Will CBD Makeup Ruin Your Beautyblender?

Can you imagine life without your beautyblender? If not, you’re in good company: for a growing number of Americans, these egg-shaped sponges have become an indispensable part of their beauty routines. But while they might work miracles on just about every makeup product you have in your arsenal, do you ever worry they might not fit with your new CBD cosmetics collection?

Don’t panic. Experts say CBD makeup won’t ruin your beautyblender. In fact, your blender is probably the best way to apply it.

Beautyblenders first came to the market in 2007, when Rea Ann Silva developed a product that she believed would make every makeup artist’s life a little easier. Little did she realize that by 2019, Sephora would have sold six million of them — making them one of the highest selling beauty products in the world.

When the first beautyblenders arrived on store shelves, they were marketed as an applicator for foundations, powders, and cream products. Consumers found them to be far more versatile and precise than a conventional makeup sponge, and soon people were using them to recreate the perfect Kim Kardashian-inspired contour, and to apply intricate eye looks that lasted all night long. Since those early days, Silva has released a few variations of the product, but it’s largely stayed true to its original form. And why wouldn’t it — “if it ain’t broke …. ,” after all.

But the beauty world is constantly changing, and now that CBD makeup has become so mainstream, some consumers have worried that these oil-based products might mess with the integrity of the blender. However, experts have given this some consideration and their verdicts are in — the beautyblender is perfect for CBD and cannabis-infused makeup.

Why CBD Makeup Won’t Damage Your beautyblender

CBD is an oil-based product which, in the makeup world, makes it one of the most difficult to apply. Whether it’s lipstick or retinol cream or any of the dozens of other new products that have recently started popping up, there’s often a bit of a learning curve for first-time users. The good news is that the technology behind the beautyblender makes it ideal for applying liquid, cream, powder, and oil-based products.

During the five year development phase of the beautyblender, Silva made the sponge with a special kind of foam that doesn’t absorb product and will maintain its integrity even after being used to apply oils and serums. It was the first porous makeup applicant of its kind, not to mention the first that could be used over and over again.

“It was exactly what I’d envisioned,” Silva told Allure. “I cut it and used it, and it was perfect.”

Talking about the traditional triangular white foam makeup sponges that preceded the beautyblender (and inspired her to create an alternative), Silva said, “Those sponges were designed to fit into a compact, and disposable so you could go buy another bag of 30 and pollute the earth.”

Because the unique “mystery foam” doesn’t absorb any of the product, it’s ideal for applying oil-based makeup — which is the most difficult to apply according to most experts. This allows for application with minimum product waste, something that professional makeup artists take quite seriously for obvious reasons.

Tips for Using Beautyblenders With CBD Makeup

One of the most notable differences between the beautyblender and other application tools is the fact that you should wet the beautyblender with water before you squeeze out the excess liquid and apply our product. This process reinforces the sponge’s barrier, and prevents your CBD makeup from being absorbed up into the sponge.

The unusual teardrop shape allows for the makeup to be pressed into the skin evenly. The pointed end lets you apply your product with precision to hard-to-reach areas like those around the eyes, while the rounded end allows for rolling product across the face for flawless results.

In a testament to the sponge’s ability to work well with oil-based products, makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci recommended using it for not just makeup products, but skin care products too. “When applying your face oil or cream with a [beautyblender], it not only feels nice, but the blender holds onto a bit of product. When you move to your foundation, the product mixes with the [skin care product] that’s left over to create a more supple finish.”

With CBD becoming an increasingly common ingredient in a wide array of beauty products, it’ll likely come as a relief to know that these two trends seem to be compatible.