Tarte's Pure Maracuja Oil Review

I've been looking for a more cost-effective product to use on my skin during the winter months here. I have combination skin where my oily T zone doesn't need more moisturizing but the rest of my face does. My regular skincare regiment consists of three, THREE Origins facial moisturizers. One of which I use up every one and half to two months and it's costing me a small fortune to maintain my routine!

Unless you have very specific and special needs, I firmly believe there is always a cheaper and equal or better alternative available. And the good news is because there is a growing demand for clean, non-toxic products, there are emerging products and companies now catering to this market and bringing into mainstream spotlight, essential oils like Tarte's Pure Maracuja Oil. The oil is almost 100% passion fruit oil, completely paraben-free, phthalate-free and basically non-toxic.

I got a hold of Tarte's Pure Maracuja first from a special deluxe sample pack. I tried the product, loved it and grabbed the full sized bottle during Sephora's VIB shopping event back in November.

The mini bottle on the right is from the deluxe sample pack.

What is it? Official Description Reads...

This nutrient-rich oil contains vitamin C and essential fatty acids to hydrate sensitive, dry, and acne prone skin, leaving skin even toned and smooth without a greasy feel. Pure maracuja oil is a hydrating treatment oil known for its anti-aging and healing properties for firmer, brighter, and smoother looking skin, and will not cause breakouts.

Ingredients

1.7 fl oz
Ingredients: Passiflora edulis seed oil, tocopherol.

formulated without parabens, formulated without mineral oil, formulated without  phthalates, formulated without sodium lauryl sulfates, formulated without gluten


Maracuja means passion fruit in Portugese. Do you think you'd be more or less interested if they called this Tarte's Pure Passion Fruit Oil? :)

I was hesitant at first to try this because it's pure oil. The last thing I want is to is clog my pores and create problems. I jumped at the chance when there was a special deluxe sample of the product where I could try the oil without committing to the full sized 1.7 oz. I found Maracuja to live up to claims of moisturizing without being greasy and use over time improves skin textures.

Tarte recommends applying 2-3 drops at night to clean skin, essentially replacing your bedtime serum or moisturizer and I did just that. I replaced my Origins Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Treatment AND Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Moisturizer and used the oil exclusively at night. There are days when the climate is extra dry here and I need to use some of my Origins moisturizer on the drier extras but the product works well on the rest of my face. I use 4-5 drops of the oil instead of the recommended 2-3. I would put it on the palm of my hand, warm it between my hands and put it on my face. I also use Maracuja in the mornings underneath my daytime moisturizer which is working out very nicely.

A few things I'd like to point out is you may not be used to how the oil feels on your face at first. The texture is completely different from serums or moisturizers where you can massage those into your skin. The oil is slick and while you should still massage it into your skin, it will feel like it's just sitting on your face for the next 15-20 minutes so you won't get that typical moisturized feeling. Rest assured though your skin is absorbing the oil. It just requires a bit more time.

The other thing I've noticed is while the oil works great for me, I've had the odd breakout in random areas that don't usually have problems which leads me to think the oil can sometimes be a tad too much some spots of my face.

The bottle and dropper is made of glass and comes in a nice box that is cushioned at the top. Should there be an accident where you drop the item, the thick cardboard around the box would absorb most of the shock.

The dropper is OK. If the oil's potency is better preserved when stored in glass, I am all for that, otherwise, I feel dropper to be cumbersome. You will find that there is excess oil dripping off the dropper when you pull it out of the bottle. To prevent waste, be sure to quickly move your hand underneath the dropper to catch the drops.

There are lots of good things to be said about Tarte's Pure Maracuja Oil but perhaps the best part is the product is suitable for a variety of skin types - dry, combination and even oily skin types. If you have very oily skin, I would first look into your daily cleansing routine before you start using oil to hydrate your face. If you have oily but dry skin, Maracuja is definitely worth a try. For those with dry, combination and sensitive skin looking for a form of natural hydration, this is a solid option to consider too. Try to put some on your hand/face at the store before you make a final decision.

Some of you might think $46 USD for 1.7 oz of passion fruit oil is expensive and to be honest, I don't know how much this is worth and how much it costs. The Amazon fruit is harvested, hand picked and extracted by Amazonian women (directly from package description) and the oil is undiluted, cold pressed before it gets to store selves. The fruit itself aside, the processing sounds like a lot of work. I hope the workers in the Amazon are being fairly compensated for their hard work. I do think however, Tarte is doing some good over in the Amazons so until I comes across similar-quality Maracuja oil at a lower markup, I will be happy to continue to buy Tarte's product.

