View Full Version : Clarisonic..who uses?
fionatulip
01-28-2012, 12:09 PM
You were right. It wasn't purging; it was a breakout. This thing is going straight back to Sephora. It gave me a bunch of zits around my cheek area, and I never get zits there. I bought the Clarisonic on the 29th of December, and it's the 27th of January and my skin hasn't gotten better, only worse. I should have listened to you.
What brush did you use? The sensitive head may be more appropriate for your skin.
I'm on Accutane right now and just got the clarisonic for Christmas and I'm seriously in love with it. I got the sensitive head because my skin is super fragile right now and it's not harsh on my face at all. I can't really speak to how it's affected my acne because of the meds I'm on but it DEFINITELY has helped with my dry skin. Plus- favorite part about coming home after work is using it to wash off the layers of makeup I've caked on my face during the night.
charlie61
01-28-2012, 12:10 PM
You were right. It wasn't purging; it was a breakout. This thing is going straight back to Sephora. It gave me a bunch of zits around my cheek area, and I never get zits there. I bought the Clarisonic on the 29th of December, and it's the 27th of January and my skin hasn't gotten better, only worse. I should have listened to you.
We all have to find our own truths. I mean, who knows...it could've worked for you. I know I was super disappointed since I totally believe in exfoliation as a way to stave off acne. Now, I just use light acid "peels" (your skin doesn't actually peel) to exfoliate chemically every few weeks. Much better results, and never any breakouts (purging or otherwise). Not to mention...it's cheap!!
Sorry it didn't work for you. Breakouts SUCK! :(
sammii
01-29-2012, 03:09 AM
What brush did you use? The sensitive head may be more appropriate for your skin.
I'm on Accutane right now and just got the clarisonic for Christmas and I'm seriously in love with it. I got the sensitive head because my skin is super fragile right now and it's not harsh on my face at all. I can't really speak to how it's affected my acne because of the meds I'm on but it DEFINITELY has helped with my dry skin. Plus- favorite part about coming home after work is using it to wash off the layers of makeup I've caked on my face during the night.
I used the sensitive brush. My skin is just really sensitive, I guess.
We all have to find our own truths. I mean, who knows...it could've worked for you. I know I was super disappointed since I totally believe in exfoliation as a way to stave off acne. Now, I just use light acid "peels" (your skin doesn't actually peel) to exfoliate chemically every few weeks. Much better results, and never any breakouts (purging or otherwise). Not to mention...it's cheap!!
Sorry it didn't work for you. Breakouts SUCK! :(
I really, really hoped it would work for me. Oh well, at least I can return it to Sephora.
Are peels and chemical exfoliants supposed to help clear up acne? Or just brighten your skin? I'm really clueless about skin products and I'm not even sure what to do now - my skin looks pretty bad. I'm willing to spend whatever it takes for my skin to look nice, but I'm not even sure where to start as far as skincare goes. I only use a really light cleanser everyday and an exfolient twice a week. I'm considering microdermabrasion once a month. It's not cheap, but if it helps my skin it's worth it to me.
charlie61
01-29-2012, 08:39 AM
I used the sensitive brush. My skin is just really sensitive, I guess.
I really, really hoped it would work for me. Oh well, at least I can return it to Sephora.
Are peels and chemical exfoliants supposed to help clear up acne? Or just brighten your skin? I'm really clueless about skin products and I'm not even sure what to do now - my skin looks pretty bad. I'm willing to spend whatever it takes for my skin to look nice, but I'm not even sure where to start as far as skincare goes. I only use a really light cleanser everyday and an exfolient twice a week. I'm considering microdermabrasion once a month. It's not cheap, but if it helps my skin it's worth it to me.
I thought microdermabrasion was something you get done like once a year? I've never done it.
