Clarisonic • Mia • Misc Beauty Tools

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girlraven on 5/21/2013 10:25:00 AM more reviews by girlraven

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is a great cleansing and exfoliating tool, it is a must have in your skincare routine. It is high quality and I love it

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eeeee on 5/20/2013 7:43:00 PM more reviews by eeeee

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

It took me almost TWO years to buy this tool because it's so expensive. I finally ended up purchasing it because my face was recovering from the worst case of cystic acne that I've ever had and needed better exfoliation. Previously, I would use a regular washcloth and/or a nylon washcloth (which is scrubby). I've also used the facial buf sponge, but nothing would completely get rid of the flakes and rough texture that I would get from my acne treatments. Out of desperation I one day used a pedicure brush on my face! Just to see if it would make a difference. And it did. Except it was way too rough and painful. Needing to use exfoliating type products to lessen the acne and its scars I shopped around for a good deal and finally purchased the Mia.


LOVE IT. I've been using this for about 3 months now and my acne has reduced by at least half after I started using it. It's not a miracle tool, but it opened my pores well enough that my acne products that previously never stung (and were supposed to), now did and worked better on my skin. I usually wash my face first with cleanser to remove most of the makeup and then use this which removes the rest. I like the sonic vibration and never experienced any purging. However, I did not like the cleanser, I believe it caused a few zits so I gave it away. The Mia I bought came with only the sensitive brush head which I thought wouldn't do the job on my face since it's used to scrubbing but I actually like it. I recently ordered the deep exfoliation brush head and will update this review with my thoughts.

I still think it's outrageously expensive but it's made such a difference in my sensitive, super oily, extremely acne-prone skin that it was worth it. If you're on the fence, I would suggest buying from a retailer that has an excellent return policy in case you don't love it.

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tigergirly on 5/17/2013 5:48:00 AM more reviews by tigergirly

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I acquired this little device after having an extremely frustrating breakout and hearing positive things from friends. It's cheaper than the typical Clarisonic brush, but still takes a bite of your budget. It was too harsh for me to use during the winter months, but is now perfect for summer. I bought the clear pore brush head after reading reviews and am quite happy with it. I can't comment on breakouts, since Solugel and more careful product selection helped before I was able to use this regularly. It does, however, remove all my makeup perfectly, make my skin look smooth and feel softer, and helps foundation apply and wear more evenly. I also seem less oily. I use it every night and only press it gently to avoid irritation. I'll continue using it, but will probably cut down significantly during winter months again. I recommend this as a thorough cleaning and exfoliating product, but not necessarily a miracle-worker.

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*TOP REVIEWER* nattiekins05 on 5/14/2013 6:10:00 AM more reviews by nattiekins05

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Before I start, I just wanted you to know what this review was about. I wrote a review a while back on the differences between the spinbrush pro (and the different models) as well as the oil of olay version of the spinbrush. In this review I am comparing and contrasting them (this was before I bought one) to figure out which one would work best for me... I hope by reading this, you will have a better understanding of your options before purchasing a spinbrush...

I was very skeptical of this brush to begin with…. but I finally pulled the trigger after much consultation from my dermatologist. For any of those wondering, my dermatologist herself told me 1) this brush will make a huge difference regarding the health of my skin 2) that the Oil of Olay Spinbrush is just as good as the Clarisonic. That was her honest professional medical answer... So now I will give you my opinion on each of the two models.

The brush head: the brush heads differ on a few levels and I honestly feel that the The Clarisonic brush is superior. The Clarisonic brush head is much larger, even when comparing the smallest size Clarisonic MIA model to the Oil of Olay Spinbrush. The Clarisonic also has the optionality of different removable heads, one of them specifically for sensitive skin. I use this one. The drugstore versions do not have this optionality. After trying both Clarisonic brush heads (the regular and sensitive), I prefer the sensitive. I also feel the bristles on the Clarisonic model are softer and higher quality.

