BellaSugar

Is This Face Scrubber a Match For Clarisonic?

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:35 -0800

Do you squeal with joy upon finding a much (much) cheaper alternative to an expensive beauty item? Of course. At any rate, you all know what I've had to say about my Clarisonic, but at almost $200, it's most certainly an investment. For about $150 less, there's the Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush ($41.50). While I haven't tried out this much (much!) cheaper version of the expensive original, I'm wondering if you have. If so, tell us all about it. Is it as good as the highly sought-after Clarisonic, or is it a cheap imitation?

Reader Review of the Day: Clarisonic

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:10:03 -0700

As you know, I am a big fan of my Clarisonic, even putting it in places where the sun don't shine. And judging by the number of glowing reviews from readers, they're loving it, too. Reader Lovelie says it's all about finding the right cleanser:

I will admit that I had some problems with the Clarisonic when I first got it. I was using a really harsh cleanser with it and ended up overstimulating my skin and breaking out . . . BADLY! For the last few years, I have been plagued with blackheads under the skin but no acne. Well after using the Clarisonic with my MdForte cleanser, I had acne. It was terrible. So I stopped using it for a while, let my skin heal, and switched cleansers to a gentler cleanser, Philosophy Purity. Well, this was the magic combination, because my skin has clarified itself to a point that it hasn't been in years. Stubborn blackheads that wouldn't BUDGE pre-Clarisonic made their way to the surface where eventually they just popped out. My conclusion is that you have to pick the right cleanser to go along with this.

For the record, I agree; using a glycolic cleanser with Clarisonic was a bit much, but a gentle cleanser worked wonders. BTW, it's the last day of our $500 gift certificate giveaway from Benefit. To enter, check out the rules - and be sure to write three reviews today to qualify for the contest. Just head over to Product Reviews and get going. Good luck!

The Clarisonic Diaries: In Which Things Go Too Far

BellaSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:11 -0700

I debated long and hard with this installment of the Clarisonic diaries. There's been a Clarisonic-buying trend at Sugar headquarters, and we all unanimously agree that it's improving our skin. When we congregate before meetings, we talk about our deep and abiding love for the gadget's pore-shrinking, skin-softening capabilities. I've even named mine Claire for short. Our cultlike devotion to this gadget is a little out of control.

Speaking of "out of control," this is where things get personal. Since Claire is waterproof, you can take her into the shower. It wasn't long before I realized that a little sonic cleansing on the neck and décolletage makes that skin so smooth and soft. This morning, as I was cleansing, I thought, "Ooh, my clavicle skin is as soft as a baby's bottom." Then I thought of Babyassface, and then - I think you know where this is going. If you dare, read more.

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but yes, dear reader, it's true: I Clarisonic-ed my bum. OK, so really, it's more the back half of my hips than the actual bottom, but I did it just the same. And it made my skin SO soft that now I wish for a larger, body-exfoliating super 'Sonic to more efficiently remove the dead skin from my body. It might be time for an intervention.

The Clarisonic Diaries: A (Greasy) Update!

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:00:20 -0700

Now that I've been using my Clarisonic ($195) for a few weeks, I think it may be time for an intervention. As dorky as this sounds, I now look forward to washing my face; the brush just leaves my skin so soft and smooth that it's hard not to get hooked.

Unfortunately, I learned a lesson the hard way. At first, I used the Clarisonic night and day, happily buzzing away dead skin. All went well at first, but within a week, my face was much shinier than usual by mid-afternoon. (And we're not talking the soft, dewy glow of youth, either.) Fortunately, after reducing my Clarisonic use to before-bedtime cleansing, my face responded well, and Exxon-Mobil is no longer harassing me to secure oil rights to my face.

A few more benefits are starting to sprout, too: My pores appear smaller because they're not so clogged, and on good days, my foundation-free skin looks healthy and fresh-faced. Plus, I went to visit my mom, and it's not just me who's crazy about Clarisonic; after using it just once, Mama Bella is dropping some heavy hints as to what she'd like for her birthday. But the question remains: Is Clarisonic worth the nearly $200 it costs? The answer to that - or my opinion, anyway - will be revealed next week.

The Clarisonic Diaries: Week One

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:00:59 -0700

There are two beauty gadgets people usually ask me about: No!No! and Clarisonic. As far as No!No! is concerned, you can read my review here. But until last week, I'd never tried Clarisonic ($195). The oscillating brush uses sonic technology, promising to remove six times more makeup than regular cleansing, while reducing the appearance of fine lines at the same time.

My buddy Philleif recently bought a Clarisonic, and he won't stop raving about it. (He may or may not have mocked me for being behind the times.) But now that I've been sent one to review, I'll keep you posted on whether his (and Oprah's) Clarisonic evangelizing is deserved. For my first thoughts, read more.

