The 7 Best Facial Cleansing Brushes, According To Experts (2024)

When you’re looking for a deep cleanse, using one of the best facial cleansing brushes can help. These skincare tools are designed to clear away makeup, sunscreen and grime from the day, and can also provide a gentle exfoliation. Our top pick from PMD was chosen for its dual-headed design and four modes that enable it to effectively break down debris and also provide a facial massage.

When choosing the right type of cleansing tool, it’s ideal to consider the brush type (manual or electric), bristles and any useful design features. Ahead, find our list of the best facial cleansing brushes, plus a guide to help you narrow down the right one for you.

  • Best Facial Cleansing Brush Overall: PMD Clean Pro

  • Best Drugstore Facial Cleansing Brush: Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush

  • Best Luxury Facial Cleansing Brush: Therabody TheraFace Pro

  • Best Facial Cleansing Brush For Acne: Proactiv Charcoal Facial Cleansing Brush

  • Best Facial Cleansing Brush For Sensitive Skin: Tata Harper Cleansing Kabuki Brush

  • Best Exfoliating Cleansing Brush: Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear Cleansing System

  • Best Facial Cleansing Brush For Dry Skin: NågraCoola Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

Best Facial Cleansing Brush Overall

A Cleansing Brush With Double The Skincare Power

Type: Electric, rechargeable | Material: Silicone | Settings: 2 vibration modes, 2 pulsation modes

This dual-sided brush is beloved by shoppers and dermatologists alike for its silicone design that helps reduce bacteria buildup. It has four modes that help it to break down debris and oil trapped in pores and also aid in deeper absorption of products to ensure your skin reaps the full benefits of your skincare ritual. Another feature to note is that one side of the brush has short bristles that wash and exfoliate, while the other side has a smooth rose quartz, which is perfect for massaging skin and helping to reduce inflammation.

Best Drugstore Facial Cleansing Brush

A Tried-And-True Brush That Gives Powerful Results

Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush

Type: Electric, battery-powered | Material: Nylon | Settings: 1 deep clean mode, 1 exfoliating mode

Olay’s facial cleansing brush is designed by a dermatologist and works with your favorite face washes to achieve a deeper clean than using them with your hands. It also comes with two speeds: one that’s best for daily cleansing and another for exfoliation, which leaves skin feeling soft, rejuvenated and prepped for product application. You might expect results this good to cost a fortune, but you can snag the brush for under $30 on Amazon.

Best Luxury Facial Cleansing Brush

A Facial Cleansing Brush That Goes Above And Beyond

Therabody TheraFace Pro

Type: Electric, rechargeable | Materials: Plastic, silicone | Settings: 1 cleansing mode, 3 LED light modes (red, blue and infrared light), 3 percussive modes, 1 microcurrent mode

Therabody’s all-star facial TheraFace Pro comes with eight attachments, including one that’s specifically crafted for cleansing. The tool is percussive-based, which helps the brush remove pore-clogging debris and also provide a soothing facial massage. The whole device goes above and beyond with its additional heads, including an LED light that allows you to alternate between bacteria-clearing and anti-aging treatments.

Best Facial Cleansing Brush For Acne

A Mighty Match Against Breakouts

Proactiv Charcoal Facial Cleansing Brush

Type: Electric, battery-powered | Material: Nylon | Settings: 2 speeds

This cleansing tool has a charcoal-infused brush head that works at various speeds to gently cleanse even the most major breakouts. If you’re looking for a more powerful wash, you can turn up the speed to enhance the exfoliation. Since the brush specifically addresses acne, it’s recommended you only use it once a day.

Best Facial Cleansing Brush For Sensitive Skin

A Gentle Clean With Spa-Worthy Results

Tata Harper Cleansing Kabuki Brush

Type: Manual | Material: Synthetic | Settings: 1

A kabuki brush is perfect for those who crave an extra gentle yet thorough cleanse. This brush from Tata Harper has a simple design; it’s crafted with soft, fine bristles that seamlessly move across the skin to exfoliate and remove impurities buried deep in pores. The rounded wood handle helps you maintain a good grip as you massage the brush.

Best Exfoliating Cleansing Brush

A Great Option For Sloughing Away Dead Skin Cells

Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear Cleansing System

Type: Electric, rechargeable | Material: Undisclosed | Settings: 3 speeds

This cleansing system has everything you need to make your skin look and feel good. The brush has three speed settings, which use sonic motions to remove buildup while gently sloughing away dead skin cells. It also comes with two heads: an antimicrobial head with 20,000 fluffy bristles for easy pore-clearing and a sonic infuser one that’s great for applying serums and creams.

Best Facial Cleansing Brush For Dry Skin

A Dermatologist-Recommended Pick For Better Hydration

NågraCoola Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

Type: Electric, rechargeable | Material: Silicone | Settings: 5 speeds, 1 heating mode

This multitasking cleansing brush uses gentle silicone bristles and sonic vibrations that won’t irritate dry skin. The soft but powerful 8,000 sonic waves massage the skin, and the back side of the brush also acts as a facial massage tool to help improve blood flow. After a thorough wash, you’re left with a glowing complexion with increased firmness.

