“Thou shalt not skip cleansing thy face before bed” is a skincare commandment that’s probably drilled into your head by now. Using your hands to lather on your cleanser is acceptable, but facial cleansing devices can give your skin a deeper cleanse so the rest of your products can be absorbed more effectively.
Massaging a cleansing device all over your face can also take your complexion to the next level. It helps to lift and firm, tighten pores, and boost overall radiance—we could use some of that to elevate our moods during the Circuit Breaker period.
How Often To Use Your Facial Cleansing Device for the Best Results
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6uSKwsnVyG/
Facial cleansing tools not only break down makeup and grime; most of them also perform some level of exfoliation. Depending on the texture of the bristles and how often you use your facial cleansing device, you may end up over-scrubbing your skin. When this happens, it could lead to skin irritation, redness, or more breakouts.
Silicone cleansing devices are safe to use daily because of their rounded, less abrasive bristles. If you’re using a cleansing brush with coarse bristles, however, you may want to limit your use to twice or thrice a week. Those with sensitive skin can take a down a notch to just once a week.
If you’re using a facial cleansing device to your routine, avoid combining it with cleansers or following up with serums that contain exfoliating actives. When you pair manual exfoliation with AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), BHAs (beta hydroxy acids), or enzymes, you could be setting yourself up for plenty of skin irritation. After all, your skin barrier can only handle so much in a single seating.
Ready to commit to a facial cleansing device? Keep reading to see our picks that cater to every budget.
Affordable Facial Cleansing Devices
1. Shiseido Cleansing Massage Brush
Shiseido’s known for its skincare and makeup products, but its Cleansing Massage Brush has gotten quite a bit of love over the years too. The luxurious brush pairs silky-soft, finely tapered bristles with bouncy silicone cushions to cleanse and massage your skin.
It has an ergonomic, curved handle that allows you to grip on it firmly without it slipping in the shower. You can manoeuvre it over the contours of your face easily to stimulate blood flow for lifted, more radiant skin. Before you use it, make sure you don’t pour too much cleanser on the bristles as they were made to produce maximum foam.
Shiseido Essentials Cleansing Massage Brush retails at S$41.15 and is available at Amazon.
2. IUIGA Sonic Silicone Facial Cleansing Device
Just like the iconic Foreo Luna range, IUIGA’s version is made with soft silicone, so it dries quickly to prevent bacteria from hanging out on its bristles. Once you activate it, the cleansing device vibrates up to 8,000 times a minute to cleanse your pores gently. With six settings, you can also adjust the intensity to customise your experience.
The other side of the device is made for massaging your skin. When used regularly, this bonus function helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, keeping the skin firm and lifted.
IUIGA Sonic Silicone Facial Cleansing Device retails at S$23.90 and is available at IUIGA.
3. Aprilskin Dual Cleansing Pore Brush
Facial cleansing devices with oscillating heads may do a great job at cleansing your skin, but they can be a little pricey and heavy. If you’re nodding to this, try the Aprilskin Dual Cleansing Pore Brush, a manual facial brush with two bristle sides.
One side uses microfibre bristles to cleanse your skin gently, while the silicone bristles on the other side buffs away dead skin cells and unclogs pores. We recommend using the microfibre bristles on your whole face, then massage the silicone bristles along your T-zone to get rid of blackheads.
Aprilskin Dual Cleansing Pore Brush retails at S$20 and is available at Aprilskin.
4. Anisa Beauty Cleansing Brush
Here is another manual cleansing brush that’s gentle on sensitive skin. Anisa Beauty’s Cleansing Brush uses a blend of synthetic fibre bristles and a silicone centre. This gives you a 2-in-1 benefit of deep pore cleansing and exfoliation.
The detachable brush head also makes for easy cleaning—just swivel, pop it off, rinse it, and let it air dry. We suggest squeezing a small amount of cleanser on the silicone ring centre to prevent any messy drips.
Anisa Beauty Cleansing Brush retails at S$45.43 and is available at Anisa Beauty.
Mid-range facial cleansing devices
5. ProX by Olay Advanced Facial Cleansing System
Suitable for most skin types, the Olay Advanced Facial Cleansing System is one of the best dupes for the classic Clarisonic Mia. Though it’s a more affordable option, it’s still a useful tool for those who want a deeper cleanse and slight exfoliation.
The cleansing brush rotates and has both gentle and deep cleansing settings, so you can adjust the intensity based on your skin needs. You’ll also find an exfoliating cleanser included in the set, which you can use together with the brush. If your skin’s on the sensitive side, we recommend using the cleansing brush and exfoliating cleanser together only once or twice a week.
ProX by Olay Advanced Facial Cleansing System retails at S$69.90 and is available at Amazon.
6. Braun Face 810
Most 2-in-1 cleansing devices pair a brush head with a face massager, but not Braun. The personal care brand surprised all of us by combining an oscillating cleansing brush with an epilator, so it has skin cleansing and hair removal functions.
