Manicare Sonic Mini Rechargeable Facial Cleansing Brush Reviews

Lucky for you dear reader I tested this product during the time when my pre-period skin was at its most hormonally affected..A blemished mess. So I put it to the test. Sadly, I would've got more of a scrub from my electric toothbrush even on the higher setting. There is a massage head attachment available to purchase separately and I can see this being a more effective use of the product. Using it with my cleanser didn't get the cleanser into my skin any more than usual and then I had something extra to wash. So all the elements of a great product are there just needs to be powered up a few notches.

I haven't ever used anything like this before so I was very curious to give it a go, but also a little apprehensive that it could be a little harsh. I have combination skin leaning more to the dry side.  My usual cleansing routine involves using a separate makeup remover to take off all my thick black eye makeup and then following up with a cream cleanser applied with my hands and then rinsed off.  Very simple.

The packaging was a pretty straightforward cardboard box that was immediately discarded.  No sense using that to store an item that is frequently wet.  The handle is a little pink hemispherical unit with a detachable brush head.  The brush head pops off to reveal the charge port.  The plastic brush guard was nice touch that would be helpful for travel.  I'm not sure I would trust the on and off switch to not activate by itself in my bag, but it probably wouldn't be the end of the world if it did.  Charging was pretty quick via the USB cord.  I opened the package for the first time when I got home from work and it was ready to go well before bed time. 

Operation was simple with two speeds. You can wet your face and apply your cleanser directly to the brush head or just apply cleanser to your face and start brushing. One minute is the maximum recommended time.

My skin can be a bit wimpy but it was less harsh than I expected. It did a great job of cleaning, especially those stray bits of foundation around my nose that I often miss and have to go back to clean again! It is a waterproof unit but they caution against getting the charging port wet. I felt a bit nervous using it in the shower but it has survived its experience. Honestly I don't know if the vibrating function made any difference to the cleaning function at all, or whether the magic is all in the bristles. For this reason I would be hesitant to spend the $60 myself but I was very happy to be selected for trial.

I loved the first week of feeling virtuously clean and scrubbed. My skin stayed a slightly better version of the same which is great. I was worried about irritation, dryness or breakouts from trying something new. I'm taking a break from it for a few days at the moment as I have a terrible cold and my nose is raw from tissues. Once my face heals up though I will happily use it again.

I was excited to be chosen to trail the Sonic Mini. This arrived in a cute package with a pink bow to show case the facial cleansing brush. Charging was quick and instructions easy to follow. Clip on the head and activate by pressing the power button 1-2 times to increase speed. Replacement heads are sold separately if needed. Recommendation was to use 2x daily which I thought was too much. Water resistant, light weight and quiet, the cleaning aspect actually worked well. I applied cleanser to the brush and then directly to wet skin. The head cleaned easily with soap after use. Fun to use, this would make a great gift however I personally wouldn’t buy it as at $59.99 a little expensive.

Other than being THE CUTEST gadget ever, it actually works. I have combination skin and during the winter months my forehead manages to be oily AND dry at the same time...oh the joys...so I was definitely looking forward to see what it could do for me. You don't have to worry about stripping your skin, because it's so gentle. I used it on the low setting in the morning and the strong setting in the evening. A definite selling point to me was the fact that it's WATERPROOF! So of course I had to use it in the shower. It fits comfortably in your hand and the rubber coating means you still have a grip on it even when it gets wet. Genius! Super easy to charge (one charge lasts for days!) so it's perfect for if you are off on holiday and want it to come with you. Really great if you want to pamper yourself (everyday!)

I received this product as part of a trial team review.

Manicare Sonic Mini is a facial cleansing brush that uses “sonic vibrations” to purify the skin. The device is a half sphere shape that is baby pink in colour and has a soft silicone casing. It comes with a sensitive bristle brush head and a designated USB charging cable. There are also additional heads that can be purchased separately, including a massaging head for use with creams etc.

The instructions state to charge before first use, which I did using the included cable. It is a USB cable which you can plug into a computer/laptop or a wall charger. The end that plugs into the device is a special pin shaped jack so don’t lose the cable! The device took about 1.5-2 hours to fully charge as indicated by the red LED on the power button.

After clicking on the brush head the device is ready to use. It has two power settings - gentle and normal, and you can cycle through them by pressing the power button. Please note the brush head does not spin, it just vibrates.

I started on the gentle setting and used it with a cream cleanser. I found it easy to use, the device fit nicely in my hand and the brush was easy to manoeuvre over my face. The vibration felt relaxing and the bristles did not feel irritating on my slightly sensitive skin. The device has a 5 minute auto shutoff and does not have a zone timer like some other sonic face brushes.

After use my skin felt soft and clean. I felt like the brush helped my cleanser go further. The brush head was easy to rinse off and the included brush cap has plenty of ventilation holes to allow the brush to dry.

The instructions say to use this device morning and night, but I find this might be too much for most skin types. I have been using it most evenings or when I feel my skin needs a deeper clean, e.g. after wearing makeup. I have also used it in the shower which was just as easy as using it over the sink, but it has slipped out of my hand once due to the shape and smoothness.

Overall I feel that this device is nice to have but definitely not necessary. It does little more than a manual face brush in terms of cleansing, but I think the massaging head will be beneficial and soothing - it’s a shame you have to purchase it separately.

This was a real little treat. I loaded it up with my regular cleanser and buzzed away. It was invigorating and quite soothing. My skin felt clean and almost fizzing. Am not sure it cleaned any better than usual but the massage effect was brilliant. It was easy to clean and fast to recharge.

I must say I just thought this was just another one of those things that didn't really work and cost a bit too much. But I went into the trial with an open mind. And my gosh I am sold! It really did clean my skin well and made it noticeable smoother.

The design: super cute baby pink colour. It is light and a half sphere shape meaning it is easy to hold in one hand and use. The power switch is on the top and works by pressing on and it lights up pink. The brush is nice and soft so not harsh on your face. The brush head isn't fixed so it moves with the curves on your face. So design gets a big tick!

Use: You have the choice to put your cleanser onto the brush directly or on your face first. Personally I liked putting it on my face first as I could get an even coverage. But didn't affect results either way just personal preference. You use it in circle motions for 1min twice a day. By pressing the power button once for the low setting and press again for a higher setting. After every use you have to remove the head and clean with water and soap then air dry.

Pros: Really did make skin feel super clean and smooth. This meant my skin felt great and my foundation also sat on my skin a lot better. It is an easy device to use and isn't time consuming so can easily be added to routine. It holds it's charge extremely well (still haven't had to charge!)

Cons: it suggests using for 1min twice a day. Which is not problem however would be nice if the device turned off or beeped or something at the minute mark so you know rather than guessing. But hey that's a minor thing. If cleaning makeup off your face with cleanser and the device it means the brush gets very dirty quick and makes it harder to clean after. I found using my solid makeup cleaner worked well. Because the brush is so soft I do question the longevity of it. I have only used mine for nearly 2weeks and it's already starting to deform.

Overall it works great, does what it says it should and I will definitely continue using the device. Would I recommend? Yes I would however it wouldn't be a 'must have' item. It's more a nice to have.