favorite tools for applying foundation (beauty blender and sephora stippling brush)

My favorite tool for foundation has consistently been the Beauty Blender.  It provides the most natural, flawless finish for the majority of my foundations.  I've read some reviews where people think it's all hype, but I suspect they are not using the sponge properly.  You have to really wet it through and squeeze out the water multiple times until the sponge becomes quite large and full.  Then you sort of "bounce" it on your face to apply foundation or to blend in other cream products.  (It also helps to de-cake or lighten powder if you accidentally used too heavy a hand in applying product.)  

However, there was one foundation that even the Beauty Blender couldn't get to work for me - the ByTerry Cover Expert - which seemed to just sit on top of my skin in an odd, unflattering way.  But recently I discovered a brush that magically applies this foundation beautifully on my skin - the Sephora small stippling brush (#42).  I had read so many reviews about this brush so I thought I would give it a go during the recent Sephora VIB sale, and boy am I glad I did!  I can finally use the overpriced ByTerry foundation and get a lovely, natural and dewy finish.  

I still love my Beauty Blender and for the most part it still gives me the best results for my other foundations and cc creams, but the Sephora stippling brush is now my go-to brush for the ByTerry foundation and what I use when I'm feeling lazy. 

(Random note - My Hakhuhodo foundation brush is also quite lovely - amazingly soft hairs - but I don't think the price is worth it.  But I just got it and am getting the hang of using it so my opinion might change.)