Do you ever feel like cleansing with your hands alone isn’t enough? Does your skin feel congested in the morning even after cleansing the night before? Perhaps what you need is a helping hand to give your pores a good thorough cleanse! Today, we’ll be talking all about cleansing brushes as well as our favourite ones on the market.

What Are Facial Cleansing Brushes?

Facial cleansing brushes are either manual or electronic facial brushes you can use to exfoliate and slough away the dead skin cells on your face. They allow you to get a good deep cleanse right at the pore-level that you won’t otherwise get with your hands. From spinning ones to multifunctional travel-sized ones, looking for one you like can be overwhelming! But fear not, we’re here to lend you a helping hand!

Who Needs Them?

No one actually needs cleansing brushes. They aren’t absolutely essential and there are other ways to exfoliate effectively. Like with alpha and beta hydroxy acids! However, if you’re a tech and skincare junkie who likes trying new things and has some cash to spare, go for it! At the same time, some skincare lovers swear by cleansing brushes, so it’s really based on your own personal preference. Besides, it’s also a fun and relaxing way to exfoliate your skin after removing your makeup in the evenings.

How To Use Them?

Always use a makeup remover before using a cleansing brush!

The most effective way to use your facial cleansing brush is to first remove your makeup with a proper makeup remover. Using your cleansing brush right off the bat is a recipe for disaster, according to dermatologists. This is because you’d essentially be driving makeup and debris deeper into your pores and spreading it everywhere with the brush bristles. Definitely not ideal and totally defeats its purpose as a cleansing brush.

So, remember to always remove your makeup first with a cleansing oil or cotton pads soaked with micellar water beforehand. Once that’s out of the way, dampen your skin and brush with water and apply your facial cleanser of choice to the bristles. Then, switch on your cleansing brush and very gently press it against your skin and glide it around in circular motions. The spinning brush will do most of the work for you. Finally, rinse your face thoroughly with water and follow up with your favourite skincare products.

Let the brush do most of the work for you!

Our Top Picks For Different Skin Types And Needs!

With so many different types at so many different price points on the market, it can be overwhelming to find a cleansing brush that’s just right for you. To help you on your search, we’ve gathered 11 of our favourites that cater to different skin types and preferences:

1. Normal To Combination Skin: Foreo Luna 3

The Foreo Luna 3 is an all-round great option for normal and combination skin types. It’s compact enough for you to hold easily and it comes in a sweet baby blue and pink shade. The brush utilises a unique T-sonic technology to break up debris and sebum in your pores and gently remove dead skin cells. Additionally, its silicone bristles and body are antibacterial in nature and is completely waterproof. If you’re unsure about how long to use it for, Foreo Luna 3 has a built-in timer of 60 seconds. It can also be used 650 times before its next recharge.

Where To Get: Foreo Luna 3 for Normal or Combination Skin, $299 at Sephora Singapore.

2. Oily Skin: Foreo Luna Go

Those with oilier skin types will understand the frustration of dealing with excess sebum production, acne breakouts, blackheads and clogged pores. Also applying T-Sonic technology, the Foreo Luna Go’s pulsations reportedly removes 99.5% of all debris, dead skin cells and excess oil from your skin.

Where To Get: Foreo Luna Go For Oily Skin, $159 at Sephora Singapore.

3. Dry And Sensitive Skin: Foreo Luna Play Plus

If you have dry and sensitive skin, it can be daunting to try a cleansing brush with intimidating-looking bristles. But not to worry, Foreo Luna Play Plus uses a finer and non-abrasive form of silicone and T-sonic technology to give your skin an effective cleanse free of irritations. Moreover, this edition of Foreo comes in a variety of playful colours to suit your personality!

Where To Get: Foreo Luna Play Plus, $79 at Sephora Singapore.

4. Mature Skin: Olay ProX Anti-Aging Advanced Cleansing System

Created by dermatologists, Olay’s ProX Anti-Aging Advanced Cleansing System is ideal for mature and also sensitive skin types. The cleansing brush uses 2 different speed rotating brush heads to effectively exfoliate the skin. Using it with its accompanying Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser has been shown to reveal a clearer and more radiant complexion.

