Baffled by how to use a Clarisonic? You're not alone. Many a woman's relationship with her Clarisonic is bit like a Taylor Swift album: full of ups and downs, love and hate, certainty and doubt. Okay, maybe it's not quite that dramatic, but there are certainly some lingering questions about the proper way to use a Clarisonic, as well as fear about the dreaded "Clarisonic breakout" and whether it's safe for sensitive skin.

It's time to put an end to the confusion once and for all. We went straight to the source -- one of the inventors of the Clarisonic, Dr. Robb Akridge -- to fill in the blanks. So before you say you're never, ever, ever getting back together with your cleansing brush, read our guide on how to properly use a Clarisonic, and prepare to reap the skin benefits.

Image via bunnings.com

The back-and-forth movement of the Clarisonic brush head loosens dirt and oil, and forces water off the bristles into your pores to get them extra clean, says Akridge. "This patented approach is very gentle and only removes the skin cells that need to come off that day -- not deeper layers like with exfoliation."

The "Clarisonic breakout" -- aka your skin purging itself of all the gunk in its pores -- happens on rare occasions in the first few uses of the device. Akridge likens these to the acne flare-ups you'd get after a facial. To minimize your chances of experiencing a breakout, Akridge advises to keep using it consistently and make sure both the brush and your face are soaking wet (it's completely waterproof, so take it in the shower with you), and that you're using plenty of cleanser. (More on that later.)

Repeat after me: Use your Clarisonic gently) -- meaning, stop manhandling it like it's a piece of pizza and you've just finished a juice cleanse. It does not need to get all up in your face. It needs to gently glide along your skin; this ensures that it gives you a deep cleanse (the bristles oscillate at 300 movements per second, after all) without being overly abrasive. When you use it correctly, dermatologists have proven that it's gentle enough to be used twice a day, even on those with sensitive skin or rosacea.

Gel and cream cleansers work best with your Clarisonic. Steer clear of anything with physical exfoliants -- Akridge says that will be entirely too harsh on your skin.