The 7 Best Facial Cleansing Brushes of 2023 | Tested by InStyle

With so many new high-tech facial cleansers emerging, finding the best one for your skin concerns can feel overwhelming. Lucky for you, we took out the guesswork. After identifying the 19 best cleansing brushes on the market, our testers analyzed each and rated them on their functionality, effectiveness, comfort, and ease of cleaning after use. In the end, we were able to come up with a list of the seven top facial cleansing brushes available. With standout reviews from our testers, the NagraCoola Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush claimed our best overall spot because it effortlessly washes away every bit of makeup and dirt and even helps massage in skincare products post-cleanse.

A true skincare tool innovation, facial cleansing brushes have taken over the beauty world. But that’s no surprise, as these brushes whisk away makeup, dirt, and pollution that you may not have even realized was on your skin. When you need an extra deep clean, cleansing brushes do what your hands can’t — they exfoliate by removing dead skin, leaving you with a fresh, revitalized complexion to boot.

If electronic face brushes are too high-tech for you, go back to the basics with the Alder New York Cleansing Facial Brush. This artfully crafted brush features a sleek design and high-quality bristles, and offers an amazing cleanse that gently removes makeup or any other residue. The ergonomic palm handle gives you the utmost control; plus, the brush is made of nylon material, a vegan alternative to animal hair bristles (an eco-conscious effort made by the brand). “The vegan vinyl is a very unique feeling on my skin, almost like a soft brush for a horse’s mane (ironic, I know),” our tester shares. “The bristles are firm but form to my face as I move the brush, and don’t cause any irritation,” she adds. She does highlight that due to the long and firm bristles, the brush is a bit difficult to clean. “I feel it would never be fully clean again until I was able to use some liquid solution to get deep into the bristles.”

What We Don’t Love: Because the bristles are long, it’s harder to clean the surface of the brush.

What We Love: This brush is made of nylon bristles rather than animal hair, making it a great vegan alternative.

Our tester raves about its offerings, saying “the surprise winning feature is the massage setting, which is total bliss and a bonus.” Another surprising yet welcome feature: The hygienic stand. “I like that it has a little stand so you can let it air dry by the sink, rather than placing a damp brush back in a plastic case,” she shares. Although we wish it also came with a case for travel, you can simply just throw it in your makeup bag for safekeeping on-the-go.

While the Petal 2 from RoseSkinCo. looks like any other facial cleansing brush, it’s unique handle and curved head truly set it apart. The handle is designed to fit perfectly into the palm of your hand, giving you more control, and the shape of the head allows the bristles to effortlessly cup your face, allowing it to more easily cleanse, massage, and rejuvenate your complexion. “The small, light, aerodynamic shape of the handle makes this brush very easy and comfortable to use,” our tester shares. Featuring circulating beads that pulsate over 10,000 times per minute, this brush will transform your skin.

What We Don’t Love: The tool doesn’t have a case, but it comes with a stand instead.

While many brushes are too harsh to use daily, this one is gentle enough for everyday use yet still manages to invigorate the skin. “I feel so energized after washing my face with the brush — it feels like a good face massage,” our tester adds. She also shares that the brush did require a few rinses before it was fully clean, but the simplicity of the product and chic design make it totally worth it.

New to cleansing brushes? The Buttah Vibe Brush is a great place to start. This no-fuss brush is straightforward with two settings to seamlessly remove any makeup. According to our tester, the sonic pulsations leave skin looking and feeling better than before. “It made my skin feel very soft, silky, and smooth and left me glowing,” she shares.

What We Don’t Love: The brush is harder to clean than others on this list.

Silicone cleansing brushes are often more gentle and hygienic than those with nylon bristles, making them great for all skin types — and this one from Vivalui is one of the best. Made of a luxurious silicone material that gently cleanses the skin, this tool dissolves makeup and clears clogged pores. Compact and lightweight, this brush features two modes (lower and stronger vibration options), and even includes a heating setting to open up your pores. While our tester notes she felt little difference between the two settings, she says that her skin “felt noticeably more cleansed than when I use my hands.” The brush effortlessly unclogs pores by shaking sebum loose, leaving you feeling refreshed and oil-free. As a bonus, the brush is even easy to clean: “I noticed all the suds and residue sliding off the brush when placed in water,” our tester says.

