An actuator assembly for a personal care appliance, which includes a housing (50; 92), comprising: a yoke assembly (52; 94) which includes at least two coils (76, 78; 96, 98) mounted thereon; an armature assembly (54; 100), comprising a top portion which extends above and over the top of the yoke assembly (52; 94), and two depending side portions (56, 57) which extend downwardly past the two coils (76, 78; 96, 98) of the yoke assembly (52; 94), the depending portions (56, 57) having first and second spaced magnet assemblies (58, 60, 62, 64) secured thereto, wherein energizing the coils (76, 78; 96, 98) causes a corresponding movement of the armature assembly (54; 100); and a source of power for application to the coils (76, 78; 96, 98); characterized in that the first and second spaced magnet assemblies (58,60,62,64) secured to the depending portions (56, 57) of the armature assembly (54; 100) are aligned with the corresponding electrical coils (76, 78; 96, 98) when the actuator assembly is in a rest position; in that the actuator assembly furthermore comprises at least one spring assembly (66, 68, 70, 72; 110, 112) which tends to orient the armature assembly (54; 100) to said rest position; and a programmable control system for applying power to the coils (76, 78; 96, 98) in a selected manner to accomplish movement of the actuator assembly; and in that the yoke assembly (52; 94) is E-shaped, wherein current applied through both coils (76, 78; 96, 98) in opposing directions results in axial movement of the armature assembly (54; 100) toward and away from the E-shaped yoke (52; 94) upon successive reversals of the currents, and wherein current applied through one or both coils (76, 78; 96, 98) in the same direction results in movement in the "X" dimension of the X-Y plane of movement as the current reverses. a yoke assembly (52; 94) which includes at least two coils (76, 78; 96, 98) mounted thereon; an armature assembly (54; 100), comprising a top portion which extends above and over the top of the yoke assembly (52; 94), and two depending side portions (56, 57) which extend downwardly past the two coils (76, 78; 96, 98) of the yoke assembly (52; 94), the depending portions (56, 57) having first and second spaced magnet assemblies (58, 60, 62, 64) secured thereto, wherein energizing the coils (76, 78; 96, 98) causes a corresponding movement of the armature assembly (54; 100); and a source of power for application to the coils (76, 78; 96, 98); characterized in that the first and second spaced magnet assemblies (58,60,62,64) secured to the depending portions (56, 57) of the armature assembly (54; 100) are aligned with the corresponding electrical coils (76, 78; 96, 98) when the actuator assembly is in a rest position; in that the actuator assembly furthermore comprises at least one spring assembly (66, 68, 70, 72; 110, 112) which tends to orient the armature assembly (54; 100) to said rest position; and a programmable control system for applying power to the coils (76, 78; 96, 98) in a selected manner to accomplish movement of the actuator assembly; and in that the yoke assembly (52; 94) is E-shaped, wherein current applied through both coils (76, 78; 96, 98) in opposing directions results in axial movement of the armature assembly (54; 100) toward and away from the E-shaped yoke (52; 94) upon successive reversals of the currents, and wherein current applied through one or both coils (76, 78; 96, 98) in the same direction results in movement in the "X" dimension of the X-Y plane of movement as the current reverses.