Massage the cleansing brush over your face to remove impurities and slough off dry skin, then switch to the epilator head if you want to remove any peach fuzz.
Braun Face 810 retails at S$58.67 and is available on Fishpond.
7. Liberex Sonic Vibrating Facial Cleansing Brush
The Liberex Sonic Vibrating Facial Cleansing Brush may be small, but this egg-shaped device works hard to keep your pores clean and your skin looking fresh. It uses sonic vibrations to ensure that your skin is thoroughly cleansed without any harsh pulling or tugging.
You can choose to switch up the intensities with three modes: 3,800 per minute for a gentle massage, 5,000 per minute for a deep cleanse, and 6,500 per minute to exfoliate your skin. The device also comes with three different brush heads. There’s one with soft bristles for sensitive skin, another with bristles for a deep clean, and a silicone brush head for a gentle massage. If you’re trying it out for the first time, we suggest using the silicone brush head.
The Liberex has a smart timer that reminds you to move the brush to different areas every 20 seconds. After a minute, the device will turn itself off to prevent over-cleansing. If you’ve been looking for an affordable version of the classic Clarisonic Mia Fit, this is the one for you.
Liberex Sonic Vibrating Facial Cleansing Brush retails at S$71.62 and is available on Amazon.
8. Foreo Luna Play Plus
If the cult-favourite Foreo Luna is a little over your budget, here’s a mini version at a fraction of the price. Foreo’s Luna Play Plus is smaller than the palm of a hand, so it won’t take up too much space in your bathroom cabinet. Don’t let its tiny size fool you, though. The device shares the same pulsation technology as the other cleansing devices in Foreo’s lineup, so it delivers 8,000 pulses per minute.
Glide the Luna Play Plus over your face in a circular motion for a minute to cleanse your skin. Remember not to pair it with cleansers or physical exfoliants that contain granules—this could damage the silicone bristles, shortening its life span. To avoid irritation, keep your cleansing routine under three minutes.
The Luna Play Plus also uses a replaceable AAA battery so you don’t have to charge it.
Foreo Luna Play Plus retails at S$79 and is available on Sephora.
9. PMD Clean International Facial Cleansing Device
With an extended brush handle, the PMD (nope, not an electric scooter) Facial Cleansing Device has a more ergonomic design compared to most silicone brush tools. It operates with 7,000 vibrations per minute to break down dirt, sebum, and other impurities on the skin.
Since it’s made with silicone, the brush is waterproof, antibacterial, and resistant to odours, so you don’t have to replace its brush head at all. The device has four settings with different intensities, and it also has a rose quartz massage feature on the other side to keep your skin firm and youthful-looking.
PMD Clean International Facial Cleansing Device retails at S$156 and is available at Lookfantastic.
Luxury Facial Cleansing Devices
10. Philips Visapure SC5275 Facial Care
Philips has a sleek facial cleansing device that combines rotation and vibration to give your skin the deepest clean. The pulsations break up surface impurities, while the rotation sweeps the dirt and grime away effectively.
You can choose between two intensity settings based on your personal preference. If you want a mild cleanse in the morning, we suggest using the first setting. For a more thorough cleanse at the end of a long day, use the second setting.
Philips Visapure SC5275 Facial Care retails at S$229 and is available at Best Denki.
11. REFA Clear Cleansing Brush
Known for its face massager, REFA also has a cleansing brush that’s one of the most sophisticated tools on the market. The device uses sonic vibrations to cleanse the skin gently, while its ion-powered brush removes negatively-charged impurities trapped in your pores. Bonus points for the adorable bunny tail brush head.
REFA Clear Cleansing Brush retails at S$360 and is available at Sephora.
12. Foreo Luna 3
Last but certainly not least, is the Foreo Luna 3. The latest in Foreo’s range of facial cleansing devices, the Luna 3 has hygienic silicone bristles that are non-abrasive, making it ideal for all skin types. When it’s activated, it pulses 8,000 times per minute to remove any dirt and buildup in your pores.
If you use this twice a day, it can stay charged for months. The other side of the Luna 3 has ridges that provide timed massages, which you can use via the Foreo app. It sculpts the face, lifts the eye area, and firms the skin. Best of all, you can do all this in the shower.
Foreo Luna 3 retails at S$299 and is available at Sephora.
13. LG Pra.L Dual Cleanser
Like its name suggests, LG Pra.L’s Dual Cleanser comes with two brush heads for dual functions. For a gentle cleanse, pop on the silicone brush to give skin a soothing massage and a thorough cleanse. If you’re struggling with clogged pores, switch it out and attach the fibre brush to slough off dead skin and impurities.
The waterproof device is also able to detect which brush head you’ve attached to it, so it adjusts its motions accordingly. The silicone brush produces micro-vibrations, while the fibre brush rotates for a deeper clean.
LG Pra.L Dual Cleanser retails at S$449 and is available at Tangs.
