Philips Visapure Facial Cleansing Brush

I have been thinking about a mechanical facial brush ever since I read the rave reviews online on  such products. Clarisonic and Olay Regenerist seem to be the more popular brands. However, I could not justify to myself to purchase Clarisonic Mia II at a price of £125 and was also skeptical if Olay Regenerist would be the right product for me even at its lower price.  I tried both at the stores but was still hesitant.

Recently, Philips launched the VisaPure Facial Cleansing Brush. It supposedly cleans 10 times better than manual cleansing with vibration and rotational motions.  It certainly looks extremely sleek and stylish with a feminine peach colour. Because it clears the skin of any dirt and impurities, using it allows serum and moisturizer to be better absorbed into the skin. Each Visapure packaging (£99.95) comes with the brush, 2 brush heads (1 normal, 1 sensitive) and 1 travel pouch. Attracted by its aesthetics and out of curiosity, I decided to get one.

Charging the machine was easy.  After the initial 6 hours of charging, I started to use it the following day. The first charge last really long.  It's been 4 weeks since I started to use the brush and I have not had to charge it yet.

There are 2 modes of cleansing (Gentle and Deep). I selected the gentle cleansing mode as I have sensitive skin, especially on the check areas.  I also have large pores and am prone to small acne outbreaks at times.



For the first week, I used the normal brush head. My T-zone area cleared up.  My skin feels smoother and softer.  After cleaning with the brush, I felt that my serum and moisturizer were better absorbed when applied. But my skin also became drier around the cheek areas. 

Thus on the second week, I switched to use the sensitive brush head and reduced the frequency to every other day. The sensitive brush head is softer and much comfortable. The dry patches start to heal.  I noticed that my pores have become smaller, especially those around the cheek areas. The acne outbreak at my chin area has also visibly improved.

As for radiance, I don't see my face getting any brighter.  But my sister has received comments from her colleagues that she looks bright after about two weeks of usage.

The built-in timer of 1 minute (3 sections of 20 seconds) is a helpful feature. It allows me to gauge how much time to use on each area (forehead and nose, right side and left side of face), so that I would avoid over-brushing. The tapered shape of the machine surprisingly makes it easier to grip when compared to other Clarisonic or Olay.

After each use, just simply wash and towel dry the brush head and leave it upright in the holder to air dry.

So is the product worth it? Visapure really does clean much better than manual washing. Just take care not to over-brush the skin. Start by using it once every alternate day if you do have sensitive skin.

How does it compared to ClariSonic? The results appears to be the same. However Visapure looks more stylish and its replacement brush heads are cheaper. You can still continue to use it with your current cleanser. As the size of the brush head of Visapure is smaller, it is easier to clean the corners of the nose. Less hours of charging are required and it lasts for weeks after each charging.

How does it compared to Olay Regenerist? No external batteries are required for Visapure. It has a more comfortable grip and feels natural when held up horizontally. The sensitive brush head feels softer and more comfortable against the skin as compared to Olay brush head.

Any complaints about it? Without the holder, the brush could not stand on its own. The brush head also does not dry easily.   The brush is slightly heavier when compared to other brands. And like other brands, the brush heads need to be changed after 3 to 4 months of usage (depending on your frequency of usage). So you will still need to spend about £24 to £32 annually after the initial cost.

For me, it seems like a worthwhile purchase so far. If you are thinking of getting one, it is available at Boots.com and Amazon.co.uk. If costs is a concern, you can still consider the Olay Regenerist as an initial experiment.

My "Facial" Experiences

For years, I have been troubled by skin problems on my face.  I have tried various methods, from expensive facials, massages, exercises, creams and lotions to equipment. 

In the end, I think what works for me is a combination of various methods.  While my skin has improved a lot over the years, I still grapple with some outbreaks and imperfections such as dry patches, redness, dullness at times.   And I am still on the lookout for ways to make my skin youthful and spotless.

I decided to start this to share my experiences and to learn from others who are willing to share.