Back in the ’80s I was in the formative and impressionable years of my obsession with beauty products. By formative and impressionable, I mean constrained by a student’s budget and guaranteed to go weak at the knees whenever walking through the cosmetic sections of Myer or David Jones in the city.
I remember my step mum clearly being in similar awe of such shiny counters of loveliness (but without the student budget), especially the one day she arrived home with a haul of Shiseido skincare that had me turning an unattractive shade of green.
Specifically causing this envy within that haul was a cleanser which was used in conjunction with a circular-headed brush. I couldn’t wait to get my face on that brush. It was the very next thing that my checkout-chick job funded.
The premise was that you applied your cleanser and then enhanced the cleansing by moving the brush in little circles around your face. Facial bliss.
So when the 21st century versions landed on my desk, I thought genius. The vibrator every woman really does need.
The Clarisonic Mia came to stay in our house a couple of months ago. She has been a very welcome guest and I plan to keep her on. She pays her way by giving me soft, supple skin on a daily basis. She also doesn’t require a lot from me except for the odd charge up.
Mia was a bit put out with Ultrasonic arrived on my bathroom shelf two weeks ago but we’ve had words about it. I broke it to her that it’s my job to try all skincare options and if there’s a cheaper sonic cleanser alternative out there that offers the same results, then I needed to know about that.
She’s still sulking but secretly I think she’s enjoying a little down time …
Me? I’m swinging between both camps but will probably side with Mia on this one because of the slightly more compact size. I also prefer (or have got used to) the softness of the Mia’s bristles.
Having said that … and thinking of my student days … that $80 price difference would have been enough to make me swing towards the Ultrasonic.
The lowdown
Both the Mia, which is the baby sister of the Clarisonic Classic and Clarisonic Gold and a favourite of flawlessly skinned Gywneth Paltrow, and the Ultrasonic work thanks to a circular brush head that oscillates at a rate of more than 300 sonic movements per second. They are designed to remove up to six times more makeup and twice as much dirt and oil compared with manual cleansing – and are safe enough to use every day. All this works to help your skin look smoother, reduce oily areas and dry patches, kiss blemishes goodbye and lessen the size of visible pores.
Cream it up
As a lady of a *certain* age, the only cleansers that come near my skin are of the cream variety … except on those nights when I can’t be bothered have had too many champagnes and I reach for the face wipes beside my bed. And, as it turns out, cream cleansers are perrrrfect for a little sonic action. Better still, a little bit of cleanser goes a long way when you’re helping it along with those 300 sonic movements per second so you’ll save $ there too. Here’s what I’ve been using with mine (click on the links below to find out more).
1. Trilogy Age Proof Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream $39.95 | 2. Lapurete Okuru Mild Creme Facial Cleanser & Toner $39.90 | 3. Mukti Cleansing Lotion $35.95
What’s your take on giving your cleansing a little helping hand? Have you got a sonic cleanser? Have you been impressed with the results?
These products are sent to me for editorial consideration under the terms of my disclosure policy as outlined here.
Comments 21
ahhh, i caved and bought the Clarisonic Classic!! Im so excited, now i just have to play the waiting game until it arrives. Thankyou!
Author
Oh, fantastic … let me know how it goes!
Got it, LOVE it. Its so much more gentle than I thought it would be, but my skin is so clean and clear it looks amazing! Thankyou for your article, i have a new best friend……….and so does my boyfriend it appears!
I only commented to husband on the weekend that I need a facial because the sunscreen is making my face lumpy. I am totally buying buying one. Thanks Nikki 🙂
Author
And for the price of one or two facials you get ongoing benefits. Score.
I had one of those Shiseido brushes. Very big in NZ. Nearly bought one the other day for nostalgic reasons but it was about $50! I use two cellulose sponges with SKII cleansing oil for my first clean, followed by a muslin cloth with the Trilogy cleanser above.
But I’m adding one of these to my Xmas list! Thanks Nikki!
Author
Oh, you will love Kim-Marie … I can’t believe I haven’t tried sooner. Thought it was hype. It’s not.
Great post! I just love the Clarasonic, I got mine from Adore beauty about a month ago and it is worth the investment. I have very sensitive skin so only use once a day or every second day if my skin is playing up. It gives a wonderful glow and is so easy to use.
Author
Oh, that’s great to hear. Yes, I’m a once a dayer with mine. I also love that the charge lasts a LONG time.
Ima gonna get me one of those! Sunblock causes all sorts of grossness on my skin, but I figured wrinkles were worse than pimples, now I can have both – woo hoo!
Author
We can fight them both in a sonic face off! Well, I’m giving it a good go.
I knew it was only a matter of time until you did a post on these little guys. I’ve been wanting one for AGES! The idea that I’m cleaning my face but it may not actually be clean is so skeevy! On the Christmas list 😀
Author
I was a bit skeptical beforehand but now I’m hooked. Great Christmas list addition.
I have been using one for a month and I would not go back. I love it and my skin has (well I was going to say never been better but it was a lot better when I was a baby) seriously benefitted from it. xx
Author
…ah baby skin … now if only that could be bottled. x
I’ve heard such good things about the Clarisonic! I’d love to get my face on one too… in the meantime though, I’ve switched to the hot cloth cleansing method and the odd glycolic scrub. Bottom line, anything that cleans and exfoliates is good!
Author
Yes, anything that cleans and exfoliates is the key to a beauty routine that gives you a glow!
You had me at ‘vibrator’.
Author
Hahaha. Why am I not surprised?!