My Two Month Clarisonic anniversary!

[Loralei]

I think I can safely report on how the Clarisonic is working for me: today has been exactly 2 months usage! And guess what? To my complete surprise, I am resoundingly and unequivocaly in love with this thing!!!
My skin is smooth and glowing. Totally Non-irratated. All my actives drink right into my skin and definitely seem to be doing their job better. I am addicted and don't think I will ever go without it!
This is probably the first "expensive" skin product that not only met my expectations but actually went way beyond! It makes my skin look a whole lot better than I even thought it would. Oh and the little lines around my eyes? Gone!!
For me, well worth the price! If you are considering one, do what I did and research prices all over the web; I paid only $119 for a Mia, including shipping, etc. Not too bad for the results and i'm saving money on scrubs, toners, etc. too.

[MediterraneanMaven]

Loralei,

That's great that you're enjoying your Mia and that it hasn't irritated your skin.  If you've been able to do away with scrubs and toners, all the better.

[ironia]

What a great report Loralei!
My skin does not tolerate scrubs/toners for long and now I can't even use my PC BHA lotion.
Does your skin feel as if it has been *strengthened* somewhat by the clarisonic? That is, has the mechanical action somehow promoted your skin's resilience as well as making it more clarified?

E.

[MediterraneanMaven]

What a great report Loralei!
My skin does not tolerate scrubs/toners for long and now I can't even use my PC BHA lotion.
Does your skin feel as if it has been *strengthened* somewhat by the clarisonic? That is, has the mechanical action somehow promoted your skin's resilience as well as making it more clarified?

E.

Ironia,

I, too, can no longer tolerate PC BHA 1% Lotion after several years of use without any problems.  I attribute this to the changing needs of my skin now in its 40's and somewhat drier and more sensitive than it was when I first began using PC products 9 years ago.   Using retinol sparingly is about all I can tolerate and right now I'm not doing that as I am recovering from redness and irritation from PC's BHA that I tried to reincorporate into my skincare regimen a month ago.

I'm now just using LRP Toleriane and Rosaliac lines to get my skin back to normal.  So far, so good and my skin is really smooth and soft and the redness is diminishing progressively.

[Loralei]

I have to say, the results experienced go completely against anyway my skin normally reacts to exfoliants, mechanical or chemical. I can't tolerate retinoids; I work in a dermatology office, so I've tried them all. I can't use RAM, Taz, Differin, Renova,etc. even if I eek into them. I can only use 2 scrubs by Olay after trying dozens. So the fact that this brush hasn't even given me a hint of irritation is nothing short of miraculous!
Ironia, I do think in some way it has strengthened my skin. The only way to describe it is my skin is now like a perfectly smooth tight surface and even the little dry areas and pronounced redness around my nose are gone!! So in that sense I think it clears your skin of any debris, therefore allowing your actives to penetrate better (in my case, metro-gel and rosacea)I am now using less products because the brush does so much for my skin I really only need my cleanser, pm moisturizer and daytime sunscreen!

[ironia]

That's fascinating, Lorelei. I've heard similar descriptions from friends who have used dry skin brushing on their body and also (significantly) on their faces. I'm a bit scared of trying it, but I am absolutely intrigued by it and the clarisonic. It sounds like the clarisonic is way gentler than dry skin brushing for the face...at least for an OSPW like moi. Moreover, I have two tubes of Differin sitting around waiting for my skin to get its act together on the issue of OTC retinols first (I started and gave up on something mild...).
E.

[ironia]

MM, I hear you! I'm doing as little as possible right now to aggravate my skin. I'm washing with 3 cleansers including Dove extra sensitive bar every third day (too harsh for every day) - so, basically one day of washing with Neutrogena Fresh foaming cleanser which is very gentle, one day of J&J C&C salicylic wash (also very, very gentle) and finally the Dove. No actives, no sunscreen, no moisturisers.
I used the PC BHA lotion 2% a few days ago (one night only) and got a few little red bumps which have now disapeared. Nothing major. Certainly not disfiguring. But how bloody unnecesssary! After all, it was only a one night stand....

But I refuse to give up on it yet!

