Stuff We Love: Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System


By: Anne Vickman

We’ve always had stupid-sensitive combination skin — oily T-zone, dry patches in random places — which makes treatments like exfoliation difficult. Scrubs are usually too harsh, while the budget-friendly washcloth just doesn’t do the trick. So when a vetted local makeup artist recommended the Clarisonic, we pounced on it like a monkey on a bag of peanuts. The device, made by the same company that makes the Sonicare toothbrush, vibrates at a frequency of more than 300 times per second. In short, it’s an über-gentle toothbrush for your face.

The rechargeable brush (which comes in normal, delicate, and sensitive options) runs automatically for 60 seconds, and you can use it daily, though we’ve found twice a week to be a better bet for our at-times crotchety skin. And we have to admit it works wonders: After three weeks, dry patches are much improved, and hitting challenging spots (like around the nose ring) is a cinch. As with an electric toothbrush, the price tag is steep — but for our much-improved skin texture, we’re sold.

$150, available at Sephora, Cambridgeside Galleria, 617-577-1005, clarisonic.com.