Weber is recalling more than 3.2 million metal wire-bristle grill brushes. The bristles can break off, get into food and cause serious injuries if swallowed, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They’ve been sold nationwide since 2011.The CPSC said the small metal wires can detach during cleaning, stick to grill grates and end up in food. If ingested, they can lodge in the throat or digestive tract and cause internal injuries. Weber is aware of dozens of reports of bristles detaching, including cases that required medical treatment.The recall includes the following models:6277 – 12-inch brush with black plastic handle (sold 2021–2026)6278 – 18-inch brush with black plastic handle (sold 2021–2026)6463 – 12-inch brush with bamboo handle and metal scraper (sold 2011–2021)6464 – 18-inch brush with bamboo handle and metal scraper (sold 2011–2021)6493 – 21-inch brush with black plastic handle and metal binder (sold 2013–2021)6494 – 12-inch brush with black plastic handle (sold 2013–2021)The brushes were sold at major retailers nationwide and online for about $10 to $17.Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled brushes and contact Weber for a free replacement. The company is offering a nylon-bristle brush, which does not contain sharp metal wires that can break off and cause internal injuries if swallowed.More information is available on the CPSC website here.Stay Connected With the National Consumer UnitGet clear, actionable consumer reporting delivered across platforms.Follow National Consumer Correspondent Allie Jasinski for real-time updates, money-saving tips and behind-the-scenes reporting on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Weber is recalling more than 3.2 million metal wire-bristle grill brushes. The bristles can break off, get into food and cause serious injuries if swallowed, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They’ve been sold nationwide since 2011.
The CPSC said the small metal wires can detach during cleaning, stick to grill grates and end up in food. If ingested, they can lodge in the throat or digestive tract and cause internal injuries. Weber is aware of dozens of reports of bristles detaching, including cases that required medical treatment.
The recall includes the following models:
6277 – 12-inch brush with black plastic handle (sold 2021–2026)
6278 – 18-inch brush with black plastic handle (sold 2021–2026)
6463 – 12-inch brush with bamboo handle and metal scraper (sold 2011–2021)
6464 – 18-inch brush with bamboo handle and metal scraper (sold 2011–2021)
6493 – 21-inch brush with black plastic handle and metal binder (sold 2013–2021)
6494 – 12-inch brush with black plastic handle (sold 2013–2021)
Hearst OwnedConsumer Product Safety Commission
Weber grill brushes recalled on Feb. 26, 2026
The brushes were sold at major retailers nationwide and online for about $10 to $17.
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled brushes and contact Weber for a free replacement. The company is offering a nylon-bristle brush, which does not contain sharp metal wires that can break off and cause internal injuries if swallowed.
More information is available on the CPSC website here.
Stay Connected With the National Consumer Unit
Get clear, actionable consumer reporting delivered across platforms.
Follow National Consumer Correspondent Allie Jasinski for real-time updates, money-saving tips and behind-the-scenes reporting on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
GOLDEN TROUT WILDERNESS, Calif. — The first two miles were pleasant enough. The grade was mild, the forest serene. It was what lay ahead that worried me:
A 2,500-foot descent to Jordan Hot Springs, a spot in California’s High Sierra backcountry that has long had a hold on my imagination — an idyllic meadow with rock-dammed bathtub-hot pools.
Given my age and lack of recent high-altitude exertion, I could easily need a helicopter to get out.
But that was a secondary concern. I was most anxious about what I might see along the way. Would it be an affirmation of nature’s power of renewal or an omen of irreversible decline?
I was retracing my steps of 20 years earlier to a scene of mass death I had never been able to erase from my mind. At a small plateau alongside Ninemile Creek in the Golden Trout Wilderness Area, I had stood in a forest of black sticks standing on both sides of a steep canyon like whiskers on a beast too large to comprehend.
I had hiked to Jordan Hot Springs and the burn scar of the 2002 McNally fire to probe big questions of fire ecology: Are Sierra forests overgrown? Is fire management the unintended cause of destructive crown fires? Do forests reduced to blackened earth and charcoal trees recover?
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The McNally fire wiped out whole forests in 2002. What does it tell us today about the future of vast areas devastated by recent fires?
At that time, the questions proved too big. I never wrote a story.
But the image stuck. Year after year I would wonder, “What does that canyon look like today?”
It took another fire to turn that question into action.
I did not grasp from the TV images of the 2020 Castle fire how deeply it would affect me personally when I saw its aftermath with my own eyes.
