By Savanna Goltzer
If you’ve walked through any major retailer, whether it be Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom or Macy’s, you’ve probably noticed the Clarisonic. You might have even been intrigued by it, but then looked at the pricetag and thought “No way!” The idea of spending over $100 on a face cleansing brush does seem pretty absurd, and was definitely how I felt when I first learned about the skin care cleansing system.
However, as someone who has struggled for years with my skin, I found through tons of research and user reviews that this revolutionary product was completely changing people’s skin for the better. I read so many positive reviews about the product that I knew I had to have it. After using a Sephora gift card from Christmas to take a dent out of the price, I finally purchased it and have zero regrets. Here I will break down what it does, the different types of products Clarisonic offers, and how it all works!
1. The Clarisonic Mia, $99
What it does: This is the product I use. Basically, as the description from the Sephora website says, “Clarisonic’s patented sonic technology gently removes the impurities traditional cleaning methods leave behind, cleansing six times better than your hands alone. In just 60 seconds, its sonic action removes impurities from pores so that creams, serums, and moisturizers are more effective. And with regular daily use you’ll notice a reduction in dry patches, oily areas, and blemishes.”
What you get: When you buy the Clarisonic Mia or Mia 2, it comes with a charger, Sensitive skin brush head and a sample of the brand’s Refreshing Gel Cleanser.
How I use it: I have very sensitive and dry skin, (not a fun combination), so I was quite skeptical that the brush would be too harsh on my skin. However, after using the brush for 5 months now, I can say that my skin is clearer, smoother, and the exfoliation repels patches of dry skin. I use the Clarisonic once a day, usually at night since I wear makeup almost everyday and like to make sure I am getting it all off of my skin. Using the Clarisonic brand’s Refreshing Gel Cleanser, I wet both my skin and the brush, then turn it on. The brush will vibrate for 60 seconds, and you move it around your face in a circular fashion. I spend roughly 15 seconds on my forehead, 10 on each cheek, and the remaining time on my nose and chin areas. Your skin will never feel cleaner! I can’t imagine ever going back to just washing my face by hand. The Clarisonic helps remove all traces of makeup, cleansing deeply, which is incredibly important if you wear it every day.
2. The Mia 2, $149
The Mia 2 is essentially the same product, but has two speeds. This is a good option if you want to use the Clarisonic on the body as well as the face. If you plan to just use it for your face however, the two speeds might not be necessary.
Tips:
-It is important that you change your brush head every three months. They come in five varieties: Normal, Sensitive, Delicate, Deep Pore, and Acne (pictured above). I use the sensitive and find that it works very well. If you don’t have sensitive skin, trying the Deep Pore or Normal might be more appealing. The replacements are $27 each, which may seem pricey, but you don’t need to buy them too often.
-The great thing about the Clarisonic is that you can use any cleanser that you already have and like with it, just not an exfoliator because that would be too rough on the skin.
-You will get a sample of the Refreshing Gel Cleanser with your purchase, and I fell in love with it and purchased the full size. Although it is $25, it lasts for months. It is foamy, fresh smelling, and really makes your skin feel soft and clean.
-If the price concerns you, add it to your Christmas/Birthday wish list, or save up to buy it with your summer job earnings. If you are frustrated with your skin even a little bit, it can be the perfect solution to your problem! Plus, the cost of the Mia recently went down to $99, (I paid $125!), which makes this an even better deal. And they come in an adorable range of colors, how can you resist?
-If you break out within the first couple weeks of using it, don’t panic! This is just the purging process, as the brush is reaching deep down into your skin and pulling out dirt you didn’t even know was there. This is temporary, and I didn’t experience much of a problem with this, although many user reviews note that there is a definite purging period after the first uses.
-A full charge lasts 20 minutes, so used once a day will last almost three weeks. Your Clarisonic will vibrate once at the end of the cycle if it is getting low on charge. Charge it while you sleep and you’ll be good to go.
So… is it worth it? YES! For more product information, check out Clarisonic’s website here.