If you want to find out more about Tarte's participation in SAP (Sustainable Amazon Partnership), you can read more about it here. 

Retails for $46

Where to buy: Tarte's online and locally at major cosmetics and department stores. 

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Clarisonic Mia Review: 1 Year Update

For my very first Clarisonic Mia post I said my final update on this journey would be 6 months but we are completely past that date and it's actually nearly at a year since I started using Clarisonic.  I am ok with this because I would've wrote the same things 6 months ago as I am about to today. With that said, let's go through the guidelines that I established to evaluate my experience using this little gadget.

Start from the beginning...

Clarisonic Mia Review: Two Weeks Update

Clarisonic Mia Review: One Month Update

Clarisonic Mia Review: Three Months Update


1. Effectiveness at removing makeup - The less residue makeup that remains on my face, the less random zits will pop up.

Gone are the clogged pores and randomly predictable breakouts that I would get from makeup residue. I no longer worry about how makeup can clog my pores after wearing it for a full day. The Mia is still doing what it did best a year ago and as advertised so this is 10/10!

2. Cleanliness of skin immediately after use.

Yes! Every single time. 10/10!


3. Cleanliness of skin maintained with regular use - I have an oily t-zone where zits are most likely to appear. I hope the use of the Clarisonic Mia will vastly improve these areas and reduce acne problems.

I specifically chose three troubled areas to observe and as a final post on the Mia, it makes sense to bring back the early photos of said areas to compare with today's.

[left to right] Photo # 1 is from one month using Mia, photo # 2 is 3 months and photo # 3 is after 1 year. I apologize for photo #3. That is actually how my skin looks.... It has pink tones to it. It took the longest time before I realized my camera was set to Fluroscent white balance setting. :( That is why photo #1 and #2 looks so yellow.

The biggest improvement I saw from all three areas of my skin is my forehead. It still has the little bumps but very few compared to what it used to be in photo #1 and while it's not included in photo #2, I actually had a recovering scar from a breakout at the time it was taken where compared to the entire forehead of photo #3, there were no breakouts at all. Things are pretty steady up here. Small bumps here and there but much fewer and pimples are a very rare occurrence.

 

[left to right] Photo # 3 is the one year mark, middle photo is 3 months and photo #1 is from the 1 month mark. Nothing dramatic has happened since the 3 months update. If anything, this updated photo tells me I need to switch my face cream cause it looks redder than it was before!!!

 

[left to right] Once again, sorry for the lighting differences. Photo # 3 has the most accurate colors. The area below my lips and above the chin, a.k.a. labret, is a troubled area prone to breakouts. After a year of using the Mia, this area is mostly under control. I still get breakouts every now and then but much less frequently and the skin texture has improved considerably from a year ago.

Mia stands well against the test of time and delivers measurable results with continued usage. 9.5/10

5. Noticeably better absorption of facial products - I see the Clarisonic as an investment for my skin. I am saving money over time if I don't need as much product for the same results.

I can't tell if there are additional improvements to what I first observed in the beginning so I will keep the  8/10 rating.


I think it was the right decision to have choosen these specific facial areas and to monitor them for changes as a way to evaluate Mia's effectiveness. I learned through the limitations of the Mia that in addition to cleanliness, good health is also much needed for good skin. Your skin is the largest organ of your body therefore, the quality of the your skin is a direct reflection on the quality of your health. Things like staying hydrated, healthy diets, and adequate rest are factors to good skin that never go out of style.

I never expected this little machine to solve all my skin problems but it exceeded my expectations in a few key areas - facial cleanliness after use and the results from continued use. There isn't a product I know of out there right now that delivers more value than the Clarisonic Mia at the cost of $125 USD. I replaced the brush heads twice at $25 a piece so that's $50 total. I use the Mia daily and let's say it's been exactly a year so that's 365 days/times used:

$125+$50 = $175/365 days
= $0.48 per day 

It costs $0.48 excluding battery charges and facial cleansers but you're paying less than $0.50 just to use the machine. For similar benefits to what the Mia can do, you could get professional facials instead which costs between $40-$200+. For the sake of this example, say the average person pays $75 for a treatment every month. A fairly reasonable dollar amount and frequency. This little bit of monthly pampering adds up to $900 a year. Obviously, the services and goods you get at a salon&spa is nowhere near using the Mia for a minute a day but looking strictly at skin results, the Mia is comparable to pro facials and is a super duper economical choice! A worthy investment, girls. And a well taken care of machine should last you more than a year. In the second year, the cost of using the Mia with two brush head replacements goes down to $0.24 per use.

