Skincare Backstock Collection 2019

I am doing an updated skincare backstock update for 2019. This is all skincare not currently in rotation. I do have a bunch of skin care out, don’t you worry. This bin contains face masks that have been in and out of rotation, but masks tend to last longer. They are in backstock until I get some older ones used up first and then, I’ll add these ones back in. Back stock is anything that is not currently in my skincare rotation. I need to keep myself accountable with what I have and use that up before deciding to buy new skincare. There are only a couple of categories that I have only one item in use of. I am allowing myself to purchase anything that doesn’t have a replacement in backstock. I have three backstock bins that I am hoping to consolidate into two by the end of the year. Without further ado, these are all of the products waiting to be cycled into rotation.

CLINIQUE Pep-Start Daily UV Protector

This will be added shortly to my summer project pan, because it needs to be used up this year. I don’t like this sunscreen as it makes my oily skin oiler. It has some sort of emollient in it that leaves a greasy residue that never absorbs all the way into my skin. It might be made for drier skin types. It is slightly tinted. I am confident that I will be able to use this up during the summer as long as I wear it everyday.

ELF Daily Hydration Moisturizer

I plan on pulling this one in when I am done with my mattifying moisturizer, which I feel doesn’t do much. I bought two moisturizers when I previously did an ELF haul. I feel good having a backup for a daily moisturizer. I haven’t found my holy grail yet. I think I will try PIXI or a brand from Sephora unless this one blows me away.

Beauty 360 Brightening Radiance Facial Mask

I haven’t even opened this one yet, so it will remain unopened for the rest of this year more than likely. I have other masks opened in backstock and I will go through those before this one. I am excited to try this one. If it is a sleeping mask, it might get opened this year. This is the only sleeping mask that I have in backstock at the moment. I don’t need to buy masks for a looooong time. I am well stocked with every kind.

SOO AE Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask

So, this is just a sachet packet. I will probably use it up this year, when I want to take a break from sheet masks and do something a little different. Right now, I have two sleeping masks open though. This won’t be utilized for a while. I am looking forward to trying it out though. I love what masks do for my skin. I have oily skin, but if I keep it hydrated, it tends to be more combination. Also, as I am getting closer to my 28th year, my face seems to be getting drier. I am taking that as a good sign. I would love to be combo instead of an oil slick in my t-zone.

Too Cool For School Egg Mousse Soap Facial Cleanser

I started using this, but then decided to work on my deluxe size cleansers. They were piling up! I am down to my last two deluxe sized cleansers, so I will be picking this back up again sometime this year. After, I want to move on to cleansing balms, because I love the moisture that it gives my skin after getting all the makeup and junk off. I used to be a fun of foaming cleansers, but I find them really drying nowadays.

VS Let’s Glow Sheet Mask

I have one last sheet mask from VS. It’s a brightening mask, which I usually use in the morning, so I am waiting for the right time to use this one. I enjoy sheet masks a ton. I usually do one every Saturday night, but sometimes, I’m just way too tired to mask. I try to at least do one every month for a tiny bit of me time.

Drunk Elephant Beste No 9 Jelly Cleanser

I was told that this smells like cantaloupe. I haven’t opened it yet, so I have no clue. lol. I plan on using this next after I use up my current cleanser, which isn’t too far away. I really do not need a backstock of any product. I would much rather order a new one when I’m almost done with my current one. I am working towards the goal of having 1 backstock bin for when I do order and add on items to meet the minimum free shipping. This was part of my free birthday gift, so I feel good about having it in backstock. IT’s everything that I deliberately bought that I feel bad about.

The Ordinary Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%

I totally forgot that I had this serum in my collection. I don’t feel like I need a serum until I’m 30 and it’ll be an anti-aging one. I am using up all in my collection and not repurchasing until then. I no longer support the brand and just want to use what I have up at this point. This isn’t a serum that you can use everyday either. You can only use it a few times a week, so it will take forever for me to use up.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 10-Minute Exfoliating Facial

This is an exfoliating peel face mask, which is unique in my collection. I am not a fan of physical exfoliation on the skin, but I love chemical exfoliates which are gentler on the skin. I am currently using a peeling gel in the shower, so I would not add this in until I use that one up. This is only meant to be on the skin for 10 minutes at the most, so it is great to apply in the shower once I have conditioner in my hair. I can apply this “mask”, clean my body, and then rinse. I would use this 2 to 3x a week at most, because my skin is on the oilier side, I feel like it can benefit from more frequent sloughing of dead skin cells. If your skin is normal or combo, I would suggest 1 to 2x a week. This is unopened and will stay in backstock until I finish my current peeling gel.

