Finding your regular cleanser just isn't cutting it? For a deeper clean, try reaching for a cleansing brush. When used correctly, these clever skincare tools can help to remove everything from stubborn makeup to excess oil, leaving you with a healthier complexion and brighter skin.
But with prices starting at under £20 and ranging up to £200, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute wanted to find out which ones are worth spending money on.
We asked a panel of testers to try the top brands for one month — scroll on for their detailed reviews, but here are their winners at a glance:
Best facial cleansing brushes 2024
1
Best facial cleansing tool
No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Sonic Action Cleansing Brush
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2
3
4
Best 3-in-1 facial cleansing tool
Braun FaceSpa Pro 921 Facial Epilator Bronze
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5
6
Best for a deep cleanse
Magnitone BareFaced 2 Vibra-Sonic Facial Cleansing and Toning Brush
Read more
7
Best smart cleansing device
FOREO LUNA 3 Silicone Facial Cleansing & Firming Massage Brush
Read more
8
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Liberex Egg Vibrating Facial Cleansing Brush
Read more
What are cleansing brushes?
These brushes aren’t a replacement for your trusted cleanser. Instead, they work alongside your skincare products to help optimise results.
To use, simply apply your cleanser as normal, wet the cleansing brush head and massage the product across your face.
They help remove makeup and dirt more efficiently, and offer more oomph than your regular washcloth, providing a deeper cleanse. Also adept at removing dead skin, cleansing brushes are good for anyone seeking a clearer complexion, as they can help to keep blemishes at bay.
What’s more, the circular motions used can also promote lymphatic drainage, stimulating the surface of your skin to help give it a little detox.
Do cleansing brushes remove blackheads?
Cleansing brushes feature bristles that gently exfoliate skin, helping to remove dead cells, dirt and excess sebum. By providing a deeper clean, they help prevent pores from clogging, so you should see fewer blackheads.
However, it's important to keep your gadget in tip-top shape by removing the head attachment at least once a week and giving the bristles a clean. This way, you'll avoid spreading any bacteria, which can lead to spots. Even better, replace your brush head every three months or so.
Should I use a facial cleansing brush with sensitive skin?
Being abrasive with sensitive skin is never a good idea, but your skin's reaction could be more to do with the cleanser you're lathering on than the tool itself. When you're going for an extra deep clean with a cleansing brush, opt for an even gentler cleanser than you typically would, or at least one that's not got chemical exfoliants or resurfacing beads in it.
Your skin will tell you if it's not happy about the switch-up, so listen to it. It's best to start off slow with adding this to your routine if you're prone to skin flare-ups, so try incorporating it once or twice a week – perhaps after exercise – and build up your use over time.
How we test cleansing brushes
We asked our panel of 195 beauty testers to trial a range of cleansing tools and brushes for four weeks. We first removed branding to avoid any bias.
Testers rated each tool's performance, ease of use and its overall effect on their skin. Meanwhile, in the GHI lab, we assessed each tool's makeup removal skills on an artificial skin replica.
1
Best facial cleansing tool
No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Sonic Action Cleansing Brush
Now 10% Off
Score: 89/100
Our winner aced the lab test for makeup removal, and won our testers over with a deep cleanse that left skin feeling softer and more radiant.
Its straightforward design makes it easy to use, with a vibration level that felt gentle but was still effective on dirt. Our panel loved it so much, all of them said they would continue using it after the trial period.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 2 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Battery (2 x AAA) |
| Additional accessories | None |
Score: 84/100
Doubling up as a facial massager with a heated massage setting, this is the tool to use during a well-deserved pamper session.
One tester even said the heat helped their serum absorb better. The long-lasting battery was also a hit, managing to stay powered for weeks. Most importantly, it left skin feather-soft, too.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 4 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Additional accessories | Charger |
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3
Best budget cleansing tool
Finishing Touch Flawless Cleanse
Score: 84/100
Loosening stubborn dirt and grime to leave you with new and improved skin, this tool delivered on radiance for our panel.
It didn’t cause any irritation but still left almost all with a brighter complexion. One tester found spots on their cheek “vanished” after 10 days of use, while practically everyone agreed it left them with clearer skin.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 4 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Additional accessories | Charger |
4
Best 3-in-1 facial cleansing tool
Braun FaceSpa Pro 921 Facial Epilator Bronze
Now 33% Off
Score: 84/100
Claiming to be a world-first, this multi-purpose tool cleanses, tones and epilates. Our panel liked how seamless it was to change heads and said it felt gentle on the skin, while still working effectively alongside their current cleanser.
It's lightweight, relatively quiet in use and a doddle to clean — something you'll need to do regularly, for obvious reasons. Almost everyone was left with softer, smoother and more toned skin, and said they planned to continue using the device after the trial.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 2 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Additional accessories | Facial epilator, skin cleansing brush, toning head, charger |
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Score: 84/100
When you think of cleansing brushes, you often think of Clarisonic. The brand was created in 2004 and counts Oprah as one of its early fans – so you know you’re in good hands.
A top scorer in our lab test for eliminating any traces of makeup, it also won testers over with its soft bristles, leaving most happy with the thorough clean it delivered. Some would have appreciated a speedier charge-up time, but overall, it got the job done.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 3 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Additional accessories | Charger |
6
Best for a deep cleanse
Magnitone BareFaced 2 Vibra-Sonic Facial Cleansing and Toning Brush
Score: 82/100
Voted best for removing any sweat, oil and debris by our panel, all testers were pleased with its deep cleansing capabilities, with one seeing “fewer blocked pores” after a month.
This tool also features a toning head to help firm skin – which most agreed made a difference – while almost all our testers were left with a smoother, clearer and brighter complexion.
Key specifications
| No. 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 |
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7
Best smart cleansing device
FOREO LUNA 3 Silicone Facial Cleansing & Firming Massage Brush
Score: 81/100
This high-tech cleansing tool comes with 16 vibration options and connects to the Foreo app to give you a customised cleansing experience. Foreo says the silicone bristles are more hygienic and super easy to clean, while also being gentle on skin.
Though not the top pick for toning, it left almost everyone with deeply cleansed skin. Testers also loved its shape for gliding along the contours of the face.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 16 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Additional accessories | Charger |
Score: 79/100
With a range of heads to remove dead skin and deliver a soothing massage, this is a great starter kit. It effectively removed foundation for most, leaving all testers with freshly cleansed skin.
The protective brush head lid also helped keep bacteria at bay, while its petite egg-shape fitted into the palm perfectly. However, some testers noted it didn’t work well alongside their balm cleanser. Overall, though, almost everyone was left with clearer, more radiant skin.
Key specifications
| No. of vibration intensities | 3 |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable |
| Additional accessories | Charger, three heads: silicone, deep cleansing, sensitive |
Florence Reeves-White
Senior Beauty Writer
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
Tested byOrla Badger
Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester
Orla is our Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester and has extensive knowledge of skin and hair composition thanks to her first class bachelor's degree in cosmetic science from the Universy of the Arts London. She also spent time as a Formulation Chemist intern at Amelia Knight Cosmetics.