It was two years ago that I took a nostalgic drive up Highway 190 into the mountains east of Porterville in the San Joaquin Valley. At the elevation where the oak and scrub give way to cedar, fir and pine, I had a horrific shock rounding a familiar bend anticipating a thrill I had felt so many times before.
Instead of my favorite Sierra vista, I saw total disfigurement. The road ahead, once hidden in a sheath of forest, is now a scar carved into the side of a landscape of exposed soil and the standing carcasses of tens of thousands of blackened trees.
Those last 10 miles up the Tule River Canyon had always been a spiritual climb for me, releasing the weight of urban life along with the Central Valley heat and enlivening my spirit with cascading streams, pine-scented air and anticipation of the road’s end.
I had been enamored of this view since 1962, when I first drove to the end of Highway 190 in Quaking Aspen to begin my summer job packing mules into the Sierra backcountry.
Now it was gone. So much beauty lost. Never to return?
The 2020 Castle fire left huge sections of Sequoia National like these standing dead trees.
(Daniel Flesher / LA Times Studios)
In the recent years of unprecedented wildfires, the public discourse has been filled with speculation that such a total tree die-off, combined with a warming climate, could irreversibly change a forest, leaving it barren of the conifers that dominate an alpine ecosystem.
I didn’t want to believe that. I wanted hope that in my lifetime I might see the Tule River Canyon once again as it was.
Thus arose the fanciful idea that a return to Jordan Hot Springs would allow me to see into the future by looking at the past. My purpose was aesthetic and emotional, not scientific. But if I was going to personalize nature, I thought it would be prudent to backstop my feelings with expertise.
I asked around and found a fire ecologist who has been studying the McNally fire almost since the embers went out. Chad Hanson, co-founder and principal ecologist of the John Muir Project and resident of nearby Kennedy Meadows, is the kind of scientist who returns to the field year after year and wades through waist-high underbrush to track the trajectory of recovery.
Hanson jumped at the opportunity to take a reporter off-road to see nature as he sees. He offered some advice that I understood better once we were on the trail: “Don’t wear shorts.”
On the first leg, a 650-foot drop to Casa Vieja Meadows, his commentary turned the hike into a walking lesson to reshape my view of the nature of fire and nature itself.
“To really grasp what’s happening in nature, especially after wildfires, you really have to think like a forest,” he said. “And forests don’t operate on human timescales, and they don’t operate the way humans do, especially when it comes to life and death.”
Hanson has a relationship with the forest that is at once clinical and lyrical.
“A standing dead tree is vastly more important to wildlife and biodiversity in the forest than a standing live tree of the same size,” he said. “A tree in the forest ecosystem may have two or three hundred years of incredibly important vital life after it dies.”
1
2
1.A screen grab of an area of the 2020 Castle Fire that has undergone post-fire logging. 2.A screen grab of along the trail to Jordan Hot Springs a charred tree sits surrounded by White Thorn Bush.
A screen grab of trees charred by the 2020 Castle fire in this once-dense portion of the forest.
(Daniel Flesher / LA Times Studios)
Woodpeckers carve nesting cavities in the softer dead trees and broken-off snags, then move on each year, leaving behind homes for other nesting creatures, such as nuthatches and chipmunks. As the trees break off or fall, the downed logs become food and cover for earthbound species and eventually decay into nutrients in the soil.
Our maps showed we were walking through forest burned in the McNally fire, but what I saw around us made that hard to imagine. A canopy of Jeffrey pine, red fir and incense cedar shaded the trail. Except for the blackened bark on their lower trunks, there was no sign of catastrophic fire.
“That’s because there wasn’t,” Hanson assured me. The fire had passed through where we were walking. But the common descriptors “scorched,” “blackened” and “destroyed” did not apply.
“Most of the fire area is like this, where it would have killed a few of the seedlings and saplings but basically almost nothing else,” Hanson said. “It’s largely unchanged by the fire.”
It took nearly five weeks for the McNally fire to cover 150,000 acres. Much of that time, at night or when the wind was down, it moved at a human walking pace.
“The temperature drops and the relative humidity goes up, the winds die down, flames drop to the ground and it starts creeping along,” Hanson said.
A screen grab of a hillside heavily altered by the 2020 Castle fire.
(Daniel Flesher / LA Times Studios)
Several times as we walked, the canopy opened up nearby and Hanson stopped to point out a high-intensity burn where a burst of wind in the heat of the afternoon had lofted the flames into the living branches more than 100 feet above us. Some were an acre or two, some up to 50 acres.