The Ordinary Retinol 1%

I totally forgot that I had this. I am actually taking this out of backstock and putting it in my current skincare collection in the bathroom. I put this away during the winter, because it was too drying on my skin. Now, it is getting warmer and summer out. I am pulling it back out to use at night and I am going to try to use it all up this summer. I use this at night. I usually alternate between using a sleeping mask and an oil. Now, I will alternate with this as well at night. Even in the summer, I cannot use this daily and I can only use it 3x a week at most. It has 2/3rds to 1/2 left, so I think I might be able to do it.

Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Masque

I am decluttering this to my mom to use, because I do not have wrinkles that need filling.

MJCARE Sheet Masks Variety

I have 8 more of these sheet masks left that I want to use up. I enjoy wearing sheet masks and I try to do them once every week or so. It’s hard sometimes to try to find the time to mask. I have been reserving them for Saturday nights after a clay mask while doing my homework that is due on Sundays. Sheet masks aren’t a necessary in my skincare routine, but I do enjoy using them. They are very indulgent, but I usually snag them when they are on sale for a dollar or two.

ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

I have three packets in storage and one currently in use. These were $5 for a 2 pack with a total of 40 wipes, which I thought were a good idea. They are moist and effective at taking off makeup and cleaning your face at the end of the night. I sometimes use this in the morning instead of my micellar water. I like to have these one hand for lazy nights when I am too tired to wash my face and do the whole big routine. I won’t need more for quite some time.

The Sharing Co Sheet Masks

Again, I have more sheet masks. I love sheet masks though. Seeing all of these is making me kick myself in the butt that I need to mask more often or at least commit to once a week. I cannot wait to use these up and enjoy them.

Valentia Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask

I received this in PR and have used about half of the jar. I put it away for now to work on my oldest clay mask first. This is a good mask, but it is very messy. This is one that I reserve for when I know that I’ll be taking a shower to rinse it off. I have a few other clay masks that I need to use up before this one. It gives great results, but it is just a really messy removal process that is a pain in the butt. I am good with masks for a while though. I am glad to have so many to choose from, but my back stock is excessive.

L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask

Again, another clay mask. This one only has a few uses left in it, so I will probably use this one up next after I use up the one that I am currently using. I really like this mask and find that it reduces oil production for a few days. It is not cruelty free though, so I will not be repurchasing this. My best friend bought me this for my birthday and I really appreciate it. I love this mask and I would accept it again as a gift anytime. I am sure that this will be featured in an empties post somewhere in the near future.

Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask

Another half way used up face mask. This one is a hydration mask that I am received in PR. This is very similar to a sheet mask as its made to hydrate and plump the face. I really enjoy this mask, but it requires rinsing. I would much rather use a sheet mask or a sleeping mask than get another one of these hydration rinse off masks. I will use it up, but I would not purchase a product like this.

Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask

This mask is almost used up as well. I use this 5 minute mask in the shower. Once I use up all my “shower” face products, I would get another Freeman’s 5 minute face masks to keep in my shower to deep clean my face. With the steam and warm water, they penetrate deep, work fast, and I see results. I thoroughly recommend these masks. Ideally, I still want a “shower” mask, a regular clay mask, sleeping mask, and sheet masks in my collection. I currently have too many. I probably have enough to last to the end of this year.

It is surprising to me that I have 21 face masks including sheet and jar masks. This post does not include the two masks that I just got from my best friend for my birthday, but they will be included in my inventory counts spreadsheet. I need to start masking more than once a week. This is the inspiration that I need to enjoy what I have instead of trying to hoard them. I don’t need to. I have a life where I can buy whatever I want within reason. If I use up all my masks, I can buy new ones. I could even buy a $30 one. I’m not gonna restrict myself, but I want to use up what I have. Otherwise, it’s wasteful. I’m not going to go out and buy a nail polish when I have over 40 at home.

