7 Best Electric Exfoliating Brushes That Your Face Will Love
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Image | Courtesy of Featured Retailers / Illustration by TSD
Washing your face every day can seem like a bit of a chore, especially when you are removing make-up.
While using your hands in tandem with a facial wash to scrub your face can get your skin to a good level of ‘clean’, but using an electric exfoliating brush makes the process so much easier.
All you need to do is dampen your facial brush, apply your favourite face wash and move the oscillating bristles in a circular motion on your face - gently massaging it - easy peasy!
When combined with an effective cleanser, a good facial brush will lightly but thoroughly work the product into your skin, removing dead skin, any dirt and oils from your face, revealing a smoother, tighter surface and brighter skin tone.
The additional convenience of a facial brush is that it uses sonic technology or light vibrations to make the process much quicker than manual cleansing with your hands, so your skincare ritual is a breeze.
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It can be so tempting to just grab the brush every day and let it do its thing, but that will likely do more harm than good to your delicate skin.
In an interview with Insider, Dr. David J. Leffell, the Chief of Dermatologic Surgery at Yale School of Medicine explained that you should not “exfoliate too frequently” he added, “depending on the nature of a person's skin and skin-care regimens, no more than once or twice a week is probably sufficient. One doesn't have to exfoliate skin as if they were sanding a piece of wood!”
Try using your facial brush at the lowest speed to ensure you don’t over-exfoliate too.
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A good exfoliating brush is one that you can keep for a long time and is as effective after using it for one year as it was on day one.
In order for that to happen, you’ll need one made with a reliable and durable material that is easy to clean and won’t degrade over time.
Silicone is probably your best option for a brush head/bristles. According to an article on EARTH HERO, “silicone has a high resistance to temperature, low reactivity with chemicals, doesn’t support microbiological growth, repels water, and is resistant to ultraviolet (UV light)”.
Even the skincare experts agree that silicone is a winner for facial brushes. Dr. Arora of The Face Bible (GP and Aesthetics doctor for the NHS explained in an interview with Glamour Magazine that “Silicone-based facial cleansing devices are great for elevating your skincare routine. They are super gentle on the skin, the bristles are easy to clean and super hygienic.”
If you suffer from oily skin, you might be surprised at how effective facial brushes are at unclogging pores which helps to remove blackheads and keep them at bay.
For some extra help to create the ultimate face cleansing ‘power-couple’ try giving one of these products a whirl…
Another thing to consider is how to maintain your facial brush and how often you replace the brush head.
Depending on how often you use your face brush, you should clean your brush heads every 1-2 weeks and ensure they are dried thoroughly after each wash.
In an interview with Bustle, Dr. Ava Shamban, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, explained that when brush bristles are not cleaned properly they “can attract unwanted friends. They can become long term housing for bacteria or fungus.”
Not all facial brushes are created equally, so choosing the right one means you’ll have a long-lasting gift that keeps on giving (that glow!) without the expensive monthly trip to the salon.
So I’ve scoured the internet looking for 7 of the best facial brushes that all have great reviews and are reasonably priced.
1. Michael Todd Soniclear Petite Deluxe
Best Bits |
✔ Antimicrobial brush head
✔ Allure Reader’s Choice Winner in 2021
✔ Suitable for all skin types
✔ Also available in purple marble
✔ Travel-sized
Overview | I think you’ll agree that this might be one of the prettiness facial brushes you’ve ever seen, am I right?
But in terms of function, this travel-sized facial brush from Michael Todd claims to deliver all you’ll need to achieve “cleaner, softer, smoother, and healthier-looking” skin.
The fact that this brush won Allure Reader’s Choice just last year, means they might be right!
2. PMD Clean Pro RQ
Best Bits |
✔ Uses SonicGlow™ and ActiveWarmth technology
✔ 7,000 rotations per minute
✔ Ultra-hygienic silicone bristles
✔ Suitable for all skin types
✔ Comes with a USB charging cord
Overview | This lightweight and multi-functional facial brush from PMD promises to deeply cleanse your skin, eliminating excess oil, dirt and residue from your face, revealing a firmer and more youthful appearance.
This ‘RQ’ (Rose Quartz) edition features a rose quartz plate that contains elements of Magnesium, Iron and Oxygen which helps to reduce inflammation and provide tension relief.
3. Olay Regenerist Face Cleansing Device
Best Bits |
✔ 2 Speeds
✔ Dermatologist-designed
✔ Great price
✔ Sleek design
Overview | Olay is such a well-known and reputable skin-care brand that it makes sense that they have a facial brush of their own (which they advise using with one of their face washes of course)
The Regenerist Face Cleansing Device promises ‘'superior” cleansing on hard-to-remove makeup and eliminates dull skin cells.
After just 60 seconds of use - you’re good to go!
4. FOREO LUNA™ Mini 3
Best Bits |
✔ 30-sec ‘Glow Boost’ mode
✔ Dual-sided
✔ 12 Adjustable Intensity levels
✔ 400 uses from one single charge
✔ Ideal for all skin types
Overview | This popular facial brush from FOREO promotes a brighter and younger-looking complexion and is ideal for all skin types due to the combination of extra-gentle thick and thin touchpoints.
Small yet mighty, the ‘super portable’ provide up to 400 uses from one single charge.
5. HoMedics Pureté The Complete Skincare Solution Facial Cleansing Brush
Best Bits |
✔ Perfect for travel
✔ 9000 continuous pulsations
✔ 2 Intensity settings
✔ ‘Zone Control’ system
✔ Suitable for all skin types
Overview | The HoMedics Pureté Facial Cleansing Brush is the perfect non-bulky face cleansing tool that you can just chuck in your bag and head out the door.
Choose from two intensity levels (low and high) delivering 9000 continuous pulsations that gently massage your skin whilst helping your skin to deeply absorb your favourite face wash.
It comes complete with three additional brush heads and a docking station for induction charging.
6. Buttah Vibe Brush Facial Cleansing Device
Best Bits |
✔ Suitable for all skin types
✔ Anti-microbial brush
✔ 2 Speeds
✔ Great price
Overview | The Buttah Vibe Brush promises to gently exfoliate, eliminate dead skin cells, reduce pore visibility and invigorate the skin leaving a lasting glow on your face.
With 2 speeds available, the sonic powered brush is suitable for all skin types. This face brush requires AA batteries (2 are included), but, for a great quality facial brush under £40, it’s unlikely to be a deal-breaker.
7. Clarisonic Mia Smart
Best Bits |
✔ Allure Reader's Choice 2019 Winner
✔ Uses Sonic technology
✔ Provides 100 minutes of cleansing per charge
✔ Comes with a USB charging stand
Overview | Clarisonic might be the first brand you think of when considering a facial brush. Created in 2004, their electronic cleansing facial brush became very popular and was even hailed as one of Oprah’s favourite things.
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll benefit from the soft bristles that are gentle enough to be used twice a day.
The popular facial brush also has a convenient “built-in time strip” that activates when you attach your brush head and tells you when you need to replace it.
