Clarisonic Mia: Do you need one?

How many times have you seen this cutie little device?

Yes, yes, it's obligatory beauty blogger criteria to own a, err, vibrating face brush. Really.When I first heard about the Clarisonic Mia about two years ago; it's safe to say I was fairly perplexed. Why do I need this? I'm sure those Mediterranean grandmas you always see with AMAZING skin didn't have a Clarisonic. Surely I can do without, too?

If there was a big question mark in skincare at the moment, the jury would certainly be out on the Clarisonic Mia (£120). The Clarisonic Mia promises to deliver some pretty impressive stuff:

• - Removes more makeup than manual cleansing
• - Helps to prepare the skin for your usual skin care regime
• - Leaves skin feeling smoother and healthier
• - Tightens the appearance of visible pores
• - Helps remove sebum
• - Helps to improve the appearance of skin tone and texture

Does it deliver? Yeah, kinda.

I have extremely oily and acne-prone skin. It has been the absolute bane of my beauty life since I was about 14. Unfortunately, stress and one last surge of teenage hormones has made my skin absolutely terrible as of about July 2012. Did the Clarisonic Mia clear up my skin? No. Does this mean I regret buying it? Not at all.

The truth is, nothing fixed my skin until I spoke with my GP and had it topically treated. It's still a work in progress. So, my Clarisonic didn't fix my skin but I still love it!

The best differences I noticed in my skin were reduced visibility of pores and reduced production of sebum, as well as smoothing my skin gently. As someone with VERY oily skin, (noticeable shine and breakup of foundation within 1-2 hours) washing with the Clarisonic somehow reduced my oilies. I was AMAZED that it did that! Simultaneously, my once-very prominent pores have appeared far less visible. Makeup goes on so much more smoothly in a way that the average exfoliating product does not achieve.

Because of this exfoliation, cell turnover is significantly improved: so although I have temperamental skin, the spots heal so much faster than before. I didn't seem to have a purging stage, but since my doctor referred to my acne as 'severe,' I probably wouldn't have noticed if I did have one.

I remove my makeup before I wash with the Clarisonic, but I do notice a deeper, more thorough clean when I use it as opposed to wash and go. I wouldn't use this to cleanse away my makeup, it just seems kind of icky somehow.

The Clarisonic Mia holds a 20 minute charge, so if you use it twice daily (each cycle lasts a minute) you'll need to recharge every ten days. I use my Clarisonic generally in the evening, at my own discretion. I don't think twice daily is necessary and it might even be too much. The Sensitive Brush Head that comes with it is very good, but in order to use it more frequently to reap the benefits with every wash; I think I'll be purchasing the Delicate head in the near future. The size is also a nice feature: it's a wee little thing, so it fits in your bag if you're on a flight or have a small over-night bag.

Pros-

• Notably reduces production of oils, without stripping the skin.
• Significantly reduces visibility of pores, particularly on the inner cheeks.
• Gently but effectively exfoliates.
• Convenient size. 
• Variety of brush heads to cater to different skin types.

Cons-

• It's expensive- if you have the cash, it's lovely but it didn't cure my acne.
• Recharging every ten days...lazy folk might not care enough.
• Lots of people report a purging stage. I can't vouch for it, but it's something to be aware of.

Honestly, I love my Clarisonic. It's a great part of my routine that makes my skin look better and gives a great base for my foundation. No, it didn't clear up my acne. But most of the people I see who say their blemishes are reduced have few blemishes and not cystic acne. If you have acne, do not expect your skin to miraculously clear up. Yes, your skin will look softer and generally more clear, but it doesn't fade acne scars or prevent cysts from EVER appearing on your face. As I said, spots do heal faster when I use my Clarisonic but it's in my genes to have acne, so I wasn't expecting a small external change like a vibrating face brush to do the trick. 

Overall, whilst I'm so happy to have my Clarisonic, I'm glad I got it for a reduced priced during a sale on Escentual.com. £120 is a lot for this product. If I lost it or broke it, I would still buy another. I love the effects it has on my skin, even if it's far from flawless. It is a hell of a pretty penny to drop just to try it out but from my perspective, I do recommend it. 

Do you own the Clarisonic Mia? What are your thoughts?