I Only Washed My Face with a Clarisonic for One Month — Here’s What Happened

You’ve heard it time and time again that cleansing is one of the best ways to maintain the health look of your skin. Removing dirt and impurities off your skin’s surface twice per day can help keep clogged pores and breakouts at bay. Until recently, I had been applying cleanser and massaging my skin with my hands, but in an effort to take my cleansing routine to the next level I swapped in a Clarisonic facial cleansing brush. These revolutionary devices can remove makeup and cleanse the skin up to six times better than hands alone, so I put that claim to the test. For one month I gave up cleansing with my hands in favor of a Clarisonic Mia 2 after receiving a complimentary device from the brand. Curious to know how it went? Keep reading to find out!

THE BENEFITS OF USING A CLARISONIC

Clarisonic facial cleansing brushes can offer a slew of benefits for your complexion. Need more specifics? Here are four reasons why you should be adding a Clarisonic device to your skin care routine.

Benefit #1: It can remove makeup & cleanse skin better than your hands alone.

If you’re simply using your hands to massage face wash onto your complexion, the truth is you could be getting a deeper clean. As we mentioned earlier, Clarisonic facial cleansing brushes can remove makeup and cleanse the skin six times better than your hands alone thanks to strategically designed brush head bristles and revolutionary sonic cleansing technology. 

Benefit #2: It’s gentle on the skin.

According to Clarisonic Head of Education Heather Forcari, many people are afraid of adding a Clarisonic to their routine in fear that the device won’t be gentle. You can put your fear to rest, however, because Forcari explains that Clarisonic facial cleansing brushes are tested extensively to ensure that they are gentle to use on all skin types, even sensitive. “If we can oscillate it on an egg yolk, clearly it’s gentle,” she says. 

Benefit #3: You can use it daily.

There’s no denying that Clarisonic facial cleansing brushes can be a splurge, but you’ll certainly be getting your money’s worth thanks to how often the device can be used—twice per day, every day. “The good news about Clarisonic is that you want to be using it constantly in every season,” Forcari says. More good news? If you’re new to Clarisonic devices, you can integrate one into your routine pretty easily. “It is so gentle and it really does work into your routine almost immediately with no issue whatsoever,” says Forcari. 

Benefit #4: You can target your skin concerns.  

In addition to removing impurities and dirt from your skin’s surface, you can use a Clarisonic facial cleansing brush to target specific skin concerns. Whether you’re dealing with acne or visible signs of aging, there’s a Clarisonic brush head, cleanser, and device that has been developed to cater to your skin’s needs.

I USED A CLARISONIC FOR ONE MONTH & HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED

As someone who struggles with sensitive and dull-looking skin, it only made sense for me to pair these three pieces together for my little experiment: Clarisonic Mia 2 Facial Cleansing Brush, Clarisonic Delicate Face Brush Head and Clarisonic Radiance Foaming Milk Cleanser. All three were given to the Skincare.com team compliments of the brand. Below, I share a quick breakdown on each product, as well as my thoughts on the overall experience.

The Brush: Mia 2 Facial Cleansing Brush, $169 MSRP 

What It Does: Keeping all skin types in mind, this facial cleansing brush can help remove makeup and improve the look of your skin. The device features a 1-minute T-timer to cue you when it’s time to cleanse a different area of the face, so as not to over-cleanse one spot. Plus, I found the facial cleansing brush very easy to operate. While I paired my Mia 2 with the brand’s Delicate Face Brush Head, the device is compatible with a variety of Clarisonic brush heads so you can easily choose your favorite one.

Why I Love It: I had a great experience using the Mia 2 Facial Cleansing Brush. In addition to being incredibly easy to use, I was really grateful for the device’s 1-minute timer that beeps as a reminder to move onto the next zone of your face. Sometimes I’m guilty of giving less cleansing attention to certain areas of my face, so this feature really helped me stay on track. 

The Brush Head: Delicate Face Brush Head, $27 MSRP 

What It Does: Suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin types, the Delicate Face Brush Head can help remove dirt and impurities while feeling gentle on the skin.

Why I Love It: The exceptionally soft bristles on this brush head provided a truly comfortable experience.

The Cleanser: Radiance Foaming Milk Cleanser, $19 MSRP 

What It Does: Rich in botanicals, this foaming milk cleanser can help reveal a smoother and more even-looking complexion. 

Why I Love It: My formerly dull-looking skin was grateful for this radiance-boosting milk cleanser. I can’t recommend it enough to those dealing with stressed, dull, or tired-looking skin.

MY FINAL VERDICT 

All in all, I had a wonderful experience using these three Clarisonic products. Not only did the cleansing ritual become something I genuinely looked forward to morning and night, I was also extremely impressed by the results I received in return. 

While I did thoroughly enjoy cleansing my skin with a Clarisonic (and plan to continue doing so), I did notice a few pimples on my skin when first using this device. This reaction is not uncommon, which is why Forcari recommends incorporating a Clarisonic into your routine for the first time—especially before a big event or occasion—with ample time prior to the engagement to account for a potential flare-up in pimples. “Sometimes when you start something new, your skin needs time to adjust to it,” she says. “That’s something that I would want to remind people.”

And she was right. Once my skin adjusted to the new normal, my skin eventually looked much better. One month in, my skin felt deeply cleansed, smoother, and softer.

Already have your own Clarisonic device ready to go at home? Here’s a good tip: Change out your brush head every three months. Brush heads are made up of filaments gathered into small tufts, and when they start to get dirty, the bristles won’t work as effectively as they did when they were brand new. For more Clarisonic best practices, skim these tips here.