Beautyblender Wave Is the Color-Changing Makeup Sponge You Didn’t Know You Needed

Leah Prinzivalli

There comes a moment in every makeup lover's life when they learn the power of three little words: wet your Beautyblender.

Harken back to a time in your life before your first encounter with the iconic egg-shaped makeup sponge. It was 2007, "Fergalicious" was on the radio, and Rea Ann Silva introduced the world's first hydrophilic makeup sponge. As we were about to learn, Beautyblender is designed to be used wet. It soaks up water, leaving no room left to absorb foundation. Since that fateful year, Beautyblender has won 10(!) Allure Best of Beauty awards and become a staple in makeup kits from Mario Dedivanovic to, well, me.

Over a decade of using Beautyblender, we've learned a few tricks, like how to use it to apply blurred out lipstick. But no matter how we use the sponge, it always starts with the same way — with water. Now, Beautyblender is introducing Beautyblender Wave, a brand-new sponge that makes certain no one ever forgets the crucial first step.

"There are a lot of people out there using this sorcery of a makeup sponge dry," reads a press release. Beautyblender Wave wants to prevent that in a very fun way: the sponge changes color when soaked with water. It starts out lilac, but run it under hot water, and it turns periwinkle blue. Just in case that's not enough, it also comes embossed with the words "wet me."

The Wave is still latex-free, scent-free, and cruelty-free. It works exactly like a signature Beautyblender. But, having tested it for a week, I can make one major argument for switching to the Wave: It's just more fun.

When I'm in the bathroom applying makeup before the sun rises, I'll take any little scrap of joy I can bring into my routine. There's something extra satisfying about seeing my Beautyblender turn blue every morning. It changes color immediately when hit with water, then swaps back to pink the moment I start pressing sponge to skin. It's like the mood ring I was actually wearing back in 2007, but a whole lot more practical.

Beautyblender Wave launches on December 25 at Sephora, sephora.com, and beautyblender.com, and sells for $20, the same cost as a signature sponge. It's the perfect gift for someone just starting to apply makeup, or a seasoned pro who needs to get in touch with her inner child.

More new makeup to try:

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Originally Appeared on Allure