The winter has always taken its toll on my skin. Sensitive and dry by nature, harsh winds and cold weather often exacerbate the pesky problems I already have all year round. My face often falls prey to that awful makeup faux pas, where foundation clings to the dry patches on my skin, causing an uneven, patchy complexion. It's maddening. I've tried exfoliating, moisturising, extreme moisturising (like normal moisturising but intense amounts of super thick face cream), and make up designed for dry skin. But none of it works to a degree that I'm satisfied with.
The Clarisonic Mia 2 is an electronic skin cleansing system. It has a brush that pulses against your skin to buff and clean the skin in a way that your hands and a flannel supposedly can't. I should say that I am normally dubious of products like the Mia - I am a meat-and-potatoes type of girl; I like my beauty regime to be quick, simple, cheap and effective. If I could use a bar of soap on my face and be done with it like the good ol' days then I would. The Clarisonic website uses weird phrases like "patented sonic frequency" and "helps remove sebum." What the hell is sebum? (I googled it: turns out it's an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands - good to know.)
But the Mia 2 also had great reviews. It was the Ron Burgundy of facial cleansers - that is to say, it's kind of a big deal in the beauty world. So I got myself one.
(Here is my skin before I started using the Mia 2, by the way. Looks normal for the most part, but is incredibly dry.)
I thought that it would be simple to use. It looked simple - it was like a giant toothbrush. So, like a dad putting together flat-pack Ikea furniture, I didn't read the instructions before using it, because it looked straightforward enough. I mean, how hard could it be to put it on my face, really? So my first tip is an important one: always read the instructions.Y'see, it's not as straightforward as one first thought.
The Mia has a science to it. It's got two speed settings: low and normal. It's also got a buzzing system called a 'T-Timer' that lets you know when to move the brush to a different part of your face for an even buff. It goes like this: 20 seconds on your forehead, 20 seconds on your nose/chin, and 10 seconds on each cheek. Also, it's important that you don't press the brush too hard on your face, because it will affect your skin and also ruin the bristles. See, not so simple.
The instructions say that you can use it up to twice a day, but I recommend that you only use your Mia once a day. I did try twice in one day a couple of times, but for me it was way too abrasive, and made my skin sensitive to the touch. I'd suggest incorporating it into your evening routine rather than the morning, because it'll help get rid of your makeup too. (It is important to stress that I mean the makeup on your actual face - don't try rubbing this high-powered brush over your eyes - ouch!) I finished my routine with a quick swipe of coconut oil across my face to sink in overnight.
Ok, so the aesthetics. It comes in three colours: white, grey and a cute pink. It's relatively small and it comes with a travel case so you can take it anywhere. Amazingly, the battery lasts for aaaaages. Since receiving mine a month ago, the battery has yet to run out.
At first, although my skin seemed smoother, I found that I was breaking out more than usual. I was peeved. "I'm spottier now than when I first started!" I lamented. A friend mentioned this had also happened to her, and it was a common Google search term. However, I don't believe that the breakout had much to do with the Clarisonic as a product, but more to do with the Clarisonic in relation to my skin. A change in routine can often change the condition of your skin. The Google results often spoke of a "purge process" that meant an initial breakout would soon simmer down, so I persevered and the spots soon went away. Now, I have no problem with it. Plus, it can't hurt to just make sure you clean your Mia thoroughly - remember, it's eradicating the dirt from your face. Where's that dirt going to go? Clean the brush head properly and change it when it needs changing.
I had my doubts about upgrading my beauty regime, but I'm glad I did. The Mia 2 is a pricey buy at £125, but totally worth it, especially if you have dry skin. I liked my evening regime, it was simple and I was happy to stick to it. But investing a bit of time and money into the care of your skin can never be a bad thing. I find that my makeup sits more evenly on my skin now. And my skin actually feels nice to touch, it's not raised and rough like a climber's hands anymore. (Now there's an image.) So now I'm into patented sonic frequencies. I'm into the "300 movements per second". Sebum? You'll find none of that on this face!
What I'm trying to say is, your face needs this. You won't regret it.
Have you got a Clarisonic Mia 2? What do you think of it? Let us know! @sofeminineUK
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