When you wash your face, what do you use? For as long as I can remember, I’ve just used my hands! I mean, it’s always been the easiest thing to do – and also the most cost effective way to get the job done. #handsaregold, amirite!
I’ve always thought that washing my face with my hands was the best option, UNTIL the day I was shopping for makeup and cosmetician pulled me aside and basically told me that I was doing it all wrong (while also hinting that I had large pores.) My first reaction? Pft. Lady. You better leave my pores out of this before we have uno grande problemo on our hands, ya feel me?
She then tried to sell me a $200 Clairsonic cleansing brush, which I very quickly declined because, well, broke student life! I got to thinking afterward, are cleansing brushes really worth it? Although I was put off by the hefty price tag, there are still so many cleansing brushes (both pricey and not so pricey) with really great reviews!
So lovelies, are you down for another beauty and skincare adventure into the world of cleansing brushes?
For those of you who have no idea what I’ve been talking about- these are cleansing brushes! (Or some of them, anyway)
So, here’s the million dollar question: What are the pros and cons of buying a cleansing brush?
Pro’s
- Better absorption of your cleanser (meaning it’ll work more effectively!)
- Thoroughly cleansed skin (all brushes advertise that they clean your skin deeper and remove make-up residue, oil and dirt better than using your hands)
- Reduction in pore size and less blackheads
- Clearer skin and a smoother complexion
Cons:
- Depending on your brush of choice, the price (ranging from $-$$$)
- Generally more time consuming
- Incidental fees (like replacing the brush heads, or buying brush heads and batteries separately might be a put off)
How do they work?
Since there are SO many different kinds of brushes on the market, I’m going to split them up into two categories based on price (mostly because you really do get what you pay for)
Most Popular Cleansing Brushes ranging from $1- $50
From Sephora (starting from the left): The Sephora Dynamic Duo Face Brush $19, The Sephora Cleaning me Softly Cleansing Brush $13, and the Shiseido Cleansing Massage Brush $29
These brushes all have one thing in common- they aren’t battery powered so they don’t vibrate/ociliate/spin/rotate. On the flipside, they all have an ergonomic design and soft bristles to make cleansing and exfoliating your skin easier! The two Sephora brand brushes have nylon bristles, while the Shiseido brush has silicone bristles that are just a little bit softer. Reviews on the Sephora website are all generally positive, so if you’re looking to get into the cleansing brush club but want to test the waters first, these brushes would be a great go to.
From Olay (price varies depending on the store, Amazon included): Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid Powered Contour Cleansing System $5-12 , Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System $18-$35 (First pair of images), and the Olay Pro-X Microdermabrasion Plus Advanced Cleansing System $30-$45 (Bottom image).
Excluding the Va-Va-Vivid system, the two Olay Pro X Brushes are both battery powered brushes that come with detachable cleansing heads. Both brushes rotate to help cleanse your skin, but the Pro X Microdermabrasian system has 3 speeds and an extra microdermabrasian head, while the Pro X Advance just has two speeds. Both systems are also okay to use in the shower and come with trial sizes of cleansers, so if you’re looking for the biggest bang for your buck, this is probably it!
I actually purchased to Va-Va-Vivid system on the super cheap at the CNE beauty outlet last week and have been using it once a day since. The brush head isn’t detachable and doesn’t rotate, but it vibrates. The triangular shape of the brush is actually really great for going over your T zone and my skin does look and feel a lot smoother and softer. The brush head is silicone so it doesn’t feel too rough on my skin. Mind you, it isn’t life changing, but I definitely see a difference, so I feel like the $6 bucks I spent paid off.
Most Popular Cleansing Brushes from $50-$200
The Clarisonic Line: Mia 1 Sonic Cleansing Device $145+, Mia 2 Sonic Cleansing System $180+ (first pair of images), Aria Sonic Cleansing Device $230+(bottom image)
If you’ve heard of cleansing brushes before, I’m sure you heard of the clarisonic line first. People swear by this cleansing system, as they should, since each unit is about 150 bucks +. If you check out reviews on these products, you’ll be pleased to find that they are all positive (well, the ones I could find) and contain pretty dramatic before and after pictures! These units use something called sonic technology to get the deepest clean possible. The brush heads oscilate/rotate and the unit comes with a rechargeable battery. Most units come with one brush, but more can be purchased for other types of cleansing, ex. a softer brush for sensitive skin and an exfoliating brush. Another cool feature is that the brush has a timed cleansing system! All Clarisonic cleansing brushes come with a one year manufacturer warranty, so if you’re willing to shell out the extra cash the Clarisonic could be the unit for you
Other Brands: Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush $99+
Fairly new to the market, Clinque’s cleansing brush system has been compared to the Clarisonic in terms of its effectiveness and results. Sephora sells this system for about $100 bucks, but it also comes with smaller sized cleansing products. The reviews on Sephora seem to be pretty positive as well! The brush doesn’t give you the timed cleansing experience ,but it’s as close to the Clarisonic you can find for cheap(er).
Photo Sources