The personal care appliance drive system includes a pair of linear actuators capable of operating both in an opposing phase mode or in a parallel (in-phase) mode. The system includes a motion converter assembly which converts the opposing phase action of the two linear actuators into a rotational action of an output drive shaft and converts in-phase action to a translation motion of the output shaft or to drive another function of the appliance, such as a pump. The motion converter, operating simultaneously in an opposing phase mode and in-phase modes, produces a complex motion of the workpiece.