It’s not an entirely surprising concept. Aside from the ingredient benefits, foundation can also provide a barrier against environmental pollutants and blue light, both things that are proven to negatively impact skin. But of course, that’s not to say that you should wear foundation 24/7. Your skin still needs time to breathe, so I always make it a point to remove all my makeup before bed. When it comes to my face-washing process, I wash my face thoroughly with my hands (groundbreaking, I know), but on days where I’ve been wearing foundation for a long period of time, my face didn’t feel 100 percent clean even after double cleansing. We all know old makeup lingering inside your pores is bad, and I would face eczema flare-ups in addition to occasional acne breakouts (truly the worst combination). Just when I had decided to come to terms with that fact, I discovered PMD’s Clean Pro Facial Smart Cleansing Device. I was introduced to the nifty gadget on a whim, and honestly wasn’t expecting too much before trying it myself. I’ve seen—and tried—facial cleansing devices before, and most of them only made my skin drier without doing too much to help with breakouts. But after my first whirl with the device, I was surprised to find that my skin noticed a visible difference. Just one use left my face feeling cleaner without feeling squeaky or overstripped. After a week of using it daily, my breakouts started to diminish significantly and even my dry patches were left smoother thanks to its exfoliating bristles. Here’s how it works: The silicone, battery-operated face washer uses both heat and vibration to maximize the effects of your skincare products. You use the bristled side, which has four different vibration modes for various intensity levels, to cleanse and exfoliate. It works at 7,000 vibrations per minute to break down dirt and oil within the pores. Once you’re done, flip the device over and use the flat side to massage in serums and creams. It’s plated with 24K gold metal, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and the heated pulsation frequency uses heat therapy to help stimulate blood flow and tighten skin. One of my biggest qualms with facial cleansing devices was having to gauge how dirty they were, but you don’t have to worry about that with this one. The silicone side is created with ultra-hygienic silicone to be odor-resistant, anti-bacterial, and hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to be paranoid about mold growing on it (which has actually happened with other cleansing devices) or spending a fortune replacing the brush heads. And since it’s completely waterproof and chargeable, you can use it hassle-free in the shower without worrying about causing damage. If you’re concerned about the vibrating bristles irritating your skin, I can vouch for it—and I have the most sensitive skin in the world. Coming from a girl who can’t even get facials without swelling up, these gentle bristles (which I use daily) are a godsend. Whether you’re looking for a daily deep cleanse, a reduction in pore size, a minimization of blemishes, or your blackheads to disappear, I highly recommend pairing your cleanser with this device. I use the gold-plated version, which rings in at 249 dollars, but if that price tag is too high the brand also has cheaper alternatives that work just as well. You can score the same version that just replaces the gold side with rose quartz ($179; ulta.com), or the original PMD Clean ($99; ulta.com) with only silicone if you just want a good clean. To buy: PMD Clean Pro Gold ($249; amazon.com); Clean Pro RQ ($179; ulta.com); Clean ($99; ulta.com).
