Do you really need a cleansing device? I try out the FOREO Luna…

I’ll be honest I was in two minds about writing this post, but after being sent a FOREO Luna at the end of the summer and having now used it solidly for three months, I feel ready to share my thoughts. (I’m sure I’m a PR’s dream, taking this bloody long to write review posts, but sometimes it takes a while to decide if you truly like something, you know?!)

My hesitation stemmed from the simple fact that I’ve always placed myself firmly in the “YOU ONLY NEED A FLANNEL” camp when it comes to cleansing. I’ve sat back and watched seemingly every blogger/vlogger ever join the Clarisonic bandwagon but I’ve held firm…simply because I’ve *never* understood the appeal of brushing your face.

Yes, I’m sure the bristles are soft, but it just looks harsh to me. As anyone who exfoliates with acids will probably tell you, you simply don’t need to physically scrub your face with sugary, kernely concoctions…let alone with brushes! If you’re washing your face with flannels and muslins you’ll be doing a decent bit of manual exfoliation anyway, you don’t need to throw a brush into the mix.

Then of course there’s the cost of these beauty gadgets. You can buy a flannel for 50p, but these clever gizmos which we apparently ALL REALLY NEED rarely cost under £100 and that’s before you factor in the regular replacement of brush-heads and so on. It’s always left me slightly baffled.

BUT! And here comes the big but.

I was extremely intrigued by FOREO’s Luna. Made of soft silicone and powered by sonic pulsations, the Luna seemed to be that little bit different to all the other gadgets I’d read about. Not to mention about 100 times more hygienic. It claimed to “cleanse the skin deeply and gently without the abrasive rotary scouring of conventional sonic devices” and this again made me think that yes, maybe this is different to your usual cleansing brush you see people go wild for. FOREO themselves were addressing the fact that brushing can be overly harsh.

So when I was offered one to try out I duly accepted, assuming the worst case scenario would be that it didn’t actually make any difference. But, three months of daily use later, I do think it makes a difference and I actually really like it. It’s become a part of my cleansing routine and I can’t see myself shoving it in the bathroom cupboard and forgetting about it any time soon.

Now one thing I will say is that the Luna hasn’t replaced flannels for me, it’s not a one or the other thing. When I take my make-up off at night I still use a flannel for that first cleanse to get all the gunk off. I then use the Luna for my second cleanse. And the result? My skin does feel noticeably softer. Ludicrously soft, actually.

I’ve read some people say that the reason these beauty devices “work” for people (Luna or otherwise) is simply that they have timers, so people actually wash their face for the correct amount of time. I remember Sali Hughes writing in one review that it’s hard to tell if the “success” people have with these products is less about the gadget and more because for the first time in their lives they’re investing a solid two minutes into cleansing rather than having a quick once-over with a face wipe.

But I definitely feel as though my skin is softer and I know one thing for sure: it’s an absolute joy to use. Like a lot of stressed up rage-heads who spend far too much time scrunched up at a desk, I carry a *lot* of tension through my facial muscles. I still have jaw issues (though no way near as bad, just to be clear!) and the massage setting of the Luna (you flip it over to a bristle free side, basically) is extremely luxurious. I LOVE using this massage function to really work in oils and treatments before bedtime. I don’t use the massage setting everyday, but I do try to make time for it when I need a little boost. It’s extremely relaxing.

The massage side = heaven.

As a side note, during this three month period I’ve been testing it I haven’t had to re-charge it once. THAT IS MENTAL. And FOREO should be in talks with Apple about re-designing their iPhone batteries for them.

Oh and you don’t need to replace a head every three months. Cost-wise it’s one initial outlay and that’s that. 

I still think gadgets like this are expensive though (the Luna is £145) and I’d hate for anyone to think they really NEED one to have a decent skincare routine. Because you don’t. But if you do want to add a device into your routine then I would definitely look into the Luna. There is so much hype around the Clarisonic (let’s face it their blogger outreach seems to be pretty on point!) but – to me at least – the Luna seems a much better investment as it’s gentler on the skin, doesn’t require replacement heads, is more hygienic, is more portable AND has the added bonus of massagey brilliance. Yeah and it’s pretty cute too, not gonna lie.

I’ve been using the one for normal skin but there are a few variations for different skin types. Lots of people sell them but (at time of writing) LookFantastic has the full range and you can get 15% off and a free gift with purchase here.

I’d love to hear from others who have tried it, but the customer reviews on the various websites who sell it seem to be unanimously positive.

It’s definitely staying as part of my skincare routine but fear not, I still rate a 50p flannel above anything else 🙂

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