This acid kicks ass:
http://www.amazon.com/Glycolic-Acid-Peel-30ml-Professional/dp/B000PNXBVW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327851327&sr=8-1
And this one is great for acne (I'd recommend it over the glycolic for acne-prone skin):
http://www.amazon.com/Salicylic-Acid-Peel-30ml-Professional/dp/B000PLUZL8/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1327851366&sr=1-1
It totally kills blackheads, and it prevents any acne you have that's non-hormonal. I would wait for your current skin situation to clear up a bit before trying this...you wouldn't want to worsen the situation by further irritating your skin. You can either spot-treat using this stuff, or put if all over your face (I generally stick to the T-zone + acne-prone areas on my cheeks). Start out by leaving it on for 5 minutes (yes, it stings and is uncomfortable, but you shouldn't actually peel at all). Then increase time as your skin gets used to it. Let me know if you have any other questions.
For hormonal acne, Spironolactone (Rx) is INCREDIBLE. Even if you don't have insurance, shell out the money to get a doctor's visit + prescription. It is so worth it. It's for those of us who don't have acne that's bad enough to warrant Accutane, but still have hormonal acne that lowers our quality of life. Do a search on SW for "acne" in Body Business to find more information about Spiro.
sammii
01-29-2012, 07:40 PM
I thought microdermabrasion was something you get done like once a year? I've never done it.
This acid kicks ass:
http://www.amazon.com/Glycolic-Acid-Peel-30ml-Professional/dp/B000PNXBVW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327851327&sr=8-1
And this one is great for acne (I'd recommend it over the glycolic for acne-prone skin):
http://www.amazon.com/Salicylic-Acid-Peel-30ml-Professional/dp/B000PLUZL8/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1327851366&sr=1-1
It totally kills blackheads, and it prevents any acne you have that's non-hormonal. I would wait for your current skin situation to clear up a bit before trying this...you wouldn't want to worsen the situation by further irritating your skin. You can either spot-treat using this stuff, or put if all over your face (I generally stick to the T-zone + acne-prone areas on my cheeks). Start out by leaving it on for 5 minutes (yes, it stings and is uncomfortable, but you shouldn't actually peel at all). Then increase time as your skin gets used to it. Let me know if you have any other questions.
For hormonal acne, Spironolactone (Rx) is INCREDIBLE. Even if you don't have insurance, shell out the money to get a doctor's visit + prescription. It is so worth it. It's for those of us who don't have acne that's bad enough to warrant Accutane, but still have hormonal acne that lowers our quality of life. Do a search on SW for "acne" in Body Business to find more information about Spiro.
I've never done microdermabrasion either, but it's recommended monthly if you want to see an improvement. For the first 6 weeks you're supposed to get it done weekly, then monthly after that. I'm going to have to research it a bit more, though. It might be too much for people with sensitive skin. It usually costs around $100-$150, but it probably depends on where you live. I've heard it's a pretty intense treatment.
Thanks so much for the links. I just bought the salicylic acid one. I'm going to wait until all of my active acne goes away before I use it so I don't spread bacteria, but I'm really looking forward to trying it. I've heard Spiro mentioned on here before but I never really gave it much thought. I've never liked the idea of taking Accutane, so I'm going to research the Spiro - the clarisonic really worsened my acne, so I'm willing to try anything at this point. Thanks again for all the information.
Sabbatha
01-29-2012, 08:33 PM
I tried this as well - unfortunately I tried it the same time as trying out Peter Thomas Roth's Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel , (http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P39274&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=3728) and am trying to figure out if it is the cleanser or the brush that is making my skin look fantastic. Id lean more towards the gel since it has alpha and beta hydroxy acids in it, but my T-zone is the clearest it has been in ages without using that blackhead gunk removing tool.Im going to take a long break from the Olay ProX and see how it fares, but in combo with that cleanser it is incredible
I used to work at Ulta and we sold a TON of PTR Anti Aging Cleansing Gel. I can't say for sure if it's the cleanser or the Olay brush, but it seemed like people really swore by that cleanser, and it's not cheap!
charlie61
01-29-2012, 08:33 PM
^ If you have hormonal acne, then Spiro is a GODSEND. And it's totally benign...definitely do a search for "acne" in body business, or for "Spironolactone" to find discussions on it. Many women on this board have tried it with awesome results!
fionatulip
02-01-2012, 03:28 AM
I've never done microdermabrasion either, but it's recommended monthly if you want to see an improvement. For the first 6 weeks you're supposed to get it done weekly, then monthly after that. I'm going to have to research it a bit more, though. It might be too much for people with sensitive skin. It usually costs around $100-$150, but it probably depends on where you live. I've heard it's a pretty intense treatment.