A quarter century after the fire, each was a mini-laboratory of regeneration. My first impression was sunlight, a brightness that contrasted with the shade we stood in. Then brush, predominantly whitethorn and manzanita, interspersed in waist-high thickets. Then snags, standing dead trees broken off halfway up. Finally, patches of young conifer, some mere saplings, some 15 to 20 feet tall
The few trees that had survived the fire now looked like Christmas trees planted on top of telephone poles. For a year after the fire, Hanson said, they would have appeared dead with all their foliage scorched. But at the very top, surviving terminals had sent out new twigs in the next growing season.
Those were the starter trees that spread the seed that had germinated and was now thriving in the open sunlight.
At one burn, Hanson proposed that we make a side trip and wade through the brush up on a steep canyon wall where, he assured me, we would find even more saplings just breaking through. Knowing that we had completed less than half our descent, and that each step down would require a step back up, I decided to wait to see how I felt later in the day on the way back up.
Casa Vieja Meadows was a perfect Sierra scene: a half-mile plain of yellow-green grass, a ring of forest all around it, a cattleman’s shed across the way and tranquil Ninemile Creek running its length.
At the meadow’s end, the creek dived into a rocky canyon, the beginning of a 1,500-foot drop through patches of willow, cottonwood and fern.
When we reached that spot that has stuck in my memory for 20 years, my immediate reaction was disappointment. I saw no beauty, only a scar that was neither a forest of dead trees nor living ones. Only a few snags remained. The fallen trees must have been there — there had been no logging to remove them — but were submerged in the brush, out of sight. At most, a dozen or two pre-fire trees survived on both sides of the canyon.
From a belt of willow at the stream’s edge to the ridges above, both sides of the canyon were covered in gray-green hue of whitethorn extending as far as I could see toward Jordan Hot Springs, still a half mile beyond.
Here, Hanson preached a beauty based on the timescale of natural succession. Because of its size and severity, this high-intensity burn area will remain what is called montane chaparral for decades, he said. In doing so, it will give the greater forest ecosystem what it cannot survive without.
“That’s some of the best wildlife habitat,” he said, sweeping his hand over the horizon. “We’re not used to seeing it that way as humans where we see the flames go high and kill most of the trees. But it turns there are a lot of wildlife species in the forest that have evolved over millions of years to depend specifically on areas where most of the trees have been killed.
A screen grab of a hillside above Jordan Hot Springs where the 2002 McNally fire burned. There are early signs of conifer regeneration emerging among lower vegetation.
(Daniel Flesher / LA Times Studios)
“This is actually really important habitat for shrub nesting birds, for small mammals, woodpeckers, bluebirds, nuthatches, any cavity-nesting species. They depend on these patches where you have a lot of dead trees.”
Hanson assured me this vast landscape of brush was already making its return as a conifer forest. To see the evidence, we’d have to slog into the whitethorn to see the future. I shakily followed Hanson up a canyon as he worked his way through openings he said were likely blazed by foraging bears, then over a fallen tree trunk that crumbled under my steps.
I was gasping for air and having difficulty maintaining balance when he stopped.
Hanson began noting tufts of pine needles poking out of the waist-high brush around us. “One, two, three, four, five, six,” he said, counting as he went along. Farther up, he pointed out clumps of new conifers, some up to 18 feet tall.
The saplings just now poking their needles into the sunlight, and hundreds more that we would only be able to be seen on our hands and knees, will grow and propagate, he said.
“It’s going to keep regenerating every year, every decade after the fire,” he said. “There’s going to be more new ones coming in and the earlier ones are going to get taller and older. And that’s just classic natural progression.”
In a hundred years, they’ll be so thick they’ll block out the sun, and the brush, starved of energy to drive photosynthesis, will wither, and the shrub nesting species will move to a different mountain cleared by a later fire.
I had seen what I needed to see. All that was left was to fulfill a personal desire to return one more time to Jordan Hot Springs.
Through all my youthful explorations of the Kern River Canyon — my Yosemite without crowds — that golden-green meadow with its pools had been only an illusion for me. Named for the man who came across it blazing a trail from the San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert in 1861, it was a storied place just beyond my horizon.
Several times I led mule strings to Soda Flat, a private outpost in Sequoia National Forest. The hot springs beckoned only 3½ miles away. But after 20 miles on the trail, duty to my livestock and to my client, Bakersfield realtor Ralph Smith, prevented me from indulging that fantasy.
So much has changed since then. The pack station at Quaking Aspen was demolished and relocated four miles deeper into the backcountry on logging roads. A paved road was cut into the roadless area east of the Kern River giving automobile access to the five-mile John Jordan Hot Springs trail.