With Love,

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Birthday Hauling: ELF

Last but certainly not least is my ELF haul. There would have been a LUSH haul as well, but my tub isn’t getting fixed until June. It would be a moot point to buy anything now and I doubt that I’ll want to take many baths during the summer. So, a Fall Lush haul is most likely in my future which is fine with me. I’ll make sure to stock up on my favorite Halloween and Christmas staples. For my ELF haul, I basically stocked up on makeup wipes and makeup brushes that were desperately needed in my collection. I ended up with 2 freebies as well, so I am happy about that. My whole haul was $27 USD and change. I need the $25 to get free shipping.

ELF Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths

Each 2 pack was $5, so I spent $10 on makeup wipes for an 80 ct. I think this is a fantastic deal if they work well. I am halfway through my morning cleansing water, which I bought these as replacements for. I am also sometimes really lazy at 11 oclock at night and I thought that these would be really convenient to not sleep in my makeup. I want to keep my skin as clear as possible, especially since I struggle with acne prone skin. Nowadays, its mostly texture acne that I deal with, but still, gotta keep this face clean.

ELF Lip Exfoliator in Mint Maniac

I bought this for $3 to replace my Lush potted lip scrub which is almost used up as a backup since I won’t be doing my Lush order for a few months. By then, the Coco-Cola one should be back in season. The cherry cola is my favorite lip scrub that Lush makes, so I will be a happy girl when I can have it in my life again. Using a lip scrub has become a daily part of my night routine before I wash my face. My lips have never been in better condition. No flakes, plumb, and liquid lippies look fantastic and are easy to apply (as long as the formula is good).

ELF Lash & Brow Wand

I bought this for $1. It is totally worth $1. I use this to comb my brows into place and through my lashes to get rid of any clumps. It won’t work if the mascara is reallllly clumpy, but for minor clumps, it works like a charm. I think I need a lash comb to salvage clumpy mascara, but at that point, I think I’d rather just chuck the mascara. This was much needed in my brush collection though as I had none.

ELF Pointed Powder Brush

This is so incredibly soft! I paid $6 for this brush, mainly for baking/putting powder under my eyes and setting concealer. I can see using this to set my whole face though if I used foundation. I have a big fluffy powder brush, but it is more geared towards the body with how big it is. This is a better size for the face with more control. I can go back to using the other powder brush to apply my Lush powdered dry shampoo. I am so happy to have new brushes in my collection to help my powders perform better. I bet I will see a big difference. I actually like the ELF brushes better than Real Techniques.

ELF Angled Blush Brush

I actually got this $4 makeup brush for free for my birthday. This will be great for blending out blush and contouring the face. I might reserve this for contouring and use a different brush for blush. The angle is perfect for getting under those cheekbones. I have a kabuki brush that I usually use for blush from ECO TOOLS. It is a nice freebie. It isn’t as soft as the other brushes that I bought, but it is still soft and not scratchy.

ELF Ultimate Blending Brush

I bought this brush for $6 and again, the ones with the white tips are super duper soft. I have that dupe Artist foundation brush, but I hate it. I want to be able to chuck it and a few other brushes, but I needed to buy replacements for them first. I wanted a really good blending brush to buff foundation into the skin. I am so happy to have a few brush “empties” for May. I cannot wait to actually use this brush. I have a particular foundation stick from Hourglass that I want to try with this. I have tons of foundation samples that need to be used up before I purchase one from Sephora. I only buy high end base products, so that it doesn’t clog my skin and is healthier for my acne and texture prone skin. Ingredients really do matter and Sephora has a better selection of cruelty free brands. I would try a foundation or cc serum from ELF though, because I haven’t had a problem with their products breaking me out.

 

ELF Need IT Nude Eyeshadow Palette

I also got this $10 eye shadow for free. I am actually happy to have this in my collection. It has good buildable pigmentation, which is what I look for in an eyeshadow palette. I don’t like anything too pigmented unless its a lid shade like the Stila Glitter and Glows. It is soft, but I have felt softer and it has a tendency of being chalky with the matte shades. My Ciate palette is higher quality and doesn’t do that. It is really good for a $10 10 pan palette. That is $1 an eye shadow. The metallics are beautiful and by far my favorite from this palette. I do like the matte rose as well though, even though it didn’t show up great in my photos. The three browns on the end are virtually the same swatched out. The one in the middle has gold flecks in it. They aren’t too dark though, so they will be usable on my hooded eyes for darkening the outer v. This is a great palette for nudes when using other eye shadow products that I have to build a complete look. I’m sure I will have a few pans showing this year.

