***Be sure to see our updated Clarisonic Review.***
I was recently reading Dina’s post about Clarisonic on the excellent beauty blog Are You a Beauty? We’ve been asked about the product a few times on the Beauty Brains and have even gotten a sample from the company to review. All of the Brains tried it but we never posted a review for a few reasons.
Clarisonic evaluation
First, it cleans your face well. Your skin almost tingles when you’re done and that’s fun. However, it is a bit of pain to use. It’s just much easier to use an exfoliating product like St. Ives Apricot scrub and a daily facial wash. You pretty much get the same effect.
Second, it doesn’t really look good in my bathroom. You have to leave it on the charger when you’re not using it which means it’s on the counter top clashing with the fabulous decor.
Third, it’s not worth the money. $195 for this? Then another $25 for replacement brushes. I don’t know. If it gave results much better than regular products maybe, but it doesn’t. That money would be better spent on a cute pair of shoes.
Of course if you are curious feel free to click on this Clarisonic Brush for more information. Maybe you go for gadgets more so than most of the Beauty Brains. (Not counting Sarah of course).
Clarisonic recall
But this isn’t the reason for writing this post. The real reason is that Dina’s post reminded me of a letter the Beauty Brains recently received from the company that makes Clarisonic. According to them, they are recalling any unit that was made prior to July 2007 is being recalled. It turns out there is some kind of electronic problem in the handle that makes it get really hot. So hot that it might actually catch fire. If you purchased one before July 2007, be sure to contact the company to get a replacement.
Have you tried the Clarisonic? Leave a comment below and give us your thoughts.
Loading ...
{ 13 trackbacks }
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for your reasonable review of this product. I personally have found the Clarisonic to be very useful. My skin reacts to fragrance and numerous common cosmetic ingredients. Instead of looking for an exfoliating scrub that doesn’t irritate, I use the Clarisonic with Cetaphil. This combination even removes makeup.
I also have to disagree with this review. I am a huge fan of this product. I am 50 years old and have suffered for most of my adult life from a combination of rosacea and acne. I have also used Ives apricot scrub for years. It doesn’t compare to the exfoliation from this product. The Clarisonic exfoliates without irritation. It has transformed my skin. I use it with a mild salacitic cleanser from Neutrogena followed by a moisturizer.
Charging is a non-issue. I charge it up once a week overnight and leave it in the shower the rest of the time. It holds a charge over an extended period very well.
The company did have a recall and I thought they handled it very professionally. The entire machine was replaced promptly, with a note of apology, and I was offered a new series of heads. Frankly, I was impressed. Clarisonic has won a loyal customer in me.
How does Clarisonic compare to the Neutrogenea Wave? My skin tingles when I use it, and it feels extremely clean. I’m still looking at the Clarisonic, but also comparing to other items.
I’m desperate to try the clarisonic skin brush for a review for my blog but it isn’t available in the UK yet. I know Babyliss do something similar though. It is interesting that there have been such mixed reviews for this product!
This seems very similar to the Neutrogena at-home microdermabrasion kit. I use the Neutrogena one, and it’s amazing…and also a fraction of the cost of this!
First, I have to clarify that this is NOT used as an exfoliating brush. The brush heads oscillate with the skin’s natural elasticity to open the pore allowing the cleanser the penetrate more deeply to fully cleanse inside the pore. Your skin will be softer and smoother simply because there’s no more “gunk” (make up, pollution, excess sebum, coagulated dead skin cells) left over to cause inflamation and uneven texture. This stretching of the pore is very safe (it’s how estheticians do extractions). There is no product like this on the market and unlike your St. Ives Apricot scrub, this won’t cause epidermal microlacerations leading to a breakdown of collagen and potential bacterial or acneic infections. In fact it prevents it.
I must also disagree with the review…as someone mentioned, this is NOT an exfoliating product. Its designed to CLEAN your skin much more than St Ives Apricot scrub or anything like that. It also is great for those with sensitive skin, prone to redness. I was wary of the products claims and the high price. I waffled for about a year and finally broke down when my dermatologist told me that she uses it and highly recommended it for my senstive skin. I’ve used the st ives in the past and its great for my feet, but on my face, its just too rough and it doesn’t really clean my skin.