My visual memory of Jordan Hot Springs from that 2005 hike has faded. The catharsis I felt then of finally seeing it after so many decades has not. At the stage in life when I know that my return to many places will be my last, I wanted to fix its image in my memory, to sit simply one more time and contemplate the beauty of this small spot in the universe.
It wasn’t to be.
A screen grab of an aerial view shows the scale of the 2020 Castle fire.
(Daniel Flesher / LA Times Studios)
Noting my fatigue, Hanson asked if I wanted to go on. With the sun on its downward arc and a 500-foot descent ahead to fulfill that wistful desire, he thought prudence dictated that it was time to turn home. I had to agree. It was a slow ascent. I couldn’t go more than a few hundred feet without stopping to sit and catch my breath. But I made it, just before dark — without a helicopter.
I never intended to settle the big academic and political questions over what’s the right way to care for a forest: Indigenous stewardship vs. forest thinning; post-fire logging and bio-mass extraction vs. natural decay and regeneration; fire control vs. natural selection.
Much has been written about that. Much more will likely be before I could report that a consensus is achieved.
I do have a preview of the Tule River Canyon a quarter century from now, and it won’t be the place I have known for so much of my life. There will likely be no vistas of forest canopy, no shaded glens with water cascading through a tapestry of conifers, pine sap spicing the morning air.
More likely, there will be mile after mile of whitethorn and manzanita, a few grandfather trees identifiable by their odd conical foliage high on spindly trunks, patches of vigorous young pine 15 to 20 feet tall, and saplings whose tops barely break through the brush.
From my new perspective, I’m still not able to call that beauty, but I can call it hope. I’m betting on one who crawls through the brush to find answers that it’s only the beginning of something that will take longer than my lifetime to reveal itself.
A fire ignited Thursday afternoon near the southwestern bank of Lake Piru in Ventura County and by evening had burned nearly 300 acres. The flames stranded half a dozen boaters, who were forced to shelter in place lakeside, officials said.
The blaze, dubbed the Felicia fire, threatened three to five structures, including homes and a U.S. Forest Service fire station. Video from OnScene.TV showed roaring flames leaping into the air. Fire was burning dangerously close to a house as the afternoon wore on.
All threatened structures have crews assigned to protect them, said Andrew Dowd, a Ventura County Fire Department public information officer.
The fire had burned 301 acres and was 14% contained as of 8 p.m.
Dowd told The Times that more than 500 assigned firefighters “were making good progress” and the fire’s forward advance had been stopped.
“Steep, rugged terrain with limited access is hampering firefighting efforts,” the department wrote in an X post updating the fire’s progress.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department ordered an evacuation of the western side of the lake and closed Piru Canyon Road. Around 15 people were evacuated from the lake’s recreational areas, including a campground and the nearby canyon.
A firefighting bulldozer works against advancing flames in the Ventura County blaze on Thursday afternoon.
(Eric Thayer / Associated Press)
Six boaters were unable to leave before roads closed, Dowd said, and sheltered at the marina parking lot north of the fire until park rangers were able to escort them out around 5 p.m.
The fire started around 1 p.m., and its cause still under investigation, Dowd said. No injuries have been reported.
Video released by the Ventura County Fire Department showed workers clearing brush while helicopters dropped water on the fire in the distance.
After burning 2,487 acres, destroying 13 structures and damaging three more, the Highland fire was 100% contained on Sunday evening, according to Riverside County fire officials.
The fire ignited Oct. 30 in grasses and brush in the Aguanga area and quickly exploded in size, driven by Santa Ana winds that swirled in the Inland Empire. More than 1,100 firefighters were deployed to attack the fire from the air and the ground.
By Tuesday, around 4,000 people had been ordered to evacuate, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory the following day.
All fire road closures and evacuation orders have since been lifted, but warnings remain in place for the fire perimeter area.
Fire officials urged motorists to continue to be cautious while driving near the fire as crews continued to work in the region.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
By now, you should 100 percent know that going to bed with foundation or concealer on is the ultimate skincare sin. Apparently, so is washing your face in the shower (a big no-no because the water is often way too hot) and not washing your hands before you wash your face because, errr, germs? Alas, that’s where facial cleansing brushes come in.