With Love,

April Empties

I was able to use up my Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Mender and I would not repurchase this. I didn’t notice a difference in my hair at all. I’d rather use something that helps with strength and detangling. My hair gets knots easily, because of how long it is getting. When my hair was at my collar bone, it was very rare to get a single knot in it. I am tempted to do a big chop at the end of the summer to start my hair afresh without all the bleach damage. I also know that my natural hair is light enough to use the brand SPLAT on it for fun colors. I know that purple works specifically on it, because I did that back in 2013 and it was fairly easy to use.

I am decluttering my Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in 45 Orchid Hush. I actually hit major pan and had intentions on using it up. The formula has changed however and it is super crumbly. I don’t enjoy it anymore, so I am throwing it out. This is the oldest bit of makeup out of my collection and I feel like I got my money’s worth. It just would have been nice to have used it up. I am not a fan of cream blushes in general. I’d rather use powder on my oily skin, but I did enjoy the just bitten color it gave my cheeks. Now, I can move onto the cream blush stain in my project pan.

I finished up my sample of the MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite. I really enjoyed this luminous primer and I would purchase this once I am out of my current primer and run out of liquid highlighters to mix in with my lotion that give me the same effect. It does the perfect job of primer the skin, giving me moisture, and a glow that does not emphasize texture or bother my oily skin. It just gives me a nice lit from within glow that I am all about. I am a matte girl through and through, but there is just something about healthy glowy skin (NOT DEWY) that has been calling to my lately. It looks more youthful than a matte look. I’ve been reserving my matte look for long work days in the office and special occasions where I want my makeup to last. Otherwise, I have been rocking a healthy glow instead of a matte complexion.

I also had another sample that I used up of the Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. I really enjoyed this bi-layer makeup remover that I used on my entire face. I would get another sample as a point perk, because it was really nice. If Sephora was cruelty free, I would purchase a full bottle for them too. I highly recommend it for removing all types of makeup efficiently.

Martin bought me this to makeup for me having to go coffee free for a few days and then, his Keurig was broken so I couldn’t even use it! LOL. We got a used Keurig from my mom, so we did manage to use up this Starbucks Breakfast Blend in Medium Roast. I really enjoyed the simplicity of popping in a cup and having a good cup of coffee and the fact that someone else thought of me. I have been eyeing their specialty packs on Amazon like the caramel and the mocha coffees. Seriously considering buying a Nepresso machine and keeping it in our room.

Used up another deodorant because you know, priorities. I still love this brand of deodorant, but I am currently using Secret. I went back to a full strength aluminum deodorant, but I will be going back to this one. It was just sold out at Walmart when I needed deodorant.

Last but not least, I was able to use up my MAC Cleanse Off Oil. It is just a baby sample, but another item out leaves room in my collection. May is my birthday month, so I have a ton of items coming into my collection this month from makeup to skincare. So, even tiny samples I am happy to be out of my collection. I really love cleanse off oils and balms. Once I finish off my full sized cleanser, I will replace it with an oil or a balm. I am more partial to a balm personally, because I feel like it gives my skin an added boost of moisture.

I was able to move out 7 items out of my collection, abide one was a declutter but I had MOSTLY used that one up as well before the texture changed. I writing this post on May 2nd and I feel like I will have maybe ten empties this month. I am mostly working on full sized items, but I do have a few samples and items that already have progress in them. I am trying to work through all of my opened products this year. I will only open a new product if I don’t have something like that opened. Next year, I plan on doing another inventory count and sticking with it. I just had/have so much going on this year that it just fell behind.

With Love,

June Empties

I am sorry again with the late post. I don’t have nearly as much time for my blog as I used it. I still get the joy of blogging and I love it. I just can only do it an hour every Sunday and maybe squeeze in 30 minutes on my other day off. Believe it or not, I can get about 3 posts done in an hour and not skimpy ones either. I am not going to say how fast June has gone, because July is almost gone right now. June is a distant memory right now. I am a fan of lengthy intros in case anyone is wondering. I like to get my thoughts out there before I get to the point.

