Lastly, Gunn recommends seeking out a brush with adjustable settings, such as the PMD Clean.“One day you may feel sensitive due to acne or something else and need a sensitive setting, while another day you are going for a deep cleanse in your congested T-zone,” she says. “Adjustable settings will give you everything you need in one device.”
Do dermatologists recommend facial cleansing brushes?
According to Jeffy, “Facial cleansing brushes are great to deep clean, exfoliate, and remove dead skin. I do think they are great to use if you are wearing heavy makeup to be sure it’s completely removed. But it is important to use a safe product appropriately, otherwise, they can do their job too well [by over-cleansing or over-exfoliating], resulting in a damaged skin barrier, irritation, and breakouts.”
Mina Amin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in California, echoes Jeffy’s concern. “Overuse of cleansing brushes or using brushes that are harsh on the skin can disturb the skin barrier, which can lead to irritation, acne, and dry skin,” she says. “If not cared for properly, bacteria can overgrow on these brushes, which can result in worsening of underlying skin conditions.” She adds: “I prefer chemical exfoliation, such as incorporating a retinoid or retinol in your routine. Physical exfoliation, which can come from using a facial cleansing brush, can result in inflammation on the skin, which can lead to redness or dry and flaky skin—especially if used too frequently.”
For those who do go the cleansing brush route, Amin recommends using the tool no more than one or two times a week, and she notes that it’s important to use a brush with soft bristles that are easy to wash. Camp offers his perspective, too: “Facial cleansing brushes may be appropriate for some requiring a more vigorous form of cleansing and exfoliation, such as someone with acne,” he says. “But facial cleansing brushes are not a requirement to maintain a healthy, effective skin-care routine.”
Is it better to use a cleansing brush or your fingers?
“A cleansing brush is likely going to be a better option for cleansing than using your fingers, and is also going to be a much better alternative to the harsh abrasive scrubs that are all over the beauty section of our stores,” Gunn asserts. “A lot of these scrubs have walnut or apricot shells, coffee grounds, salt, and other things that will definitely exfoliate but can also cause tiny little tears in your skin. This is doing you no favors in the anti-aging department. These tiny little micro-tears in the skin can also cause acne as they may allow bacteria to enter easily.”