Best Facial Brushes of 2018 Reviewed

Why Do You Need Facial Brushes and Cleansers?

Facial brushing is a way to relieve your skin of the buildup of dead skin cells.

When your skin and especially your face has dead skin cells that are layered or built-up on the surface it makes the skin appear dull and aged because of the way light reflects off of the brighter skin parts (1).

Large pores also make the skin look dull and uneven.

Brushing your face sloughs off layers of dead skin that have built up over days, weeks, or even years.

The exfoliation that a facial brush can provide will also shrink the appearance of our pores.

The act of dry brushing your face has no additional cost after the brush purchase, making it cost-effective.

Brushing your face can also be chemical free if you choose not to use a cleanser, or are very careful about what cleansers you brush with.

The exfoliation process of using a facial brush and cleanser not only shrinks the pores, which in turn reduces and prevents blackheads but also removes the dead skin cells and softens your skin.

After a good facial brushing, one’s face feels radiant and firm.

Of course, as with any exfoliation process, you do to your face, gentleness is the key.

There should never be any great discomfort when brushing your face; that is not to say you won’t have to get used to the feeling of it.

So why do we need facial brushes and cleansers?

If you don’t live by the beach and are constantly lying in the sand and exfoliating your skin that way, then most likely the dead skin cells all over your body have been building up for some time.

And while exfoliation creams and cleansers can help, they can become expensive as well as add unnecessary chemicals to your system.

Brushing also improves circulation and cell reproduction.

What are Facial Brushes and Cleansers?

A facial brush is a brush with bristles secured with a handle specifically designed for use on the face to remove dead skin cells.

There are many facial brushes on the market today.

Some are made from natural fibers, while others are made from cosmetic grade plastics.

Some facial brushes are mechanical and need battery power to make them work, while others are stationary – you are in control of the speed and intensity with which you brush your face.

Facial cleansers are usually somewhat acidic and are designed to remove dirt and dead skin cells.

Most if not all facial cleansers will include one of the following acids: Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), or Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA).

Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliator.

Glycolic acid surrounds dead skin cells and destroys the bond they have to your skin.

BHA’s or Beta Hydroxy Acids are often in products that promise they will remove your blemished skin and reduce pore appearance.

Physical exfoliates include scrubs and cleansers with beads, nut shells, or particles.

Facial brushes are considered a physical exfoliator.

Facial brushing should be done in a circular or upward motion as you brush the skin.

You will find what works best for you and the contours of your face.

Dry brushing of your skin opens the pores on the surface of your atopic dermis, or top skin.

It is recommended that your skin be brushed at least once a day to remove dead skin cells.

Some people prefer to brush twice a day.

Cleansers are not necessary but they will aid in getting your skin cleaner when using a facial brush.

Using a foaming cleanser and feeling the tiny bubbles massage your face may be what you love most about cleaning your face.

Or perhaps you like the feeling of little pebbles and beads rolling over your face and cleaning it?

There are also cream cleansers that are usually used with a rough cloth or towel that help to slough away dead skin cells.

Regardless of the type of cleanser you prefer, when added to your routine with a facial brush, I think you will love the results of tighter brighter skin.

Benefits of Facial Brushes and Cleansers

There are so many benefits of brushing your skin.

Brushing the skin stimulates your lymph system and helps the body discard toxins that otherwise would linger.

Facial brushing increases the blood flow in the face, bringing color to the surface and brightening and firming it, and will also make your skin softer that it was before brushing.

Most avid skin brushes will assure you that it is an invigorating part of their beauty routine, and helps them feel more energetic.

Using a facial brush is beneficial, but using it in conjunction with a cleanser will have faster results.

Cleansers benefit our faces by removing the dead skin cells built up over days, weeks, or even years.

Facial cleansers should also remove soils, dirt, debris, pollutants, oils, and makeup.

When a facial cleanser truly does its job and cleans the atopic dermis beautifully then the rest of your beauty routine should work better.

