Facial cleansing brushes aren’t necessarily essential to have, but many experts and dermatologists swear by these small but mighty gadgets and recommend reaching for them multiple times a week.
On top of offering a deeper cleanse when washing your face, some of them carry benefits like physical exfoliation or even massage, too. Facial cleansing brushes serve as mechanical exfoliators to aid in the removal of dead skin while increasing blood flow to leave skin plump and glowy.
However, as with most skincare tools, not all facial cleansing brushes are created equal. With that, we put some of the most popular and highly rated options to the test, and assessed them based on ease of use, effectiveness, comfort, and ease of cleaning.
Keep reading to find the best facial cleansing brushes, tried, tested, and true.
We recommend breaking down your makeup with an oil-based cleanser prior to going in with your face wash, but it doesn’t hurt to have a tool that does an excellent job at removing makeup. As a top 1 dermatologist recommended face cleansing brush, you’ll be surprised to find out how amazing the Foreo Luna 3 is in sloughing away your foundation, lipstick, and even eyeshadow. Expect the tiniest bit of makeup residue left on your skin after using the brush, but nothing a few splashes of water can’t do.
Besides, it features soft bristles that aren’t abrasive on sensitive skin. You’ll also appreciate that this particular facial cleansing brush also connects to an app specifically designed to use alongside the tool. You’re allowed to follow the visual guidance provided on the app while cleansing, and it also shares the ideal amount of time you should spend cleansing each part of your face.
Advanced facial cleansing brush with a smart app.
Compact design is portable and allows for customization
Removes makeup with minimal effort
Made of gentle, soft bristles
The app that comes with the tool might take some time to customize
Cleaning makeup residue from the brush takes a bit of effort
One of the best facial cleansing brushes that remove your makeup easily, the oval-shaped head on this brush allows you to better clean hard-to-reach areas. The Clinique sonic system purifying cleansing brush uses sonic vibration to cleanse the skin gently, making it safe for all skin types. Yes, including the most sensitive of skin. Feel free to choose between four brush head attachments—Acne Solutions, City Block Purifying, Extra Gentle, and Purifying—to address your various skin concerns. While the brush head isn’t made of silicone, replacements are available at multiple retailers.
Purifying cleansing brush for face with sonic vibration and four brush head attachments.
Used sonic vibration to gently slough away dead skin
Gentle
Comes with four brush head attachments to tackle different skin concerns
Replacements are easily accessible
Needs to be recharged frequently
Best facial cleansing brush for sensitive skin alert! The Clarisonic Mia 2 employs a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to cleanse and is said to cleanse 6 times more effectively than the traditional manual route. It’s gentle enough for you to use twice a day, doesn’t irritate your skin yet, leaves it looking smoother and softer. This product acts as a gentle oscillation device, pushing any moisturizer, essence, or serum to penetrate your skin deeper. It also comes with different brush heads to target specific concerns, including for deep cleanse, acne, smart profile for body, cashmere brush and more. There’s also a new addition to the category with a travel brush, which can be tossed in a gym bag or work purse for on the go, portable use. Use this consistently, and you’ll notice an overall healthy and youthful complexion, with a significant reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
Deep cleansing facial brush that oscillates at a sonic speed.
Features two different speeds
Cleanses 6x better than with your hands alone
Uses oscillation technology to cleanse the skin gently
Comes with various brush heads
Can be a little loud
The PMD battery-powered Clean Smart facial cleansing is a waterproof silicone brush and massager that claims to offer up to 7,000 vibrations per minute for a deep clean. You can use the bristled brush in either gentle vibration or intense vibration mode for cleansing, and the non-bristled backside of the tool in gentle pulsation or intense pulsation mode for applying lotions or serums, whichever fits your needs at the moment. According to the brand, the PMD cleansing brush is suitable for all skin types.
Silicone facial cleansing brush that offers up to 7,000 vibration per minute for a deep clean.
