MAC Pro Performance Sponge: first impression and comparison to the BeautyBlender.

you know i'm an avid fan of the BeautyBlender Sponge. out of my fear of loss i have even ordered 2 back ups some months ago, although my first one still goes strong after about 8 months of (almost) daily usage.
now MAC has released their own version of "odd-shaped-sponge", called the Pro Performance Sponge, it looks like a little spinner to me with a round top.
in fact i wanted to wait until douglas.de would get them in stock but then i wanted to order something else from MAC anyway so i purchased from the maccosmetics.de online store, where the sponge is already available for some time.
it costs 16.50€.
i just have it for few days and have only used and washed it once now, but since i guess it will be the same with my BeautyBlender, only long term usage will show how big your love can get.
i want to give you some initial impressions and of course a comparison to the infamous BeautyBlender for those who are curious and consider to buy one of the two.

similarities are the same price level (the BeautyBlender is sold at about 15€ in germany and available on kultkosmetik.de, for example), both are latex-free sponges, both are hot pink, both have that round top and pointy end and both promise a flawless and easy foundation application. if MAC was trying to dupe here is questionable, but it's the same marketing trick.

now to the differences:

• MAC's Pro Performance Sponge (which i will only call PP from now on, while the BeautyBlender from now is BB) won't change its size or texture when you wet it with water and stays quite compact and rubbery-feeling unlike the BB which gets much bigger when dampened and becomes soft and bouncy and actually spongey.
• the PP washes nicely without bleeding but the BB did bleed a lot of pink dye in the first washings (you'll see a big colour difference in my old&new BB in my photos below). 
• of course the shape: it's similar in the principles but the PP has a grip-like pointy end and an edge below its rounded top which helps getting into nooks and crevices of your face, like you can roll the edge along your under-eye area. in fact i find it harder to hold on that smaller part and still have not figured out the benefit of the special shape.
• application with the BB is still a lot easier for me than with the PP. i guess it's because i'm not used to it yet, but i find it quite tiring to tap my foundation on with the PP, because it's a lot more firm than the BB it doesn't bounce on your skin so i tend to want to push it into my skin a bit harder which is in the end rather tiring. also like i said, holding that little pointy part is weird, you don't want to destroy it with your nails, but it's so small that you have to hold it tighter which is a bit uncomfortable.
• the finish is a lot more sheer and natural with the PP than with the BB. maybe because it absorbs more foundation, but i guess mostly it's because it's more firm. the BB absorbs the foundation but applies a higher amount. both create an even, streak free satiny finish with ease.
• i find it's harder to build up the coverage with the PP.
• foundation amount that i need is almost similar but a bit more with the PP while it provides less coverage. 
• applying/blending concealer is also something that i will have to figure out, my first attempt ended in blending away instead of blending in. now i find the pointy end even too small for my under eye area, usually i dab the pointy end of the BB along the concealer edges which always worked fine.

i've tried it used damp with the Vichy Aera Teint Pure Foundation. usually i get a decent coverage with it, but with the PP it's more on the natural side.
all in all i still prefer the BB at the moment, but i will definitely try to work with the PP and maybe i'll get used to it and will appreciate it just like i love the BB.

new BeautyBlender - new MAC Pro Performance Sponge

dry BB - dry PP

damp BB - damp PP

so, did i forget anything? if yes, don't hesitate to ask in the comments, i will edit the post then ;)
what about you? will you purchase this one or the BB? do you already have one of those egg-type sponges? how do you like them?

BeautyBlender

sorry for the delay of posts, but the pre-christmas-time is especially busy for a last-minute-gift-buyer like me!

as today is the holy night, i wish all of you a merry christmas and a cozy time with your beloved.


now to the actual post: the BeautyBlender!

