Battery operated facial cleansing brushes (that’s a mouthful) are nothing new. I’d wanted to try the Clarisonic for years, but when I first found out about it a while as a college student, it wasn’t in my budget; groceries were a greater necessity then I itemized my budget.
I purchased the Clarisonic Mia almost exactly a year ago and it has been a game changer for my skin. It has definitely been worth the investment. Before the Clarisonic, I was using a manual face brush from Sephora. I stopped using it for a few weeks and my skin became more congested and prone to break outs. When I began using it again, I realized it was aiding in the clarity of my skin. So I thought to myself, “Hmm, if this little $10 brush is making a difference, what is the Clarisonic going to do?”
Let me go on and say, I have oily skin that can be prone to the occasional breakout. My skin is not sensitive, and in fact, if I don’t get a little…aggressive with it, it misbehaves. I can hear some people berating me right now, that I should be “gentle” with my skin. You have your skin and I have mine. Let me handle the crap out of it and use three different acids at night, okay!? It’s clear ain’t it!? I digress…
That being said, I knew my skin would greatly benefit from an electric facial brush. When I first began using it, I broke out a little for approximately 2 weeks. These were not massive breakouts, but small bumps that came to the surface and went away very quickly. After that initial period, my skin cleared up and became brighter and smoother. When I do break out, the breakouts are less severe (so long cystic acne!). The Clarisonic also helps to remove dead skin cells more effectively, reducing the risk of these said, naughty dead skin cells clogging pores. I would also like to note that after the initial two-week period where my skin was getting used to the Clarisonic, I started to receive more compliments on the clarity, smoothness and "glow" of my skin. And who doesn't like compliments?
The Clarisonic also cleans the skin more effectively than the manual brush I was using, my hands or a washcloth (a muslin as your Brits call it! So sophisticated). Due to the Clarisonic helping my cleanser to do a more effective job, any products that are applied afterwards can work more efficiently. Think about it: If your pores are being rid of dirt, oil, debris, more effectively, there is less to clog the pores and prevent anything from being readily absorbed, such as your toners, serums, or moisturizers. Clean skin is happy skin.
I only use the Clarisonic at night. The Clarisonic Mia only has one speed. There are other models of the Clarisonic with multiple speeds, granted they are pricier. I don’t need all that. One and done, okay!? The brush vibrates and the bristles at the center pivot back and forth. Every time it is turned on, it goes for a 1-minute cycle and then automatically cuts off; one minute being the minimum amount of time one should be washing the face. Now, again, because my skin is quite oily, I have to show it who’s the boss. I do two cycles at night. When using this device, there is no need to press the brush aggressively to the face. Simply let the brush head glide over the skin, moving it in circular motions gently. The brush does all the work. Applying pressure could actually damage the skin, resulting in broken capillaries. No bueno. This device can also be used in the shower without the risk of being electrocuted, zapped, maimed, burned, scarred for life. etc.
When you first purchase the device, it comes with the Radiance brush head attachment. I’ve been using the brush attachment specifically for oily skin and there are other attachments that are designed to address specific areas of concern. However, I prefer the Radiance attachment. It’s a softer brush that I feel gave my skin more of a “glow.” I will be repurchasing that attachment when the brush head I’m using now needs to be replaced.
The only cons I can think of are the initial price of the item, ($129.00US), the fact that the replacement brush heads aren’t the cheapest and it takes FOREVER to charge! However, one charge lasts approximately a month, but still, almost 24 hours!? Sheesh. Clarisonic also advices that the user replace the brush attachment every three months (the device will “sing” when it is time to do so. I admit, I don’t pay attention to this. I soak my attachment in vinegar, let dry and re-attach). Also, I could imagine people with quite sensitive skin not getting along with this device, as some skins do not handle a lot of physical friction well. Everyone’s skin is different, so what may work for one may not work for another.
Overall, I’m quite pleased with the Clarisonic Mia. I will never be without it and when this one eventually bites the dust, I will purchase another. The results I have seen with my skin far outweigh the initial cost. If you want to read up specifically on the technology the Clarisonic uses click here. I didn’t want to go into that here, I just wanted to share my experience with this item.
Have you tried the Clarisonic Mia, or one of the other Clarisonic models? What was your experience? If you haven’t tried it yet, are you eager to do so?
-Alana
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