SKINCARE:

Alba Botanica Acne Dote Deep Pore Wash

VS About Last Night Face Mask

HAIR CARE:

L’Oreal Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Soft Pink

Revlon Colorsilk After-Color Conditioner

MAKEUP:

Dermablend Long Wear Makeup Remover

Bite Agave Lip Mask Sampler

Sample Perfume in Tropical Wish

BODY CARE:

Crayola Bathtub Fingerpaint Soap in Vivid Violet

Hang Ten SPF 50 Sunscreen

Goddess Garden Organics SPF 30 Sunscreen

RANDOM CATEGORY:

Cutex 100& Pure Acetone

Crest 3D White Diamond Strong Toothpaste

Parent’s Choice Diaper Cream

That is a total of 13 empties this month. I have a feeling that the trend of less empties will continue for the rest of the year. I don’t know how I am going to finish up 200 items now. I really need to step up my game and start reaching for products that I can hit pan on. I should also really work on my lip collection as well. I could probably empty a couple of those in August if I really try. July’s basket seems to be a bit empty, so I might have less than this month. I won’t really know until I count them out. I am going to shift my focus to makeup now that I have some of my skincare under control. I don’t have time for eye make when I go to work, so I will be focusing on base and lip products. I will make a better effort to do my eye makeup when I am at home. It is time to get serious, so I can drop some serious dough on makeup next year.

With Love,

 

Sephora Play: April 2017

I am super excited for this month’s mostly skincare box.  I am a skin care fanatic, so I am not complaining about this box. I’d rather have more skincare than makeup any day. I know there has been people complaining about the lack of makeup, but two out of five were makeup related. I don’t think the box was too unbalanced. I recieved this box during the week. I always seem to get it on the third week of the month, which gives me less than 14 days to use my extra 50 points card. If they took the cards online, then it wouldn’t be a problem. I haven’t used the card once, because the closest Sephora is an hour away. It’s only worth it if I am going clothes shopping, which I am doing next week. Expect a huge clothing haul and another small Sephora haul next weekend.

I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of the bag. I decided to use this bags to hold little gifts for the people I work with. One might be promoted to supervisor, so I might add a couple of goodies to this bag and give it to her for congratulations.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs 1.2 ml for $3.86

I really like the scent of this perfume on me and I would consider buying a full size if I couldn’t get my hands on the Donna Karen perfume that I want. I’m not sure that the perfume is selling anymore. Just did a quick search and Macy’s still carries it. I still will consider this perfume though. I would like to have just four perfumes, one for each season. I might bend the rules and get this one though. I need to finish up a few perfumes first. If I finish 6 this year or close to it, I will buy a perfume during the November Sephora sale.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover 25 ml for $3.75

This eye makeup remover is really affordable! If this works well and doesn’t sting my eyes, I will be repurchasing it. I am always on the hunt for a good eye makeup remover that I don’t have to really rub or tug at my eyes with. I’ve been using my Garnier micellular water, but I need something a bit more heavy duty. Hopefully, this doesn’t irritate my eyes and actually works to remove stubborn mascara.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream 7.5 ml for $8.13

So far, this is the most expensive item in the box and I am really excited for it. I love light weight moisturizers. Right now, I have a day and night cream that I don’t really like by Derma E. They are way too heavy for my skin that I only use both at night. Once I’m done with the Glam Glow illuminating moisturizer that I use all over my face and make sure to powder, I will crack open this baby and see if it is light as a cloud but very hydrating. I enjoy Peter Thomas Roth products for the most part. I just think that most of his products are overpriced and that only his masks are really worth it.

Make Up Forever Aqua XL Eye Pencil in M-10 Black for 0.01 oz for $5.25

This is a fourth of the size of the full size, which is very generous for an eye pencil. I will not be using this, so I did not swatch it. Anything I don’t like/want from my subscription box that is makeup, I will be selling to this company that I heard about through Youtube. You send them at least 10 makeup products that is on their list (mostly brands sold at Sephora) and they tell you the low to the highest that you can get for your items. You send it in a prepaid envelope and wait for the check in the mail. It is that easy. You aren’t going to get the best price for your new/gently used makeup, but at least, it’s something. I don’t need another black eye liner. I have to many and I don’t use eye liner, because I don’t have a sharpener. Really need to pick one up at the store next week. I still need to go through about 10 that I own though. I also don’t like black eye liner. I much prefer a color. I only use black in my water line.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 0.25 fl oz for $8

