How to Use Sponges for Halloween Makeup

If you want to apply your Halloween makeup the way that real movie make-up artists do, you need to use sponges to apply it. Here are a few Halloween makeup tips to help you choose the appropriate sponge for each type of application.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Red rubber sponges
• Foam sponges
• Stippling sponges
• Sea sponges

1. Apply large areas of makeup or a base foundation with a foam sponge. These sponges are similar to those in everyday beauty kits that are used to apply foundation, so check your beauty kit before buying additional sponges to apply Halloween makeup.

2. Use a texture sponge to apply makeup that will resemble bruising and skin abrasions. You can also use these sponges to show a 5 o'clock shadow. They leave a stippled application of makeup and if dipped in red can be blotted on the nose for the alcoholic broken vessel look.

3. Purchase a red rubber sponge to apply pore texture to skin, cream makeup and latex base. The texture they leave is that of an orange skin. These can be found at drugstores and theatrical makeup stores. They usually come in rounds.

4. Secure a sea sponge and cut it into various shapes. These provide a great vehicle for irregular shapes and also for stippling effects.

Tips & Warnings

• Use clean sponges or clean and sterilize them if you apply makeup to more than one person. Good hygiene is important.
• Find block foam sponge or a textured stipple sponge at a local beauty supply store or online at Mehron.com, which caters to theatrical performers, or Halloween Costumes Online. Foam sponges frequently come in a block and you can cut them yourself.
• If you're on a budget, you may want to improvise. The texture of a stipple sponge is much like that of a furnace filter or large metal wire scouring pad. Either is usable in place of the sponge.

Resources

• Buy stipple sponges at Mehron.
• Look for makeup sponges at Halloween Costumes Online.