Thanks so much for the links. I just bought the salicylic acid one. I'm going to wait until all of my active acne goes away before I use it so I don't spread bacteria, but I'm really looking forward to trying it. I've heard Spiro mentioned on here before but I never really gave it much thought. I've never liked the idea of taking Accutane, so I'm going to research the Spiro - the clarisonic really worsened my acne, so I'm willing to try anything at this point. Thanks again for all the information.
If Clarisonic made you breakout...you have no idea what your in for with microdermabrasion. Big no no for acne prone skin...especially if your skin is so sensitive. Microdermabrasion is the reason I'm on accutane now. I never had acne on my cheeks until I had it done and yeah after the treatment all of a sudden I had pizza cheeks (my breakouts were ONLY on my chin and forehead area beforehand). I also ended up with some deep acne scars from it.
sammii
02-01-2012, 03:46 AM
Thanks for sharing ... I researched "micro and acne" the other day, and a lot of people said the same thing, so I'm leaning towards not getting it done until my skin has cleared up. I don't think the clarisonic is a bad product; I just think it spread the acne that I already had. I don't think harsh treatments, like the clarisonic and micro are meant for people with acne. Sorry you broke out ... I've also never had acne on my cheeks until I used the clarisonic. Has your skin cleared up yet?? I found some Retin-a in my bathroom, so I'm going to try it for a bit and see if it helps.
I was talking to this girl at the MAC counter, and she has sensitive acne-prone skin and she swears by the Dermalogica line. I love my cetaphil, but I've been looking into the Dermalogica line for awhile ... I'm curious if it's worth the money. Also, I thought it was kind of funny that the girl at the MAC counter was recommending an Ulta product, lol, but she swore by it.
charlie61
02-06-2012, 08:35 PM
If Clarisonic made you breakout...you have no idea what your in for with microdermabrasion. Big no no for acne prone skin...especially if your skin is so sensitive. Microdermabrasion is the reason I'm on accutane now. I never had acne on my cheeks until I had it done and yeah after the treatment all of a sudden I had pizza cheeks (my breakouts were ONLY on my chin and forehead area beforehand). I also ended up with some deep acne scars from it.
Oh wow...I did NOT know this. Thank you so much for the information! I thought microdermabrasion was, like, a seriously intensive acne treatment.
I've never done microdermabrasion either, but it's recommended monthly if you want to see an improvement. For the first 6 weeks you're supposed to get it done weekly, then monthly after that. I'm going to have to research it a bit more, though. It might be too much for people with sensitive skin. It usually costs around $100-$150, but it probably depends on where you live. I've heard it's a pretty intense treatment.
Thanks so much for the links. I just bought the salicylic acid one. I'm going to wait until all of my active acne goes away before I use it so I don't spread bacteria, but I'm really looking forward to trying it. I've heard Spiro mentioned on here before but I never really gave it much thought. I've never liked the idea of taking Accutane, so I'm going to research the Spiro - the clarisonic really worsened my acne, so I'm willing to try anything at this point. Thanks again for all the information.
I've done a series of "micro-peels", which is microdermabrasion followed by a chemical peel, like what Charlie posted. There are different types of microdermabrasion, I opted for the diamond tipped wand machine. My esthetician said it was the best, but this was a few years ago. I've even heard now they have a diamond tipped wand microdermabrasion machine that actually vibrates, and an ultrasound microdermabrasion system also that uses water.
