Clarisonic Mia

The Clarisonic Mia brush (US$149) is the most expensive beauty product I've ever purchased but after reading countless positive reviews about it, I decided it was time to take the plunge and invest in it. I got the pink version (for which Clarisonic makes a donation to breast cancer research with every purchase). The set includes an international charger for worldwide use, a sensitive brush head and Clarisonic's Gentle Hydro Cleanser (1 oz.). Sephora.com currently has two other Mia sets listed, one with a GoClear Clarifying Cleanser and another with a Murad Active Radiance Serum which are also priced at US$149 but the Murad set has the highest retail value.

While in Sephora, I decided that there was not much point shelling out an additional US$46 for the 'normal'-sized Clarisonic Brush as the difference in the diameter of the brush is not that significant, compared to the Mia. It seemed even more pointless to pay another US$76 for the Clarisonic Plus which comes with three different speeds. The Mia vibrates at over 300 times per second, which I think is effective enough for most skintypes. You have to charge the Mia for 24 hours before the first use. Each charge is supposed to give you 20 uses of one minute each. The brush stops vibrating automatically after one minute, which is a good feature to prevent over-brushing. The brush is waterproof so you can use it in the shower.

After close to two weeks of using the Mia once daily (usually after removing my makeup in the evening), I have to say I love it! It hasn't been a miraculous acne-banishing product but it does leave my skin soft, smooth and thoroughly clean after each use. The massaging motion is also vigorous enough without being abrasive. I like to use it with a highly foaming cleanser such as RMK Creamy Soap N or Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Foam as both whip up a good lather with the Mia. The only drawback is that they do sting my eyes if some of the cleanser gets in accidentally.

The Clarisonic Mia is very pricey, so it's worthwhile to do your research on it before deciding whether to shell out for it by checking out reviews on Makeupalley.com, Sephora.com or other blogs. You can also wait for one of Sephora's sales (like their annual Friends & Family 20% sale or occasional 10% discount codes) to save a pretty penny on the Clarisonic.