Cleansing Brushes: How Do They Work?

Power tools make home improvement projects easier, but can the same be said of your skin care routine? In recent years several motorized cleansing brushes have appeared on the market with promises of a deeper cleaning and more radiant skin.

"For many of my patients, the cleansing brushes are great," says Papri Sarkar, MD, a dermatologist in Brookline, MA. "Cleansing is one of the most crucial steps in a skin care regimen," she says, so a device that can make cleansing more effective can be a powerful tool for healthy skin.

The brushes typically use a battery-operated motor that moves the brush head in a repetitive motion. "Some use circular motion and others move back and forth, but it’s the repetitive motion of the bristles combined with cleanser that makes them work," says dermatologist Neal B. Schultz, MD, founder of DermTV.com.

The motor and bristles enable these tools to clean dirt and makeup from skin and exfoliate more effectively than washing by hand, but Sarkar says the tools have more compelling benefits.