At home facial "tools" – like electronic facial brushes – are gaining in popularity. And while these brushes are a great way to maintain the results of your professional facial at home, they're not a replacement for the real thing. But don't worry! Your skin can benefit from a combination of the right at-home skin care and the best professional solutions. Here are a few tips for anyone wondering how to use a facial brush the right way:

How to use a manual facial brush

A brush is only as good as the knowledge of the one who uses it.

This sounds like an ancient proverb, but stick with us here. One of the greatest differences between the experiences you'll have with an at-home facial brush and a professional facial is how the brush is used.

An esthetician has had extensive training on the physiology of the skin, and knows how varying degrees of pressure can have a great affect on it – some added pressure is beneficial in areas, while pressure in other areas should be avoided. They also know that over-cleansing and over-exfoliating can harm the skin – so don't use an at-home brush more than once a day.That being said, you can absolutely use an exfoliating face brush at home with the right knowledge.

Firstly, opt for a manual face brush instead of an electronic face brush, because electronic face brushes can easily over-exfoliate and irritate your skin.

Secondly, always start with makeup-free skin. That's right. In order to get a deep clean, you need to remove all makeup from the face with a dedicated makeup remover. Without that step, a facial brush would just be spinning concealer, mascara and foundation around and into the pores.

Once your skin is makeup free, apply a high quality cleanser to your face. Wet the facial brush and massage cleanser into skin with small circular motions using gentle pressure then rinse with warm water. Use a manual face brush 1-3 times a week.

Many people waste time and money searching for the best cleansing brush for sensitive skin or a cleansing brush for acne, but you should avoid using a facial brush on sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, or skin that is sunburned or has any open lesions on it, as it can aggravate these conditions.

Best cleanser to use with a facial brush

A brush is only as good as the cleanser you use with it. This is a big one. Some at-home electronic facial brushes come with their own cleanser. Pay attention to this! One cleanser can't work for all skin types. It can't hydrate dry skin while absorbing excess oil and shine for oily skin types, while balancing combination skin.

So ditch the one-size-fits-all skin care and ask yourself: What is my skin type? Once you know, you can choose a cleanser formulated specifically for you with a gentle but effective facial brush.

Think of it this way. You wouldn't get a great espresso machine and then use generic coffee beans with it, would you?

Do you use an at-home facial brush? Tell us about your experience. Have any questions about how to use a facial cleansing brush? Sign up for our email newsletter or comment below!