I've been using my treSonic facial cleanser for nearly a month and due to the dramatic changes in my skin, my uber moisturising and deep cleansing products normally used have been banished to the back for the (bulging) bathroom cabinet.
I've therefore decided to treat myself to some new products and raided Boots today like a woman possessed. Armed with a £5 off Boots No7 voucher, and a £10 gift voucher, I was as happy as a kid at Christmas. Nothing makes my day like a bit of retail therapy, especially when I can justifiably treat my skin to a few products by way of a thank you for behaving (for once!!). After power-shopping the Next sale yesterday (£91 in 13 minutes, £7 per minute. A new personal best), I thought I'd better make this trip a 'bag a bargain day'. So what did I get?
According to Dr Mike Bell, Boots Scientific skincare advisor, “This cleanser is effective at removing excess oils and unblocking pores, leaving skin shine-free and feeling thoroughly cleansed.”. I've wanted a foaming cleanser to try with my treSonic since I bought it, but didn't want to mess with my usual products so I could be sure of the results I was getting. I'm nervous that it might be a little harsh, as I normally err away from face washes in favour of creamy cleansers, however with my newly clear, less dry skin I'm going to give it a try, it's soap free and at £4, if I don't get on with it I won't lose any sleep.
I've bought this cleansing oil as a cheaper alternative to my usual Dermalogical Pre-Cleanse oil which I've just run out of. I will use this for my initial cleanse to get rid of make up, and follow it with a second cleanse with the treSonic to rid my skin of impurities and any left over make up. At £34 for the Dermalogica offering, if this is good alternative I will be really pleased. The reviews on boots website are good, so I'll let you know!
I don't rate toners particularly, and view them as an expensive way to remove traces of cleanser, so after running out of my Decleor Aroma Cleanse Tonifying lotion, I was loathed to spend a lot on replacing it. That said, I really didn't expect to get anything that cheaply. If it wasn't for the fact it's from Boot's Sensitive range, I'd have been nervous of it acting like paint stripper (Clinique Clarifying Lotion - I'm talking to you!), but I'm ever the optimist and again at £1.34 I really don't think I can have gone wrong.
I gained two unwelcome "gifts" for my 30th birthday in May. Under eye lines. Wrinkles, creases, call them what you like but the b@stard things came to stay and now won't leave. So for the first time, I've started buying anti-ageing products (this is probably a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted but better late than never...). That said, I've tried two different brand eye creams with Q10 and react to both of them with sore, red eyes. Given that my eyes and skin in general are sensitive I've decided to try to 'fix' my fine lines by moisturising the bejesus out of them and am going to give this a go. Fingers crossed!
Bright, sunshine peachy-orange, don't mind if I do! Even if the weather is miserable, my face is going to be a tropical dream. I adore cream blushers, and the bolder the better as my face just absorbs colour. Whilst it might look quite bold here, on my pale skin any muted tones make me look as though I need a wash. The brighter the better I say! I think it might be a bit pastel for a lip colour but I'll give it a try and you can let me know what you think.
Ok so that's today's haul. You'll be pleased to know I've also gone a bit crazy on QVC, buying some Revitalash the amazing eyelash growth serum, Judith Williams Wrinkle Relax Fresh Cell Serum, and a load of BareMinerals goodies. So much to saving money!! Blog to follow when they've all arrived.
Along with the rest of the blogging community, I've been lusting after a Clarisonic Sonic Cleansing Brush for what seems like my whole life. If you believe the reviews, this thing is better than sex or chocolate, a holy grail skin care product which removes 6 x more make up and 2 x more dirt than manual cleansing. Working like a sonic electric toothbrush, rather than rotating the Clarisonic vibrates at 300 movements per second to deep cleanse and clarify the skin. Hundreds of glowing reviews litter the internet, with Clarisonic fans raving about dramatic skin improvements. For someone who suffers with congested, ill-behaving skin, this sounds like heaven to me, but at £120 for the entry level Clarisonic Mia, it's a lot of money to spend if my skin doesn't get on with it.
I'd umm-ed and ahh-ed about taking the plunge for over 6 months and just couldn't justify the expense when my trusty Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish was serving me so well. However one day whilst reading Clarisonic reviews on QVC's website, I stumbled across a reviewer discussing the (few) differences between the Clarisonic and the bargain, 1/3rd of the price treSonics Facial Cleansing and Massage system, I had to check it out!!
So what's the treSonic facial cleanser? Working on the same sonic technology basis as the Clarisonic, the treSonics offering claims to "gently and effectively loosen dirt and oil, and clear your pores. Give your skin a deep and relaxing cleansing experience with this fantastic device.".
The only UK distributor of this product seems to be QVC, and the specifications are suitably vague, with no description on number of sonic movements per second, however at £35 plus P&P, I figured it was worth a try, especially with QVC's brilliant 30 day money back guarantee.
I've never used a Clarisonic, however with the number of blogs and reviews I've read about it, I think I can compare features fairly accurately. The main differences between the Clarisonic and the treSonics are as follows:
Clarisonic has a mains charger, and built in battery, much like an electric toothbrush or electric shaver. The treSonic takes AA sized batteries with no charging facility.
Clarisonic's have an oscillating and vibrating central area on their brush heads, and all other areas of the brush head just vibrate. The treSonic just vibrates.