Where To Get: Olay ProX Anti-Aging Advanced Cleansing System, $59.85 at Shopee Singapore.

5. Multifunctional: Braun FaceSpa Pro 912 Epilator

If you are a multitasker who likes saving time and cleansing your face in the shower, this one may just tick all the boxes! Braun’s FaceSpa Pro 912 is a 100% waterproof 3-in-1 facial epilating, cleansing and skin-toning system with 3 unique attachments. The first attachment is an ultra-gentle dermatologist-approved brush for exfoliating sensitive skin. Next, you’ve got a slim epilator head for removing tiny stray hairs around your upper lip and brows. Finally, the third is a MicroVibration head which delivers 25 micro-pulses per second to effectively massage your serums into your skin. Each treatment is timed at only 20 seconds, so you can get everything done in just a minute!

Where To Get: Braun FaceSpa Pro 912 Epilator, $169 at Tangs.

6. For Men: Clinique For Men Sonic System Cleansing Brush

Here’s one for the guys! This Sonic System Cleansing Brush from Clinique is specifically designed for men. Men generally tend to have larger pores than women and have to contend with occasional ingrown hairs around their beard and neck area. The best time to use this facial brush is after a shave to prevent ingrown hairs and keep the skin feeling clean and smooth.

Where To Get: Clinique For Men Sonic System Cleansing Brush, $185 at Lazada Singapore.

7. Budget-Friendly: Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System

Instead of the usual brush bristles, this cleansing “brush” by Neutrogena uses puffs embedded with ultra-fine crystals and purifiers that serve as the tool’s exfoliant. Together with its massaging vibrations, this microdermabrasion system is suitable for improving cell turnover and encouraging new collagen production. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s just under $50!

Where To Get: Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System, $45.90 at Lazada Singapore.

8. Travel-Friendly: Foreo Luna Mini 3

We know travelling isn’t much of an option during the pandemic, but this pocket-sized hero is great for when you’re hitting the gym or wanting a quick cleanse at the office. This adorable cleansing device features ultra-gentle silicone bristles, 8,000 T-sonic pulsations per minute and 12 different intensities to thoroughly lift the skin of oil and impurities. As of right now, it comes in the shades lavender, pearl pink, fuchsia and sunflower yellow.

Where To Get: Foreo Luna Mini 3 Cleansing Device, $235 at Sephora Singapore.

9. Massaging: Iuiga Sonic Silicone Facial Cleansing Device

This cleansing device by Iuiga (pronounced “eye-you-gah”) looks and works pretty much like Foreo one, but is a much more affordable alternative (at only $23.90!). It vibrates for exactly 8,000 times per minute and uses non-porous antibacterial silicone. Additionally, it offers 6 speed settings and a massaging function with a vibration frequency of 4,500 times per minute.

Where To Get: Iuiga Sonic Silicone Facial Cleansing Device, $23.90 at Iuiga.

10. Manual: Tsuriri Face Pore Cleansing Brush Mild

If you can’t be bothered with charging up devices and would prefer to take your time with your cleansing brush, then give this manual one from Tsuriri a try! It’s the most affordable one on this list since it’s not automated, and is very suitable for sensitive skin. This brush has a handle that’s easy to hold and uses super-fine Japanese fibre bristles to gently cleanse and exfoliate your skin.

Where To Get: Tsuriri Face Pore Cleansing Brush Mild, $18.90 at Watsons Singapore.

11. Classic: Clarisonic MIA Smart

Finally, we’ve come upon a classic in the cleansing brush world! Clarisonic has been around for a long time and its name usually comes to mind when we hear the words “cleansing brush”. The Clarisonic MIA Smart here is definitely a splurge, but it’s extremely effective and comes in a variety of brush heads to cater to your changing skin needs and concerns. However, after almost 16 years of exfoliating faces, Clarisonic recently announced on their Instagram that they will be going out of business. We’re sad to hear the news, but all remaining stock for Clarisonic devices will still be available for purchase online.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9q9CNp38h/

Where To Buy: Clarisonic MIA Smart, $265 at Lazada Singapore.

Love reading about skincare? Check out our favourite local organic skincare favourites here!

Author Clara Siew | Date 25th Sep 2020