What Grows in a Used Sponge
A 2019 study from Aston University, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, tested used makeup products and found beauty blenders the most contaminated. They carried an average bacterial load of more than a million colony-forming units per milliliter, and Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Citrobacter freundii were detected. Ninety-three percent of the blenders had never been cleaned, and 64% had been dropped on the floor and used again.
The researchers' conclusion, as reported by ScienceDaily, was the need to wash beauty blenders regularly and dry them thoroughly. None of this is a reason to stop using a sponge — only a reason to treat it like the skin tool it is.
Damp or Dry?
| Damp sponge | Dry sponge | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Sheer, skin-like | Fuller coverage |
| Absorbs product | Less | More |
| Best for | Foundation, tinted moisturizer, cream blush | Spot coverage and setting powder |
Most brands tell you to wet the sponge and squeeze out the excess before use; EcoTools notes you can use its sponge damp for a sheer finish or dry for fuller coverage. Bounce rather than drag, which presses product into skin instead of streaking it — see clean foundations and concealers.