Not only do they help remove makeup and exfoliate, but if cleaned and stored properly—make sure to read those directions!—they can be a bit more sanitary, thereby eliminating future breakouts. According to celebrity aesthetics nurse injector and founder of Revay Aesthetics, Revay Plunkett, these brushes also increase blood circulation. “The great thing about using a facial cleansing device is that it stimulates circulation while simultaneously exfoliating the surface of the skin. Stimulating the blood and lymph flow in the face can decrease puffiness, eliminate toxins, and promote cellular regeneration. In simpler terms, this makes your skin firmer, more radiant, and smooth,” she adds.
Sensitive skin types (i.e. prone to eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis) should look for options with softer bristles and consider working brushes into their routine bi-weekly versus daily to start. It can be tempting to go hard when cleansing, but over-sloughing can leave your skin raw. Unsure if it’s the *right* tool for you? Chat up your derm to get their expert opinion.
Overall, the best brushes have the same general process: Remove your makeup, apply cleanser to wet skin, and massage the brush along your face in circular motions for a minute or so. The results? Exfoliated, smooth, and clear skin. With the classic Clarisonic no longer on the market, we’ve rounded up a new batch of favorites, including the silicone-only newbies from PMD and Foreo. Ahead are 14 brushes ELLE.com editors have tried and loved—plus a few other top-rated models.
1. Buttah Vibe Brush Facial Cleansing Device
Best Cleansing Brush for a Deep Clean
buttah. by Dorion Renaud Cleanse + Vibe Brush Kit
buttah. by Dorion Renaud Cleanse + Vibe Brush Kit
Now 17% Off
Sure, you’ll have to head out to buy a few AA batteries, but this device will make the trip worth it. Featuring two different pulse settings, you can give yourself a gentle clean each day with its soft anti-microbial silicone bristles. For those who wear makeup frequently, this will help you take removal up a notch for a deeper clean.
An Amazon reviewer says: “The brush is gentle and takes off all makeup. In addition, it helps slough off dead skin. I look years younger!”
Key specs:
Brush material: Silicone
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
The silicone bristles are soft on the skin, which is perfect for everyday use.
It’s designed with sonic pulsation technology that delivers up to 10,000 pulses per minute to help work your cleanser into clogged pores.
It’s water-resistant, so it can be used in the shower.
2. Raedia Facial Cleansing Brush
Best Multipurpose Cleansing Brush
Vanity Planet Raedia Facial Cleansing Brush
Vanity Planet Raedia Facial Cleansing Brush
Now 30% Off
Cons
Doesn’t come with a timer
This is the YouTube beauty gurus’ favorite brush, and for a good reason. For starters, it’s super affordable for what you get in the box: the device, four different brush heads, and a compact case that’s great for traveling. You can buy it at full price or shave a few dollars off by subscribing to receive new brush heads every three months for just $20.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I could not recommend this product more. My teenage daughter has been having tons of breakouts (forehead and chin area). She’s tried all the non-prescription products and asked if she could buy this with her graduation money. I reluctantly said yes because I didn’t think it would work. Well, four days later and her skin is clear! I’m floored! Her skin looks amazing.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Fiber, silicone
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
The brush has two spin speeds to tailor to different skin types, especially sensitive skin.
You can choose between three facial brushes and one body brush to slough away dead skin in places your washcloth can’t reach.
It features a nonslip handle so you can better control the device.
3. Soniclear Petite Patented Antimicrobial Facial Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush
Great for Beginners
Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear Petite Facial Cleansing Brush System
Michael Todd Beauty Soniclear Petite Facial Cleansing Brush System
Pros
Brush heads last up to six months
Cons
Reviews say it’s hard on sensitive skin
Ask any beauty obsessive and they’ll tell you that Michael Todd’s cleansing brushes are the crème de la crème of facial cleansing devices. What’s unique about this system, in particular, is the serum infusion feature.
An Amazon reviewer says: “This is the softest brush and does the best clean on my face! It’s super easy to travel with, too. A beyond excellent product at an affordable price!”
Key specs:
Brush material: Anti-microbial nylon
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
The device has an automatic timer that helps you maximize your cleaning routine.
Aside from cleansing the skin with one of the brush heads, you can use the firming head to massage your favorite serum into your skin.
It comes with a drying stand to extend your device’s lifespan.
4. Luckyiren Silicone Face Scrubbers
Great for Shower Use
Luckyiren SILICONE FACE SCRUBBERS EXFOLIATOR BRUSH
Luckyiren SILICONE FACE SCRUBBERS EXFOLIATOR BRUSH
Cons
Not ideal for deep exfoliation
For the low-tech scrubber, these hand-held silicone pads give a great cleanse without needing any batteries or cords. It’s the ideal scrub to leave in the shower, so when it’s time for a deep-pore cleanse, you have your tool waiting right there for you. The device has a handy grip on the backside so you can cleanse without it falling to the shower floor, and it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.
