Hello Hello!
I've been wanted to do a skin care post for a while now but just haven't had the time. During all of the holiday sales that plague us during Thanksgiving and Christmas I picked up an exfoliating device! I have had my eye on the Clairisonics for a while but honestly didn't want to spend $100+ on one. So I looked around and eventually have up. When I get bored I get online at Ulta and Sephora and places and just look and read up on products. A few days after Thanksgiving I found a device similar to the Clairisonic but Ultas version. It was only $25 and on sale that day which made it $12.50. Of course I couldn't turn that deal down. I really wasn't expecting very much from it but I thought I'd give it a try! I don't remember the exact name of it but I'll post the link at the end. It's something like the Duel Action Cleanser or something. I LOVE this thing. I wish I would have bought it sooner! My poor skin has really been missing out. The reason it's taken me so long to post this is because it took forever to ship to me. I guess between Black Friday shoppers and last min Christmas shoppers Ulta was swamped. Anyway, I ordered it December 2nd and it finally got to me December 20th! I wanted to use it for a while before I gave a review. So here we go.
Here is the actual device.
I love this thing! My skin has never been better. It's softer, less oily, smoother - amazing. I've always had large pores and oily skin. My skin has been that way ever since I started paying attention and probably longer. I've tried EVERYTHING I could find to shrink my pores and nothing works. I tried masks, washes, scrubs, tightening devices, steam devices, those painful little nose strips; they all suck! Nothing had ever worked for me. However, literally a week after using this thing my entire face was tighter and my pores were SMALLER! Not only were they smaller, a lot less of them were visible. I was so excited. I kept blabbing to my husband who I'm sure thought I was insane.
Another plus - the oil production in my skin has decreased. This is not always a good thing but in my case, it is. During the day, especially at school or work, my face would get so oily. I couldn't stand it. I use to carry those blotting papers but I would always end up blotting with toilet paper as reapplying powder anyway by lunch. It was bad. And gross. I hated it. Like the pore issue I tries tons on products to help control the oil and nothing. Since using this device my skin is NOT oily anymore. At all. I finally have normal skin! I can use heavier beauty oils and not over do it! I can use creams and moisturizers and it be okay! Ahh! I'm so excited. I know I sound crazy but I'm telling you, I love this thing. I wish daily I would have taken a before picture of my skin before I started using the thing so I could show you but I didn't even think about it at the time.
Here are my steps:
1. Simply put the thing together and wet it.
I like to use warm-hot water so it opens my pores while cleaning.
2. Add your favorite cleanser.
I don't use this cleanser everyday but I did today so you know. Mu was using this cleanser 3-4 times a week but because of the exfoliating and less oil production I now only use it like twice a week.
3. Make sure it's foaming up.
Of course if you're using a cream cleanser you can skip this. I always like to make sure it's foaming first before I put it on my face because I wash my face in sections for a certain amount of time.
4. Break it up!
I break my face up into section. I do #1. For 30 seconds. #2 for 20 seconds because it's more sensitive than the other areas of my face and #3 for 30 seconds. If you can see them, in the middle of each section I have a dotted line. This is how I break it down even further. I do 10-15 seconds on each side to ensure both sides of my face get the same amount of time.
5. Wash it off and Moisturize
Like any last step, wash of the cleanser and Moisturize! I've been using the Tarte oil for a few weeks now but more about that later. Also I like to use warm water to rinse and then come back with ice cold water to tighten pores before I PAT dry and apply oil.
The whole thing is really very simple and it does such wonders for your face!!
•Caution• this thing does not come with instructions. It is very important that you do not over-do it. You end up with dry, red, flaky and itchy skin which is never attractive. It's important to know your limits and it's easy to go over board with out even knowing it. It should not be painful to use this thing. If at any time you feel pain or irritation you're going to far.
Also, for many people 2-3 times a week is plenty!! Don't think using this thing every night with improve your skin even faster. That's simply not true. When you are using it it's also important to remember to be gentle. You don't need to push when using it. Just simply turn it on and run it over your face. Pushing can cause more harm than good!! If your skin gets to dry, itchy or irritated lessen the amount you're using the device and be sure to apply a good Moisturizer or face oil. Do not use the product more than once in a night. That's really harsh on your skin!
More than likely your skin will break out a little bit after you start using it. Your skin is cleaning and slothing off dead cells. It's easy for it to become agitated. It's like using a new cleanser, sometimes you break out before you get better. It's your skin getting use to this new routine. Don't let that turn you away. Keep up with your routine. It'll eventually pay off.
Stay beautiful everyone!
-EBR-
FYI I am not and was not paid to say these things. I am honest about my reviews!! I wish I got paid haha!!
Link to purchase:
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod4190353#pr-header-back-to-top-link