Facial Brush Benefits: Essential in a Skin Care Routine?

I love educating others about how a facial brush can help their skin care routine.

Is a Facial Brush Harmful in a Skin Care Routine?

Not long ago, I watched the video of a well known YouTuber {official term, anyone?} whose skin care regimen was very similar to mine, but she had a staple I'd never seen or heard of before. Don't laugh when I say this: a facial brush.

I didn't know its purpose, nor its pros or cons. But this staple intrigued me. An onslaught of research ensued. I went as far as adding the brush to my Amazon shopping cart.

The original YouTuber used her facial brush four times a week. She would apply a facial cleanser and then rub it into her skin with the brush for one minute. Are you skeptical about this routine? I was. Here's why: she's basically exfoliating her skin four times out of the week. And most dermatologists suggest exfoliating once a week with facial scrubs and twice a week with a brush. So is this routine good or is it bad? Is the facial brush good or is it bad?

If the routine works for this YouTuber, then I can't knock it, and I won't explore that aspect any further. But whether a facial brush is good for a routine piqued my interest, and was definitely worth exploring.

Too Much of a Good Thing Is a Bad Thing

According to a blogger on the Huffington Post, she used a cleansing brush for many years and found that it helped improve her complexion. It then became a staple she relied on to remove make-up and environmental debris. After seeking results from a few Huff Post editors, the original user found that her co-workers' "freshly buffed faces" had taken a turn for the worst. Red spots, breakouts and, I can only imagine from my own experience using exfoliator scrubs, dry skin.

Could the culprit be the facial brush?

I won't leave you in suspense; yes, the facial brush was the culprit. The Huff Post editors turned to a New York dermatologist that concluded that too much of a good thing always leads to harmful effects. Facial brushes should not be used often, but they should be cleaned often—something many users forget.

From the reading, I gathered my own opinion: a facial brush is an exfoliate treatment, and should be used judiciously. Don't reach the point where your skin is so badly irritated that you have to stop or amend your brushing routine. This casts a bad light on facial brushes, and according to my research, there is plenty good to be said.

Benefits of Using a Facial Brush

A facial brush can be used on both your face and neck. It can remove that top layer of dead skin to improve skin tone. This, along with its effects to stimulate circulation, will create firmer, more lasting skin. The result? Reduced wrinkles, soft, healthier skin, and a massaging routine that makes for a relaxing end to your day.

Facial brushes are better than anti-aging creams. It works in the same fashion, peeling off dead skin to reveal the youthful glow beneath. But anti-aging creams contain unnatural acids, which is why a facial brush is safer. So in a nutshell, facial brushes produce fresh, young skin in the most affordable and natural way possible.

How to Use so You Don't Overuse

How can you use a facial brush, reap the benefits, and avoid negative effects? The answer is so simple that I'm ashamed to write it down: don't use it too often.

It's recommended that you brush your face, along with a cleanser, two days out of the week. If your skin dries out and your skin tone becomes uneven, take it down to just once a week. If you feel this routine isn't effective, do it three days a week.

If you're using a facial brush, don't use an exfoliant scrub or chemical exfoliant. And if you're using a facial brush, you're using that brush—don't let someone you know, not even a relative, borrow it. Does that go without saying? Probably. But it has to be said just in case.

The best time to use your facial brush is at night. This way, you remove the slough and environmental pollution from the day.

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If you experience a small case of breakouts just prior to using your facial brush, don't panic. This is perfectly normal. According to dermatologist Jason Emer, dead skin cells being brushed off plug up your pores. But with time, your skin will get used to it, and the pores will open and the breakouts will go away.

Clean, Clean, Clean Your Brush

In the article about facial brushes doing more harm than good, I realized how easy the harmful causes can be avoided. First of all, many people do not clean their brushes. This is like holding a phone to your face all day and not cleaning it at the end of the day. It becomes a cesspool for dirt and bacteria, and when applied to your face, can cause breakouts and acne. So, people? Clean your facial brushes.

You can wash your brush with soap and water, or alcohol. Another method is to heat it in a microwave for a few seconds. I don't do this method. I'm the skeptical old lady standing by the microwave saying, "You sure the plastic won't melt? Honey? You sure this plastic container won't melt in the microwave?" I clean mine with soap and water twice a week.

Whichever method you chose, make sure you're consistent with it. The result of a dirty facial brush is one you want to avoid.

Do You Use a Facial Brush?

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

baresh on August 13, 2015:

Amazing benefits of facial brush.I am using and I have good result.

Anna on June 01, 2014:

I've just recently used a facial brush and the results were amazing at first, after a few uses I broke out terribly. What do I do now for the break out?

Ria Rankine (author) from Oregon on September 28, 2013:

I'm glad you like the article helpful! And hopefully the tips are working out as well :)

skin care natural on September 25, 2013:

I have really read this blog completely and this incident has undergone after a long time. At all, I have felt to bookmark it as this article is aweso.

oily skin facial on September 12, 2013:

I enjoyed reading your informative article and considering the points you made. You make a lot of sense on internet & mobile marketing as a topic. Thank you for such an informative post.

Ria Rankine (author) from Oregon on May 31, 2013:

Thanks! And this brush really comes in handy. Men have razors; women have the facial brush :)

Eric Prado from Denton, Texas on May 30, 2013:

This has been a truly intriguing and useful hub. Voted up, useful, and interesting. Good read here. =)