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Why Trust Forbes Vetted

The beauty team at Forbes Vetted considers ourselves certified skincare enthusiasts, having logged numerous hours into testing, researching and reviewing popular skincare products.

  • Contributor Taylor Lane, the author of this story, has also reported on the best cleansing brushes for men.
  • Every iteration of this story was overseen by deputy editor Jane Sung, who runs our beauty and grooming vertical and has 15-plus years of experience reporting on a variety of lifestyle topics.
  • Lane additionally interviewed dermatologist Dr. Hadley King for expert advice on what to look out for in the best facial cleansing brushes.
  • This story is routinely reviewed for accuracy. In our June 2024 update, editorial assistant Whitney Bruno reevaluated all picks to ensure facts and prices are up to date and added specs to each brush.

How We Chose The Best Facial Cleansing Brushes

To find the best facial cleansing brushes, we combed through an extensive list of the best options on the market, then evaluated customer reviews from top retailers.

  • We considered each product’s attachments, speed levels, technical specs, special features and effectiveness when refining our selections.
  • We also tapped a dermatologist to help us understand the importance of these tools in a skincare routine, taking into account her personal recommendations.
  • When narrowing down our list, we prioritized including brushes across a wide range of budgets.

What To Consider In A Facial Cleansing Brush

Before adding a cleansing brush to your daily lineup, it’s essential to consider your skin type and its needs. Of course, cleaning your pores is the primary focus, but there are many other functions that the best facial cleansing brushes offer. Ahead, see what dermatologists recommend looking for in these skincare devices.

Attachments

You’ll probably notice that many facial cleansing brushes come with extra brush heads for specific uses. The attachments that your brush includes can address skin needs and concerns like stimulating collagen, exfoliation and massaging the skin. It’s also important to note how often brush heads should be replaced.

Bristle Type

The type of bristles your facial cleansing brush has makes all the difference. Many have silicone bristles that are soft and provide a deep clean. This material is also non-porous and reduces the amount of bacteria buildup that gets trapped in the bristles. Others can be comprised of latex, nylon or a variation of animal hair.

And if you find that your brush has ultra-fine bristles (like the TheraFace), it’s likely to be gentler on the skin and more suited for those experiencing inflammation, breakouts or other common skin conditions. The bristles still give a deep clean, without causing any irritation to your complexion.

Speed Settings

Facial cleansing brushes often offer different speed settings. And while it’s great to have options, it’s important to find the one that’s best suited for your skin type and needs. Dr. King says that the speed settings give people options for personal preference and variety, and the settings with sonic speeds make a noticeable difference for the skin. “Sonic has been shown to clean more thoroughly compared to slower vibrations,” Dr. King says. This type is also safe to use on sensitive skin.

How Do You Use A Facial Cleansing Brush?

Facial cleansing brushes are so popular because of their ease of use. Even ones that come with multiple attachments are self-explanatory and don’t require much time or effort to set up. When you use one, pair it with your favorite cleaner, turn it on and then let it glide over your skin. The only learning curve? Testing out the various speeds to discover your skin’s needs and how your skin reacts to them. After that, “rinse, pat dry and follow with your favorite serum and moisturizer. The newly exfoliated skin will enhance penetration of the ingredients,” Dr. King says.

How Often Should You Use A Facial Cleansing Brush?

How often you use a facial cleansing brush is based on how your skin reacts. If you have no irritation when you start using one, then it’s safe to use it multiple times a week. If you find your skin is sensitive and feels irritated afterward, you can use the brush once a week for a deep clean. Dr. King also suggests starting slow by using the brush no more than two times a week to start. “If you are tolerating it well, then you may be able to build up to daily use but decrease the frequency or pressure if your skin is becoming irritated or inflamed,” she says.

Can You Use A Facial Cleansing Brush On The Neck?

The neck doesn’t always get enough attention, but there is a simple solution to change that. While washing your face, take your facial cleansing brush down to your neck area, but proceed with caution. Dr. King explains that the skin in the area is delicate and thin and has fewer oil glands, “so you may need to use lighter pressure, lower settings or even a gentler device.”

What Skincare Products Should You Use With A Facial Cleansing Brush?

Start with a creamy cleanser. The cleansing brush offers mild exfoliation, so it is important to use a cleanser that supports the skin barrier during this step. Don’t use harsh detergents that strip the skin. If you want to increase the exfoliation factor, it may be ok to use a gentle chemical exfoliant, as tolerated.

The best facial cleansing brushes help your skincare products penetrate deeper into the skin, so be sure you grab your favorite serums and treatments to apply afterwards. Since these products are absorbed almost immediately into the skin, you will see more visible results.

The 7 Best Facial Cleansing Brushes, According To Experts (2024)
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