Per my previous blog post, I’ve been able to try quite a few new products in the past 2 months. One of those products includes the ULTA Silicone Sonic Facial Cleansing Device, which I picked up during a sale on ulta.com. With the craze in skincare tools emerging over the last few years, including the Foreo silicone tools, I figured I would try a lower cost version to see how it stacks up against higher-priced brands. The concept and benefits are similar to rotating facial cleansing brushes, but the vibration used within the silicone separates these tools a bit in capability.

Facial brushes are all designed to clarify skin, breakup embedded dirt and makeup, and remove loose skin cells. Rotating bristles do have the risk of causing irritation, as even the most gentle brushes can disrupt sensitive skin if used too much. Exfoliation is great, but it must be used in moderation to not disturb the skin’s natural moisture barrier. If there are micro-tears or irritation, this can lead to breakouts or rash. The concept behind a silicone tool is to gently exfoliate and polish with small, rounded “nubs”, but also utilize vibration to stimulate circulation and lymph flow within the skin. The silicone used in this tool is anti-microbial, and is safe for sensitive skin. There are 2 speeds in the tool for level of vibration – the higher the speed, the more exfoliation. This can be used for cleansing, or helping the skin to absorb serums and moisturizers. I use this mostly for cleansing, and the tool is water-resistant so I keep it in a dry corner of the shower. Here’s a few tips for using the tool to cleanse:

• Use a foaming cleanser: lather up the cleanser in your hands and massage over skin. Wet the brush and turn on to the level of vibration you like – rub lightly over skin to spread the lather, and work gently into corners like the edges of your nose.
• Use for about a minute, and make sure to rinse the brush well.
• If your skin is very sensitive, I recommend only using 1x a day.

The reason I recommend lathering cleansers is that I’ve found they work best with the tool. A creamy cleanser tends to get a bit “stuck” in the nubs of the brush, so it doesn’t benefit your skin as much as the suds will. If you are interested in using the tool to help your skin absorb serums or moisturizers, you’ll need to make sure it’s clean and dry between each use. The theory behind using it for those products is that it stimulates quicker absorption into the skin cells. My advice is to apply the serum or moisturizer to your skin first, and massage in and then use the tool until fully absorbed. For us sensitive-skinned peeps, just be sure you don’t over-do it. Any time that circulation is increase you’ll naturally see a rosier glow on the skin. But don’t mistake it for irritation or a rash! My advice is to work this tool in gradually to your skincare routine, and see what your skin responds to best. I found that after using for several weeks with my favorite foaming cleansers that I noticed my skin was polished and had a nice, smooth texture. I’ve also used this while washing my shoulders, chest and top of my back, as it helped with exfoliation of drier skin from being outdoors.

In comparison to bristle brushes, I do like the silicone alternative – I think it’s much gentler and better for troubled or sensitive skin. I will say that this tool doesn’t deliver as precise a clean as the Foreo tools do – those have a wedge-shaped tip that can get into the nooks and crannies of your nose and contours of your face. But if you are looking for an overall clean for polishing, or are new to skincare tools, I think this is a good entry-level product.

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