Cleaning power: About equal, but different. The Clarisonic uses a sonic oscillation system while the Oil of Olay Spinbrush uses a nonsonic rotating brush. The Oil of Olay version doesn’t really vibrate like the Clarisonic but just sort of spins around in circles. When using the Clarisonic you simply move it in circular motions around your face as the brush vibrates. The Spinbrush doesn’t necessarily work in that fashion since its already spinning around. They do feel different in my opinion. Probably both get you to the same place but I prefer the Clarisonic. I also think its much more effortless than the cheaper Oil of Olay brush. One thing that blew me away was not only how well it worked on my face- but also the eczema and tiny red bumps on my arms, after a few scrubs- GONE!

Charging: Clarisonic charges either in a base (if you buy the larger models) or in a simple handle attachment if you buy the MIA (that’s what I have). The Oil of Olay is battery operated- and this SUCKS! I have to change the batteries every two to three times of use (depending on how long I use it, which often varies). Yes, I do have rechargeable batteries, but still can be rather frustrating changing them SO often. This is why there is such aclassic difference in price, though. You get more with the higher quality, you just have to be willing to spend more too.

Models: The Clarisonic comes in 5, yes 5, confusing models. What is the difference in all of them? Why do we need 5 models? They differ in speeds, size, battery life, attachments they come with, and warranty. They range from $119 to $225. There is the MIA (both the MIA 1 and MIA 2). This is the most compact and does not come with a charging cradle but a charging link. The classic comes with a charging cradle. And the Plus and Pro models have 3 speeds and are for the face and body. I think this is all mumbo jumbo and all you need is the MIA. You really dont need different speeds and you can use the regular brush head on your body as well. Unless you really want a standup cradle I would purchase the MIA for $119. The higher models also come with more Clarisonic skin care products. You don’t need to use their products. Use your own favorite products. The Oil of Olay only has one to chose from, with no models to choose from. It is very standard and really comes with NO bells and whistles.

Body functionality: The Oil of Olay Spinbrush is very tiny, almost too tiny for the body. I think you can use the MIA Clarisonic for body even though its not marketed that way. You can really tell the difference in price here because the Clarisonic is well built, and sturdy... but the Olay version doesnt fit in your hand as nice, and its not as well built as the other models.

Do I really need to spend $119 on a brush to wash my face? No. You don’t need to. But it will get your skin cleaner and you will likely see improvement- like I have after using for just a few days. The brush removes significantly more dirt, oil and makeup than manual cleansing. Both brushes will help to loosen impurities from your pores alot more effectively than your fingertips rubbing soap on your face. However, this does not eliminate the need to exfoliate on a regular basis. The simple fact is that results from either brush are going to be better than not using one at all. The Oil of Olay clearly provides more value at $30. Although I cannot say for sure, it doesn’t feel as though it will last for years and years like the Clarisonic does. The Spinbrush is a bit flimsier in your hands than the Clarisonic. I have had my MIA for about a year now and I love it. I would recommend it to every woman really. Especially those women who are obsessed with new facial products, those who keep their skin a top priority and also those who have needs and maintenance when it comes to keeping their skin glowing. If you have dry skin, if you suffer from serious acne or a few blemishes, if you have large pores- this brush will be a godsend. Like I stated earlier, I saw results within DAYS of using this. Keeping in mind, I was using the Nutregena Wave beforehand, which I thought was just the greatest thing... NOT. It doesnt stand a chance against my Clarisonic, not even close. Plus I got sick of spending money on those expensive pads that you needed to attach. I dont have that problem with this- I can use any product i want, and can change them anytime I want. Well worth every penny ladies! Honestly! <

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lauri on 5/14/2013 1:48:00 AM more reviews by lauri

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Love this... It is a must to own... exfoliates so your skin looks great

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aleachhunter on 5/14/2013 1:09:00 AM more reviews by aleachhunter

