when comparing prices i would not consider the sponge it is not really usable [SEP] i was looking for a combo pack that had the make up sponge being priority and a mat to clean brushes with priority because i already have a small one that works just fine anyhow when i saw this pack i was excited at this price you usually can only get a sponge alone but instead this company is offering both i was excited that is until i received the item not only did the sponge smell so bad that it took me washes to get rid of the terrible smell not only chemical but another gross smell with it either way i washed it with gloves out of curiosity to see if the smell would come out and to be honest i am not comfortable using anything that smells like that especially on my face the funny and a little annoying thing about it is that the sponge is literally quarters the size of a chap stick no joke and i am being generous i did however like the brush mat that is the reason for the star and since the sponge was the other half of this item and small i took off stars for it being a big fat fail which at this price for a brush mat does not seem that big of a deal considering how many great mats there are on amazon at the same price or less with stars and that is what this should be compared to not as a mat w a bonus