The denser the makeup brush, the less porous it is—which means it’s less likely to absorb all of your products. A high-density brush will be great for seamlessly applying a full coverage foundation. Lower density sponges are better for blending light to medium coverage foundations. The ideal makeup sponge has a soft texture so that it’s comfortable to use, and it should also be flexible so that it can bounce and bend to distribute the product. Sophia Nawabi is a makeup and hair artist with 17 years of professional experience. She is based out of San Francisco and offers on-demand mobile and in-home services. Powders are better applied with makeup brushes, but liquid and cream products blend best when applied with a sponge," says Loiz. "Often, liquid and cream products look streaky when you use a brush, but sponges give you more control to pat the product evenly into the skin.” This factor is super important. A great makeup sponge will be easy to clean and keep dry to avoid product buildup and bacteria.