Healthy, happy skin always starts with an effective cleansing regime. Finding the right cleanser for your skin is one thing, but it also needs to lift makeup and excess sebum effectively.
Introducing the facial cleansing brush. It's the equivalent of a caffeine boost for your skincare routine, giving your cleanser a bit of a kick and buffing away dead skin cells.
Price tags vary but can creep into the hundreds, so it’s important to invest your money wisely. That’s why Red's beauty pros have tested the top facial cleansing tools on the market with the help of 195 panellists. Scroll down for the products that met our high standards and find the best facial cleansing brush for you...
Do facial cleansing brushes really work?
Cleansing brushes haven't had the best rep in the past, but that's down to the user, not the tool.
When used correctly, they deeply clean pores – much more effectively than your humble cleansing cloth or hands – and improve circulation to leave you with clearer, more radiant skin.
However, if you’re pushing them into your skin too roughly or not cleaning the bristles regularly, they can do the opposite.
For the best results, apply your cleanser as usual, wet the brush head and glide it across your face – it’s that simple.
Top tip: opt for a gel or milk cleanser over a balm, as the lighter texture is easier for the bristles to work into the skin.
Is a silicone cleansing brush better?
Nylon or natural bristles can be a faff to clean; just think of your washing-up brush.
Silicone bristles don’t trap as much dirt and bacteria, and the material is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores).
They're also softer to the touch, meaning they’ll go a little easier on your skin – perfect for those on the sensitive side.
How we test facial cleansing brushes
Our 195-strong panel blind tested 15 cleansing tools for a month, rating their overall performance, design and ease of use. Meanwhile, in the Red beauty lab, our expert testers assessed each product's make-up removal skills using an artificial skin replica. Together, the results gave us our top 10 facial cleansing brushes to shop now...
1
Best facial cleansing tool
No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Sonic Action Cleansing Brush
Trusty No7 pulled out the stops with this affordable brush that removed all specks of makeup in our lab test.
Gentle yet effective, our testers agreed that it sloughed away all signs of dirt and excess oil to leave skin soft and glowing. In fact, they loved it so much that everyone plans to keep using it.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 2
Battery: Battery (2x AAA)
Additional accessories: None
2
Best for removing make-up
Clarisonic Mia Smart
From the brand that bought cleansing brushes to the masses, this tool won our testers over with its soft yet grime-banishing bristles. It aced our lab test for removing makeup and left 90% of testers with sparkling clean skin. Our only quibble is its sluggish charge-up time.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 3
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charger
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3
Best long-lasting cleansing tool
PMD Beauty Clean Pro RQ
£160 at Amazon£100 at CurrentBody£165 at Sephora
There’s no point owning a smart cleansing tool if it’s always out of charge when you reach for it. Happily, this one lasts weeks without needing a refuel, making it a top pick if you’re often on the move.
It doubles up as a heated massager, which helped one tester’s serum soak in better and gave everyone baby-soft skin.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 4
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charger
A do-it-all device that cleanses, massages and can reduce the appearance of wrinkles? Our testers were just as sceptical, but this tool’s lofty claims rang true.
One tester praised it for minimising their fine lines and broken veins, and it aced our makeup removal lab test. Best of all, the massaging end’s titanium top can cool puffy skin if you pop it into the freezer for a few minutes first.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 3
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charger
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5
Best smart cleansing device
FOREO LUNA 3 Silicone Facial Cleansing & Firming Massage Brush
£192 at Amazon£189 at CurrentBody£177 at Sephora
Small but mighty, this high-tech tool connects to an app that lets you customise your cleansing routine with 16 different modes.
Its innovative shape helped it glide easily over the contours of the face and the soft silicone bristles didn’t compromise on effectiveness, leaving 87% of our panel with spotless skin.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 16
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charger
6
Best 3-in-1 facial cleansing tool
Braun FaceSpa Pro 921 Facial Epilator Bronze
£170 at Boots£101 at Amazon
This 3-in-1 machine will whip any stray chin hairs into shape while toning and cleansing skin – what more could you ask for?
Our testers liked how easy it was to switch heads, with all appreciating how gentle it felt to use. Overall, 85% were pleased to notice smoother, softer and firmer skin by the end of the trial.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 2
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Facial epilator, skin cleansing brush, toning head, charger
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Looking to boost your glow? Look no further. Nearly everyone reported a more radiant complexion after using this brush, with one tester thrilled that it saw off their spots in just 10 days. It didn’t irritate anybody’s skin and left 90% with a clearer complexion.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 4
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charger
8
Best cleansing kit
TriPollar GENEO Personal Oxygenation Device
Now 20% Off
£143 at Amazon
If you’ve ever fancied trying an oxygen facial, known for healing and plumping, then this is a great DIY option. Either use it as an ordinary cleansing tool or pop in one of the included oxygen capsules.
Some testers found the instructions vague, but once up and running, they enjoyed results “comparable to those of salon facials”. It was ace at removing all traces of foundation, leaving 92% with deeply cleansed skin and 75% with radiant softness.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 1
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charging stand and cable, 4x Geneo personal capsules, 4x Geneo personal gels
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9
Best for a thorough cleanse
Magnitone BareFaced 2 Vibra-Sonic™ Facial Cleansing and Toning Brush
A bulldozer of dirt, all our testers were happy with the deep clean this gave skin, with one seeing fewer blocked pores after a month.
It ticked a lot of boxes, leaving 85% with softer, smoother skin that was also clearer and brighter. It comes with a toning head, too, which 62% liked for its firming effects.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 3
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Wireless USB travel charger, bathroom caddy, daily cleansing brush head (antibacterial), Tone It Up! silicone brush head
Despite the purse-friendly price, this electric tool still delivered the goods, with 69% of our panel enjoying a clearer complexion.
The gentle vibrations were perfect for sensitive skin and the massage function proved suitably relaxing. It even helped sculpt, with 63% seeing a difference in their skin’s firmness.
Key specifications
Number of vibration intensities: 4
Battery: Rechargeable
Additional accessories: Charger
