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A Makeup MacGyver Moment, But Without the Mullet: Make an Improv Beauty Blender Sponge

October 17th, 2014 by Karen 29 Comments

Make an Improv Beauty Blender on the fly

Just something I figured out the other day when (surprise, surprise!) I couldn’t find my Beauty Blender. I swear, one of these days I have to finally, FOR GOOD, straighten out my office.

Sigh…

So I’d just finished applying Laura Mercier Flawless Fluide Foundation and needed to blend it out, but no Beauty Blender…so I MacGyver-ed (yes, I just turned that into a verb) an improv Beauty Blender with a kabuki brush and some MAC Fix+.

Please note the Mariah Carey fan action

Here’s what ya do

Take a kabuki brush — and I’m using the Too Faced Retractable Teddy Bear Hair Kabuki Brush here — and spray it three or four times with MAC Fix+.

When I do this, I hold the bottle of Fix+ about eight inches away from the brush so the spray envelops the brush head evenly, and you want to just dampen the bristles, not make them dripping, soaking wet. Next, gently buff and blend your foundation and concealer on the skin using the dampened brush head and a circular motion.

That should take care of any edges and leave everything buffed out and almost airbrush-caliber.

Make an Improv Beauty Blender on the fly

This is also handy if you’re going for an effortless, not overly “done” foundation look and realize, “Uh, oh! Where’s my Beauty Blender?” Try it sometime! 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. tgif! tgif!

A Makeup MacGyver Moment, But Without the Mullet: Make an Improv Beauty Blender Sponge / Originally published October 17th, 2014

There are 29 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Makeup Tips/How To

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kiss & Make-up says

    October 17th, 2014 at 9:04 am

    How inventive of you 😀

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 10:59 am

      Sometimes good things can come out of being messy, haha!

      Happy, happy Friday! What are ya doing this weekend?

      Reply
  2. Agata says

    October 17th, 2014 at 9:34 am

    I like that idea although I don’t have a Beauty Blender. I actually just bought the Real Techniques version of BB but I haven’t used it yet!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 10:59 am

      Hi Agata,

      I haven’t tried that one, but I’ve heard good things. Let me know how it goes!

      Happy Friday, by the way. What are you up to this weekend?

      Reply
  3. Fancie says

    October 17th, 2014 at 10:20 am

    I’m never without my Beauty Blender but you just made me want this brush! It’s so pretty and full!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 10:58 am

      Hi Fancie,

      Have you tried the mini Beauty Blender yet? I’m kind of tempted!

      Reply
      • majick says

        October 17th, 2014 at 11:47 am

        There’s a MINI BB? Ut oh, I may be tempted as well. LOL

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 17th, 2014 at 1:38 pm

          Hi Majick,

          Yeah! It’s tiny and green and super cute. Here it is: Beauty Blender Micro Mini.

          Reply
  4. Arianne says

    October 17th, 2014 at 10:20 am

    Ahh I love this trick so much! Genius. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 10:57 am

      Hi Arianne,

      Maybe I should just keep my office messy so that I can figure out more improv makeup tricks, LOL!

      I hope that you and Scherbs are doing great. Is she dressing up for Halloween this year?

      Reply
  5. LindaLibraLoca says

    October 17th, 2014 at 10:34 am

    Great tip, although McGiver would have included something explosive, just to be sure.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 10:57 am

      Haha! And he would’ve made it out of cotton candy and some rubber bands.

      Happy Friday! What are your plans for the weekend?

      Reply
      • LindaLibraLoca says

        October 17th, 2014 at 11:15 am

        Attending a birthday party, actually a Bad-Taste-Party. I am really looking forward to doing the make-up for this one!

        What are you up to?

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 17th, 2014 at 11:26 am

          That sounds like fun. What are you going to do for your makeup?

          On Saturday I’m resting, and then on Sunday I have the Nike Women’s Half Marathon. I’ve been training for the last 6 weeks… I think I’m ready!

