Cleansing is the most important part of your skincare routine, period. Giving your face a good thorough cleanse helps to remove a multitude of sins - pollution, dead skin cells, make-up, excess sebum, all the things that can take away your complexions glow. But even the best cleansers could use a little help sometimes when it comes to getting deep into your pores.

　　That’s where cleansing brushes come in.

　　If you’ve always felt a bit wary of adding a facial cleansing brush to your skincare routine, you’ve officially come to the right place. Facial cleansing brushes are actually very simple to get the hang of, simply grab your fave cleanser, dampen your brush, and sweep it over your face in circular motions. The benefits? Skin that’s much softer, cleaner, and prepped for the rest of your routine. And the good news is, they can get to work with pretty much any face wash. So whether you prefer a hydrating cleanser or a foaming cleanser, you can still get stuck in with a good cleansing brush.

　　Are cleansing brushes good for your skin? “Not all brushes are good for the skin,” explains Skin Specialist and Expert Facialist at PMD Beauty, Makensey Sainsbury. “Some are too harsh and cause surface damage and micro-tears into the skin. Facial brushes also have a reputation for harbouring bacteria that will then be directly applied to the skin. So, it’s important to compare brushes when looking to purchase one and go for one that is anti-bacterial and not too harsh on the skin.”

　　Do cleansing brushes remove blackheads? We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but not all cleansing brushes will remove blackheads. “Removing blackheads is not typical of most cleansing brushes,” says Makensey. “Brushes with spinning heads or harsh bristles will just end up moving the dirt around but not actually cleaning it from within the pores.”

　　What is the best cleansing brush?

　　Blue cleansing brush facial massager on a white background with shadow. A good cleansing brush will do several things – unclog pores, reduce blackheads, and deeply exfoliate the skin. Another thing that selective brushes can help with is firming skin. Makensey gave us a few more details. “If I am buying a cleansing brush, it’s nice to go for one that offers the added bonus of firming the skin. The PMD Clean has a gentle vibration that will make cleansing easier and more effective. There are no harsh or aggressive scrubbing movements needed and the vibration is also clinically tested to help firm and tone the skin too.”

　　Closer’s best cleanser brushes at a glance: Best facial cleansing tool:PMD Clean Pro, £165 – Buy now on Look Fantastic

　　Best for firming: Foreo Luna 4 Smart Facial Cleansing and Firming Massage Device, £269 – Buy now on Cult Beauty

　　Best for deep cleansing: Brushworks Facial Cleansing Brush, £7.99 – Buy now on Superdrug

　　Now, let’s stop beating around the bush and get to what you really came here for. Keep reading to find the best facial cleansing brushes.

　　SHOP: The best facial cleansing brushes 1. PMD Clean Pro

　　Best facial cleansing tool

　　Price:165www.lookfantastic.com

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　　For a deep-cleaning, soothing experience, look no further than the PMD Clean Pro. The gentle

　　... read morePros ConsProsGives skin a thorough cleanseProvides lifting and firmingConsExpensive2. Foreo Luna 4

　　Best for firming

　　Price:269www.cultbeauty.co.uk

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　　Silicone cleansing brushes are often more hygienic and gentle than those with nylon bristles,

　　... read morePros ConsProsGives skin a good glowMade with super soft silicone bristlesConsExpensive3. PMD Clean

　　Best for acne-prone skin

　　Price:89www.sephora.co.uk

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　　Featuring ultra-hygienic silicone bristles that pulsate 7,000 times per minute, this waterproof

　　... read morePros ConsProsMade with ultra-hygienic silicone bristlesComes with 4 customisable massage settingsConsNot much direction for use is given on packaging4. Brushworks HD Facial Cleansing Brush

　　Best for deep cleansing

　　Price:7.99www.superdrug.com

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　　Brushworks HD Facial Cleansing Brush earns top marks in our book for its dual-sided brush that

　　... read morePros ConsProsWorks well to give skin a deep cleanseDual-sided designConsMay need replacing more often than others5. So Eco Facial Cleansing Brush

　　Best budget facial cleansing brush

　　Price:7.99soinvogue.com

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　　This tool works with your favourite washes to achieve a deep clean and a brighter, refreshed

　　... read morePros ConsProsGives skin a deep cleanseAffordableConsDoesn't come with a case 6. The Body Shop Super Soft Cleansing Brush

　　Best manual facial cleansing brush

　　Price:12www.thebodyshop.com

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　　This deep cleansing brush has bristles made from 350,000 silky-soft fibres that are so fine they

　　... read morePros ConsProsWorks well to fight blemishesFine bristles can target hard to reach areasConsHarder to clean7. By Beauty Bay The Facial Cleansing Brush

　　Best massage tool

　　Price:17.45www.beautybay.com

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　　Description

　　The gentle vibration speeds made this one a winner for us. The silicone

　　... read morePros ConsProsLightweightEasy for travellingConsCleaning makeup residue from the brush takes a bit of effort8. Finishing Touch Flawless Cleanse

　　Best for glowing skin

　　Price:19.99finishingtouchflawless.co.uk

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　　For less than £20, this tool gives you a spa-like experience in your very own bathroom. Gentle

　　... read morePros ConsProsGives skin a deep cleanseDurableConsSome users say they wish the massage mode was a little more powerful9. Magnitone Barefaced 2 Vibra-Sonic Cleansing Toning Brush

　　Best for smoothing

　　Price:90www.sephora.co.uk

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　　Made with antibacterial bristles, this cleansing brush-cum-facial massager works to give skin a

　　... read morePros ConsProsComes with 2 different heads for cleansing and toningSilver ions on the bristles means that bacteria can't feed and growConsHaving to wash both brush heads after every use is more time consuming