As PV’s resident acid addict, I honestly never thought I’d get into physical exfoliation again. But after getting recurrent forehead pimples in the past few months, I finally realized that my facial wash wasn’t enough to fully remove my sunscreen. I started incorporating an oil remover into my daily routine even on no-makeup days in an effort to remove the sunscreen better. Though I had been washing my face correctly, I was a little bit shocked to learn that there were impurities that even my most trusted cleansing products couldn’t remove.

Enter the Foreo Luna 3. This is the latest cleansing device to be launched by the Swedish brand - so new in fact that it only became available in the official Lazada store a couple of days ago! I couldn’t resist the chance to be one of the first to test this out, especially given that my skin has been looking dull and getting more pimples due to stress. I’ve never tried using any facial gadgets before, and have often wondered why Crystal constantly raves about them, so I prepared to do this review with a healthy amount of skepticism.

Foreo’s Luna line is composed of their flagship cleansing brushes, and this is already the third iteration of the brand’s bestselling design. I’ve never seen the Luna 1 or Luna 2, but the Luna 3 not only looks different, it’s packed with a lot of new features. Here’s how the brand differentiates it from the earlier devices:

30% longer touchpoints; for those harder to reach places and for an even deeper cleansing of the pores.
30% bigger brush head; larger cleansing surface offers a more effective cleanse
25% softer touchpoints; glides effortlessly across the skin, with no pulling or stretching to preserve the skin’s natural elasticity
16 pulsation intensities; choose what suits you best with up to 8000 pulsations per minute
APP connected; offers personalized settings and variety of firming massage routines
Improved charging power; up to 650 uses per charge with a 100% waterproof closure
Universal power button; conveniently located on the back of the device for easy use.

That there is an app for everything is not a myth. As I prepared to use the Luna 3, the first thing that really caught my eye was a sticker on the box that described it as “App Connected”. I easily found the Foreo app on the Google Play Store (also available on the App Store) and installed it on my phone. The app is used to control the pulsation settings of the device, but the Tita side of me also found it useful for learning how to use the new gadget!

After pairing the Luna 3 to my phone’s bluetooth and setting the pulsations for level 8 (the intensity recommended for first time users), I lathered up my favorite In Her Element Low pH Rose Gel Cleanser and pressed the button. I gently passed the Luna 3 all over my face, moving it in circular strokes. It feels really good! Admittedly, it’s a little weird at first because the pulsations are surprisingly strong - I could feel it in my bones, and it was a nice treat at the end of a long day. If it didn’t have a built-in timer, I would probably be using it for much longer than recommended! Please don’t do this as it puts you at risk for overexfoliation. You can also easily tone down or pump up the T-sonic Pulsations using the control functions of the app, which I appreciated because it allowed for a minimalist design that’s also easy to program.

After rinsing, I was surprised at how smooth my skin suddenly felt and how much brighter my complexion looked. It even got rid of the flakiness that was starting to build up in some areas. I followed it up with the Foreo Serum Serum Serum (P3,629.99) though you can use any other easy-to-spread skincare product, as long as it’s silicone-free. Silicone-based liquid products can ruin the finish of silicone-made materials, so Foreo cautions against using those products. Clay-based and grainy cleansers should not be used with the Luna 3 as well.

I switched the app to the massage treatments, which target four areas: eyes, neck, mouth, and cheeks/jaw. After making my selection, the app sets the device pulsations and plays a video demonstrating the massage - all I have to do is follow along! This is definitely my favorite feature of the Foreo Luna 3 as I’d been keen on doing face massages as part of my routine. The massages are designed to help skincare absorb better and firm up these 4 areas, which I feel I see more signs of aging on my middle-aged skin. Do they actually work? Are there long-term results? I don’t know since I haven’t been using it for long, but frankly I’m happy enough that it feels like a nice relaxing treatment that I can do with minimum effort.

Becoming a Foreo convert really comes as a surprise to me since I never felt the need to include gadgets in my skincare routine before, but here we are! Now, do you need a Foreo Luna 3? Of course not. Is it worth the P11,800 price tag? I believe so. Crystal has already compared cheapo devices with her Foreo Luna Go, and though they seem to function the same way, the results are just not the same. I’m of the mind that just as in skincare, electronics are one of those things that are worth shelling out more cash for, because I want them to last a long time and not accidentally electrocute me or spontaneously combust. With the Foreo Luna 3, I can rest assured that the 100% waterproof device won’t suddenly go haywire.

The Foreo Luna 3 won’t be replacing my acids but it has certainly found a place in my routine. If you’re interested in trying it out yourself, you can get 10% off on your first Foreo purchase plus free shipping when you order it from Lazada. The Luna 3 will be available on Sephora PH soon as well. There are three Luna 3 variants available: lavender for sensitive skin, pink for normal skin, and sky blue for combination skin. The bristles determine these variations but I seem to be able to use the sky blue one on my dry skin with no issues.

Have you tried any beauty devices before? Would you consider using tools to better clean your face?

Product photography by Nicole Quindara