I haven’t tried this primer yet, but I love silicone primers to fill in my pores. I only use primer in my t-zone, where my makeup wears off. This will last me a couple of months of use, I think. I don’t wear makeup everyday, but I love to just minimize my pores everyday. I always use a primer like this and my face looks much smoother. I enjoy trying out new stuff, but I have like three primers before this to use up. I have two illuminating ones, so I might still crack this one out earlier if I want a more matte look. I have been loving the dewy/glowy look lately. I’m surprised by how much I love the glam glow powdered down. Still won’t purchase that, but if this Smashbox doesn’t break me out, I would buy it.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate 0.25 fl oz for $12

I’ve been wanting to try something from Kate Somerville for a long time (hello goatmilk moisturizer) and I am so glad that I received this in the box. I love to use an exfoliating cleanser in the shower, so that’s where this sample will live. I only wash my hair twice a week, which is the perfect amount of times to use this product a week. It is a green cleanser that smells like green tea and mint. This is such a pampering product and the one that I am most excited for.

I really loved this month’s box and I believe that this one had more value than last month due to the focus on skincare. I hope next month has an SPF product in it. I will have to dig through my products to find some facial SPF or I will need to buy some. May is almost here and I use SPF from May to October. So, 5 months out of the year, I wear facial SPF like actual spf. Most of my products have spf in it. I want to buy and SPF spray for the face. I think that would be cool.

This box was worth $40.99. That is such an amazing value! I am happy with 4 out of 5 products, so this month only gets four stars instead of 5. It is still amazing. I am just not happy with the eye liner, if it was in a different color, I would have saved it. I am putting it in my to sell pile though.

With Love,

Oil-free?

For Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

Don’t know why it’s called oil-free when it was an oily mess. I hated the oily residue. This did not make my skin feel nice. It felt gross and I always had to wash my face afterwards. I wouldn’t even say that it did that great of a job. It turned me into panda eyes and took a lot of rubbing to get all of my makeup off. I’m so happy that I finally used it up. It had been taking up valuable cabinet space for a year for just one use left. I finally got myself to use it up and now I can trash it. There is no better feeling than getting rid of something that you hated. I’ve moved onto the Garnier Micellular water, which I’ve already repurchased.

With Love,

Simple Wipes

For Simple Micellar Make-Up Remover Wipes

I didn’t like these. I felt like the cloth was a little too rough and the solution just didn’t remove all of my makeup like a cotton pad and cleansing water does. I use the wipes for when I am too tied to care or in the morning instead of cleansing. I had a coupon so I got the wipes for free. I would not repurchase unless I got one of these coupons again. I like the Equate knock off of Garnier a lot better. I haven’t found a wipe yet that can beat those ones. It was an okay product, but it did not wow me. I like that the wipe didn’t burn or irritate my eyes.

With Love ❤

Clarisonic Mia in Purple

Heya Fellow Gurus!

I was requested this review/discussion post about my Clarisonic Mia by AOIFEHARNEY (http://boopli.wordpress.com/), because she found out that I had one and wanted to know if it is worth all the hype. This is going to be a review filled with my experience and where I purchased my Mia. This is going to be a different kind of post for me and structured different from other reviews of beauty products. I didn’t want to grade each section like usual, because I feel that as a tool, it really matters how you use it rather than how it performs. So, if you want to know what my experience is with my Mia, keep reading! It will be a long, rambly post.

Keeping in tune to how I usually review products, let’s talk about usage. I use my Clarisonic Mia twice a day, everyday. I have oily skin that is sensitive, but using it frequently does not bother my skin at all. I love using this to buff in my cleanser and to help it work better with my skin. To use, I just lightly place the brush/head of the Clarisonic Mia on my face, press the button, and lightly make circles all over my face. I stay away from my eye area, but I do not count how many seconds where. I just concentrate on where I have blackheads and only lightly cover areas that are clear. I mostly concentrate on my nose and around my mouth area to control hormonal breakouts. I charge my Mia every night that I do a chemical peel, which is once a week on Thursdays. It is off the charger right now as I write this review. I soak the brush head once a week in peroxide as well to keep everything sanitary, even though the brush is anti-microbial. I’d rather be safe than sorry. I use my Mia with my regular daily cleanser, Aqua Marina from Lush and I use it with my facial scrubs. I find that using this with a physical scrub helps give my skin a deeper clean. I do not use this to take off my makeup, but I will use my makeup remover using cotton balls, then use cleanser and my Clarisonic to get everything off for a deeper cleanse. My brush is only slightly stained due to my pink cleanser. I believe that that is it for usage. If you have any questions on this section, please leave a comment below. I tried to think of everything, but if I forgot something, feel free to ask. Oh! And I use the sensitive brush head that came with the Clarisonic.