The Clarisonic Mia is now officially on my Perfect 10! list. I knew it three months into using it but at the one year mark, without a doubt, it's 10, 10, 10. Thank you for coming onto this journey with me. I hope you were able to find some useful information on here to help you decide if this machine is for you. I don't foresee any updates unless I get requests. I may write a post on the odds and ends I've noticed about the brush heads and using the machine. Until then, my lovelies!

Start from the beginning...

Clarisonic Mia Review: Two Weeks Update

Clarisonic Mia Review: One Month Update

Clarisonic Mia Review: Three Months Update

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Sephora VIB Perk - Stila Convertible Color Perk and Origins Eye Cream Gift

I've been thinking for some time of trying a new eyecream that has more preventative properties and it just so happens that I've also been running low on my Shiseido's Moisture Recharge eyecream. I took this as a cue to do some research online and in store to see what's available out there. In addition to having preventative properties (like anti-aging, anti-wrinkle) it was also really important that the product does not have parabens and as little known harmful chemicals as possible. Because Shiseido's Moisture Recharge has done it's job pretty well for me, I naturally searched for other eye creams by them. To my disappointment, Moisture Recharge was one of the lower price point eye creams they have and anything else that I was interested costed an upwards of $70 so I moved on to other brands. I finally came across a promising eye cream by Tarte. It's their Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment in which they claim brights the area around the eye, firms and hydrates. It's also forumlated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Tarte also do not test on animals. What a nice bonus. I haven't gotten a chance to try the cream out, but I'm probably going to write up a review on it.


I actually came across the eye cream on Sephora's site via their promotional emails. What caught my attention with this particular email is they had new 100 point perks available. On any given day I scuff at Sephora's point system because they do not offer any cash value towards their products and it's injury upon insult when they don't have anything you want to use your points for. I'm going to save that rant for another time. Anyhow, today is one of those rare occassions where I was interested in not 1, but 3 out of the 6 new 100 point perks! That has never happened before. I literally drove to the store during my lunch hour to grab the goodies. And then at check out, I was so very pleasantly surprised that they had another promo going on. This is something every VIB should know! If you are a VIB and spend $38 (CAN), you should get a full sized Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Eye Cream. Retail value is $54. I think this is an exclusive in store offer. Unfortunately, I am unable to confirm if it applies to all stores in Canada, all stores across North America or even how long the promotions lasts. My recommendation is for you to call your closest Sephora store and check with them. Time is of essense so if this is something you want be sure to call as soon as you can.

Well finally, being a VIB can actually be exciting.

Redeemed two Stila Convertible colors. They are miniature versions.

New 100 Point Perks

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick - it's a beautiful plum red with hints of brown tone

Stila Convertible Color in Peony - been always wanting to try the other colors and peony is one of them. :) Review here. 

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray - I want more volume in my hair. I hope this works.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Double Detox Facial System - I heard this was good. I have my Mia though so I passed on this.
 
Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Restoring Cream - I'm happy with my current creams so pass,

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream - Eye creams everywhere? I do not remember seeing this in store. It might be limited to online redemption.

Screencap taken on April 4, 2013

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Clarisonic Mia Review: 3 Months Update

January 26th marked my 3 months anniversary of using Clarisonic Mia. This is my last review until the 6 months update. My Mia Journey intro post, 2 weeks and 1 month updates viewable as well.

I have lot of great things to say about the Mia so let's get started!

1. Effectiveness at removing makeup - The less residue makeup that remains on my face, the less random zits will pop up.

Mia is so effective at removing residue that any bumps I happen to get from a clogged-pore never gets a chance to turn into zits and become extra irritating. The Mia stands the test of time so I'm going to give it full marks for being a great product that produces consistent results. 10/10!

2. Cleanliness of skin immediately after use.

As good as it was the first time I talked about it. 10/10!


3. Cleaniness of skin maintained with regular use - I have an oily t-zone where zits are most likely to appear. I hope the use of Clarisonic will vastly improve these areas and reduce acne problems.

