One more thing to try: some blenders stay in standby until you press and hold the Power button for 2–3 seconds then you must pick a speed and press Start, and the dial has to be on a firm click, not between settings. Also check there isn’t any packing spacer or a loose blade assembly keeping the lid or jar from depressing the safety switch - twist the jar until it sits flush and clicks. A few models have a thermal/reset button on the underside; unplug it for a few minutes, press that if it’s there, and if it’s still dead it’s likely a defective unit.
Your skin is throwing up a little white flag. Treat the brush like an occasional polish rather than your main cleanse. Try every third night only keep the head gliding with almost no pressure & and stick to the oilier T zone. Thirty seconds total is plenty. If you feel drag, add more water but then... if the bristles bend, you are pressing too hard. Finish with a simple moisturizer on damp skin and skip other exfoliants that day. Feather light.