For instance, if your cleanser and brush slough off all dead skin then when you add a serum and lotions they should be able to penetrate deeper into the dermis layer of skin and do their jobs better (3).

A good facial cleanser should assist in keeping your PH levels normalized.

Although brushing your face may seem like it is a trend, it has been around for centuries in many different cultures.

Facial brushing reduces puffiness in the face as well as reduces fat pockets because of the stimulation to the blood stream.

With this improved cell renewal and blood flow, the whole body will respond with better digestion and cleaner kidneys.

Your skin should look brighter, tighter, and more youthful.

Now when you sweat your glands will not be clogged and will be free to flow, which means your system will more readily and easily release toxins from your body and face in the sweat.

Releasing toxins means that facial brushing actually detoxifies your body.

Fewer toxins can mean a clearing up of acne issues related to clogged pores.

Our nervous systems are also stimulated by the brushing process.

Better nerve function means increased muscle tone and stronger fibers in the face.

If you have any sagging skin around the neck, eyes, or mouth, brushing will increase the tone of the facial muscles.

How Do Facial Brushes and Cleansers Work?

Facial brushes and cleansers work by scrubbing off dead skin cells.

Most people tend to dry brush their faces and even bodies before taking a shower.

A basic technique is to stand in a dry shower and brush your skin all over, then turn the shower on and rinse and moisturize with a cleanser.

When dead skin cells are sloughed off your pores can breathe.

Brushing makes your skin softer and lighter.

Since brushing stimulates the lymph nodes releasing toxins, it increases digestive and immune function.

When our skin is brushed it helps to distribute oils all over the surface to help relieve some of the waste buildups in the lymphatic system (4).

Facial brushes and cleansers work to clean our faces of any debris, excess oils, dirt, soil, and pollutants.

The brushing motion is best when used in a circular motion or towards the heart.

Some may say, however, that always brushing upward on the face toward the hairline helps your facial skin not to sag.

The facial brushing works because as you brush your natural oils are distributed all over the skin.

Better supply of facial oils to the whole skin will ensure a better evenness of tone.

When using a cleanser with BHA or AHA, the acidity levels help to reduce outbreaks and excess oil and shrinks the pores.

Cleansers should assist the brush to exfoliate and clean the face of all extra dirt on the skin.

How to Use Facial Brushes and Cleansers?

To brush your face you will need to have on hand a facial cleanser, a good moisturizer, and a facial brush (5).

It is important to start with dry skin as this will ensure that the dead skin cells do not adhere to any moisture.

Ideally start brushing over a sink or while standing in the shower, or outside on some grass or dirt so the dead skin can be washed away.

Do not get your facial brush wet in any way before brushing.

A brush with natural bristles is the best choice.

If brushing your whole body start at the feet and move toward the heart.

If just brushing your face start by cleaning the face with a cleanser and then drying the face off completely.

Brush in circular motions. Brush from the forehead to the neck.

Use even motion in all areas. The pressure will depend on your comfort level.

Do not brush so hard that you are in any pain.

Use water that is as cold as possible to rinse when done brushing.

Alternating between cold and hot water is also great for your pores and will aid in shrinking the pores as they slough out toxins.

After cleaning the face and body a rich cream moisturizer will feel magical as it coats your fresh skin and will soothe any parts you may have brushed too firmly.

Brushing is recommended once a day but twice is great if you need the extra body stimulation.

Using an acne cream with salicylic or glycolic acid before your first facial brush will help prevent any new breakouts brought on by the initial release of toxins.

The most common places to get a breakout after your first facial brushing is near your cheekbones, hairline, chin, and temples, as these tend to be more oily areas of the face.

I recommend only using the facial brush twice the first week so that your skin has time to get used to the new stimulation.

If you have sensitive skin or are prone to acne, brushing every other day for the first month is a good precaution to take.

Using a moisturizer with an SPF is always preferred.

And if you think you may breakout after the first use, make sure to use your acne creams right after brushing as a precaution.