[MediterraneanMaven]

MM, I hear you! I'm doing as little as possible right now to aggravate my skin. I'm washing with 3 cleansers including Dove extra sensitive bar every third day (too harsh for every day) - so, basically one day of washing with Neutrogena Fresh foaming cleanser which is very gentle, one day of J&J C&C salicylic wash (also very, very gentle) and finally the Dove. No actives, no sunscreen, no moisturisers.
I used the PC BHA lotion 2% a few days ago (one night only) and got a few little red bumps which have now disapeared. Nothing major. Certainly not disfiguring. But how bloody unnecesssary! After all, it was only a one night stand....

But I refuse to give up on it yet!

Ironia,

I feel your pain...LOL  I got those silly red bumps on my cheeks too when I tried to use the BHA again.  Getting rid of the irritation this time around has been exercise in patience and perseverance. 

I'm babying my skin with LRP Toleriane and Rosaliac Cleansers right now.  I like all 3 of them:  LRP Toleriane Dermo Cleanser (I use this one in the morning sometimes when I don't need much to get my skin clean); LRP Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser (this one will last forever because all I need is a pea size amount to cleanser my entire face) and LRP Rosaliac Makeup Remover Gel  (this is a great cleanser, mild yet effective at removing makeup and dirt with no residue left behind).  I use makeup remover wipes first before cleansing in the evening.   I'm using the Rosaliac Skin Perfecting Moisturizer at night and the Grassroot Bamboo Leaf Ultra Soothing Antiredness Cream over it (available at Kohl's).  During the day, it's LRP Rosaliac XL Moisturizer with SPF 15.  My redness and irritation is steadily diminishing and greatly reduced overall.  My skin looks and feels more even, smooth and hydrated.  That's good enough for me.

My retinol products are waiting for my skin to get over the irritation from my last experiment with BHA, too.  I've come to the conclusion that BHA is just simply too strong for me at this stage and that retinol, and sparing use at that, will be all I need to maintain smooth, clear skin.

[ironia]

That would be my ideal routine too, MM. That is, a  soothing, anti-inflammatory cleansing followed by an anti aging rx retinol. Simple, effective, and just out of reach.

I seem to be experiencing skin fatigue as well as irritation. I'm dealing with the skin fatigue by rotating my cleansing products and this also seems to help to prevent irritation as I'm not subjecting myself to potential irritants on a daily basis. I'm also having a couple of days off a week where I do nothing to my skin apart from rinse it in the shower. (We have lovely soft water here.)

I'm eagerly looking forward to using my Differin...one day. Moreover, the great thing about the rx retinol in general (I think this also includes the adapalene) is that it doesn't cause skin fatigue according to Dr B. The irritation is another matter, of course...)

Your skin looks sensational in your photo, btw!

[MediterraneanMaven]

Thank you, Ironia!

My husband took that picture while dining before a night at the opera last season. 

I, too, that your rotation of products is a good idea to avoid irritation.  Ah, the lure of retinol....maybe one day.  LOL

[Amylove]

I have recently heard about this clarisonic product and have read many positive reviews about this. I'm curious about the product due to the many positive feedback I have read, though I am a bit hesitant to try this product, as I don't feel comfortable with using a machine-like tool against my face as it looks quite harsh to use for the skin. Perhaps it's because this product is still a new discovery to me that I don't know whether it is a natural tool to use for the face.

[mady]

I have to say, the results experienced go completely against anyway my skin normally reacts to exfoliants, mechanical or chemical. I can't tolerate retinoids; I work in a dermatology office, so I've tried them all. I can't use RAM, Taz, Differin, Renova,etc. even if I eek into them. I can only use 2 scrubs by Olay after trying dozens. So the fact that this brush hasn't even given me a hint of irritation is nothing short of miraculous!
Ironia, I do think in some way it has strengthened my skin. The only way to describe it is my skin is now like a perfectly smooth tight surface and even the little dry areas and pronounced redness around my nose are gone!! So in that sense I think it clears your skin of any debris, therefore allowing your actives to penetrate better (in my case, metro-gel and rosacea)I am now using less products because the brush does so much for my skin I really only need my cleanser, pm moisturizer and daytime sunscreen!

This is absolutely amazing,would this be the answer??

[MediterraneanMaven]

Mady and Amylove,

What would hold me back from trying the Clarisonic is my high S score.  It's much higher than Loralei's and I would be concerned about aggravating my already temperamental skin again.  I'm only just recovering from my latest BHA attempt and my skin is only now beginning to look and feel smooth and even again.

[julesjasin]

Hi YA!   I too have a Clairasonic and LOVE mine!  I can tell when I am not religious about doing it, that my skin starts to break-out.
So I have to say it is a must
Julie