I never got into the whole sonic facial cleansers craze. Sure, those devices deep cleanse skin really well, but they are so cumbersome!
And high-maintenance, too. You have to clean those nylon brush heads regularly if you don’t want them to become a playground for germs and bacteria or get so dirty they’re gonna clog your pores and give you some awful breakouts.
Seriously, who can be bothered? I’m lazy. But also demanding. I want a few low-maintenance products that do wonders for my skin. Don’t we all?
That’s why the Foreo Luna Play is the only sonic facial cleansing device I’ve managed to stick to for more than a couple of weeks (and I don’t plan to quit it anytime soon).
What’s Foreo Luna Play?
Foreo Luna Play is a sonic cleanser, i.e. a cleanser and exfoliant rolled into one. The size of a cotton pad, it features a 2-zone brush for a deeper cleanse.
Its bristles are made of silicones. They’re fast drying and non-porous, which makes them a lot more hygienic than nylon brush heads – those pesky germs have nowhere to stick to here!
The tiny device has finer touch-points to cleanse skin on larger areas like the cheeks and forehead and thicker nodules on its point for more precise cleansing on smaller and harder-to-reach areas like the t-zone.
It also relies upon T-Sonic pulsation technology, with the brush pulsating at a rate of 8,000 pulsations per minute.
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Texture
The silicone brushes are super soft, so they won’t irritate skin. Basically, the material’s perfect for all skin types, from sensitive to acne-prone and everything in-between.
How To Use It
- Apply your regular cleanser to your skin. Wet Luna Play and turn on the device.
- Massage Luna Play in circular motions all over your face for a minute.
- Rinse off your face.
WARNING!
Don’t use Foreo Luna Play every day. This is an EXFOLIANT, not just a cleanser. You’re not supposed to exfoliate every day. Also, don’t use any scrubs or other exfoliants together with it. It’s Foreo OR glycolic acid, ladies!
Performance & Personal Opinion
Despite its teeny tiny size, the Foreo Luna Play is a powerful cleansing tool that effectively removes dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin.
It also gets rid of dead skin cells, which gives the skin a radiant glow and helps the skincare products we use next to better penetrate it, so they can do their job faster and more effectively.
Every time I use it, the Foreo Luna Play leaves my skin perfectly clean, incredibly soft, and positively glowing. I absolutely love how it makes my skin look and feel, yet I don’t use it every day and I highly recommend you don’t either.
You see, even though these sonic cleansing devices are marketed as, well.. cleansers, they really aren’t. Or better, they are cleansers and exfoliants rolled into one. It’s their exfoliating properties that supercharge your cleansing routine and give you such awesome results.
Exfoliation will do that for you. It makes skin brighter. Softer. Smoother. It reduces the appearance of fine lines. It even helps prevent breakouts. Exfoliation is one of the best things you can do for your skin. In moderation.
Those dead cells may dull and roughen your complexion, but they also have a very important job to do. They protect the newer and raw skin cells underneath that aren’t ready to come to the surface just yet.
If you remove the most superficial layers of dead cells, the one most battered by the elements, your skin is gonna look amazing. If you remove too many layers, it’s gonna get all red and hurt like crazy.
I use it only 3 or 4 times a week as I find that works quite well for my combo skin. By the way, I usually don’t use any other exfoliants – not even my glycolic acid – on those days when I use the Foreo Luna Play. Again, they key with exfoliaton is moderation.
FYI, the Foreo Luna Play is not rechargable. The battery will last you for around 100 uses and then you’ll have to throw it away and either buy a new one or invest in the full-size version.
Plus, it’s super travel-friendly. It’s so small it fits snugly in any bag and purse and you don’t even need to bring along a charger. Just pack it and go on your merry way. It’ll keep you looking fab throughout your holiday.
Related: 5 Skincare Treatments That Can Ruin Skin IF Abused
Who Is This For?
Everyone can use it, but it’s best suitable for combination and normal skin.
Who Is This For?
I don’t recommend it to anyone with oily and/or acne-prone skin (including blackheads). This exfoliates only the surface of your skin. It can’t get inside your pores to remove everything that’s clogging them up and giving you acne.
Related: How To Get Rid Of Blackheads (What Really Works)
Packaging
A tiny, ball-like device the size of a cotton pad. It’s travel-friendly, hygienic, and comes in several colours.
Does Foreo Luna Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| It uses a compact design and 2-zone brush to gently and thoroughly offer your skin a sonic cleanse to leave you glowing and gorgeous, with just 1 minute twice a day! | True. |
| T-Sonic™ pulsations are diffused through soft silicone touchpoints to gently unclog your pores to remove up to 99.5% of dirt and oil, plus dead skin cells and makeup residue – leaving your skin soft, smooth, and absolutely glowing. | It can’t unclog your pores. But everything else is true. |
| Size of a cotton pad for the ultimate on-the-go cleansing. Easily cleanses hard-to-reach areas. Non-rechargeable with up to 100 uses. |
True. |
Price & Availability
£29.00 at Look Fantastic
Do You Need It?
No, no one needs sonic cleaners. Honestly, a regular cleanser + an exfoliating acid do a better job for two reasons:
- You can use regular cleansers safely every day. Sonic cleansers are exfoliants marketed as cleansers and they can damage skin if used too often (which most people do).
- Exfoliating acids go the extra mile. While sonic cleaners only remove dead skin cells, exfoliating acids can also hydrate skin and unclog pores.
Having said that, if you’re itching to try sonic cleaners, Foreo Luna is your best bet. At £29.00, it’s very affordable, so you can try it without breaking the bank.
Plus, it’s travel-friendly. I usually use my Foreo Luna when I travel and don’t want to bring too many products with me.
Dupes & Alternatives
Awww! I wish it were rechargeable! But then I could see why- I mean, it’s an electrical device, so humidity and water getting into a device that would be plugged in again is maybe not the best. But that silicone thing might be a good idea! I had a really expensive exfoliator set, but it just made my skin break out terribly. x.x My skin is way too sensitive, and I could tell the brushes were making my skin worse, not better. Maybe a silicone one will be gentler?
Bebetaian, I was gutted it isn’t rechargeable! I believe the full size is. This one is more for travelling and on-the-go so it saves you the need to bring batteries and charger on holiday. Sorry to hear those brushes ruined your skin. A silicone brush should be gentler indeed.
I am a big fan of all the FOREO devices.
Marina, they are amazing, aren’t they?