What to Look for in Facial Brushes and Cleansers

Looking for a facial brush can be confusing and full of difficult choices.

Of course, you could make friends with the salesperson at your local health store, but if that is not an option here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop.

Always look for brushes that are specifically for facial use.

There are many dry brushes on the market, but a lot of the natural fiber varieties tend to be just for the body and would be much too bulky and firm for facial use.

Natural fibers are the best, however, there are also plastics that are suited for cosmetic use (6).

Mechanical facial brushes will most likely have plastics and synthetic parts and fibers.

If you prefer to be as natural as possible then a manual brush is what you will want to look for.

There are also brushes that are made from vegetable fibers, a natural source.

If you are shopping in person and can feel the bristles of each brush, then look for a firm bristle and a handle that you like.

Round shaped facial brushes are the most common and may help you to brush in a circular motion.

For cleansers look for short ingredient lists, and items that have BHA, AHA, Salicylic, or Glycolic acid to ensure a clean feeling.

What to Avoid in Facial Brushes and Cleansers

There are some things to avoid and be aware of when buying and using your facial brush and cleanser combo.

The cleanser you use should make your face feel clean after use.

If you use a cleanser and you feel oily or still dirty after washing, this may not be a good fit for you and may make your existing skin problems worse.

Steer clear of cleansers with fragrances, additives, and BPA’s.

Don’t buy a too-firm brush, since if the bristles of your brush are too firm they can be very abrasive to your dermis layer and slough off too much skin.

The bristles of the facial brush should feel nice when put to your face.

If you are a body dry brushes do not use the same brush for your body and your face, as firm body brushes are too hard for the skin on your face.

Try to stay as natural as possible.

If you would like a powered facial brush look for one that is easy to clean, to ensure that you will not be continuously adding build-up back to your facial pores.

Precautions

When beginning the new routine of facial brushing start by only brushing your face for 20 seconds at a time.

Once you get the hang of the brushing and your face gets used to the new stimulus you can increase the time that you brush up to 3 minutes.

Brushing your face every day is recommended, however when just starting, every other day might be a better option as your face gets used to the new stimulus of facial brushing.

Be gentle when brushing, especially those first few days.

If you exfoliate too harshly you could remove too deep a layer of the dermis.

If you are uncomfortable when dry brushing your face and the face becomes unbearably itchy, stop!

Some people with very sensitive skin can only brush their faces once a week and very gently.

Always be careful of any abrasions, cuts, or rashes on your skin, and do not brush these areas.

Always be gentle with areas of that face that have just been waxed or treated for hair removal, as these pores are already open and a layer of skin has already been removed.

The skin around our eyes is very thin, so be very careful around the eyes, as the skin may flare up or get puffy when brushed too hard (8).

Learn the contours of your face and feel the differences between going toward your chin or toward your hairline.

If the bristles of your brush are too firm they can be very abrasive to your dermis layer and slough off too much skin.

If you have sensitive skin or are prone to acne, brushing every other day for the first month is a good precaution to take.

And if you think you may break out after the first use, make sure to use your acne creams right after brushing as a precaution.

Do not get your facial brush wet in any way before brushing, unless the product is a wet facial brush and you are directed to.

Conclusion

Should we brush our faces? Should we use a cleanser for our faces?

Yes, and yes.

Facial brushing is a way to relieve your skin of dead skin cell buildup.

When your skin, and especially your face, is covered with dead skin cells that are layered or built-up on the surface it makes the skin appear dull and aged because of the way light reflects off of the brighter skin parts.

Large pores also make the skin look dull and uneven.

Brushing your face sloughs off layers of dead skin that have built up over days, weeks, or even years (9).

Cleansers assist the brushing process really to clean the dirt from your face.

And there are so many possible benefits of facial brushing, from an improved immune system, digestive system, nervous system, and lymphatic system; cell production, oil production, detoxification, and the firming of muscles and cells!