At the time of writing, which is now two weeks past the 3 months mark, I'm happy to share with you that my skin has not felt or looked this good since last spring.

 [left to right] The first one is from the 1 month mark and the one on the right was taken at 3 months. This area is looking pretty good after faithful use of the Mia everyday for 3 months. I didn't quite notice the difference until putting these two side by side tonight. The photos speak for themselves.

[left to right] Photo on the left was from the 1 month mark, etc.. The red dry patch has also improved from two months ago. There's less irritation. It also feels less dry. I'm thinking the area better absorbs product which lends to the improvements.

[left to right] I can't explain how the lighting of these two photos turned out so differently. They were taken in the same place, under the same kind of lights and with the same camera settings. The photo on the right can be seen much better, but basically this area is a lot less irritated, the redness and the bumps you see are disappearing.

The Mia continues to deliver visible results at three months. My biggest problem area has shown noticeable improvement and I can't express how happy I am about that. I suppose the best way to show it is to bump the rating up from 8.5/10 to 9/10.

5. Noticeably better absorption of facial products - I see the Clarisonic as an investment for my skin. I am saving money over time if I don't need as much product for the same results.

Nothing has changed for better or worse in this area so I've kept the rating the same.  8/10

Using the Mia has now become the favorite part of my skin regiment and I refuse to go a day without using it. Mia is advertised as gentle enough to be used twice a day or as little as once a week depending on your skin. I've continued with once a day because it has brought very tangible results and keeps bad build up to a minimum. My only comment on build up is it doesn't clear black heads. It'll help decrease the number of black heads, but black head remover will still get its time to shine.

The next opportunity I get to write about Mia will be in 6 months as a follow-up. I would like to write up a Did You Know Post before that. At this time, I am recommending the little gadget for anyone who wears makeup and needs a better cleasing technique or has occassional or even frequent acne breakouts. Consistent use of Mia will help with many common skin problems.

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Clarisonic Mia Review: One Month Update

Hi everyone! I'm back with my second update on the Clarisonic Mia. I meant to have this up before the holidays, but the holidays took over and soon after I went on vacation. We have a lot of material to cover so let's get right into it!

I took the following photos just after using the Mia for a month. To get a better idea of the progression I've made with Mia, checkout my two week review here.

I established a set of guidelines to evaluate the Mia with my comments below on how the gadget worked for me. Seeing that this is the 1 month review, I've adjust the ratings to reflect my confidence in the product after 1 month use. The 3 months, and 6 months will become available as the time comes.

1. Effectiveness at removing makeup - The residue makeup that remains on my face, the less random zits will pop up.

I am going to reconfirm here that the Mia does an excellent job at removing makeup and makeuup residue. I must use Mia if I put makeup on that day so I can go to sleep knowing I've done what I can to clean my skin. I no longer get annoying random zits above my brows. I'm happy to bump up my rating for this criteria to 9.5/10!

2. Cleanliness of skin immediately after use.

As good as it was the first time I talked about it. 10/10!


3. Cleaniness of skin maintained with regular use - I have an oily t-zone where zits are most likely to appear. I hope the use of Clarisonic will vastly improve these areas and reduce acne problems.

My t-zone are the most troubled areas of my skin. Buildups that lead to acne breakup are prone to happen in these areas nine out of tne times. I've also noticed that my skin goes through periods of very little to no breakouts and then it goes back to breaking out in the same areas. Nonetheless, I've seen further improvements in said areas which I'll go over in detail below.

 

 [left to right] This is my forehead by the way and apologies for the bad lighting on the photo to the left. That one was taken at the two week mark.  I've tried to make sure it is the same area on my forehead each time I take these photos so I can give you a decent comparison. Look closely to the photo on the left and you can see there are more visible bumps and red spots than the one on the right that cover a larger area. The visible bumps and red specks in the photo on the area are less and cover a smaller area. To me, this is an obvious improvement. I mean I'd prefer, like, maybe one 1 bump that's barely noticeable, but I definitely can accept these results after using Mia for a month.

[left to right] Once again, photo on the left was taken at the two week mark. Once again, poor lighting. Week two photos are all like that... :( The red patch on my cheek is still there, but it's even less notifceable now in the photo on the right. I purposely circled that area in case there's any confusion cause it look so light. Definitely a good thing though.