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

Warning: the first week or so after you buy this, your skin will hate you. At first, I thought this product was actually making my skin worse - it was like my skin needed to purge itself, manifesting into more blemishes than usual. Once that subsided, I found that my skin was more even, soft, and blemish-free than ever before. Worth the steep price.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Superbeckyy on 5/3/2013 12:25:00 PM more reviews by Superbeckyy

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Red, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Finally got round to reviewing my Clarisonic Mia - I've been using it for 3 months now. I ordered mine from Amazon UK for just under £120 including shipping and an inclusive American plug converter, as it doesn't seem to be sold anywhere else here and we don't have Sephora or Ulta. A very expensive buy for me, but if my skin looks as good as the reviews promise, it'll be worth it over time.

The converter plug works fine for me to charge the Clarisonic - the appliance is labelled as universal voltage, ideal for me as I travel to the US a lot and a necessity for anyone who travels. Also included was a small bottle of Clarisonic's 'refreshing' cleanser, which I have reviewed separately and could have done without. It was very easy to set up and after charging for a day it was ready to use.

I use the Clarisonic by first applying my cleanser of choice (Clarins' Pure Melt Cleansing Gel is my current favourite) and then massaging all over my face in sections for 10 seconds each, then washing off with a damp cloth. For the first 2 weeks I used it 1-2 times a day; now I use it every 2 days as my skin doesn't need it every day when used regularly. After the first 2-3 weeks my skin looked much clearer and radiant - didn't even know how anyone's skin could be described as 'radiant' before but I now know after using this! My combination skin used to be congested with blocked pores and also being sensitive, nothing really worked except for the Clarisonic.

I've read a few warnings online about the Clarisonic damaging skin, but if it hurts, just STOP - you're doing it wrong! All you need to do is buff the top layer of skin very gently to cleanse and exfoliate the surface, not scrub it - the vibrations do all the work.

It's a shame the Clarisonic is so expensive to buy from the UK, I'd pay up to £60-80 for what I received. Maybe a spare brush head or two plus some other mini products would have justified the price a bit. However I'm glad I have it now and hope it continues to keep my skin clear and lovely for a long time.

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chelbellboo on 5/3/2013 11:20:00 AM more reviews by chelbellboo

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

i purchased my baby pink clarisonic mia from Macy's a while ago, and i absolutely love it, it is spot on for getting rid of dry patches before they even have a chance to start.my face feels so soft and clean after using it. before this i had been using the olay buffer, and while its an ok product, the clarisonic blows it right out of the water. the olay rotates, which is fine, but the clarisonic vibrates, you can feel it really getting in there n shaking the crap out of your pores.lol besides that, its just a more sturdy, well put together design, the rotating the brush is closer to the unit, whereas with the olay scrubber because the brush sits so far off the base, i felt like it was gonna fall off, cuz there was a slight wobble to the unit while in the on position.thats just my take on it,i will say this, i never did notice these things until i got the clarisonic and had something to compare it to.

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cklinder on 5/3/2013 11:02:00 AM more reviews by cklinder

Age: 44-55   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I have very acne prone skin and this product has made more difference than anything I have ever used. I use it every morning and every night. I use a glycolic cleanser (am using DermaDoctor Wrinkle revenge 2). I RARELY have a breakout now. I have been using it now for nearly a year and after about a month, I had friends comment to me how good my skin looked...they didn't know what I had been using, but noticed a difference. My skin has never looked better.

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Iampo0kie on 5/1/2013 11:50:00 PM more reviews by Iampo0kie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I waited ~5 weeks to write this review to make sure I tested out the product thoroughly. I ordered from Sephora because of the great return policy and have been using the sensitive brush head.

When I initially used it, it was such a hassle to add another gadget into my routine. But now I can't not use it everyday! I love it for the deep cleaning it gives my skin. I use a natural bare-bones cleanser that can be ineffective against very oily skin, but this tool helps remove all the oil and grime off my face. It also polishes the skin and whisks away dead skin cells. I often come out of the shower looking shiny and glowy.