Uses SonicGlow technology to break down dirt and oil within pores
Suitable for all skin types
Features an anti-aging facial massage function
Customizable modes
Pretty basic compared to the others
Looking for the best facial cleansing brushes with all the bells and whistles and you don’t mind shelling out to do so? We got you covered! Get yourself the Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear Petite Antimicrobial Skin Cleansing Brush to enjoy the powerful yet gentle sonic removal of pore-blocking impurities and dead skin. Using it daily will leave your skin feeling refreshed, cleaner, softer, smoother, and healthier. On top of that, it’ll help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dry patches, clogged pores, and rough areas. Suitable for all skin types and skin tones, you’ll be glad to know that the antimicrobial brushes stay fresh and clean for 6 months before you need to replace them.
Sonic facial cleansing brush with antimicrobial bristles for anti-aging and exfoliating.
Portable
Includes both an infusion head and facial cleansing brush
Comes with three customizable speeds
Waterproof
Has an automatic timer that beeps every 20 seconds to signal you to move to the next area
None
Small in size, but mighty in power, the palm-sized Foreo Luna 2 Mini silicone brush is one of the best facial cleansing brushes that only news to be charged once every five months. If that’s not enough for you: its minute-long T-sonic pulsations and hygienic nubs claim to remove 99.5% of dirt and oil as it exfoliates your skin without causing irritation. That means fewer pimples, and pores are better prepared for moisturizer and vitamin C serums. It’s made from hypoallergenic silicone that’s 35x more hygienic than nylon and doesn’t require brush-head replacement. When in a hurry, we recommend using their 30-second Glow Boost mode for a quick refresh.
Portable silicone facial cleansing brush with T-sonic pulsations that remove 99.5 percent of dirt and oil.
Sloughs away dirt and oil, dead skin cells, and makeup residue very efficiently
No need for brush head replacements
Customizable intensities
Only needs to be charged every five months/300 uses
Waterproof
Safe for all skin types
Pricey
Can’t be used alongside cleansing oils or grainy/clay-based cleansers as they damage the silicone
The Foreo Luna mini 3 hi-tech facial cleanser will take your skincare routine to a whole new level with its extra-gentle silicone touchpoints and 8000 sonic pulsations. It comes with 12 intensities that expertly remove sweat, oil, and dirt from your pores, revealing a fresh and healthing-looking complexion. Suitable for all skin types, this brush gently exfoliates and leaves a highly absorbing base for your skincare products to work with. Above all that, you’ll appreciate that this device is app-controlled and customizable. If you’re strapped for time, enjoy a 30-second Glow Boost mode for a quick cleanse anytime, anywhere.
Powerful dual-sided facial cleansing brush that connects to a smart app.
Features a smart app that provides instructions
Made of ultra-hygienic silicone
Delivers extra-gentle silicone touchpoints and 8000 sonic pulsations at 12 intensities to remove oil and dirt more effectively
Travel-friendly and compact
Requires a bit of effort to set up the app
If you’re looking for the best facial cleansing brush for acne, this is just the thing for you. The Proativ charcoal-infused cleanser gives a bright appearance to the skin by removing acne-causing dirt and oils.The densely bristled scrub brush clears dead skin cells with gentle and non-abrasive circular motions. Its 360-degree rotation works in synergy with the dual-speed cleansing to ensure your skin stays healthy in the long run. On top of that, the petite size and easy-to-use operation make it a viable option for users of all ages.
Charcoal-infused facial scrubber for deep skin cleansing.
Tapered design for ease of use
Water-resistant
Suitable for all skin types
Ergonomic shape
May not come with batteries
Some users claimed they experienced a tingling sensation
Made of ultra-hygienic silicones, this advanced sonic facial cleansing brush offers a gentle cleanse, perfect for those with sensitive skin. The NagraCoola one the best massaging and face cleaning brushes you can find that’ll remove up to 99% of dead skin cells, oil, and dirt. Its lightweight pore cleansing tendencies offer an illuminating and refreshing complexion. You can use your favourite serum and cream as it helps them penetrate deeper into your skin with ease. This electric brush also removes makeup residue and unclogs the pores. Simultaneously, it promotes blood flow to the skin, revealing a plump, glowy skin.