An Amazon reviewer says: “Use them on the daily; they stay clean and work amazingly! I have sensitive skin, and it takes a lot to clean my face, especially when taking makeup off. These do a job great!”
Key specs:
Brush material: Silicone
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
These silicone pads are so gentle you can use them every day with your favorite cleanser.
Each pad featured two types of bristles designed to get into clogged pores and hard-to-reach areas.
Gentle massaging also brings extra circulation to the face, improving luminosity and facial contour.
5. EZBASICS Facial Cleansing Brush
Best Cleansing Brush for travel
EZBASICS Facial Cleansing Brush
EZBASICS Facial Cleansing Brush
Now 21% Off
Cons
Not strong enough for deep exfoliation
If you don’t want a bulky device sitting on your sink, have no fear—this cleansing brush is chic, fits easily into your palm, and won’t take up any unnecessary counter space. On one side of the tool, there are silicone nodes for cleansing, while on the backside, there are small ridges that make it double as a facial massaging tool. Essentially, it’s a tw0-in-one device for the most cleansed, lifted appearance you could ask for.
An Amazon reviewer says: “Love this little machine. Settings one and two work around my eyes, then five is solid around the rest of my face. I take a few minutes to use it for facial cleansing as well as massaging for drainage. I have gotten compliments on how smooth my skin looks—someone even thought I was wearing foundation. Especially at the price, this has been a great add to my routine.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Silicone
Skin Types: Normal
Tips of the trade:
After fully charging, this device can be used 200 (!) times before it needs to be plugged in again.
The entire device is watertight, so you can use it in the shower without worrying about damaging it.
Designed to be extra gentle, this tool won’t cause abrasions or sensitivity to the skin.
6. Conture AeroCleanse Cleansing Device
Great for all skin types
Conture AeroCleanse Cleansing Device
Conture AeroCleanse Cleansing Device
Cons
The brush head will need to be replaced
If you’re a Clarisonic stan, this is the replacement facial cleansing brush for you. Inspired by the technology used on air hockey tables (yes, you read that right), this soft-bristled brush is our ELLE beauty editor’s latest obsession. It helps create a fantastic lather—even when using an oil-based cleanser—but doesn’t splatter everywhere as you glide it across your face. It’s battery-powered, which may seem like a drawback, but it helps to serve as a reminder: whenever the batteries are out, that also means it’s time to change the brush head.
Key specs:
Brush material: Fiber
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
There’s only one brush head, but it’s universal for all skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin.
The oval-shaped brush makes it easy to get into tight but important areas like the corner of the nose.
Use it on the tops of your hands once a week (and always wear sunscreen) to keep them looking youthful.
Skip out on chemical exfoliators like BHA, PHA, and AHAs—since this already acts like an exfoliator. You don’t want or need to go overboard. Less is more, kids.
7. Anisa Cleansing Brush
Best Cleansing Brush for Sensitive Skin
Cleansing Brush
Cleansing Brush
Credit: Courtesy
If you’re worried about a battery or chargeable device being too harsh on your skin, this manual brush, which features 100 percent cruelty-free synthetic fibers, might be your best bet. The innovatively designed removable head comprises a soft fiber and silicone blend for gentle exfoliation and effective deep pore cleansing, leaving your complexion cleaner than ever without feeling dry. One reviewer describes the brush as if “the bristles of a Clarisonic and the silicone of a Foreo had a baby.” The detachable brush head makes cleaning the tool pretty easy. Simply swivel, rinse and dry. Anisa also has a brush cleanser, Purify, which removes excess makeup, oils, and residue from the device without any water needed.
Another Anisa Beauty reviewer says: “I have suffered from cystic acne for several years and have been trying to find the right routine to manage a recent flareup. I’ve been using this brush every other day for about two weeks, and I can already feel and see a difference in my skin. My skin feels so much cleaner and absorbs the treatment I use after washing my face with this brush. I also love that it’s not electric. I was worried I would over-exfoliate with a cleansing brush, but because this one is so gentle, I really don’t feel like I’m overdoing it. I haven’t had a new breakout since I’ve been using this!”
Key specs:
Brush material: Fiber, silicone
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
The brush head is removable for easy cleaning. Just make sure to air dry it before using it again.
A little cleanser goes a long way—focus on putting your product of choice directly onto the silicone ring before gently massaging in circular motions.