I have pretty severe acne, with little millia bumps that cover my entire face and the occasional cyst or puffy whitehead. The problem with my skin was new millia would pop up everyday, and my face was becoming a bumpy mess! When I first started using this, I was still breaking out for the first week or so. But later, I noticed after I extracted a millia it would not come back! I owe it all to the spectacular cleaning from Clarisonic. It has really improved the texture of my skin and is slowly ridding me of blackheads and whiteheads. The progress is SLOW however and I plan on switching to the deep pore head to speed it up.

When I use it, I use it in the shower for about 2.5 cycles (I really like my skin to be clean!) and I feel like this could be over using it because my skin is dry. But it assures me all makeup and grime is gone. I would recommend this product because my skin just keeps getting better and better. The price is outrageous but its the only product of its kind.

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Heyycasablanca on 4/28/2013 7:14:00 AM more reviews by Heyycasablanca

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using the mia for about a month now. I saw results after the first time I used it. My skin has never been this soft and smooth. I have very oily skin with blackheads on my nose and acne and acne scars. Since using the clarisonic, my pores are much smaller, my blackheads are nearly gone, my acne scars are slowly fading, and my skin color is much more even (less red). I hadn't broken out until I started trying out new foundations so I don't think the clarisonic was to blame. I hope that with prolonged use, my blackheads and pores will completely diminish but as for right now, I am loving the results thus far!

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0mollyrose0 on 4/24/2013 9:28:00 AM more reviews by 0mollyrose0

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I neither hate or dislike the clarisonic Mia. I feel it hasn't drastically changed my skin, I still have horrific break outs on my cheeks and chin yet I feel sometimes it just irritates it. Overall, an ok non-essential product.

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bookie101 on 4/23/2013 9:59:00 PM more reviews by bookie101

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

This seems to make my skin very smooth. Also, I think my facial products are sinking into my skin more. Also, I was having a major skin issue- I had begun to get hormonal acne (those deep, painful, 3 week-long zits that you can't pop) around my mouth. I have not had another hormonal acne breakout since I have started using my Clairsonic regularly. SOLVED the problem.

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Glamgurlsf on 4/23/2013 9:50:00 PM more reviews by Glamgurlsf

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Changed my skin ! I notice if I don't used daily.

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janetchan216 on 4/23/2013 4:15:00 AM more reviews by janetchan216

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using my Mia for over a year now and absolutely love it! I was using the Olay one before I switched and noticed that Mia is a lot more effective yet gentle. I use it every night and it removes every bit of my makeup. It's a lot to spend at once, but it is definitely an investment because my skin has never felt so clean. It is very durable: I've dropped it multiple times but nothing is scratched, chipped or broken and still looks pretty new. I only need to charge it once every 2 weeks. If the one I have now for any reason breaks, I will definitely by another one in a heart beat.

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design on 4/22/2013 10:51:00 PM more reviews by design

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

A few years ago I bought the Mia because of all the great reviews about it. The second I tired it I was disappointed. I notices no difference in my skin and I even felt that I needed to wash it a second time because there was still makeup residue on my face. So I gave it to my mom who loved it. Since then I decided to try it again and bought myself another one. This time I can already see a difference. I got a 'tutoring lesson' from the Nordstrom sales clerk on how to properly use this expensive vibrator... and now I can say that I'm happy with this beauty tool! I think I was pressing too hard before and doing too many little circular motions. I now just glide it over my skin and boom, done. I do a quick initial wash first to get the oil/ makeup off and then wash with my mia. I find it works better for me that way. i would not recommend using this tool every day, at least to start, as it can be a bit much. Overall I think it's over priced, but gives good results!