[left to right] And comes the most troubled area of troubled areas, above my chin! These two photos look almost identical. I had to go back to my photos folder to triple check and make sure they are indeed from week two and one month. There's no mistake here so this is simply barely noticeable improvement in the area. I feel in person, in front of the mirror that there are some slight improvements, but it's simply not enough to make a statetman on here so I'll leave it as what it is.

I'm going to give a small boost to my previous rating of 7.5/10 to 8/10. It's awesome that my forehead has less and less breakouts and that the area on my cheek and above my chin are contained. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for further improvements by the three months review.

5. Noticeably better absorption of facial products - I see the Clarisonic as an investment for my skin. I am saving money over time if I don't need as much product for the same results.

There no doubt that by now I can confirm better absorption of not only makeup, but facial moisturizers and I love that.  I'm adjusting my rating of this category from 6/10 to 8/10. 

I talked about the Mia's design flaws in my two weeks post and I've made some discovery where I think makes up for one of the flaws that was talked about. I complained that there was no visual indicator for when the gadget is low on batteries and if you didn't keep track of when it needs to charged, you could very well be forced to go one day without using it. I found that the Mia does provide indication via brush head pulses. At the end of the pre-timed one minute sessions, the Mia will pulse 1, 2 or 3 times before completely stopping. When that happens, you know it is low on batteries. The more time it pulses before shutting off, the lower the battery is getting.  If you use it until it is completely out of juice, the machine will need to be charged for at least 24 hours until the green light is solid.

In summary, Mia was one of my top 2012 skincare purchases and if things continue as it has, the Mia is steady making its way to my Perfect 10! list.

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Clarisonic Mia Review: Two Weeks Update

This past Friday marked two weeks since I started using the Clarisonic Mia. As planned in my first Clarisonic Mia post, this will be my two week update on how the little gadget worked for me so far.

Mia has met my initial expectations of having cleaner skin with less oil buildup leading to acne in my t-zone. Like a portion of users, I also broke out. There were pimples and there were about 5 that broke out at different times in my t-zone and took several days to heal. I use it once a day before bed with the normal brush that comes with it.

The second brush with a blue holder is for sensitive skin. Purchased seperately. This is what my mom uses.

I established a set of guidelines to evaluate the Mia and put my comments below each one. Unless it's one of the more obvious ones like #2, I purposely set a lower rating than what I think it deserves, because this is a product that is supposed to take time before you see all the things that it can do for your skin. I will adjust the ratings accordingly in the 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months review!

1. Effectiveness at removing makeup - The less residue makeup that remains on my face, the less random zits will pop up.

My primary reason to get Mia was so I could remove even the small amounts of makeup residue that's left on skin whenever I put on makeup. In the past two weeks, I had makeup on 3 and up to 4 times each week and to my delight, found that Mia does a great job covering areas that you would normally miss or areas where it might look clean after wiping away the makeup and washing with your cleanser, but still have some residue left over. I'm happy to report, Mia has your bases covered! 8.5/10

2. Cleanliness of skin immediately after use.

My face feels clean and soft immediately after using Mia. There is also a glow to my skin after I use it. This is what I experience after I exfoliate or use a mask on my skin and I expected it from Mia as it cleans and exfoliate. 10/10


3. Cleaniness of skin maintained with regular use - I have an oily t-zone where zits are most likely to appear. I hope the use of Clarisonic will vastly improve these areas and reduce acne problems.

There was a noticeable change in the cleaniness of my skin. A great example would be when I clean the blackheads on my nose, I don't see them build up as quickly as before. Previously, it would be a day or two before I see them surfacing again, but now it's a good 3-4 days and there are less in general. The oily-ness in my t-zone has improved considerably. There are still bumps on my forehead and chin, but I see continuous improvement as I keep up with my regiment. I'm going to give it a reserved 7.5/10 as I believe the longer you use Mia, the better your skin becomes and it's only been 2 weeks. In the 2 months update, I will bump up the rating if things keeps going the way they do and even higher if it's gets better.

[left to right]: Left one was taken three days after I started using Mia. Right one was after two weeks of using Mia. There are still pumps on my forehead after two weeks, but there are less and not as red. In person, they are also less noticeable.

4. Improved complexion of skin - I have a sensitive patch of skin on my cheek that's a bit redder than the rest of my cheeks. It goes away when my face is fully moisturized (and there's more humidity in the air). Although irritation sometimes occurs unexpectedly, I have faith that the Clarisonic can reduce the dryness in this area when product is absorbed better.