To avoid staining the bristles, rinse the brush thoroughly after each use.
8. Naturopathica Facial Cleansing Brush
Best Manual Cleansing Brush
Naturopathica Facial Cleansing Brush
Naturopathica Facial Cleansing Brush
Pros
Designed without batteries
High tech isn’t always better. Many people with sensitive skin aren’t able to use abrasive cleansing brushes. But this painterly pouf is softer than a puppy—and it’s cruelty-free, too! The nylon bristles feel like a cloud as they gently sweep across your skin, lifting away dead skin, and removing the grit and grime of everyday life without irritation. It’s especially divine with a balm cleanser. And the textured shape isn’t just for aesthetics—the waves act like a dry brush for your face, gently stimulating your lymphatic system to help reduce puffiness.
An Amazon reviewer says: “A perfect cross between a cleanser and exfoliator. Size is nice to get a bigger surface area of your face. Easy to clean.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Nylon
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
Gentle enough to use daily with your favorite cleanser.
It can be used wet or dry to buff in skincare products before rinsing.
This is a fantastic option for anybody who is new to cleansing brushes or wants a gentler option.
9. PMD Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device
Most Versatile Cleansing Brush
PMD Beauty CLEAN SMART FACIAL CLEANSING DEVICE
PMD Beauty CLEAN SMART FACIAL CLEANSING DEVICE
Pros
Has multiple setting to choose from
Beyond simply cleansing, this tech-first cleansing device boasts over 7,000 vibrations per minute thanks to SonicGlow™ technology. Look forward to skin that’s not only clean, but firmed, toned, and overall more youthful in appearance. Unlike other brushes where you have to swap out the head, the device is made entirely with ultra-hygienic silicone, meaning PMD Clean is odor-resistant, antibacterial, hypoallergenic, and waterproof. The brush is also pretty foolproof to clean. Simply rinse with warm water and gently rub in a cleanser (or soap), then pat dry. Consistent users claim their skin has never looked or felt better.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I absolutely love my PMD! I had seen my friend’s skin changing over time and finally asked what she was doing. She is a makeup artist, so I assumed she’d found new makeup products, but instead, she had consistently been using her PMD. I got results immediately, and now a couple of months later, I can’t live without this device. At 55 years of age, people usually guess me to be about 38 or 40. The glow stays all day, and it’s not the makeup. My skin is smooth and very much alive.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Silicone
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
There are four customizable modes in total. Hint: Up the ante on your serum application by using mode 3 or 4 for massaging.
Apply cleanser directly onto the bristles, whereas serums and moisturizers should be applied directly to the back.
To avoid damaging or bending the silicone bristles, use the included stand.
10. Shiseido Cleansing Massage Brush
Easy to Use
Shiseido Cleansing Massage Brush
Shiseido Cleansing Massage Brush
Cons
Doesn’t exfoliate that well
The cult-favorite Japanese skincare brand’s luxurious cleansing brush is the perfect hybrid of silky-soft, finely tapered bristles and silicone cushions made to gently massage the skin. An ergonomic, curved handle allows users to grip without slip, and breeze over natural facial contours. It also allows for gentle facial massage (great for microcirculation) and overall skin vitality-meets-radiance.
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “It offers the perfect blend of soft bristles and firm massaging benefits in one tool. I recommend everyone own one of these.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Nylon with silicone cushions
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
Make sure to use the included cap to protect the brush’s bristles. One reviewer said with proper care, her brush lasted nearly 10 years.
Don’t overload on the cleanser; the bristles were developed to maximize foam.
Due to the softness of the bristles, this brush isn’t as effective at exfoliating.
Like all of the cleansing brushes, use the one in a circular motion for a thorough cleanse.
11. Foreo Luna Cleansing Brush
User friendly
FOREO Luna Cleansing Brush
FOREO Luna Cleansing Brush
The incredible silicone material is what sets this cleansing brush apart. It’s non-abrasive, gentle, and easy to clean. Plus, it lasts for months after a full charge, so you don’t have to worry about it dying if you travel often. Foreo delivers around 8,000 T-Sonic pulsations per minute through the silicone touch points. The T-sonic technology is designed to penetrate deep into the layers of your skin for a strong cleansing. The Luna comes in four colors and looks great on any top #shelfie.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have combination skin, with a rosy/oily T-zone and dry cheeks. I have been using this twice a day for not even a week, and my skin feels as soft as after a facial. Blemishes are gone and my skin is literally glowing. My pores even look smaller.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Silicone
Skin Types: Available in three versions for combination, normal, and sensitive skin
Tips of the trade:
The product is small and sits upright, so it makes storage easy.
