I’ve been using my Clarisonic for close to seven months now (I’ve gone through two brush heads and am on my third one!), so I figured it’s probably high time I’d write a review especially since I’ve gotten quite a number of questions about its efficacy. So if you’ve been toying with the idea of getting a Clarisonic to spice up your daily face-cleansing ritual, here’s hoping this post will push you over the edge.
Prior to purchasing my Clarisonic, I scoured the net reading countless reviews–good and bad–before I bit the bullet and jumped on the bandwagon. Some reviewers mentioned a ‘purging’ stage, where you’d experience breakouts as the sebum buried beneath the epidermis reached the surface. To be honest, I was pretty worried about that. I didn’t want to fork out so much money for an instrument that would ultimately cause more harm to my face! Thankfully, I completely skipped the ‘purging’ stage and went straight to having cleaner, smoother and more radiant skin. Makeup also applied more smoothly.
How did I know this was working for me, and not just a figment of my imagination trying to justify my purchase?
My battle with acne left me with large pores that regularly got clogged up and required painful extractions during facials. After I started using the Clarisonic, my facialist commented my face had less bumps, and was clearer. My pores were also more refined, thanks to the sonic frequency really getting those brush bristles into my pore and cleaning it out! Old scars and dark spots faded more quickly, and I felt my skin care products absorbed better. I still do get the occasional hormonal zit, but it’s nothing a clay mask or some pimple cream can’t fix.
I am not an easy consumer to satisfy, so I put the Clarisonic to yet another test. I swiped my face with a cottonpad soaked in toner on two occasions. The first time, after normal cleansing with my good ol’ hands, and the second, after cleansing with my Clarisonic. Do note, I first removed my makeup with Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil in both instances. On closer inspection, the cottonpad used after my normal cleansing still showed some remnants of foundation, but the other one did not. After this instance, I pretty much became a true believer!
So if you’re now one considerable step closer to buying your very own Clarisonic, I’ve put together some tips from my personal experience so far you might find helpful.
- Instructions on the box state the Clarisonic is gentle enough to be used twice daily, but I recommend using it just at night to allow your skin to get used to it first.
- I suggest removing your makeup before using the Clarisonic brush. Don’t be lazy, your brush will be less dirty after.
- Make sure you use it with a gentle cleanser. This means nothing with exfoliating beads/harsh acids, as the cleansing brush will already be doing a good enough job exfoliating your skin. I’m using my DRx Foaming Cleanser, but Purity by Philosophy works great too.
- I also find lathering your face with your cleanser of choice, and then working it further into your skin with the Clarisonic, to be a less messier choice than putting your cleanser onto the Clarisonic brush head directly.
- Gently press the brush against your face in slow circular motions. Pressing too hard can actually hinder the good work the brush does!
- Do yourself a favor and clean your brush every week so you’re not cleansing your face with a dirty brush.
- Also remember to change brush heads every three months, as they get less efficient over time.
- Figure out which brush head is the most suitable for your skin, as this can be crucial to whether the Clarisonic works for you or not. Unfortunately, trial and error is the only way to do this… I personally find the Deep Pore Brush Head (pictured below) works best for me as compared to the Sensitive Brush Head which came with the Clarisonic. The bristles of the Deep Pore Brush Head rotate in opposite directions to give your face a more thorough cleanse.
Although the Clarisonic’s been treating me well, I cannot say the same for everyone as some might have more sensitive skin than others. If you’re still feeling iffy, do more research and read other reviews before you make your purchase. I can’t imagine living without mine now! For those who want to know, I’m using the Clarisonic Mia 2 in white. I got it from Sephora for SGD215, but I believe you can get it from Amazon at a way more reasonable price. Just check that you’re getting it from a reputable seller so you don’t end up with a fake.
If you have any other questions, leave me a comment below and I’ll be happy to help!
Disclosure: Compensation was not provided by Clarisonic. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Clarisonic.
