Are Mini Beauty Blenders Worth It? Dupes? Worth the Hype?

When I first started using makeup, I used only sponges--I wore those makeup wedge sponges out, y'all! Do you use makeup sponges to apply your makeup? I don't use them every day, but I do use them sometimes. I'm a huge fan of the beautyblender and its similar version from Real Techniques and I've tried them all, honey. Unlike the traditional cheap makeup sponges that are designed for one use and then thrown away, these can last for months. With proper care, I've kept mine for years (and no, they aren't ridden with bacteria, I've tested them).

MINI Sponges

Beautyblender now has a micro mini version and I had to try them. I was instantly a fan--they are so nice under the eyes for concealer blending or setting. I've started using them daily now. If you have small eyes, you'll really like them. But they're expensive and I was determined to find possible dupes or alternatives. I'm sharing 4 today and after much testing, here are my thoughts!

beautyblender® micro.mini

• $18 for 2
• comes in green, but there is a set of 4 (each is a different color)
• Sephora online and in stores
• can be hard to clean

e.l.f. Precision Sponge Trio

• $12, but 3 come in a pack, but there is only 1 mini size
• white only
• ELF online 
• cleans easily, but is too dense; similar to any other bb knock off

Swisspers Blending Mini Sponges

• $3 for two
• one is pink and one is purple, per pack
• Walmart, in stores
• easy to clean
• but after several uses, it never gets back into the tear drop shape

REAL TECHNIQUES Miracle Mini Eraser Sponges

• $5.99 for 2
• purple
• ULTA, in stores and online
• easy to clean
• If you look online (or the first pic in this post) you'll see my sponge looks more like the traditional RT sponge, only mini, and not like the ones pictured now. That is what I received in my order from ULTA back in Sept. The shape is different now and there is an RT stamped onto it, and it's advertised as an eraser and not a blending sponge. I found that odd.
• The largest of the 4 sponges, but works really well.

Time to Test These Minis

Here are the 4 sponges side-by-side and fully saturated with water. Remember these are tiny! Speaking of water, I tested each for bacteria growth in a controlled environment using petri dishes and a hot box. They all came back normal. When I cut the extra in half (minus the ELF, which I used the next size up) and tested those for bacteria, I found none.

Performance-wise, I preferred all but the ELF. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as the others as it was so dense.

Overall

I really like the Swisspers, but as you can see, I have used the purple one more than the pink, and it is now pretty much impossible to use. It's just too soft.

I like the mico beautyblenders, and I think mini sponges are worth it, but I know most aren't going to shell out $18 for 2, so I suggest the RT ones.

UPDATE: I also have tried ULTA has a version of the minis. They are similar to the ones from Swisspers, but I like these better.

• $5.99
• 3 per pack, in the colors seen above
• easy to clean

Have you tried mini sponges?

Extra Elle:

Despite Halloween being on the way, it's feeling like Christmas around my house. Why? It's the time of year when bloggers are doing sponsored posts for Christmas products, and those have to be sent in early for approval. Would you like a post of how that happens, like a behind the scenes?