Anything the queen NikkieTutorials touches turns to gold, and the same is true for the viral Juno & Co Microfiber Velvet Sponge. After attaining immediate approval from the full coverage queen herself, this sponge spread like wildfire and garnered hundreds upon hundreds of reviews from makeup enthusiasts and gurus alike.
This isn’t the first time we’ve come across a fad makeup sponge though. The silicone blender, Evie blender, and the finger sponge are just some of the novelties we’ve had to suffer through. Don’t even get us started on those DIY ones! (Spoiler alert: a boiled egg isn’t something you should use on your face!)
What separates the Microfiber Velvet Sponge though is that it supposedly works, and we love the sound of that. The rave reviews piqued our interest, so read on for our in-depth review of this viral sponge!
First off, what is it even?
“Wet it. Squeeze it. Stipple it.” Those are the directions on the Juno & Co website, which leads us to believe this is just like any other makeup sponge.
But what really sets it apart from other sponges is it’s unique texture. It’s made of ultra-soft, non-abrasive microfiber material on the outside, and an antimicrobial layer on the inside. This technology supposedly means you can create a perfect blend while using less product.
We put just that to the test.
Microfiber Velvet Sponge vs Beauty Blender
It’s hard not to compare these two when the classic Beauty Blender has been uncontested in our books. So far, no other makeup sponge has come close it’s seamless application, which is why people across the world swear by its power even if it does retail for $20 a pop.
Some naysayers believe you can get the same quality for much less, which is why some brands like Real Techniques, Morphe, and now, Juno & Co come up with sponges that are a fraction of the cost.
Performance test
For this test, we’re basing our opinions on the amount coverage and smoothness of application. We applied an even amount of foundation on both sides of the face, directly covering any visible hyperpigmentation.
Juno & Co Microfiber Velvet Sponge
The first thing we noticed about the Juno & Co sponge is how much product it wasn’t absorbing. This means you have a lot more foundation to play with, so it really didn’t take much to see the hyperpigmentation go bye-bye!
Though we love that it doesn’t eat up product, this presents a learning curve to those who have been spoiled by the Beauty Blender. If you’re thinking of trying this sponge, make sure to pump out 30% less product than you’re used to, because too much foundation just means cake city, no matter what tool you’re using.
Another learning curve we encountered was the texture. Unlike the classic Beauty Blender, this sponge isn’t smooth, so the pouncing motion we’re used to would need an even lighter touch to avoid having the texture imprint on your face.
The only con we couldn’t work out is that it’s not as soft and flexible as we hoped it would be. This definitely posed a problem when trying to blend out the corners of our nose and under our eyes. A tinier variation of this sponge definitely would’ve done the trick!
We’ll definitely give it to this sponge though — it’s pretty good with cream blush! Softer sponges don’t pick up enough product with one swipe, but since the Juno & Co sponge is denser, it’s a lot easier to work with.
Beauty Blender Classic
Our queen. Our savior. Our one and only.
Like always, the Beauty Blender classic worked like a dream — no surprises here. You’re probably tired of hearing beauty gurus and media sites coo and rave about this sponge, but it’s just so hard not to.
The Beauty Blender’s seamless application is hard to beat, and it has no steep learning curve, which is amazing especially for beginners. The only real point of contest in terms of performance we can muster would be the coverage. Admittedly, the Beauty Blender does eat up product, but we’d like to think it’s not without reason.
The way the sponge sheers out foundation is actually a quality that a lot of makeup enthusiasts are into, because it removes product where it doesn’t need to be. If you experience a lot of creasing around your eyes, nose, and smile lines, you know what I’m talking about.
The Verdict
If you made us choose between these two sponges… we would just leave the group chat.
But pettiness aside, these two sponges just offer different things, and we’re head over heels with both!
We can see the Juno & Co Microfiber Velvet Sponge in the hands of moderate to experienced makeup enthusiasts, because getting that smooth application takes some finessing but is definitely worth it. Beginners who want to try this sponge out should use a light-medium coverage foundation with a satin finish to avoid caking!
On the other hand, the classic Beauty Blender is ‘ol reliable. It’s both makeup artists’ holy grail tool as well as any novice’s best teacher. If anything, this sponge is forgiving to any and all foundation blunders — mistakes that even the most experienced can go through.
The one make or break factor for this comparison is the price. The Beauty Blender is a juicy $20, while the Juno & Co Microfiber Velvet Sponge is only $6 (they even offer a 4 pack for $20). We can’t say purchasing the more expensive product is “worth it” because it really depends on how much you’re willing to pay for what quality, but purchasing either (or both) is a choice we’d also make!
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