It doesn’t have a timer, so set your own alarm for about one minute.
Skip using clay-based, silicone-based, or grainy cleansers, exfoliators, or scrubs with this tool. The silicone nubs offer enough sloughing on their own.
12. Cleansing by Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush
Great for hard-to-reach areas
Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush
Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush
Now 18% Off
Cons
Stopped working for some users
The first facial brush from beauty giant Clinique delivers. Dermatologists developed the brush to serve all skin types and provide a gentle cleanse. I have to say, my pores were noticeably less visible while using this product. The unique tapered head also lets you target hard-to-reach areas like beside your nose or on your lower chin. Unlike the other brushes that recommend one-minute sessions, this brush has a 30-second timer, so you’ll never over-scrub. The major criticism for this product comes from Amazon users. A number of customers complained that the brush’s use was very short-lived. The product seemed to die or break too easily for some shoppers.
An Amazon reviewer says: “Great daily skincare step. If you have dry or sensitive skin (like I do), it might take about a week for your skin to adapt to this brush (a little redness might appear after procedure). However, after seven to 10 days, I can really see and feel the result. My skin has completely adapted to the sonic cleansing. It feels much more clean, soft, and silky. No need for any scrub or additional peel-off cleaning.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Anti-microbial fiber
Skin Types: Combination, oily, dry
Tips of the trade
Replacement brushes cost $27.
The charge holds for hours, so you can take it on the go.
The tilted head can help reach difficult areas.
13. Proactiv Charcoal Pore Cleansing Brush
Best Against Breakouts
Proactiv Charcoal Facial Cleansing Brush
Proactiv Charcoal Facial Cleansing Brush
Proactiv could sell me anything in middle school, but things have changed since I was giving pubescent acne everything it could handle. I went back to ol’ faithful and tried this brush on a whim—it was surprisingly wonderful. Highlights: The bristles are long and exaggerated, so it feels like a delightful tickle on your face. In addition to oscillating, the brush also vibrates to stimulate my skin cells. My main issue with this was after a few months it began not to work or function properly. I must say, because it was portable, I was throwing it around and not treating it with the respect it deserves. Again, a me problem, but if you want something heavy-duty and durable, this might not be the brush for you.
An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve been a Proactiv customer for 22 years but had never bought this brush. It’s a game changer—my pores and texture of my skin are noticeably better after just a short time using this. A beauty must-have!”
Key specs:
Brush material: Charcoal-infused nylon
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
Replacement brushes cost $10.
Great to include in your nightly routine if you’re trying to conquer acne.
14. Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush
Best Budget Buy
Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush
Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush
Pros
Replacements heads cost only $10 each
Cons
You’ll have to replace the heads every three months
A product that delivers bang for your buck. The Olay brush provides a deep clean and exfoliation that’s perfect for all skin types. Amazon readers compare the brush to the classic Clarisonic and see similar results after continual use. The Olay version is quite small and only comes with two settings: daily deep cleansing or gentle exfoliation. While it’s less expensive, it’s a good entry-level device for folks looking to try a cleansing brush. Instead of sonic vibrations, the brush uses a two-speed rotating system to cleanse the skin.
An Amazon reviewer says: “It functions just fine and has a gentle brush on it—no different from the expensive ones I’ve purchased in the past. Highly recommend this product.”
Key specs:
Brush material: Plastic
Skin Types: All
Tips of the trade:
Replacement brushes cost $10.
Keep in mind you’ll have to invest in brush replacements.
FAQs
Can you use a cleansing brush every day?
“Too much of anything is never a good thing,” Plunkett says. However, you should always use a cleansing brush in moderation, especially depending on your skin type. “I suggest using a cleansing brush as part of your nighttime routine to remove the day’s makeup, oil, and debris. Depending on your brush, make sure to clean and change the head of your device regularly to make sure it stays clear of bacteria, or else it could cause breakouts,” Plunkett explains.
Do dermatologists/skin experts recommend facial cleansing brushes?
“Definitely. But it’s important to find one that works with your skin type,” Plunkett says. For those with sensitive skin, Plunkett suggests using a gentle brush to avoid irritation or any damage to the skin’s barrier.” Exfoliating regularly is an important part of cell turnover and if it makes your skincare routine more fun and relaxing, why not? At Revay Aesthetics, we love the Supracor Face Mitt because it is naturally antifungal, antibacterial, and allergen-free.”
