from ordering them all for her hoardy little self. And by "one", I clearly mean me. 

So without further adieu, keep reading for a look at my picks for Palettes, Value Sets, and Stocking Stuffers. Just as a warning, some of the stocking stuffers might seem a little bit spendy, but I tried to keep them all small and $30 or under.