Tool Thursday: Beautyblender Blotterazzi Review

Measurement

• 5.3 cm (2.0 in) wide (at the widest part) x 8.5 cm tall (3.3 in)

Review & Usage

New from Beautyblender is the Blotterazzi that promises to blot excess oil without disturbing your makeup while leaving your skin radiant! Having an oily T-zone myself, I rarely ever go by a day without blotting at least once. I do like my Gatsby blotting sheets and I think they do a fantastic job. I can’t imagine anything else working better but being a long-time user (and lover) of the Beautyblender sponge, I thought I’d give the Blotterazzi a try. (I actually find the name Blotterazzi kind of funny! Anyone with me on this? :D)

Blotterazzi is a tear drop-shaped, thin sponge made of the same material as the Beautyblender sponge. It is crazy soft and flexible and I really enjoy “feeling” it on my skin. For US$20, you get two sheets of Blotterazzi in a nice mirrored compact of the same shape. The compact feels really nice and sturdy and has a vented back so that you can store your used Blotterazzi facing down to air dry. There is also a clear plastic divider included to separate the two sponges from each other. The tear drop shape is pretty genius as you can use the pointy tip in tight corners of the face such as between the brows and on the Cupid’s Bow, and the round base in wider areas such as forehead, T-zone, chin, and cheeks.

I find having a blotting tool that is washable, reusable, portable, and environmental-friendly — which Blotterazzi is — a really great concept. One Blotterazzi sheet is supposed to last at least 2 months with regular use, so the two of them should be good for at least 4 months with proper cleaning. Considering how blotting sheets are quite expensive in America, this could be considered a more budget-friendly alternative, too. (In contrast, blotting sheets in Asia are pretty cheap so I have no problem going through a few sheets a day.)

Now let’s talk performance. I think whether you’ll like this product or not depends on your blotting preference. If you like your skin to be completely matte after blotting, as in absolutely no oil or sheen left behind at all, you’re not going to like Blotterazzi. However, if you prefer your skin to have a little dewy effect, or in other word, you want a little bit of oil left behind to mimic the skin’s natural glow (this, I presume is what the brand meant about “leaving a radiant finish behind”), then this might just be exactly what you need!

Blotterazzi does not remove all the oil. It does not make your face completely matte like a regular blotting sheet does (the good one). It simply removes the majority of the oil, enough to make you not look oily. You can press a little harder on the skin to remove more oil but it still won’t be absorbent enough to get everything off. And for this reason, I think those with super oily skin might not appreciate it. The claim of not disturbing makeup is somewhat true, as long as you only use pressing motions, not rubbing during blotting, otherwise the makeup will transfer.

I can deal with the fact that it doesn’t remove all the oil. What bothers me more is reusing the same sponge several times a day. I mean, if you only use it once a day and wash it after use, then it’s OK. But what if you are very oily and need to blot multiple times a day, would you not feel gross about having to use the same sponge you just used earlier again and again? I would. 

Washing is easy. You can wash it the same way you do the Beautyblender sponge. The company provides a sample packet of their Liquid Blendercleanser with the compact, too, and I highly recommend it. Now I will agree that the product is eco-friendly and will help you save money from having to buy blotting sheets, but if you have to wash it everyday after use (you should), wouldn’t you be wasting water then? So I really don’t know if it’s really that budget and eco-friendly after all. You can probably reuse it many times before you finally wash it but I would advise against doing so for hygienic purposes.

All in all, I have mixed feelings about this one. It is a more glamorous way to blot for sure, but I don’t see it replacing my blotting sheets any time soon. I prefer my face to be completely matte rather than dewy or “radiant” after blotting! The concept is cute, the execution is cute, but performance-wise, it is very subjective. Definitely a product that you have to try for yourself! :)

Purchase