I've been using my Clarisonic for only a few days, and as the weeks progress, I'll update BellaSugar with my thoughts. So far, so good. Because Clarisonic is supposed to clean better than soap and water alone, I did a few unscientific tests to see if there was any difference. I washed my face the regular way, then followed it by cleansing with Clarisonic to see if it picked up any residue.

I've always thought that I take good care of my skin, particularly when cleansing, but, uh, I was wrong. Even after cleaning my face, I'd use Clarisonic and be amazed by how much additional dirt and makeup it removed. Clarisonic lifted up bits of blush and powder that were invisible to the naked eye, but when they turned up on Clarisonic's bristles, I couldn't believe how much I'd missed in my first cleansing. You know how you'll sweep your floor, and it looks clean, but then you Swiffer it and find so much more dust? It's like that.

I'm less than a week into my Clarisonic cleaning spree, though, so who knows what other discoveries await? Will it reduce the appearance of my pores? reduce oil? make my other skin care products more effective? I'll keep you posted!

Sonic Care For Your Complexion

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 09:52:10 -0700

The inventors of the infinitely amazing Sonicare toothbrush have now brought us the Clarisonic Sonic Skin Care Brush Kit. This cleansing brush is extremely gentle on your face, so you can use it everyday, even if you suffer from acne or rosacea. The super-soft bristles oscillate at 300 movements per second to open pores to remove dirt and oil. I love that it's water resistant, so you can use it in the shower while your pores are steamed and open.

Much the way the Sonicare is more effective for cleaning teeth, the Clarisonic is twice as effective as manual washing. Plus, since it increases product absorption, you only have to use a little bit of cleanser. Clarisonic is intended to reduce oily areas, dry skin patches, visible pores, and pimples for both men and women. You can buy the kit here for $195, which gets you a waterproof cordless brush handle, two brush heads, a countertop charger, and a 2-ounce daily cleanser, though you can use whatever cleanser you prefer. If it's anything like the Sonicare, this thing could change your life.

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:00:16 -0700

Glamour decides to go plus-sized for a month - TresSugar
. . . and some thoughts on Glamour's "plus-sized" move - Glossed Over
How does the smaller Clarisonic stack up? - Beauty Snob
A paraben-free alternative to cult classic Stila Kitten - Beauty Blitz
Dreamboat Robert Pattinson almost had a different Eddy Cullen hairstyle - Allure
The best celebrity bobs - In Style
Passionate arguments against using bar soap! - Lemondrop
Oh no! Kate Gosselin's celebrity hair twins - Stylelist

Do You Share Your Grooming Goods?

BellaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:00:10 -0700

I like to think that I'm a generous girl, happy to share whenever a friend is in need. In the past, roommates and I have had a communal hair dryer and a shared toothpaste tube - and we never had any territorial disputes over the shower caddy. And yet, if anyone were even to think about using my Clarisonic, I would hide that thing like Gollum. Nobody touches my Clarisonic! Whether you deal with roommates, family, or a partner, are you keen on sharing most things?

Source and source

Recession-Proof Beauty: Use Gift Cards Wisely

BellaSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:00:20 -0700

Not to step on Savvy's toes, but if you're having a hard time keeping your spending under control, this post is for you. I've already talked about strategies to spend less on beauty products, but a post on Get Rich Slowly gave me a great idea.

Instead of charging that splurge item, go with a creative kind of installment plan. Purchase gift cards with cash when you can afford it, then save them until you have enough money to buy the item. Yes, you'll have to wait a little while before putting your hands on that Clarisonic or T3 dryer, but it's better than paying interest on a credit card balance. To see how long it'll take you to save up your money for a few big-budget beauty buys - and to see the money you'll save on interest - read more.

The splurge	If you want it in a month, then save...	If you can wait two months, then save...	If you can wait three months, then save...
Clarisonic, $195	$49 a week	$25 a week	$16.25 a week
no!no!, $250	$63 a week	$32 a week	$20 a week
Bespoke Labs Overnight Dryer, $130	$33 a week	$16.25 a week	$11 a week

To put things in perspective, let's pretend that you decided to buy the $195 Clarisonic with your credit card and took three months to pay it off. Assuming a 10% interest rate that same purchase would cost $258.50 - more than 60 dollars more! And if your rate is even higher - let's say 19% - you'd wind up paying $328.60 over three months. So as you can see, a little planning will save you a ton in the long run.

Best of Bella, 9/21

BellaSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:59:16 -0700

Discover six ways to make lips look fuller. No injections needed.
Perk up dull tresses with a DIY honey lemon hair mask.
So long, squovals. Expert Deborah Lippmann dishes on nail trends: part one and part two.
What's your favorite Fall makeup trend?
"The Italian Boy": a vintage hairdo or old school dance craze? Boogie down with this fun quiz to find out.
An old favorite is no more. Say goodbye to Salon Selectives.
Discover which foundation will be used at the Emmys straight from the makeup artist himself.
I Clarisonic-ed my bum.
Nail polish is old. Take my nail polish history quiz to learn some cool facts.