Check out this link for more info: http://www.chlasermd.com/dynamicdata/microdermabrasion.asp
Anyways, I don't know what you are trying to correct on your complexion, but IMO, I kind of wish I hadn't done those treatments. I didn't realize how intense micro peels can be, and if you don't baby your skin for a long time afterwards until it completely heals (like around a year!) then you can cause even more damage. I went out ONE DAY without sunscreen during the Summer, a few months after my micro peels, and I noticed that my face no longer tans in a uniform fashion. Now, where she did the microdermabrasion and chemical peel, it becomes darker and more mottled than where she didn't. So I have what looks like white rings around my eyes with severe melasma. My face no longer tans evenly, but freckly and sun damaged brown mottled reddish color. I've gone to doctors and derms, and really the only explanation I've gotten is that it is hyperpigmentation. They say your skin/melanin kind of resets, and you have to really avoid any sunlight until your skin completely goes back to normal, which you can't even tell. I thought I was completely healed, but I guess I wasn't.... It may have been because she had used lactic acid, 11% I believe, which is good for discoloration. Don't get me wrong, my face looked AMAZING after the sheets of skin peeled off, but I should've been more careful for a while after that.
I personally really like the Clarisonic! I am using the deep pore cleansing head, and it's really not that different from the sensitive head. It's not any harsher IMO. I'm using the Peter Thomas Roth orange anti aging cleansing gel, and I REALLY like that! You can slightly feel the sting when you use it from the glycolic acid, but it does a good job of cleaning out my pores in conjunction with the Clarisonic.
Also, if you haven't tried Amazonian clay mixed with apple cider vinegar do it NOW! all I can say is Wow!!!
charlie61
02-07-2012, 07:16 PM
Also, if you haven't tried Amazonian clay mixed with apple cider vinegar do it NOW! all I can say is Wow!!!
Oh, really?? How do you use it? What kind do you buy? What benefits have you noticed?
fionatulip
02-08-2012, 06:55 AM
Thanks for sharing ... I researched "micro and acne" the other day, and a lot of people said the same thing, so I'm leaning towards not getting it done until my skin has cleared up. I don't think the clarisonic is a bad product; I just think it spread the acne that I already had. I don't think harsh treatments, like the clarisonic and micro are meant for people with acne. Sorry you broke out ... I've also never had acne on my cheeks until I used the clarisonic. Has your skin cleared up yet?? I found some Retin-a in my bathroom, so I'm going to try it for a bit and see if it helps.
I was talking to this girl at the MAC counter, and she has sensitive acne-prone skin and she swears by the Dermalogica line. I love my cetaphil, but I've been looking into the Dermalogica line for awhile ... I'm curious if it's worth the money. Also, I thought it was kind of funny that the girl at the MAC counter was recommending an Ulta product, lol, but she swore by it.
I used Dermalogica in high school when I barely had acne (like a pimple here and there, like your average teenager) and I loved it. Before I had this awful experience from the microdermabrasion I was using the Dr. Dennis Gross skincare line and I feel like that was the only product line that reduced my bad hormonal acne when it occurred. If my derm doesn't recommend anything for me post-Accutane, my first stop will be to Sephora to purchase those products again.
Also...some people I know who have had bad acne swear by laser treatment. 2 girls I know who have had it done...I'm so envious of their skin now but the cost of it was/is too much for me right now.
Oh, really?? How do you use it? What kind do you buy? What benefits have you noticed?
I'm dyslexic, it's Aztec clay.... I posted a thread about it, and it's mentioned on acne forums also....
sammii
02-08-2012, 11:33 PM
I used Dermalogica in high school when I barely had acne (like a pimple here and there, like your average teenager) and I loved it. Before I had this awful experience from the microdermabrasion I was using the Dr. Dennis Gross skincare line and I feel like that was the only product line that reduced my bad hormonal acne when it occurred. If my derm doesn't recommend anything for me post-Accutane, my first stop will be to Sephora to purchase those products again.
Also...some people I know who have had bad acne swear by laser treatment. 2 girls I know who have had it done...I'm so envious of their skin now but the cost of it was/is too much for me right now.
Thanks. I think I'm going to try Dermalogica after my skin gets a bit better. I'm using acne anti-biotics right now.
