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This '00s Sitcom Birthed The Beautyblender, And We're Forever Grateful

It turns out Girlfriends was innovative in more ways than one.

We all know the Beautyblender is a staple in most makeup bags, but you may not be aware of its origins.

Three makeup sponges in holders on a countertop, ranging from light grey to bright pink to tan, with a compact mirror open nearby

Well, in a recent episode of Seasoned Sessions, we were discussing Girlfriends, and it turns out the iconic โ€˜00s sitcom was far more influential than we realised โ€“ it birthed the sponge that we all know and love.

Four women sitting on a couch in a living room, smiling and interacting warmly, suggesting a scene from a TV show or movie

The UPN sitcom the first TV show to be shot in high-definition, which posed a new challenge to the showโ€™s makeup artist, Rea Ann Silva.

Before, actors would wear layers of makeup, but filming in HD meant that every single pore, bump, and flaw on the actorsโ€™ skin was visible.


Rea knew that airbrushing was the most efficient way to work around this, but pulling actors off set between takes for touch-ups definitely wasnโ€™t the most practical.

Four people gather around a table with a cake and drinks, reading scripts and laughing in a casual setting

So what did she do? Well, she cut triangular makeup sponges into the round shape weโ€™re familiar with now, and it all took off from there.

Her new invention was light, portable, and perfect for quickly refreshing the castโ€™s faces between takes.


When Rea noticed the actors loved her new sponges so much they were pocketing them, she knew she was onto something, and that was the prototype for the Beautyblender.

Two people smiling, with one holding a beauty sponge. They're dressed stylishly, enhancing an article on TV and movies

So there you have it: we can thank Girlfriends for our perfectly blended faces.

Listen to the full discussion below, and catch new episodes of Seasoned Sessions every Saturday!

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