This is one of those products that you have to try to really believe. I work as a typist and don't make a lot of money, where my pay varies on how much work I do vs. hourly/salary. As a result, I tend to take my purchases, big or small, very seriously. While this certainly made a dent in my bank account, I definitely feel that it was well worth it. In fact, I keep bragging about it to everyone.
I purchased this off a home shopping channel site, which seemed to offer a little bit more for a fair price (more brush heads, full-sized products and samples). Plus, the payment plan option sold me in the long run.
I've had the Clarisonic Plus system for about a month now. I noticed pretty big results, even just in the first week, seeing my crater-sized pores reduce to near-nothingness and now noticing that the worry line along my forehead is going away, as well as the ones along my mouth. Mostly I've seen a huge improvement on the softness of my skin and the bad acne completely vanishing. I couldn't be more thrilled!
I also am prone to blackheads along the nose, but with the help of Biore strips (which don't always do so well on their own), they're almost gone. In fact, I hadn't used strips in several months, but did so after a few days of using the Clarisonic, and hardly anything was left on the strip. It's not perfect for it, but it certainly helps. The crepe-looking skin along my neck is also much better, and I'm noticing a huge difference in the texture that I never realized was an issue before.
The soaps are pretty average, but are holding me over until I can afford the brand that I usually prefer (Bliss - Youth as We Know It). I admit that I've not been using much else than toner and a cheap moisturize until I can afford the rest, yet I'm still seeing fantastic results in what was once seriously ravaged and neglected skin. Even my partner, who hardly washes his face or even that well, has been saying he might use it and has been noticing a difference in my skin. I plan to get him one of his own for Xmas. This baby's mine!
I would recommend doing your own research to determine the right Clarisonic model for yourself, but I am more than happy that I got the Plus, even though I tend to a Gadget Geek, normally preferring top-of-line models, like the Pro. I absolutely love the body brush as well, and it's really helped with the dry patches left behind by dermatitis issues, hard water and dry weather. It's also great for pedicures, too. If you use anti-aging products, like Alpha Hydroxy, and are seeing flakiness, then I noticed altering how much I put it on also helped. However, you may need to exfoliate once a week or so, especially if you have a lot of dead skin built up.
If you're not seeing results or suffering from drier skin, etc., then try switching brush heads, soaps, or alter how many times a day that you use it. I started off with normal, twice a day, but have since moved to sensitive twice a day on a lower speed in the morning and higher one at night, depending on what my activities are or how hormones are fairing. This is also great for those who struggle with exfoliating regularly or sticking to a regimen, especially teens, since it feels good to do and it's almost fun. Addicting, even!
You can find comparison charts on the Clarisonic website, but in short the differences are mainly as follows:
The Mia
** Smaller-sized and good for traveling
** 1 speed: normal
** 1-year warranty (website)
The Classic
** 2 speeds: low and normal
** 30-minute rechargeable battery life
** 2-year warranty (website)
The Plus
** 3 speeds: low, medium and normal (for face)
** Body Mode (when body brush is attached): normal and pulse
** 30-minute rechargeable battery life w/ face brushes; 20-minute life w/ body brush
** 2-year warranty (website)
** Separate control buttons to control power and speeds
The Professional/PRO
** 4 speeds: low, normal, high and professional (for face)
** Body Mode (when body brush is attached): normal and pulse
** 30-minute rechargeable battery life w/ face brushes; 20-minute life w/ body brush
** 2-year warranty (website)
** Separate control buttons to control power and speeds
Note: I'm not sure how the warranty works with Amazon, so you may want to check up on this.
Body Brush vs. Face Brushes
The difference is that the face brushes are set on a timer (20 seconds on forehead/nose, 20 seconds on chin/jaw, 10 seconds on each cheek), which pauses during the process in order to let you know when to move elsewhere, and then it stops once it's done. When you attach the body brush, you can set it on normal speed or pulse, but you won't have it stopping on a timer so soon, like you would with the face brushes.
It is possible to use the face brushes (Classic/Mia), but rather annoying if you're trying to buff your entire body. However, the body brush does seem to pause every 5 minutes, possibly as a reminder of time or to move elsewhere. I'm nearly 6ft tall and do my entire body, yet still have plenty of juice to do my face without any problems. The 20-minute recharge bit is more than generous, as I usually can do it in about ten.
Water Splattering
When researching reviews, I saw a few people commenting on how you would get splattered by water if you tried to watch what you were doing while cleaning your face. This happened to me, but I learned that as you wet the brush to tip it a little and allow the excess water to drain into the sink, then apply your soap and wash your face. This seems to lessen any splattering quite significantly.
I've tried hoards of skincare products in the past and I even worked as a beauty consultant, but I couldn't be more pleased with this product, nor can I rave enough about it. It's probably one of the best purchases that I've made in a long while and I wholly recommend it to men, women and teens.
Edited to Add - Month Two: I noticed my skin, while almost acne-free, still had little bumps that I couldn't get rid of and would vary too much from oily to dry, depending on the weather. I ended up switching soaps again from the Bliss to Burt's Bees Orange Cleanser (which smells like heaven, but may not be good for typically oily skin) and my toner. My skin looks fantastic now! Thrilled! The mini wrinkles are almost impossible to detect without seriously looking, and I'm noticing old acne scars disappearing, too (probably with the aid of other products, mind).
So, for those who use natural, chem-free soaps, the Clarisonic works great with the brushes, though I try to make sure it's truly clean when I'm done. I also let it soak in a vinegar/baking soda solution once to twice a week, which really helps to remove oils/bacteria, and may not be a bad idea for any soaps used. Just make sure you rinse well.