Soak it in: The Ultimate Guide to Beauty Sponges

And you thought makeup brushes were confusing...
Nowadays, beauty sponges come in all shapes and sizes—each with its own specific purpose. Do you really need one to contour? And another for foundation? How about to conceal those under-eye areas? Makeup-bag real estate is precious, after all.
"The shape of the sponge matters. However, the fact that its round, egg, flat shaped...that doesn't matter to me," said celeb makeup artist Julianne Kaye. "It's more about what its made out of. How soft is it? How porous? It needs to be easy to grip and be able to maneuver around the contours of the face."

So, technically, one sponge could technically fit all. However, if you really want to get the most out of your makeup, here's what you need to know.

Smaller shaped sponges are made for tight or specific areas on your face, like to highlight high points of the face or to contour in the hallows of the cheeks. "I like using this sponge for concealer," said the pro. "It fits perfectly under the eye and doesn't pull the skin."
Beautyblender Micro.Mini, $18

Before high-quality sponges were invented, makeup artists relied on these affordable, geometric ones to get the job done. "These are great all over sponges—the ‘OG' of the sponge world," noted Julianne. "I like to get these wet and use them for skin prep with lotions, serums, primers, etc." They might not provide the same air-brushed quality as their reusable counterparts, but at least you don't have to fuss with cleaning them. Just use ‘em and trash ‘em.
Ulta Beauty Wedges, $1.99

Circle and oval sponges oftentimes have the same purpose. Because they are typically flatter than other sponges, they are great for "buffing in foundation" or "powder application," said the makeup expert.
Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Sponge, $5

Pretty much the reigning sponge on the market, the Beautyblender absorbs just enough product to give you the perfect layer of coverage. You can use this sponge for basically anything, but Julianne loves it for one job in particular. "This is great for all over foundation application," said the pro. "Going directly with the point, I distribute the product all over, then using the rounded bottom I set the T-zone with powder."
Beautyblender Original, $20

This sponge is specifically designed to add light and dimension to your face (read: get your glow on). Remember the strobing trend? This is the perfect sponge for that. "The angle is great for hitting the high points on the face with a cream highlight," recommended Julianne.
Hourglass Ambient Strobe Light Sculptor, $22

Unlike other sponges, a high-density sponge doesn't need to be wet to use. Because of its thickness, it absorbs less but still distributes a nice, even layer of product. "I would use this for all over foundation or a BB/CC cream," said the makeup maven.
Sephora Collection High And Dry High Density Sponge, $12

Recently, more and more brands are offering konjac sponges to help cleanse the face. "This is a great sponge to use to remove your foundation," explained Julianne. "Adding your favorite cleanser, this sponge helps to buff away your makeup and open up and cleanse your pores."