What We Don’t Love: Our tester says there’s not much variation between the different modes.

“It felt like it was able to get a good amount of makeup off while also removing dead skin,” our tester shares. “I think it’s a great alternative to facial scrubs or harsher tools that might be irritating.” It’s important to note that while she doesn’t think the bristles are necessarily abrasive, she says they are “a little rougher than the average cleansing brush.” Overall, with such a great price tag and its ability to fit it in the palm of your hand, the device is great for travel and gives you more control when cleansing.

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a quality facial cleansing brush. Case in point: This one from EZBasics Brush is under $40 and stands out for its deep cleaning abilities, hygienic material, and cute, compact size. Made of silicone bristles, this battery-powered tool removes stubborn makeup and dirt with the choice of five different speeds, so you can adjust it to fit your skin type.

What We Don’t Love: The bristles are a bit rougher than some of the other brushes on this list.

What We Love: The compact size is great for travel and gives you more control.

“I was surprised at how well the Foreo removed my foundation, eyeshadow, and lipstick — I did have to rinse my face a few times to finish getting the makeup off, but it took just a few splashes of water and a light towel wipe to feel totally clean and makeup-free,” shares our tester. As a bonus, this high tech beauty favorite connects to an app that has a visual guide to show how to properly clean each area of the face. While our tester loves the useful app, she also wishes it was “more intuitive to use, so that you could access the different mode options [on the tool] without the need for your cell phone.” Regardless, she loves the luxuriousness of the brush and thinks it would be a “great gift for the beauty lover who seems to have everything.”

Foreo Luna 3 is a true investment: Its compact size, smart tech features, and effortless ability to provide you with a deep cleanse makes it worth every penny. Not to mention, the cleansing brush has 16 different pulsating intensities (that you can customize to your skin’s needs) to whisk away any makeup or debris. Made of short nonporous silicone bristles (which help prevent the spread of bacteria), this tool easily removes every trace of the day.

What We Don’t Love: While it can be used on its own, the cleansing brush works best with the app.

What We Love: 16 different pulsations allow you to customize the intensity to your skin’s needs.

Once ready to apply moisturizer or serum, flip the brush around and the massage setting will help your skincare products soak in. It also aids in wrinkle prevention and stimulates collagen production. The cherry on top: The tool comes in five different colors, so you can pick one to match your self-care aesthetic. Our tester loves this cleansing brush so much she added it to her amazon cart right after this test. “It’s very hard for me to find a brush that’s effective and doesn’t irritate my skin, but the price on this is very affordable and the material seems to last long.”

With five different modes to choose from (ranging from soft gentle vibrations to more intense settings) you can truly customize the intensity to your skincare needs. Plus, you can also adjust the temperature with the heating and cooling modes. The former helps open up your pores for a deeper clean, while the latter tightens and firm your skin. Our tester found that adjusting the temperature wasn’t very straightforward, but once she got the hang of it she liked the options. Once you find the perfect speed and temperature, the smart device automatically saves it, so it will already be set the next time you use it.

For a soothing, deep-cleaning experience, look no further than the NagraCoola Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush. The silicone bristles deep clean your skin, exfoliating away any dirt and unclogging pores to reveal a clean and refreshed complexion. But the deep clean doesn’t stop there: The high tech tool also spotlights a unique heating and cooling feature. “The brush works effectively, removing makeup and exfoliating my face without irritating my sensitive skin,” our tester shares.

What We Love: This brush gently deep cleans your skin and also helps massage in moisturizers and serums.

Our Testing Process

We started by researching the top rated cleansing brushes on the market. After conducting some online investigation, we came up with a list of 19 top-rated cleansing brushes. Then, our testers washed their faces using each tool and all of its respective features. Next, our testers cleaned the brush, examining how easy it was to remove any lingering product. They then rated the brushes on a scale of 1 to 5 in four important categories: Ease of use, effectiveness, comfort, and ease of cleaning. Once all the testers provided their ratings and feedback, we narrowed down the list to the seven best cleansing brushes.