My esthetician recommended the product to me, and I was lucky enough to use a “trial” for the week (providing I bought the brush-head). As everyone stated above, the product works exceedingly well, as long as you are careful to follow instructions and use a LIGHT pressure, much like their toothbrush. I willingly bought the thing for the MSRP of $195.00, plus shipping and handling. Imagine my surprise when two weeks later I saw the SAME EXACT MODEL at Costco but for the retail price of $99.00 !!! My hope is that as many people as possible will read this submission and buy the product there. Don’t get duped by The Man, like I did !
I am a professional consumer tester, and I have found that the Clarisonic is far superior to basic physical exfoliators for several reasons.
(BB is right-the product did have a recall, and the company took it very seriously. The result is a better product, one that can be taken into the shower with you.)
Many physical abrasives can cause irritation and microscopic tears/scratches to the skin. This does not. The sonic waves remove debris similar to how it works on jewelry. The other bristles merely sweep the debris away.
From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, the initial cost of the unit is little compared to the cost of scrubs that run out. If one buys fancier, more expensive scrubs, they can easily eat up that cost in a year. The brushes do need to be bought every three months (but the company offers a mail-in offer of two ADDITIONAL free heads)to be effective, just like a toothbrush head. However the brushes are bacteria-resistant unlike a wash-cloth.
There has been a growing amount of evidence that regular sonic stimulation of the skin can produce collagen production (the figures vary). Anectdotally, firmer skin has been noticed amongst users.
The timer function on the unit allows you to cleanse at least as long as you should without tiring you out. Most people don’t scrub long enough, like with brushing their teeth.
Lastly, and this is kind of cool, Clarisonic has created versions that (like the pink one) benefit all women via charitable donation.
Just saying: it’s proved to be an exceptionally functional AND cost-effective product.
You are a complete idiot… this is a completely appalling review of a product you obviously know nothing about. The Clarisonic brush may not look pretty on your counter, but neither does a Sonicare toothbrush but people still buy them WHY?? Because it works. And I know what you are thinking, what makes me an expert. I am a licensed esthetician that works in a medical office, and the other helpful part is that I actually use this product on clients and have seen results from this product. And if you are paying $195 you are getting ripped off. Because you can get them brand new for 170 on ebay if you want to save a bit of money (and yes it does include shipping). So before you write a hack review on a product know what you are talking about first.
@Cassandria – You’re completely rude which makes me completely dismiss your opinion and anything else you might have to say. I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone get treated by you if that’s how you treat people.
I own a Clarisonic and I agree with all teh previous posters that this brush is amazing. No, a $20 is NOT the same thing. A face scrub is NOT the same thing. St Ives scrub is torture on the skin…really. Way to harsh.
This brush is well worth the money and I have yet to find anything that comes close to it in quality and results. Just like the Sonicare is 100x better than a regular toothbrush.
As far as I know, the Clarisonic has never sold at Costco, let alone for $99. I think there was an incident of patent infringement where one company (Pretika, I think) totally ripped them off in every way.
Absolutely I saw the Clarisonic at Costco a few weeks ago for $99. I was so mad because I bought mine retail at Sephora. When I went back two days later for xmas gifts they were all gone.
All of the reviews are completely true! It is amazing! I work in a spa so I got mine considerably below wholesale price but I would have paid the $195 for it. I was going through the Daily Microfoliant by Dermalogica every 2-3 months for about $50 dollars a bottle so the Clarisonic has basically paid for itself already! And its supposed to last a good 5-7 years! I would recommend them to EVERYONE!
I love my clarisonic brush! I finally bought mine on QVC and it included the Kate Sommerville gentle face wash and its absolutely amazing! I am such a spa junkie but now with the clarisonic brush, I spend less time at the spa getting a “deep” cleanse. The brush cleansed my skin deeply and the product absorbs much better! I highly recommend it! Its expensive but worth it
Hi, I purchased this item after viewing how it seemed to work, and its returnable, so why not… The reason is the wife, her facial skin is getting a little rough and she definitely needed something to make it smooth once again….and after some good going over, and yes Im doing all the work.. bam the baby smooth is back….
so do you got smooth?