The red patch on my cheek is less sensitive to the touch and looks less red now. It's still drier than other areas so I have to apply an extra layer of moisturizer on there. There is an obvious glow to my skin when I get up in the morning. It makes sense as your body has a chance to repair itself overnight. Albeit slow change to that red patch, but nonethless a noticeable improvement from before plus that glow is very obvious. 7/10

[left to right]: Sorry about the lighting and quality! The first photo was taken after three days of using Mia and the one on the right was after two weeks of using Mia. The red patch is subtle in both photos, but you can sort of see the patch is smaller and less red in the second one.

[left to right]: Not my most favorite thing to show, but has to be done. I think the most obvious improvement of my troubled areas is the skin around my chin. On the left, you can see I broke out with a big zit after using the Mia for three days, but the red you see there is pretty constant. It never really goes away and every three weeks there is some sort of acne that is trying to surface. On the right is the same area after two weeks with Mia. Things are much improved in terms of the redness. The zit from before is a red dot and everything looks to be fading. I hope the redness eventually goes away altogether!


5. Noticeably better absorption of facial products - I see the Clarisonic as an investment for my skin. I am saving money over time if I don't need as much product for the same results.

This is probably one of the tougher ones to tell. I feel that there is better product absorption, because of the good things I'm experiencing. I can't tell at this point whether a smaller amount of moisturizer is doing as much as before or the same amount of moisturizer is doing more than before and vice versa. I have noticed however that liquid foundation goes on easier and looks more natural (it was fine before, but it's even better now!) which leads me to think that better absorption equals to better moisturized skin and we know that makeup goes on easier and stays on longer if it's applied to healthy, clean skin. Again, I'm going to give a reserved 6/10 as I need more time to observe the changes.

Overall, I have nothing, but positives to say about Clarisonic Mia. Although I broke out and acne can be, literally painful to deal with, I am happy this little gadget is changing the health of my skin for the better. It makes me look forward to washing my face before bed, because I feel like I'm one step closer to consistently good skin. I will wait until 1 month of use before making any solid recommendations. In the meantime, my two nitpicky issues with the design is there is no visual indication as to how much battery is left. I've now gone twice without realizing the previous night's use would be the last before I need to charge it again. This means I have to go one day without using it. Not the worst thing ever, but when I've established a momentum, I don't want to be interrupted...

The second is the charger cord is pretty short. There are a handful of plugs in the home that I can use, but the one most convenient one does not have tables or chairs beside it. Since the Mia is something I use on my face, I prefer not to put it on the carpet as it charges. If it was about 6" longer, I'd be able to place it on a drawer near the plug. Again, not a terrible fault, but this could be an inconvenience if you were traveling and there were limited number of plugs to use.

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Clarisonic Mia Review: My Journey Begins!

[Update 11/26/2012]: The Two Week Mia Review is Up! 
[Update 01/05/2013]: The One Month Mia Review is Up!
[Update 03/23/2013]: The Two Month Mia Review Here!

In my last post, I mentioned buying the Clarisonic Mia. Since the purchase, I've used Mia once a day every day and it'll be my fourth time tonight. I haven't even used it for a full week for what is meant to be a regular process in my daily skincare regime so it's too early to provide any in-depth review. I will use the opportunity to write down a few expectations I have and review the Mia on here after 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and provide a 6 months brief update if nothing drastic has been observed.

Clarisonic was recommended first to me by a friend. She liked it, because it was very good for cleaning residue makeup off her face after her using her normal routine to remove makeup. It's fair to say the least of my hopes is to have a cleaner face after using Clarisonic. The rest of my hopes for the product comes from from other people's reviews where many atested that Clarisonic cleans and exfoliates so effectively it improves your overall complexion allowing for both skincare products and makeup to absorb better. And a cleaner face means less buildup of dead skin, oil, dirt, and makeup where the former two of the four are identified to foster growth for blackheads and other acne baddies.

My Clarisonic Mia came with a normal brush head, charger, and Clarisonic's own brand of gentle facial cleanser. I have been using my own cleanser so I haven't tried it yet. I also bought a gentle brush for my mom as her skin is more sensitive than mine. It's much softer to the touch than the normal one. The little gadget is waterproof (big plus!), small enough to fit with the charger into most makeup bags (another big plus), and the charger is universal, meaning it'll work in every country. How fantastic is that? I am thoroughly impressed by the thoughts gone into designing this. They've made it so you never need to part with it!