Clarisonic's beep every 10-20 seconds to notify you when to change area on the face, and auto turn-off after a minute. The treSonic does not, only having an "on/off" switch with no beeping or auto turn-off.
Some Clarisonic models have two intensity levels, the treSonic only has one.
Clarisonic offer a delicate brush head, along with the normal and sensitive brush heads that are supplied as standard. The treSonic only offer a normal and sensitive. They do however offer a foam head for applying moisturiser/ serum and also a massage head which is wonderful if you've got sinus issues!
So all in all, whilst there are differences, they're not deal-breakers. I took the plunge and three weeks ago it arrived.
I've been using the treSonic day and night for the last 3 weeks and am seriously impressed! I've been using the sensitive brush head and my skin is looking better than it has done in 10 years. As someone who suffers with sensitive, dry yet congested skin, I was concerned that the 'scrubbing' action might wreak havoc with my skin, but I'm soooo pleased to say that it's been brilliant.
For the sake of impartiality I kept with my normal skin care products and have just introduced the treSonic, using it for 20 seconds on my forehead, 10 seconds per cheek, and 20 seconds on my nose and chin respectively. As a fan of double cleansing, I typically pre-cleanse to remove make up, before using my hot cloth cleanser with the treSonic, and then rinsing away any residue with warm water before moving onto toning and moisturising.
My pores are clearer and less filled with debris, my skin feels astonishingly clean, and I've actually found that I need less moisturiser than previously. My persistent blackheads on my nose are almost gone and my incredibly annoying blocked pores on the sides of my nose/ cheeks have completely vanished!! I am truly impressed. Whilst I still have a spotty chin, I am hoping that this is just part of the 'purging' process that other Clarisonic users have spoken of, and I'm confident that this will improve over time. Even if not, the rest of my skin looks so good, and my chin spots are no worse than before, so I can live with it!
Whilst the sonic cleansers all claim not to exfoliate, I feel that the treSonic really does clean off the top layers of skin, leaving it healthy looking, fresh and youthful. I assume that the vibrating action stimulates blood flow which may account for the increase in luminosity.
My only criticism is that the sensitive brush head is still a little harsh, so you have to be really careful not to push too hard when cleansing, which can lead to slight stinging. I could see that this harshness might put some people off but I really do think it's worth it, and even with my very sensitive skin, using it twice a day, every day has not caused me any adverse effects. I also think that a foaming cleanser would work better than a thick cream cleanser, so I will investigate that now that I'm sure it's the treSonic giving me great results, not a new product!
If you, like me were lusting after a Clarisonic and unsure as to whether to take the jump, or you're new to sonic cleansers and want to improve your skin, I'd really recommend it.
Have you tried the treSonic? I'd love to hear of what you think to sonic cleansers?
It's hard, fast, leaves you gasping and feeling a little bit vulnerable.
Yes, I'm talking about No.7 Total Renewal Microdermabrasion exfoliator.
I was looking for a new face exfoliator to add to my routine as my Clarins Gentle Refining exfoliator just wasn't cutting the mustard, so I scoured the web to find a new one and reviews pointed me towards this bad boy.
According to Boots, this exfoliator works against fine lines, evens out skin tone and leaves skin softer, silky to touch and more refined after 4 uses. It contains aluminium oxide crystals which are also used in professional micro-dermabrasion session.
Ok, it looks innocuous enough. Simple packaging, anti-ageing premise. The exfoliator itself looks creamy with very small grains and not too frighting. But be warned.....This is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I should have taken heed of the unusually long winded instructions. The two page instruction leaflet went straight in the bin, as I flippantly scrubbed it into my freshly cleansed skin. In hindsight I probably ought to have read them, but hey, where's the fun in that?
The exfoliator spreads well and feels gentle on your skin. I was impressed by the fact that the grains are so plentiful, they don't all disappear under your fingers as you rub it over your face. The aluminum oxide crystals are incredibly fine and are easy to get into the awkward nooks and crannys for a seriously deep clean.
I massaged it in for a couple of minutes, and then washed it off with a cloth. It left no residue and came off cleanly without leaving a mass of grains all over your face. By this time my skin was very pink, and starting to look a more than a bit cross. I slathered on some rich night cream in a vain attempt to calm it down and went to bed.
I woke up in the morning to beautifully soft skin. Beautifully soft, bright red skin.
Over the course of the day my soft, beetroot face became oilier and oilier. My normally dry as a bone skin suddenly decided to have a sebum-fest of epic proportions.
That evening, I raided my rather large skin care collection (hoard) for anything I could find which would help balance it and calm it down. Two days later the greasy face is starting to subside and I have to admit my skin feels absolutely fantastic. It's soft, glowy, my pores are looking smaller and the redness has diminished to manageable levels.
So where does that leave me? Is the smooth, younger and healthy looking skin worth the red, oily disaster of the last few days? My answer is yes, probably!
I am sure that I probably was a little over-enthusiastic with the length of time I massaged the exfoliator in. Next time I'll limit to a minute only and I don't think my skin could manage it being used more than once per week. But, I'm going to throw red-faced caution to the wind and keep going with it.
I'll keep you updated, if I have any skin left after the next time I use it, I might even post a picture.
Wish me luck!