What's the laser treatment called? Also, did you notice any long-term major side effects from taking Accutane? My Dr. is trying to prescribe it to me, but almost all the reviews about it are negative and it seems like a lot of people regret taking it. I know it clears up acne completely, but I'm wondering about hair falling out, loss of vision, etc.
charlie61
02-09-2012, 06:08 AM
^ I would try Spironolactone first. It's pretty amazing stuff, and mild to no side effects.
sammii
02-09-2012, 06:22 AM
^ I would, but I thought you said it only works for hormonal acne. I don't think my acne is hormonal. It might be, but I don't think it is because I don't notice a change in my skin during my period. I will still probably give the spiro a try if the antibiotics don't work if the derm thinks it could be hormonal. Thanks for the suggestion, by the way.
Edit: I read online that spiro causes weight loss. Score. Even if it didn't help my acne, at least I'd lose a few lb's, lol.
charlie61
02-09-2012, 06:59 PM
^ Well, your hormones may be constantly off-kilter--they may be unbalanced all of the time, whether it's around your period or not...in which case Spiro would help. It's certainly worth a try before doing something drastic like Accutane.
sammii
02-09-2012, 10:53 PM
Thanks, Charlie!! In my opinion, my acne is nowhere near bad enough to warrant Accutane *knock on wood.* My Dr. said if my acne didn't clear up in 2 months, she would prescribe me Accutane, but I told her I would rather try something less extreme. If my current regimen doesn't work, I'll definantly mention Spiro. I've read a lot of good reviews about it on here. Right now, I'm taking Doxycycline and Clindamycin. I'll update if it helps.
I finally purchased a Clairisonic Mia last week after wanting one for over a year. There is a woman at work in her 40's who has AMAZING skin. I am always asking her what her secrets are and she told me that she uses one. At that point I was sold. I absolutely love mine! I feel like my face cleanser (murad aging/acne) actually soaks into my skin. My face feels so soft, smooth and supple. When I put my moisturizer on it soaks into my skin versus just sitting on top making me look shiny. I haven't had to wear as much make up, even to work.
I have combination skin. Some hormonal breakouts along my jawline. I have clogged and enlarged pores. I have noticed a great improvement on the overall clarity and tone of my skin. I recommend this to anyone who wants to get the most out of there products. I haven't had the initial breakout that some others have experienced. But even if I did, I think I would be ok with it. Since that junk was just sitting under my skin.
I say get one! I can't imagine washing my face without it. My face feels so amazing, I can't believe I waited so long to buy one!
CinnimonKiss
02-28-2012, 04:45 PM
I was just about to buy the Clarisonic Mia, then decided to go with the Olay Pro brush.
I have been using it for about a month now and just recently seeing results. I had horrible acne, and a even worse picking addiction. My face has tons and tons of acne scarring.. so at night i wash with the Olay Pro with Cetaphil and a little bit of baking soda sprinkled on the brush, and it makes my face feel amazing! Try it with ur cleanser and ur brush, i guarantee u'll LOVE it !! ;D Also i just ordered sum glycolic acid peel 20 % to start using aswell to help fade the scarring.
h0ttie
02-28-2012, 09:33 PM
on the bottom of the page:
"Visitors found this page by searching for:
clarisonic dildo, clarisonic as dildo, clairsonic dildo"
...lol
hf487
08-25-2012, 06:58 AM
I've had my Clarosonic MIA for awhile but i hardly used it b/c when i first got it i was using it nightly and it dried my skin out completely all around my chin so i stopped using it, i started getting Micro-sweeps (which is alot like a Microderm) and the girl giving me the treatment told me i should start using it again in between treatments so i did Nightly.... I used it for about 2 weeks and i started to get Cystic acne around my chin like i used to get when i was in Highschool. I haven't been using it for like a week now and my skin is completely clearing up. Thank god but i think it works for some not all, Def not me!
I'm giving it to my GF b/c i can't find the packaging to send it back. Id just say keep ur receipt b/c it totally F*d my skin up. Thought it''d work
but i think its just the iritation along with the bacteria in the brush and even tho i just replaced it and keep it clean i dont like it....
whirlerz
08-26-2012, 12:31 AM
Wow, forgot about this thread..see, the above's why I'm kinda scared to use it, + I can get those tiny red veins,,idk
I just bought Simple exfolitating cloths, I am going to try those like 2x a week or so.