The Mia is one speed (Mia2 has two speeds) where the center bristles of the brush is rotated or vibrated when you turn it on. The machine turns itself off after one minute and that is the recommended time you should use it on your face. While they say (see description below) the product can be used twice a day, it's not meant for long sessions. Please note your face doesn't need to be exfoliated for several minutes at a time! They instruct you to charge your Mia for 24 hours when you first get it. Every time after that, charge it until the flashing green light becomes solid on the back of the handle.

More detailed information in the instructions pamphlet that comes in the box. Go through it before you begin using.

Product Description Directly Off Clarisonic's Website

About Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System

Our smallest Sonic Skin Cleansing System, the one-button, one-speed Mia comes in a variety of colors and fits your active lifestyle – offering beautiful skin at home or on-the-go.
Directions: Gently move the brush using small, circular motion.  Use on forehead (20 seconds), nose/chin (20 seconds), and both cheeks (10 seconds each).
Tips: Prior to the first use, charge the Clarisonic Mia handle for 24 hours.
Once a week remove the brush head and wash the handle using warm soapy water to remove any residue buildup.
View full Mia Userguide

Kit Includes

• Clarisonic Mia
• Universal Voltage Charger
• Sensitive Brush Head (Note: Gray Mia & Limited Edition Carbon Fiber Mia come with a Normal Brush Head)
• 1 oz. trial size Refreshing Gel Cleanser

Beautiful Skin Begins With Cleaner Skin

Traditional methods of cleansing don’t get your skin as clean as you’d think. Fortunately, the lead inventor of Sonicare discovered a breakthrough in how we cleanse. Using Sonic Technology, Clarisonic’s patented micro-massage motion works within skin’s natural elasticity to gently remove the impurities traditional methods leave behind- leaving skin softer, smoother and more beautiful.

• Cleanses 6x better than with your hands alone in just 60 seconds
• Works with skin, not against it, to gently massage away impurities trapped within pores
• Prepares skin for better absorption of creams, serums and moisturizers
• Gentle enough to use 2x a day

With the product description and reviews in mind, my own guideline to grade the Mia will be based on:

1. Effectiveness at removing makeup - The residue makeup that remains on my face, the less random zits will pop up.

2. Cleanliness of skin immediately after use.

3. Cleaniness of skin maintained with regular use - I have an oily t-zone where zits are most likely to appear. I hope the use of Clarisonic will vastly improve these areas and reduce acne problems.

4. Improved complexion of skin - I have a sensitive patch of skin on my cheek that's a bit redder than the rest of my cheeks. It goes away when my face is fully moisturized (and there's more humidity in the air). Although irritation sometimes occurs unexpectedly, I have faith that the Clarisonic can reduce the dryness in this area when product is absorbed better.

5. Noticeably better absorption of facial products - I see the Clarisonic as an investment for my skin. I am saving money over time if I don't need as much product for the same results.

I will, of course note additional observations as I see them. At this point, I hope the Mia at the end of three months will make it on the Perfect 10! list

Retails for $119 USD
Where to buy: Clarisonic's official website and most major cosmetics and department stores online and locally.

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Perfect 10! Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Review

Perfect 10 posts are for "tried-and-true" products that stands out amongst the rest and therefore, a product that should be shared with all! Tried means products I've personally tried and true means they do what they say they do. I also keep an eye out for products I use and are suitable for sensitive skin as well as paraben free. These products will certainly get featured on Perfect 10!

Smashbox's awarding Photo Finish Foundation Primer makeup base gets Perfect 10!

Production description on Smashbox's website reads:

Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of vitamins A and E, grape seed extract and green tea. Worn alone or under foundation to increase longevity, our best-selling primer helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety-smooth finish.

I had no idea about the vitamins so no comments on that, but I completely agree that this is a non-oily product that is silky smooth, and increases longevity of your makeup foundation. The primer is suitable for most skin types including sensitive and dry skin. The primer works great even for high definition purposes such as photoshoots, filming and any sort of onstage performances! Used by professionals -tried and true by yours truly.