InStyle / Tamara Staples

What to Keep in Mind

Material

When it comes to facial cleansing brush material they are mostly made of silicone or synthetic bristles. Beauty editor and esthetician, Grace Day, advises going for a silicone brush, like the  Foreo Luna 3 (her personal favorite) or the Vivalui Wireless Ultrasonic Silicone Electric Facial Cleansing Brush, as this material is less aggressive on sensitive skin and easier to clean. But, if you prefer a bristle brush, we recommend Alder New York Cleansing Facial Brush because its vegan bristles gently cleanse your skin without irritation.

Size

When purchasing a facial cleansing brush it’s important to understand your size needs. To have more control over your device you want to opt for something smaller, Day advises. “Size-wise, I would make sure it’s not too big — you want to be able to get into all the nooks and crannies of your face to target congested areas [like along your nose] and give your skin a really deep clean,” she shares. The NagraCoola Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush allows you to get in all the nooks while still cleansing larger areas like your cheeks and forehead. Additionally, if you are traveling, you want to find a brush that doesn’t take up too much space, and comes in a safe carrying case. (EZBASICS Facial Cleansing Brush is one of our favorites for travel.)

Skin Type

While every skin type can use a cleansing brush, Day highly recommends them for those with oily and congested skin. “Those are the skin types that will benefit most from a deep, exfoliating cleanse,” she says. “As an esthetician I will always advocate for (and prefer) cleansing with fingertips, but facial cleansing brushes do have their benefits if your skin needs a really deep clean, for example if you have a lot of blackheads and enlarged pores.”

Your Questions, Answered

How do I use a facial cleansing brush?

Start by applying your cleanser directly onto your face. Then wet your device and use circular motions to wash your face. “When using a facial cleansing brush, avoid pressing too hard – instead, skim the brush lightly over your skin,” Day shares. “Focus it on areas where your congestion or pores are more noticeable, such as around your nose and along your jawline, and avoid using it near your eyes. I also really like to use mine on my lips when they’re particularly dry and chapped.”

Also, Day notes that these tools work best with water-based gel cleansers rather than foaming or cream face washes. “I find the texture helps them to move easily and the vibrations will also lather up the cleanser,” she shares.

Can I use a facial cleansing brush every day?

Truth be told, it depends on your skin type and your skin’s sensitivity levels. Those with oily or congested skin may benefit from more frequent use, whereas those with dry or sensitive skin should only cleanse with a brush one to two times a week.

Day urges you to evaluate your skin’s sensitivity before incorporating a cleansing brush into your daily or weekly routine. “You might find your skin’s sensitivity varies by time of day, by season, or after using certain products. I would always take a read on your skin’s sensitivity before using any exfoliating product, including a facial cleansing brush,” she advises. “Personally, even though my skin isn’t particularly sensitive, I only use my Foreo one to two times a week, and I don’t use any other physical exfoliants or scrubs.”

What is the best type of facial cleansing brush? 

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to the best cleansing brushes — the best type will differ based on your skin’s needs. If you have super sensitive skin, opt for a gentle tool like the Vivalui Wireless Ultrasonic Silicone Electric Facial Cleansing Brush. On the other hand, if your skin seems super congested, you may want something with stronger bristles to deeply cleanse your skin, like the Alder New York Cleansing Facial Brush.

We test the best beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products through our InStyle Picks program in our three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to find the ones that actually deliver on their promises. Learn more about our workflow, testers, and team inside.

Why Shop With Us

Amanda Rosenthal is a commerce writer for InStyle. Amanda has experience researching and testing different cleansing brushes and has tried tons of different brushes for this article, including the Foreo Luna 3. With additional knowledge from a beauty editor and esthetician, Grace Day, and first-hand experience trying out numerous cleansing brushes, she rounded up the top seven picks for this story.

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