A Rolls Royce, a Rolex, A bottle of Krug. These are some of the finest things money can buy. But when it comes to skincare, it’s the Clarisonic that fashionistas and skin care fanatics talk about in the same, venerated tones.
The Clarisonic is a facial brush, and there have been a number of models. The ones I was sent for review was the Clarisonic Mia 2. A facial brush helps gets rid of dirt, grime, impurities, makeup and other “gunk” on and close to the surface of your skin that ordinary washing with your fingertips or a wash cloth, simply can’t accomplish. There are plenty of other facial brushes, but as aficionados will tell you, nothing comes close to the quality and performance of the Clarisonic. I needed to find out for myself why this might actually be true. But first, I wanted to know a little bit about the history of this coveted facial brush that has reached almost cult status.
History:
According to Wikipedia, Clarisonic was founded by David Giuliani, Robb Akridge, Steve Meginniss, Ward Harris and Ken Pilcher in 2000. Akridge was a scientist at Optiva Corporation before co-founding Clarisonic. He holds a bachelors degree from University of Texas, a Master of Science degree in biology and a doctorate in microbiology . Ken Pilcher is the lead inventor of Clarisonic’s skin care systems. In the past he has developed avionics for the Space Shuttle, as well ass medical electronics. In other words, there are a lot of tech-geeks involved in Clarisonic.
How It’s Different:
Clarisonic Mia2
The Clarisonic Mia2 is just one of the facial cleansing devices the Clarisonic sells. This one is lightweight, and it has a plastic case for travel. It also has a brush head specifically made for sensitive skin as well as a regular brush head.
There are two speeds, with speed one (Delicate) for sensitive skin, and the speed for normal daily use. Note that if you use the normal speed it enhances cleansing by 26% compared to Speed 1. There is a 1-minute pulsing timer that tells you when it is time to move the Clarisonic to another part of your face.
The rechargeable and waterproof unit is made in the USA and the Clarisonic Mia 2 comes with a warranty covering any manufacturer defect-related problems resulting from everyday use of the product. You charge the Mia@ with a Universal Voltage pLink® Charger, also included. The cool thing about this charger is that the connection is magnetic!
If you’ve never used a facial brush before, you might be a bit mystified as to how you use it. It’s easy. Here’s how:
First, you have to charge it (which usually takes about 24 hours).
- Remove eye makeup by hand.
- Apply cleanser directly to moistened skin or to a damp brush head. *This Summer Clarisonic created a new Deep Pore Detoxifying Solution! Read more about this below the “How-To”
- Push the on/off button to turn on your cleansing brush.
- Select desired speed.
- Follow T-Timer prompts while gently moving the brush head in small circular motions.
Don’t Press too Hard:
Keep the brush head flush to the skin. Pressing too hard will impede the motion and reduce effectiveness. There is a Clarisonic Mia 2 User Guide if you want more information
When I received my Clarisonic Mia @ I was supposed to also receive the new Clarisonic Deep Pore Detoxifying Solution but somehow. it never arrived. I can tell you that it combines Clarisonic’s first-ever two-step solution with its patented Deep Pore Brush Head and sonic technology to optimize the cleansing experience when it comes to pores.
You use the Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush with the Deep Pore Brush Head, Deep Pore DailyCleanser, and Detoxifying Clay Mask. This is supposed to reduce pores by 25% after just one use. I do love that it will offer a 94% removal of dirt, oil, and excess sebum. This should result in fewer breakouts and clearer skin. In clinical studies, the claims by Clarisonic are that 93% of users saw increased skin clarity within 3 days. That’s impressive.
A Great Gift:
This would make a wonderful holiday gift, and it will keep your own skin looking glowing. The trio sold as a set is $169.00 on Amazon where it received 5-star reviews (*one person didn’t think it improved her skin). It got 100% 5-star reviews on @Ulta. @QVC and @Sephora, too. And, it has won the @QVC Customer Choice Beauty Award Multiple Times. It is also available at is available at clarisonic.com