I have gone through one container (left) of this primer and am on my second one (right) that has SPF 15. Interestingly, since I still have the box for the one on the right I noticed the ingredients included different types of paraben. If you decide to try this product, be sure to carefully read the ingredients on the box so you know what you're getting into. There's a chance that the primer with SPF has a paraben-free forumla now, because the listed ingredients on the website for the standard photo finish primer does not have any parabens listed. Mmm well the time next I'm in Sephora I'll check it out.

Below are photos taken for a promotional photoshoot I did some time ago. The theme as you can see is purple, but the artist who did my makeup introduced me to Smashbox and I've been seeing the product since then. I'm trying to look sultry on the right..lol!

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Perfect 10! Bioderma Sensibio H2O Makeup Remover Review

Perfect 10 posts are for "tried-and-true" products that stands out amongst the rest and therefore, a product that should be shared with all. Tried means products I've personally tried and true means they do what they say they do. I also keep an eye out for products I use and are suitable for sensitive skin as well as paraben free. These products will certainly get featured on Perfect 10!

This time's Perfect 10 feature is Bioderma Sensibio H2O makeup remover for eyes AND face.

I was still using two removers until my friend introduced to Bioderma..pain in the rear when you're on the go and stuff. This makeup remover is by far the most gentle and reliable product I've come across, but the real kicker is this is a non-rinse remover meaning rinsing after using the product is not required. You can actually apply your moisture directly after using this remover. Wha??? It gets better..

it feels like water, absolutely no alcohol, silicone, or oil! Product description and instruction reads:

"A BIODERMA innovation, Sensibio H2O gently cleanses and removes make-up from face and eyes. The micelles contained in its formula effectively micro-emulsify impurities while mainting the cutaneous balance. Soothing active ingredients prevent the skin feeling irritated. Excellent cutaneous and ocular tolerance. DIECTIONS FOR USE: Soak a cotton pad, clease/remove makeup and dry gently."

"Micelle Solution, cleanses, removes make-up, soothes"
"NON RENSE - FRAGRANCE FREE"

I don't know what cutaneous balance is, but I've noticed that since using Sensibio H20 to remove makeup on my face it feels less dry afterwards and for someone who struggles with dry skin, that's huuuuuuge.

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Pefect 10! Skindinavia Moisture Lock Makeup Finish Spray Review

Perfect 10 posts are for "tried-and-true" products that stands out amongst the rest and therefore, a product that should be shared with all. Tried means products I've personally tried and true means they do what they say they do. I also keep an eye out for products that are suitable for sensitive skin as well as paraben free. These products will certainly get featured on Perfect 10!

The first product featured in Puuurfect 10 is Skindinavia's Moisture Lock Makeup Finish spray.

At the time of writting this, I came across Urban Decay's makeup finish spray and from the description it sounds like it's suppose to do the same as Skindinavia's spray. I haven't tried their spray so this post will focus solely on Skindinavia. =)

The official product drescription reads:

"Holds a dewy and luminous finish while preventing makeup from dryingout. Formulated for dry skin types"
"Up to 16 hours, ultra fine long wear makeup setting pray", "hypoallergenic, paraben free"

Just the other day, I kept my makeup on for, no joke nearly 17 hours. I kept it on for that long partially to see if the spray holds up to the 16 hour claim and the verdict is...it works!!! I am very very impressed with the spray. I have been searching for a spray that locks moisture and gives a luminous finish to makeup looks and for who knows why, I never came across anything like Skindinavia - a product that claims to do all the things I needed a finish spray to do. For people with dry skin, makeup cracks and form lines much sooner than people with normal skin type, with this spray, your problems are pretty much solved.

I included some photos of how my makeup looked at about the 15-16 hour mark. Images were resized and auto-contrasted, but that's it! No other photoshop tweaks. My face does look a bit shiny, but in all fairness I didn't do any touchups throughout the day or before taking the photos.

So I don't need touchups at all you might ask? Actually, it depends on how much oil you skin produces throughout the day, but since this spray is formulated for dry skin types, I would imagine if you have normal skin you'll look oily at some point during the day. I have touched up my makeup (blotted oil and added power + blush) in the afternoon on a different day and I didn't need to spray any additional product to keep everything looking fresh. Skindinavia does have sprays for other skin types. There's one that absorbs shine for example.

I recommend this product if you wear makeup and struggle to have it stay on or look presentable at the end of a long day. If you're looking for a makeup finish spray and have a different skin type, check their website for more options.

Retails for $19 USD for 2oz.
Where to buy: Skindinavia's offical website and they also sell their products on Amazon.

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