Archives for October 2013

So, as promised in my last post about the Clarisonic Mia 2, I am going to share some more thoughts about the gadget. I’ve had it for a little over a month now and I wanted to let you know what I think.

In one word: AMAZING.

No, really. I am so, so happy with it so far. My skin is softer, I feel like it is looking fresher and it absorbs products much better than before. Fine lines have diminished, my pores look smaller (at least I think so) and overall my skin feels glowier and healthier.

My Clarisonic Routine:

I currently use the Clarisonic twice a day. I’ve read that some people only use it at night or even every other day, but for me personally, I like to use it in the morning and evening (for now).

In the morning, I use the Clarisonic in the shower. As I mentioned last time, the Clarisonic is water-proof and perfect to use in the shower. In the morning, when my face is should be pretty clean from the cleansing the night before, I use a small amount of the Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash for Sensitive Skin and work the brush for one minute over my face. I also sometimes (not daily though) use it a second round on my neck and décolleté. When I get out of the shower, I use my Neutrogena toner and then immediately moisturize.

In the evenings, it takes a little bit more work. I usually start with removing any eye-makeup with a cotton pad and makeup remover. Then I use Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser  and rub a small amount on my face to remove any foundation or other makeup. I rinse my face and then apply a little more cleansing product to my face, wet the brush head and then start the 1-minute cleansing routine starting with my forehead. I move it around in small circular motions, then work my way over to my nose and chin area and finish with my right and left cheek.  I am not using much pressure, just let the brush head lightly move around on my skin.

The first few times, I was amazed how much product still came off my skin with the brush. You think (!) you’re doing a good job with your hands, but the brush really cleans your skin deeply.

As much as I wish I could report that I didn’t have any more breakouts since using the Clarisonic Mia 2, unfortunately this has not been the case. I did have a few more breakouts. If this is part of the “purging phase” or just my regular every-so-often breakout phase, I can’t say (yet). More insight on that hopefully to come with time.

Note: I always make sure to wash my brush with soap and hot water after cleansing, and then I dry it with a towel. You do not want to create a breeding ground for bacteria by leaving it wet and used on your bathroom counter. 

I am sure you have heard of Birchbox. In the very rare case that you haven’t, it’s a monthly subscription service where you “receive monthly deliveries of high-end beauty and lifestyle samples from top brands. It’s the best way to discover new products and buy with confidence” (birchbox.com).
As usual, I am somewhat late to the party, but hey, better late than never. I am a sucker for stuff in the mail (who isn’t? And please, just look at this cute, simple brown paper box, which by itself almost makes the subscription worthwhile!) and a monthly surprise box with little goodies is just what makes my little heart happy. I do enjoy trying new products and what better way to discover and try new products for a reasonable price without having to buy a full-size version of something, only to realize that it doesn’t work for you, right? Right.

I kind of missed out on posting about the first Birchbox delivery last month, but did want to take the opportunity to blog about it this time.

So, you fill out a profile on the website and they kinda tailor the monthly box to your preferences and then you wait. They put together a varying number of differently stuffed boxes every month. I received Box #39 for October. To find out what box # you got, go into your account and click on “Box” and then “Women’s Box”.  Scroll down to the “Box History” section and then click on “October 2013″.  The last number in your URL is your box number (bb39 = Birchbox 39).

The October Birchbox theme is “Beauty Buzz”.  Here’s what I received (*calculated value of the samples in parenthesis):

Bain de Terre Macadamia Oil nourishing shampoo ($1.51) and conditioner  ($1.70): I am slightly obsessed with any hair products that have macadamia and/or argan oil in them, because I feel like they really make my fine hair smooth and silky soft without weighing it down. Therefore, I am really looking forward to trying this combo. Preliminary bonus point: the smell is really, really nice.

Karuna Clarifying Treatment Mask ($7): Some honesty up front: I am not a face mask person. I’ve done it a few times in the past, but never with any consistency or great excitement. But: I’m willing to give this a try. This is a cloth mask (I’ve only done cream/lotion mask so far), so this will be interesting. It promises to calm irritated skin, and eradicate excess oil and bacteria.

Benefit Fakeup hydrating concealer ($2): For the longest time, I ignored the value of undereye-concealers and I really can’t tell you why, because I have been dealing with dark circles as long as I can remember. This concealer with crease-proof formula promises to effortlessly mask dark circles and keep skin hydrated for up to six hours. Promising.

ChapStick® Hydration Lock ($2.99): This is a Birchbox Find, which is an “extra” that they’ll send on occasion inside your monthly box, but these must-try extras are in addition to the usual samples—they never replace them. I do use chapsticks/lip balms quite a bit, so I definitely like this. There was also a $1-off coupon in the box to get another one with a discount. I approve!

The total value of the October Birchbox comes to $12.21 (without the “extra”) or $15.20 (with the “extra”). Not bad for a $10 investment. I know from some googling that sometimes the value can be even more than twice that much. I definitely feel that it’s a nice little splurge that is worth the money so far (ok, I’ve only gotten two boxes, but…), because I liked all the products that they sent me and it’s been a nice little surprise every month to look forward to.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox (or any other subscription services)? Do you like it?