Four sonic cleansing brushes that won't break the bank

When I first heard about the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, I remember gagging at the hefty price tag. In what world is it justified to spend eight thousand freaking bucks on a gadget to wash your face?! Well, the fact that they’ve been around for over a decade with glowing review after review has to mean that they’re doing something right.

Let’s get one thing straight though: a sonic cleansing brush is not a “need” but it does take your skin care up to the next level. Unlike your fingers, the bristles give your skin a more thorough cleanse and gently buff away at the old skin cells that dull your complexion. Truth be told, I do lust after the Clarisonic. But until I’m able to spend that money on a non-essential without batting an eyelash, I’m happy to look around for the next best, more affordable option. Here's what I've got my eye on!

Miniso Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush (P750 at Miniso)

The cheapest on this list is the facial cleansing brush from bargain wonderland Miniso. Our awesome photographer Sam has been using her Miniso brush for twice a week over the course of two months, and is pleased with her first, er, brush with a cleansing brush. In her experience, this is a great affordable alternative because it's cheap, portable (it’s battery operated), and comes with three brush heads that are easy to clean. She shares that it effectively cleanses her skin with the rotating motion but doesn’t feel too abrasive to hurt or stress out her skin. If you’re careful not to over exfoliate, this brush is a nice, affordable upgrade from your hands.

Vicina Vibration Pore Brush (P1,500 at About Face PH and Suesh)

This brush has a unique design because of the dual brush head. The brushes are meant to slide nicely over the curves of your face, so that every inch is evenly covered. It has super fine bristles that are only half a millimeter thick, and is even gentle enough to be used over your eyes! It actually kind of feels like an Artis brush dupe, except that it’s meant for removing makeup rather than applying it.

The design of the brush makes it an ideal choice if you prefer using a foaming facial wash. The ultra fine, densely packed brush head foams the product like a trooper, and makes a tiny amount of cleanser go a long way. Because the bristles are incredibly slim, this vibrating brush can effectively de-gunk your pores without aggravating and enlarging them.     

Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing Brush (P2,190 from Mary Kay dealers)

The Mary Kay Skinvigorate Cleansing System comes with two brush heads and an AA battery. Although it may not look like it, the bristles of the brush are soft and far from being abrasive once they start rotating. The brush bristles are made of thin nylon filaments with rounded ends, so they can clean the skin effectively without causing damage.

Unlike the other brushes, this has two speed settings (slow and regular) so you can adjust the speed according to preference.

Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush (P5,600 at Clinique)

Okay, so this is just slightly cheaper than the Clarisonic but it’s on my watchlist because Liz raves about this product! She says this is the best way to regularly yet gently exfoliate, and she hasn’t need to get facials since getting her hands on this. The brush head is shaped like an egg and tapers ever so slightly on the tip so it’s easier to reach certain crevices on your face.

This is the only one that’s rechargeable among the four options here, so you do get to save on batteries! The charging dock also doubles as its storage dock when not in use, and Clinique offers different types of brush heads so you can address skin issues better.

Do you have a facial cleansing brush system? How do you feel about adding this to your routine? Which of these options would you consider getting?

Photography by Samantha Gonzales