 

it is a bright pink (first reason to buy :P), egg shaped sponge. you have to wet it and squeeze it well to use it best - then it will almost double its size! 

you can use it with liquid, cream or even compact/powder foundation (although i haven't tried it with dry foundation so far).

second reason to purchase:it is perfect for liquid foundation! i can't think of putting on any make up without it anymore. it's so easy and quick, you just have to tap the rounded side of the damp sponge into your foundation and then bounce it on your skin. the pointed size is suited for the  small corners of your face, like under the eyes, around the nose, etc.

it applies an even film, with zero streaks or grainy-look. with its moisture, it helps every foundation melt into your skin and doesn't cause flakes on dry winter skin. 

third plus: it doesn't absorb much product (because it's already damp), so you only need a small amount to achieve a good coverage.

4th buying-argument: you don't need several ones even if you use it daily. like with some dense brushes, if you wash them daily, they would still be wet if you want to use them again. but the BeautyBlender, you just wash it out and it is  immediately ready for action. no drying time needed.

for washing, i don't think you'll need to buy the Blender-Cleanser, that is adverted with the BeautyBlender. i use a normal soap and it's totally fine (no alcohol -i don't think a brush cleanser is good for the sponge).

the only con with this versus a foundation brush would be the lasting time of it. i heard people use it over 6 month and then it started to fall apart, while a good brush should last you many many years.

i bought mine over half a year now but just started to use it regularly since about 2 months (and it's still in a very good shape) - so i have no experience with that. still i have started to get fear of loss, so i'll have to order some more sponges soon.

i have never been a sponge-user, i never liked their small shapes (especially the wedges) but the BeautyBlender has really convinced me.

you can get it for about 15€ in some online-shops, i haven't heard of it being sold in-store in germany yet. (i bought mine at kultkosmetik.de)

current foundation love

i had a hard time with most of my foundations when it started getting cold. my skin was acting like  crazy, no foundation would melt and blend into it. after powder it only got worse, i looked really "made up" but in a negative way as you could see the foundation. it became a grainy texture and just looked blah, so i went on the hunt for a new winter-skin-foundation.

i have quite oily skin and my foundation should last all the  working day without touch ups, so i always go for long lasting, high-coverage foundations.

when i read some rave reviews about the Parure Gold foundation by Guerlain, i was really intrigued.
i am a foundation-lover and a Guerlain-obsessed, so of course i couldnt't resist.
also i already own two other foundations from this brand, the Parure Extreme foundation and the new Lingerie de Peau, which i also really like and were old holy grails.
i was still in doubt if this would last on my oily skin, because i thought it would be for mature skin, which usually is dryer.
it comes in a luxurious heavy black glass bottle with a black cap, gold writing and gold pump.
30ml retail for 68€, but mostly you can get a coupon code for one of the online-shops that stock on Guerlain.
i'm between nc20 - nc25 in MAC and use shade #02 - Beige Clair. it is a little bit too dark and has too little yellow for my skintone, so i like to mix it with few drops of my Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation in shade SP40, a light yellow shade, to get the perfect colour and enhance the staying power even further.

but when i used this foundation on its own for the first time, i was totally surprised. it gives a medium - high coverage and made my skin look moisturized and healthy. no more grainy-grainy but a smooth surface, finally a foundation that melted into my skin. the finish it leaves is satiny-glowy, which i like the best.

only with Guerlain's Parure Gold mixed with Shiseido Sun Protection (no powder and obviously no other make up ;) )

i apply it with a BeautyBlender sponge, which i think is the best method for winter times. while you just tap on and press the foundation into your skin, it won't cause microexfoliation of your dry skin like if you would use a brush. so your skin will be less irritated and will look more even, too.

the best part for me is its lasting power! although it looks so glowy and feels so moisturising and nourishing, it stays on the whole day! it doesn't fade, it doesn't transfer really much, it doesn't get blotchy. i love it! (i still powder over it.)

definitely a re-buy for me! and i say this even though i haven't used up even one foundation in the last year - i just buy new ones too often and they stay in my collection and get rotated. but since i got the Parure Gold, only this one combination has touched my face.