The Benefits of Mechanical VS. Manual Skincare Treatments

4 minutes read

Ever wondered whether mechanical beauty treatments could do the job better than you can? From cleansing brushes and facial ‘workout’ tools to LED face masks and Gua Sha, there are endless beauty gadgets on the scene now. But are they worth the hype? And what can they do that we can’t do ourselves? Here’s everything you need to know about manual and mechanical treatments. 

What is the difference between manual and mechanical treatments? 

So, when we say mechanical and manual skincare treatments, what do we mean? In simple terms, a manual treatment is a skincare product we apply ourselves – such as a cleanser, exfoliator, toner or moisturiser. The term ‘mechanical treatment’, however, refers to the gadgets and tools that can help us improve our skin’s health – such as cleansing brushes, electric facial toning devices, light therapy masks and more.  

What are the benefits of manual skincare treatments? 

A manual skincare treatment is one that you need to physically apply with your hands and work into your skin (whether that be for exfoliation or facial massage). “When it comes to skincare, there’s nothing you can’t achieve with your hands,” says Charlotte McHale, Training Manager at Clarins. “I would mostly recommend using manual treatments because when you are using your hands, it’s easier to gauge the pressure that you are applying to your skin and, therefore, less likely to cause irritation or damage to it,” she says.  

Charlotte also advises, “Pressure is the most important thing to focus on when applying your skincare, particularly around delicate areas such as the eyes. It’s also easier to focus on specific areas when applying products with your hands, as brush heads can often be too large when you want to work on a targeted area.” 

What are the benefits of a mechanical treatment? 

If you’re unsure how to apply manual products or prefer relying on a ready-made skincare tool to do the job, a mechanical treatment might be the best way forward. “Mechanical treatments are great for people with reduced mobility or conditions that cause shakiness,” Charlotte says. “It makes it easier for anyone to master professional techniques at home and have the confidence that it is being done correctly,” she continues. However, Charlotte reminds us that although the devices might be built to act as “professional treatments”, we still need to be cautious of how often we are using skincare tools or gadgets such as electric exfoliators and cleansing brushes and mindful of the pressure we are applying to our skin with them. “The amount of tugging and pressure you are applying to your skin can easily go unnoticed if you are using anything other than your hands to apply your skincare products,” she says. 

Best Manual Skincare Treatments 

Clarins Fresh Scrub

A creamy gel exfoliator that has fine (eco-friendly) microbeads that will gently and manually polish away dead skin cells. 

Clarins Gentle Peeling Smooth Away Cream 

Watch your dead skin quite literally peel away with this clever smoothing cream. Slather it on, leave it to sit for a minute and then massage it into the skin with your fingers. 

Best Mechanical Skincare Treatments 

Precious L'Outil 3-in-1 Facial Massage Tool

Use this 3-in-1 Gua-Sha massage tool to promote lymphatic drainage and boost collagen. Apply your favourite moisturising products and use all three sides of the skincare tool to massage your skin. 

Next Read: Unpredictable Epidermis? Try A Moisturiser For Combination Skin

Shop related products