Upgraded face cleansing brush silicone that uses patented V-Sonic technology with 8000 pulsations per minute.
100% waterproof
Delivers 8000 pulsations per minute
Easy-to-hold handle
Comes with two modes and five intensities
Automatically selects last used mode
Gentle
Features a heat setting that may not work
Amongst the best facial cleansing brushes available that are affordable, the Free Breath model comes with five different brush heads—silicone, pumice, soft, soft sponge, and exfoliating. It has three customizable speed modes to deep cleanse and exfoliate your skin. Since it’s waterproof, feel free to use it in the shower (for 30 minutes). It features a one-touch button operation and includes a 1000mAh rechargeable battery. Requires two hours to charge completely, you can use the brush for 20 days after a full charge, making it suitable for trips.
Facial cleansing brush with special IPX7 waterproof design.
Hi-tech IPX7 waterproof design
Suitable for all skin types
Includes a convenient storage bag
Safe to use daily
Refrain from charging it after a wet use
If you have chronic acne, eczema, rosacea, or extremely sensitive skin, unfortunately, facial cleansing brushes may be too harsh for you. However, that doesn’t mean they’re completely off the table. If you have relatively normal skin and follow the directions to a T, facial cleansing brushes can be a nice occasional addition to your regime—especially if you prefer a model with all the bells and whistles, like facial massaging and various exfoliating modes. If you want a daily or gentler exfoliator, chemical exfoliant is a better alternative.
But before giving any brush a try, it’s always a good idea to consult your dermatologist and do a patch test on your cheek and jawline to ensure your skin reacts positively to the device. Any burning, itching, redness, or irritation afterward (or even the following day) means it might not be for you.
We generally don’t recommend using a facial cleansing brush every day. If you’re new to the world of such devices, it’s best to start slow (think: once or twice a week max, until you get a feel for how your skin reacts).
One important thing to bear in mind, is that regardless of your frequency of use, you should wash your brush every time you use it. Oftentimes, these brushes can harbor bacteria and even exacerbate existing acne problems. So remember to rinse it off thoroughly after each use.
Here are some features to bear in mind when buying a facial cleansing brush.
Look at the type of settings that the brush offers. The more the settings, the better the result will be. This factor will help you utilize the brush as per your requirements.
You can find a brush that may have anywhere between three to seven brush heads. Look into each one of them and purchase if they suit your needs.
We highly recommend opting for a facial cleansing brush with an aerodynamic or an ergonomic shape and design. The brush also shouldn’t be too heavy or too light, and the grip should be good enough.
Choose a brush that offers non-porous silicone bristles over nylon bristles as the former offers better cleaning functionality and is more hygienic.
Remove any foundation, eye shadow, lipstick, or blush prior to using a cleansing brush. This will help ensure a proper clean—it prevents the bristles from coating with makeup.
Opt for a gentle cleanser formulated for your skin type. We advise against using a formula that contains microbeads or other exfoliating ingredients, such as glycolic acid, because they can be too abrasive when combined with the brush head.
If your tool comes with different speed and vibration settings, start with the lowest intensity, and slowly work your way up to one that feels comfortable as you wash.
Use extra light pressure and work in small circular motions around your face. Do it for about one minute of massaging the brush on your skin, then turn off the device and rinse both your face and brush with lukewarm water.
Since cleansing brushes exfoliate your skin, hydrating your skin afterward is of paramount importance. Whether you’re using the tool in the morning or at night, follow your usual skincare routine and incorporate rich, moisturizing formulas.
This cleansing brush features soft bristles that aren’t abrasive on sensitive skin. You’ll also appreciate that this particular facial cleansing brush also connects to an app specifically designed to guide you along when you use the tool.
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