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Jennie91 on 4/21/2013 3:31:00 AM more reviews by Jennie91

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I really don't know why I bought this. I have very dry (flakes throughout winter and some of autumn/spring) and sensitive skin (I'm talking bright red if I use anything with even the tiniest quantities of fragrance or alcohol, and often react to 'natural' products because of the essential oils). At the time I bought this, my skin was actually ok - a few flakes but nothing worse than normal, and no huge spots.
Ok I guess I do know why I bought this - doesn't everyone dream of the one amazing thing that's going to make a difference to your skin and finally make it model-worthy? I ordered it on a whim and almost immediately regretted it. I'm extremely prone to bouts of contact dermatitis (eczema) - surely scrubbing at my face with a brush wasn't exactly going to help.
And yet...I've been using it for a week so far, only at night, and so far...I haven't had a bad reaction at all. My skin is softer and does have a kind of glow about it. I'm using the 'delicate' head which is apparently the most gentle, and I use it with Clinique Comforting Cream Cleanser, which seems to be very gentle too.
I really want this to keep working - will update as I know a week is probably too short a time to review after, I'm just so excited!

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popnote on 4/20/2013 10:57:00 PM more reviews by popnote

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Green    

I can't say enough how much I love my Mia. It has made a tremendous improvement to my skin. I break out a little bit less often, but pimples go away quicker. And over all, my skin feels smoother than it ever has. I was very lucky not to experience a purging period, but I fully expected it.

I think there are two keys to using it. First, find the right brush head. I had a great luck with the sensitive head that comes with it, but I decided to try the acne head and find that works even better for me. I haven't tried any other heads, but I am going to test out the deep pore head as well. I think the normal head will be too harsh for me while the extra-sensitive won't be strong enough. All of this is to say, Clarisonic has multiple options so you can address your specific skin type. If you're not satisfied at first, it may be the brush head, and it's worth trying out a different kind to see what happens. Second, simple is better. Use it with your favorite non-abrasive cleanser only. I used to use Cetaphil to remove makeup first and then use my Mia with cleanser to wash my face. Once, while being lazy, I just used my Mia and cleanser, and my skin didn't feel all that different, and it definitely was a bit calmer the next day, presumably because I hadn't scrubbed it twice in a single night. I think if one is doing these things- using the right brush head and just one good cleanser that is right for their skin- the Mia will work wonderfully for them. It sure has for me!

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Lissalam82 on 4/17/2013 8:53:00 PM more reviews by Lissalam82

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I don't believe I can add anything to a review for the Clarisonic Mia that hasn't already been said.

The bottom line is simply every girl must own one. Especially with advancement and improvements to newer models, it makes the Mia a bit cheaper but no less wonderful. There's different brush heads to match your skin type and they come in several delightful colors so every girl should be able to personalize their Mia to their liking.

I've had breakout problems through High School and as a young adult. I didn't have extremely bad acne, but there was always at least one big pimple somewhere on my face. It could be age or perhaps my hormones are more in check but I truly believe after the use of the Clarisonic Mia, my skin is now always clear! I get a lot of compliments how nice and clear my skin is.

I use it once a day about 5 days a week, in the mornings, to help take off any buildup from my night regimen. I also read in a magazine it's better to use in the mornings rather at night, if you had to pick once a day.

There was a period where I stopped using the Clarisonic Mia for about 2.5 months. The change wasn't right away but after about 2 months, my face wasn't as smooth as it was when using the Clarisonic Mia. It's definitely something I keep in my cleansing regimen for a long long long time.

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meru on 4/16/2013 3:49:00 PM more reviews by meru

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I really wanted to love this little tool. It has been sitting in my drawer for almost a year now. Last year I used it for 6 months every night. I experienced an initial purging period which lasted around 2 weeks. After that my skin felt so smooth and looked very clean. However, my skin was also drier when using this and compensated by excreting more oil even after I tried to put on richer moisturisers. Also this is what made me love and hate it at the same time: it aggravated my sensitive skin. Although my skin felt and looked so smooth and clean, my face was constantly red throughout the day! This is not good as it meant my face was irritated. I switched from the initial sensitive to delicate brush but that didn't help. In the end I stopped using it and it took a long time and a lot of effort to reduce the redness on my face.

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