I do not agree with this article…I got the brush about one month ago and i LOVE this gadget! I have not had one blemish since I started using the brush and my skin feels so silky smooth. I feel beautiful and I owe it to my clarisonic. It is totally worth the money and not at all the same as using St.Ives’s apricot scrub. Lol.
I can’t believe a beauty blog recommended St Ives Apricot Scrub, that must be the worst exfoliating scrub ever!! It is way too abrasive the particles are to large and course, you might as well use sandpaper, lol
Charlotte, Which costco had the clarisonic for $99?? Do you have the item number? I called them but I wasn’t able to track it down. Anyone?
I love this product. I went on line and found mine for $145. So, if you do the same, you should find a better deal. I had checked at Costco, but couldn’t find it for $99.
I would love to have one of these! It was recommended to me by my esthetician, too. But it will have to wait until it’s way way cheaper, because I just don’t think it’s worth it. For now I’m getting the $5 knock-off my friend got. Because it seems to be exactly the same thing as my hand-held foot-grooming tool from HoMedics that I got for $10 at Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of years ago: a motor with a head that spins, and attachments, that works perfectly. How much better could $179 make it?
here is a link to the item on costco
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11287411
unfortunately, its now listed at $149.99, but that still saves you $50!
i am contemplating it….
I have just started using the Clarisonic and so far I am really liking it. I want to give it about a month before I do my own review. One of the biggest benefits I have found so far is that I have very dry, sensitive, flakey skin, so I have to use gentle cleaners. Unfortunately gentle cleansers tend not to take off all of my makeup. The Clarisonic does helps amp up the power of my cleanser. Also, it gently buffs away the dry skin on the surface, which also helps my moisturizer absorb.
My major concern is that even though it does not irritate my skin, is this like using a physical exfoliator daily? Will I end up with tough face skin?
I don’t know – I have not had any problems with my Clarisonic. I had a skin analysis done by a skin care consultant at http://www.skinterra.com and she said she would not recommend the Clarisonic if there were any problems. She even suggested which brush i should use and I could not be happier. Plus, I saved 15%, and purchased the PINK one so that some of the proceeds go to breast cancer.
I have to disagree with this review as well. I have a Clarisonic and I love it and use it everyday.
1. It’s not a pain to use at all! It’s completely mindless. It even pulses when you need to switch cheeks! It cleanses my skin better than anything else and I’ve had way less blackheads and pimples since I started using it.
2. Are you serious? It doesn’t look good? I personally don’t have room om my counter top for it and I keep it in the cupboard, plugged in. But if I HAD counter space for it, I would definitely have it out there. It’s sleek and looks fine with ANY bathroom decor.
3. Yes, it is incredibly expensive, BUT I think it’s worth it because of how well it works. I had acne for over 15 years and I barely ever have pimple now. It cleanses my pores of everything and I couldn’t be happier with this product.
And I haven’t talked to anyone who thought otherwise!
I’m sure someone has made this comment already, but apricot scrub is horrible for your skin. It tears your pores. Any one interested should check out this woman’s blog. It’s futurederm.com. She’s a medical student and does a review on this product and many others. She tries them and looks at the research and science behind everything she reviews. It’s my favorite!
I love Clarisonic! It was recommended to me by my esthetician. She told me the easiest way to use it is right in the shower. It’s completely waterproof. It works great. Only takes one minute and I’m done! On days that I don’t use it, my skin shows the difference. I love how it keeps the nose pores clear!
I take it out on the weekends to charge it. Easy enough!
I disagree that St. Ives is a better solution. The apricot scrub is harsh and can leave tiny tears in your skin. Plus, St. Ives is not innocent of animal testing. “This product not tested on animals”, means that they can and do test individual ingredients on animals.
I’m just beginning using Clarisonic, but I’m really digging it because it not only exfoliates gently, but relaxes the facial muscles.
The Clarisonic Mia is available now for only $150.00.
I love how almost every comment disagreed with the beauty braniac.