REVIEW | Clarisonic Mia - after 5 years

Hi beauties

To preface this post, I know I made a post in 2011 and totally fell off the wagon in updates. I think sometimes I slip into the comfort of using something so often and forget to blog about it bc it's not new to me anymore. However, this is a pretty comprehensive update bc I've owned the same Mia for over 5 years.

In these 5 years, I've repurchased countless brush heads (preferably when they were on sale)

Used brush head vs New btw - even when the brushed dries it never looks the same before it was new.

Tries the FOREO Luna and the Luna Mini (which I kept)

As well as different types of brush heads, and a Konjac sponge.

Here are my thoughts:

Pros

Gently exfoliates very effectively

Makes the skin FEEL really clean

Easy to use

Low maintenance - 1 minute a day

Neutral

Works better with more fluid cleansers

Cons

Expensive to change brush heads every 3-6 months

Could be too harsh if you have uber sensitive skin, but there are many brush head options

Price

Mia: $129

Mia 2: $169

Mia Fit: $219

Replacement brush heads: $27 each or $44 for 2 (or $81 for 4 at Ulta, but it's all 1 type of brush)

Sephora and Ulta often has deals on these with a combination of their best selling skin care, so definitely look for that.

Verdict

After owning mine for over 5 years and trying other cleansing devices on the way. I have to say that Clarisonic Mia is still my favorite. In my 10 month study abroad trip, I didn't bring it with me, and my skin noticeably looked less radiant with bigger pores (it also didn't help that Beijing was heavily polluted, and I didn't exfoliate routinely).

Recently I tried weaning off the Mia because the brush heads are simply too expensive. They're supposed to be replaced every 3 months but I do it every 6 months (since I now use it every other night). 

I unsuccessfully did this for the past 6 months (trying out the FOREO Luna Mini and Konjac sponge, liquid exfoliators and supposedly gentle, natural exfoliators) and finally repurchased the brush heads last week after seeing how flaky my skin is and how bad my blackheads on my nose are. I don't routinely exfoliate my skin bc sometimes work gets busy or I start getting too comfortable with having little to no acne. But I often do it when I notice flakes or if my skin just feel congested. So the Mia is the ultimate fit for my lazy personality. Now that my skin is better but more sensitive, I can't use it as frequently as I used to. But I love this to gently exfoliate, remove flakes from my skin and make my skin just feel super clean.

My favorite cleanser to use with this is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Medicated cleanser, it makes my face feel so clean. But it is a bit harsh if you don't have acne or oily skin.

A lot of people like the Philosophy Purity and I've used up an entire 24 oz bottle, but I'm still not sure I get it... I mean, it's good I guess?

If you have a favorite cleanser to use with it, please let me know (: I'd love to try it

Repurchase?

Without a doubt. If I lost mine I'd repurchase a color I like (:

In 2011 they didn't have all the cute colors they have now.

Would I recommend it?

This is definitely an investment in skincare. You may be able to get the Mia for less than $100 if you go to Nordstrom Rack or shop online, but the brush heads is how they get you. I tried the Target $17 brush head (which is not even that much cheaper) and it FELL OUT before the full 1 minute even ended. 

If you are considering the Mia, also consider the costs of the brush heads, which could be $44 to $81 a year (depending on if you buy them in sets or alone, on sale, etc.)

Clarisonic Mia: Week 4

Hi everyone,

I have been using my Clarisonic Mia for a little over 4 weeks, I would've updated earlier but I've been a little busy with school.

Cleanser: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit, Purpose cleanser in the morning, if my skin doesn't look/feel too oily

"Treatment": Aloe vera gel (forgot the brand, but it's clear, got it at Walmart for $4)

Morning moisturizer: Garnier Moisture Rescue UV Lotion (if I'm going out), Merlot Night Cream if I'm staying home

If you have a good day cream/moisturizer to recommend, definitely let me know!

Night moisturizer: Cetaphil cream on cheeks, Neutrogena Acne Defense lotion for nose & forehead, Pond's Flawless White Night treatment for chin, since my chin is slightly tanner than the rest of my face

I still don't have pictures for my skin right now, but my lower face isn't looking too good (idk why but the term "lower face" makes me laugh, so strange, lol)

Forehead:

Most of my forehead is smooth at this time, with the except of my right temples, there are still colorless bumps going down that side of my face, not sure what caused it b/c I've changed my pillow case several times.

Cheeks:

The skin texture on my cheeks have always been smooth, other than the cystic acne breakouts that leave scars. I still don't see much improvement, except now on the lower cheeks I have breakouts. I usually never break out in that area.

Nose:

I have the largest pores and most frequent blackheads in this area, and I honestly saw no difference... My blackheads are the same as if I had manually washed my face with my hands. Not impressed in this area.

In the area right next to the undereye (area A), near the top of the nose bridge, I was getting little bumps (milia) there, but it seems to be getting slightly better

I also have sebhorric dermatitis (Area B, flaky, red skin) on the right side of my nose, nothing too exciting there, still about the same

Chin:

The skin texture on my chin has never been bad, except for the occasional breakout randomly every few months or so, nothing here.

Those are my thoughts on the Mia after the 4th week

Is it worth $149? Eh. Not to me.

I will let you guys know if my skin improves from using a different cleanser or something, for now I will diligently use this until I have to change the brush head. Although I don't think it's amazing I don't want to return it, I'd like to see if it really makes a difference; if it doesn't... Unfortunate for me that I can't get my money back.

Clarisonic Mia: Week 2

Hi everyone,

I have been using my Clarisonic Mia for precisely two weeks.

I actually wanted to do an update a week ago, but I kept forgetting and before I knew it, I was 4 days past a week, so I might as well just do a 2-week update. Lol

Cleanser: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash in Pink Grapefruit
"Treatment": Aloe vera gel (forgot the brand, but it's clear, got it at Walmart for $4)
Morning moisturizer: Merlot Night Cream (it's been quite overcast in NorCal lately, so I haven't been using my SPF too diligently, esp since my face is already paler than my neck from SPF moisturizers, and I don't get out in the sun too much)
If you have a good day cream/moisturizer to recommend, definitely let me know!
Night moisturizer: Cetaphil cream (sometimes Merlot Night cream if it's raining)

Anyhow, I don't have pictures of my skin right now b/c it's still not great, but I'll describe it

Forehead:

I have little colorless bumps right now, nothing horrible but my forehead used to be smooth, I'm not sure whether it's my moisturizer or my Mia, but the Clarisonic Mia should be able to get rid of bumps by exfoliation.

Also, on my temples, I've been getting bumps (possibly from my pillow case, but even after I change my pillowcase they're still here) and they're not going away.

Cheeks:

The skin texture on my cheeks have always been smooth, other than the cystic acne breakouts that leave scars, so I don't see any improvement in this area specifically, I  think I may be going through the "purging" phase, in which I have little quick whiteheads on my face.

Nose:

I have the largest pores and most frequent blackheads in this area, and I honestly saw no difference... My blackheads are the same as if I had manually washed my face with my hands, sometimes worse. Not impressed in this area.

In the area right next to the undereye (area A), near the top of the nose bridge, I was getting little bumps (milia) there as well, but they seem to have improved a bit after these 2 weeks, this is probably the most positive result I've seen from the Mia.

I also have sebhorric dermatitis (Area B, flaky, red skin) on the right side of my nose, and I think I see minor improvement in that, nothing too exciting though.

Chin:

The skin texture on my chin has never been bad, except for the occasional breakout randomly every few months or so, nothing here.

Those are my thoughts on the Mia as of now, I will update in another week or 2 weeks :)