Beauty Blender Make-Up Sponge Applicator Review

The BeautyBlender Sponge Applicator has been a hot topic amongst bloggers in the last two years and finally shot straight into many makeup junkies' makeup pouches after being widely distributed into  several retail channels. Plus, BeautyBlender topped a number of magazine "must-haves" of 2013.

I received my BeautyBlender as a gift this past summer and have used it for over 4 months since so I'd like to finally review the little miracle. 

This is BeautyBlender right out of the package. It's tear-drop shaped and made of high qualify materials that make the product light, durable, long-lasting and easy to clean. The sponge can be used with any liquid or cream products and is primiarily meant to be used as foundation and concealer applicator.

Before I continue. I want to point out contrary to popular belief, you only need the same amount as you would use on yourself if you were to use a brush or your finger. As for losing product cause the sponge absorbs it - what does that matter if you're using the same amount foundation as you've been using and getting the same but more even coverage. If you're using a brush and there's excess product on the brush after use, you won't be squeezing it back into the tube. The same applies for the sponge.

The item on the right hand side is BeautyBlender's very portable solid soap meant for traveling. You soap the sponge, circle it on the soap and rinse under water.

How to Use

• Place the sponge under warm tap water. When it's soaked through, get rid of excess water on a towel until the sponge is just thoroughly dampen.
• Apply foundation either on your face or your hand and use the rounded bottom part of the sponge to dip into the product and lightly bounce while pressing sponge against your face. This motion is important because the foundation will adhere better. You will also notice that the product goes evenly without much effort on your part. Just be sure to follow any regular good foundation application tips.
• For more coverage on an area, sponge over it again. It might not look or feel like it because the product (mixed with the water in the damp soft) feels very light but you're essentially adding more layers.
• Use the tip of the sponge to apply foundation on hard to reach areas like the lower corners of your eyes or the sides at the base of your nose. 
• I also like to use the tip to even out concealer, liquid andcream highlights.
• Clean sponge after use with gentle soap or Beauty Blender's cleanser. The frequency of cleaning depends what your skin can tolerate. I wash mine after every use but I've also used it for 3-4 times before cleaning without problems.

I call BeautyBlender a little miracle because of the fantastic results you get from using it as a foundation applicator. Using the sponge properly, you can achieve a very even and long-lasting foundation finish on your skin. The results really do rival that of airbrush makeup.

Good Stuff (the Pros)

•  No streaks, just even foundation. Your foundation could easily end up uneven when you use a foundation brush, cheap sponge or your fingers.
• Get airbush foundation finish results at a fraction of the price. Airbrush systems on average costs over $100. A BeautyBlender sponge is about $20 USD.
• Contrary to popular belief, you don't need more foundation because you're using a sponge. See above for full details.
• As mentioned above. The sponge is made of high-quality materials that will last from a few months up to 1-2 years depending on how well it's maintained.
• Good on any liquid or cream make-up products including concealer and cream blushes.
• Easy to clean. Any gentle soap will work!
• Easy to maintain. Wash and let try after cleaning.
• Reasonable to replace when sponge "falls apart".
• A warm soft sponge feels really nice on your face!

The sponge (right) does retain coloring with use no matter how well you clean it. I discovered a tear in my sponge (left) after a month of using it. It has slowly widened throughout the last couple of months. The tear doesn't affect application so I'll keep using it until it literally falls apart.

Things To Be Aware Of (including Cons)

•  $20 USD for a sponge is not exactly cheap. If you're curious about the product but unwilling to take the plunge, try one of the many BeautyBlender "inspired" sponges out there by other companies at about $4-5 a piece. I highly recommend this if you've never used a sponge to apply foundation.
• I've used Revive's Makeup Blending applicator. It's the same shape as BeautyBlender's but made from different material. I can't tell the difference in the foundation finish between Revive and BeautyBlender but BeautyBlender's sponge was a lot softer and faster to clean while Revive's was more dense and it took longer to get all the product out of it.
• However while BeautyBlender is easy to clean, it still takes a few minutes of running it under tap water to get all the soap residue out. 
• If you use BeautyBlender's cleanser, it's much faster but I prefer paraben and phthalate-free cleaning if I can help it so I've opted using gentle soap most of the time.
• Your sponge could start to tear if you clean too vigorously or even through regular use. It's a sponge afterall and it doesn't have quite the longevity as a well-made brush or airbrush gun.

After 4 months of use, I've carefully weighted the pros outweigh the cons. In the end, I still love my Beauty Blender and have added it into my Perfect 10! list which you can view here. I'd happily give these as gifts to friends or recommend them for anyone interested. Again, if you're curious but don't want to pay the full price, go for decent alternative brands.


Retails for $19.95USD
Where to buy: Beautyblender online or check on site for a list of local and online retailers.

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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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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! Eyelash Glue

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 Shu Uemura's Eyelash Adhesive.

 This is the false eyelash adhesive that I use. It's also known as fantastic in a small white or black squeeze tube. :) I've used Shu's Eyelash glue since my first pair of false eyelashes. This brand was introduced to me by the professional makeup artists I was working with at the time. They were all using this or Mac's. After having worn eyelashes using this glue for 15 hours days this is definitely a tried and true product for me.

Product Description Reads:

Adhesive for Shu Uemura false eyelashes. Offers appropriate hold and easy to remove. Suitable for contact lens wearers.

This glue can be used for other eyelashes than Shu Uemura's. It is white in color and the surface of the glue dries in 40 seconds to 1 minute so you want to work fast. This is still a reasonable amount of time though and you shouldn't have too many issues with applying flash eyelashes with some practice. The color of the glue becomes mostly clear after it dries, but it is not uncommon to see hints of white on your eyelashes (or lid if you did a messy job). Use your liquid or gel liner to conceal any white that can be seen.

To remove the glue use an eye makeup remover or use warm water. The glue is very easy to use. It dries fast, but gives enough time for you to apply on the lashes and place on your eye with care. Well applied lashes can last over 10 hours without falling or peeling! Professionals use this and it can be removed easily from your eyes and the lash line of your false eyelashes.

taken with a normal point and shoot

professional photoshoot

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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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