          Reply
          • LindaLibraLoca says

            October 17th, 2014 at 11:50 am

            Still got some pretty dark foundation from my heavy-fake-tan-days, then pink glitter around the eyes, cover up my eyebrows to draw them back in thin and overly arched and some pinky-coral lipstick with a dark outline. Can´t wait to see Mr. Loca´s face…

            The Nike Women´s Half Marathon? Impressive! I followed you training updates on instagram/the blog, and I am sure you are well prepared. Just don’t forget to carb-load properly.

          • Karen says

            October 17th, 2014 at 1:42 pm

            Nice! I hope you guys have fun at the party. (If I was going I’d go as me in the late ’90s. My taste was extra questionable then, haha!) Take lots of pics.

            I’m looking forward to loading up on the carbs. That’s the best part of training. 🙂 PASTA FOR EVERYONE!

  6. gio says

    October 17th, 2014 at 10:46 am

    What a fab trick! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 10:56 am

      You’re welcome, Gio. Happy Friday!

      Reply
  7. Jennifer says

    October 17th, 2014 at 11:34 am

    I lllluuuuuuurrrvvvveeee my beauty blender and I need to get a spare. Senor Rabanne likes to grab it and chew on it.
    I’m amused to see that yours looks about as clean as mine does… 🙂
    I don’t understand why it makes my foundation look so great.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 1:47 pm

      Hi Jennifer,

      Tabs hasn’t discovered the wonders of the Beauty Blender, and I hope to keep it that way. I have a feeling that he would LOVE it. Toys that are bouncy and soft are his favorites.

      Hmm… I think one of the reasons why it works so well is that it lifts off just a tiny amount of product so that it doesn’t look heavy. Have you ever used it to blend under eye concealer? That’s when I can tell it’s doing work.

      What are you and Sir Rabanne doing this weekend? Any fun plans?

      Reply
  8. Erin says

    October 17th, 2014 at 11:38 am

    I really want to get those mini BB’s. I don’t have Mac Fix or a similar brush to try this with I’ve been using an SK flat top synthetic for blending.

    Reply
  9. Miriam says

    October 17th, 2014 at 11:45 am

    Hi Karen!
    Saw you raved about the Laura Mercier Flawless fluide. Here in Norway, they dont carry LM. Have you tried something similar? Im on the lookout for something new, and über curious.
    Happy weekend and super good luck on the half marathon

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 17th, 2014 at 1:51 pm

      Hi Miriam,

      Chanel has a foundation with a similar texture and finish, Perfection Lumiere Velvet. I haven’t worn it yet, so I can’t comment on the wear, coverage or how it handles pores, but you might want to give it a go!

      Reply
  10. Rebecca says

    October 18th, 2014 at 7:22 am

    MacGyver was such a crush for me. I laughed so hard when he got kidnapped on The Simpsons.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      October 18th, 2014 at 8:14 am

      LOL, Rebecca. I remember watching his show as a kid and wanting to hang out with him so he could show me how to make stuff!

      Happy weekend, by the way! What are you up to?

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        October 18th, 2014 at 6:01 pm

        Ferrying children back and forward to birthday parties – it’s a glamorous life I lead 😛

        Reply
  11. Stefi says

    October 19th, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Wow, that’s a great tip!
    I like to use my MAC Fix+ with a face brush after applying my foundation to take that first cakey-layer off, if I apply too much foundation. But I’ll definitely try this out, too!
    Love, Stefi

    http://www.brighteyesandglossylips.com

    Reply
  12. Puri says

    October 19th, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    Very interesting! I’ll give this a go in the next few days, fingers crossed!

    Reply
  13. Kim says

    October 20th, 2014 at 7:01 am

    Gah! Cat chasing Bat, ftw. 🙂

    I don’t need to tell you that I have neither a beauty blender nor a kabuki brush and MAC Fix+. HAHA! Still, a great tip for the rest of your readers!

    I can’t think of MacGyver without picturing Marge’s sisters from the Simpsons. And you’re not alone in using that verb. I’m surprised Webster’s is so behind the times!

    Reply

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