Now, my packaging section is next. I think the device is so cute! I am so glad that I purchased mine in purple, even though it costed a bit more. The Clarisonic Mia isn’t a light weight nor is it heavy. It feels perfect in my hand and is just the right size for facial use. If you plan to use the clarisonic Mia on your body, I would use a seperate brush head for it for sanitary purposes. The brush head is just the right size to cover the larger areas of your face. It is hard to do around your nose, but I find that if I make different faces, the skin flattens and the Clarisonic can better reach those areas. There is only one button for one speed and I really don’t see the need for more. The speed is just fine for me as it vibrates in my hand. My Mia makes a buzzing sound as it vibrates and will make a unique sound to let me know that the battery is getting low. It is the perfect size for everyday and traveling. I like how the size isn’t ackward. I also love the brush cover that comes with it that protects the brush from dust and dirt, until the next time you use it. Again, comment if I missed anything or for questions on this section.

Scent does not really apply here, but my Clarisonic does smell like my cleanser. Lol. Ingredients does not apply as well.

Next is performance, which I will combine with results, since they go hand-in-hand here. I feel that my Clarisonic really does work to get dirt and gunk deep down in my pores. I also have noticed that my pores have gotten smaller from daily usage. My oily face? With this baby, my face is no longer oily by noon, but slightly dewy. By late night, my face is slightly greasy, but who cares?! I will wash my face at night anyways. Using this has dramatically cut down my oiliness, even with using spf. I will start at the beginning. When I got my Clarisonic, I used it faithfully with my own cleanser twice a day. My face was instantly smoother in one use. So, I was uber excited! The first month I did not notice a difference in my skin. It was still breaking out and bumpy as ever. It will be the end of the second month of using this at the end of next week. My face dramatically improved in the second month of using it. My large pores are now medium sized pores. Still rather large, but not as large as they used to be. They are less congested. My number of black heads is decreasing, but still there. It will take awhile to tame those, but I have no worries. I see them improving every week. I used to have at least three cysts a [deep read bumps under the skin that rarely come to a head] day on my face, either fresh or trying to heal. I now only deal with the ocassional cyst one at a time at all times no matter if fresh or healing. The Mia makes them come to a head and heal so much faster. They are gone within three days now, although they still leave a hyperpigmentation mark. This hyperpigmentation problem is new to my skin, but it is going away due to chemical peels and wearing sunscreen religiously. I have no more white heads at all on my face. If one comes up during the day, it is gone by the next day. The Clarisonic brings dirt out, so now the only real acne problems I have are cysts [which aren’t much of a problem now since they are hormonal rather than having blocked pores], blackheads, and congested pores. Over time, I believe the congest bumps on my skin will go away. I found out that a product I use on my face was causing these bumps. Now that it is out of my routine it will take three weeks for my skin to come back to normal. If you have questions on this section, comment please.

Lastly, where did I purchase this real Clarisonic Mia? On Amazon by amazon fullfillment. I purchased mine for 106 US DOLLARS, which is anywhere from 50-100+ US DOLLARS cheaper. Currently, they are selling the purple for 106 US DOLLARS and the pink for 104.99 US DOLLARS. The other colors are not available by fullfillment. I purchased mine from amazon fullfillment, because it is insured to be a geniune Clarisonic Mia or you get a refund with paid postage back. It is a safe bet on getting a real one on the internet. Mine is 100% real with a real identification number on the back that the company verified over the phone for me and online. I am so happy with this, plus the fact that I got it cheaper.

I have been waiting years to buy one and for me, it was a skin changer. I think that the people who complain that it breaks them out might not be using the right brush head for their skin type, uses it too often for their skin type, or it is the cleanser that they are using. Just because the cleanser never broke you out before, doesn’t get it off the hook. You are pushing the cleanser deeper into your pores, so the chemicals in it could be reacting bad with your skin. It can take 3 weeks to three months to see a difference in your skin, especially if you have a flawless face to begin with. Remember, the more imperfections you have, the eariler you will see results, because there is actually stuff to “fix” on your face like acne, clogged pores, uneven texture, and blackheads. Just my two-cents though. I hope this helps for everyone.

If you like this post, please send me more requests, so I can do more like this!

With Love,
Hannahxoxoxo