PMD Beauty Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device from the BoxyLuxe March 2020 Box

The Product: PMD Beauty Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device 

Retail Price: $99

The Box: BoxyLuxe March 2020 Box. Read my review of the box!

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First Try:

I needed a replacement for my Foreo Luna Play, so I was excited to receive this cleansing brush! 

Unlike the newer Foreo products which can be recharged via outlet, this PMD brush uses one AA battery. I didn’t mind that at all, as I tend to forget to charge devices. This brush came with a battery, which was a thoughtful inclusion. It also came with a stand.

What it didn’t come with was a set of instructions. I was surprised that a booklet or leaflet wasn’t included in the box. If this was my first-ever cleansing brush, I would have been even more confused about how to use this properly.

There are four modes of vibrations. The first two were continuous, and the others were pulsating. I had to go to the website to figure out when to use which mode.

Apparently, Modes 1 and 2 are “cleansing” while 3 and 4 are “anti-aging”. To wash your face, you would use either 1 or 2 with a cleanser or balm. And when you applied your serum or moisturizer, you could use the back of the brush on modes 3 or 4.

I have sensitive skin, so I assumed (because the website wasn’t very clear) that I should use Mode 1, the “gentle vibration”. However, I found this mode to be much rougher than my Foreo brush!

For the Foreo, I hold the brush itself as I glide it over my skin. For the PMD, the vibrating head is attached to a handle which has a bit of a give. When the brush is pressed on the surface of my face, it feels like it’s bouncing off my skin.

With that said, I do like that it has a handle. It makes it so much easier to hold than the Foreo. 

I prefer to use this brush in Mode 2. Technically, this vibration is more intense, but I feel the “bouncing” less, and it glides easier along my skin. I’m sure there’s a physics explanation on why that happens, but that knowledge is beyond what I remember from physics classes, so I’ll just leave it as, “I like the way it feels.”

I also used the back to apply serum. It moved the product over my skin while giving me a facial massage. Nice!

One Month Later:

As a cleansing device, this works! Right after use, my face feels clean. I think it’s helped the surface of my skin stay smooth and even, and it’s kept my skin from looking dull despite the cool weather. 

I still use the brush on Mode 2, and it’s been working for me. I haven’t been using the “anti-aging” modes nor the back of the brush. I found it a bit tedious to dry off the brush after cleansing, then use it with a serum, and then wash the serum off. It just added too many steps to my already crowded skincare routine. 

Would I buy this on my own?

This is tough. I do think that this facial brush works. If it came down to the choices between using this PMD brush vs not using any facial brushes at all, I would definitely choose this brush. It has kept my complexion smooth and even. I think that if you’re new to cleansing devices, this is a great introductory brush.

With that said, there’s room for improvement. The vibrations could be smoother, and there could be more intensities and patterns built in. Perhaps my biggest issue with this product is that they named it a “smart” device. I think of smart devices as something that I can customize or comes with an app or has a program that can learn from my preferences. This has none of those.

To me, the Foreo Luna line is better – it’s got softer silicone bristles, 4x more choices in vibrations, and it even has an app! It’s a much “smarter” device than the PMD…but it’s also twice as expensive!

If you’re looking for more bells and whistles to your cleansing device, I would look elsewhere. But if you just want a facial brush that works, then the PMD Clean Smart is for you.