One of the things about my skincare routine is that sometimes I feel that in I’m not fully cleaning my skin. When I wake up and clean my face in the morning, I sometimes still have scraps of foundation that I’ve missed the night before.
Whilst the increase in double cleansing has taken off recently, I also suffer from sensitive skin. So I didn’t want to use multiple cleansing products (that can sometimes be drying!). So, I decided that I would try to improve my routine with what I use to clean my face instead of new products.
This is when I saw the below facial cleanisng brush on Amazon. I remember using the Neutrogena Wave when I was a teenager (any one else remember that Vanessa Hudgens ad that meant you just *had* to have one??). So I thought that a similar device could reboot my skincare.
I bought this 4-in-1 facial cleansing brush which has four different heads for four different reasons. The ‘normal’ brush which has a grey stripe across it is for everyday cleansing. The white bristle brush has gentler bristles for sensitive and gentle cleansing. The latex soft sponge is for eye and cheek massaging (although I’ve rarely used this one!). And the massage roller which can promote blood circulation and works well in the serum part of the skincare routine.
How to Use
The normal brush: turn on cleansing brush and use is small circular movements across your face. Start in the centre of your face and move outwards towards the edges.
The sensitive brush: turn on cleansing brush and use is small circular movements across your face. Start in the centre of your face and move outwards towards the edges.
The latex soft sponge: turn on massager and gently massage under eye and cheek area, moving from your nose outwards in a sweeping motion.
The massage roller: turn on massager and move in small circular movements. Start in the centre of your face and move outwards towards the edges.
Where to Buy
Which Step in Skincare Routine?
- Cleanser – use after removing makeup but before using toner. Don’t use exfoliators after a facial cleansing brush.
- Masks and Exfoliators
- Toner (+exfoliating toner)
- Treatment Products (acne, antioxidant serums, acids, retinols/retinoids)
- Mists
- Serum
- Moisturiser
- Eye Cream
- Oil
Why Use a Facial Brush?
So before I went full in on purchasing a brush, I wanted to do some research on its actual benefits. First things first, a facial cleansing brush is meant to clean, exfoliate and stimulate your skin. All of these help your skins health, look, and complexion.
The bristles of cleansing brushes help to give your skin a deeper clean. After removing makeup you can use a facial brush to clean all the dirt, sebum, and other debris that you can’t fully see.
Alongside cleaning, the bristles exfoliate the skin and remove dry and dead skin cells. Plus, exfoliation can reduce pore size due to reduced debris clogging pores and blackheads.
Alongside this, all four heads can help stimulate the skins surface due to the circular movements. This helps the skin look smoother, more radiant and improves overall complexion.
On top of all this, with cleaner and smoother skin other products used later in your skincare routine is absorbed better. Making the rest of your routine more beneficial to your complexion.
First Thoughts
Compared to the sponge Neutrogena wave, I was worried that a brush would be too rough for my skin. As I have sensitive skin I thought that it may cause more irritation than normal exfoliators.
When I got this cleansing brush, I found that both the normal and sensitive head bristles weren’t too rough. Which made me feel a bit better about possible irritation.
I found when first using it that you need quite a bit of cleansing product and water, as it sinks into the bristles. It’s also a messy product, the spinning motion means that water gets a everywhere when cleaning your face. So make sure you’re in the sink when using it.
I also thought the massagers might be good to stimulate my skin when using serums and oils as you usually massage these into the skin anyway.
During Use
Once I used the brush on my face I realised the bristles weren’t all that rough. But I did find that I could feel it removing my dry skin. So I don’t think you’d need to use any additional exfoliators when using a brush facial cleanser.
I found the process to be messy but relaxing as even the brushes felt like they massaged the skin. The circular movements felt therpeutic and relaxing as part of my nigthtime routine.
I also loved using the massaging head after applying my serum and oil. It added to the relaxing element, which gave my skincare routine an added self-care element.
After Use
As I started with the sensitive brush, it helped me avoid irritation from the start, although the normal one also wasn’t too rough. Both of the bristle heads helped make my skin feel clean and clear, where the normal head also helped remove dry skin where the sensitive head didn’t as much.
Whilst it works well to clean my face, I felt that I never remembered to use it everyday. This feels harder to add to a skincare routine properly than a new cleanser or toner, although I think this might be more of a ‘me’ problem.
I’ll probably continue to use this throughout the winter to help with rough skin because it’s good, but I do forget it a lot.
