Clayspray - Pore Refining White Clay Mask for Face. *

Clay products are one of my most loved versions for a mask. As a beauty specialist, I know how good clay is for use as beauty ritual on the face and body due to its natural purifying and rejuvenating properties. 

It is also one the oldest beauty secrets around;

Cleopatra used clay from the Nile river and the Arabian desert over 1800 years ago, as part of her beauty ritual.

German and Roman spas have been using clay packs and treatments in the spas they built 4,000 years ago. Many of these spas still exist and use clay even today.

When I saw Clayspray on twitter as one of my recommendations to follow, I was instantly intrigued after looking at their website regards to their products. 

After contacting them to ask if I could try a sample of one of their products to try, they sent me their Pore Refining White Clay Mask for Face.

Clayspray - Patented Delivery System 
- is what makes their clay products different from anyone else's.



Using scientific enhanced clay, with macromolecular hydrogels, a new smart materials that are able to retain up to 800 times their weight in water. The clay is delivered freshly and in optimum purity through active hydrogels in a patented delivery spray format. The hydrogels are able to deliver the nutrients deep into the skin giving great benefits of moisturising, due to enhancing the firming and strengthening benefits of the clay while helping to conserve the properties and natural moisture of the product.

The clay is also given a maturation process to achieve it's optimal therapeutic efficacy which do not occur in freshly prepared clays.
With this technology, the Clayspray range can not only remove impurities and environmental toxins, they also put back minerals to nourish the skin and help to prevent ageing. Clayspray source their clay from a mine deep within the Iberian Mountains of Spain, the purest white clay on earth, formed 100 million years ago it is enriched with mineral content. The minerals include silica which helps to boost collagen, Calcium to promote healthy cell regeneration and potassium to help lock in moisture. Each clay mask also contains the highest percentage of clay compared to any other mark on the market.


To keep the clay in its purest form when it arrives to you, the clay has been packed into a portable patented cylinder that has a unique dual-chamber within an air-tight compartment. This enables the clay to remain isolated from air propellant upon delivery to the keep the clay fresh and pure. A special dispensing mechanism has been designed to ensure the clay does not dry or clog the pump. This feature keeps the clay hygiene, fresh and easy to use from the first to the last facial. 

How to use and my thoughts on the product

To use the clay they recommend preparing the skin with their mineral rich H20 Spray (£17.50 125ml ) for ultimate indulgence. The clay is than gently smoothed onto the face and neck, left to dry and wash off with warm water.

As I didn't have the H20 spray, I used my toner which contained spring water in before applying the clay to my face.

Instantly you can feel the difference from this clay product to any other clay product you may have used. It is very smooth, and feels gorgeous on the skin. A 30ml is said to give you approx 5-6 facials. I used one pump as it didn't say how much to use and it produced a thin layer on the face. They clay dried in around 5-10 mins which is normal for this type. However, the drying effect is most definitely more pronounced than any clay mask I have used before. It felt it was really firming your skin as it tighten ( in a good way by the way! ) yet it was still very soft to touch when dry and although it felt very tight, it felt comfortable on the skin too. I really enjoyed having the mask on and it felt so relaxing ( especially as being 36 weeks pregnant, it was like stepping into a proper salon and having a clay facial ).
 
It was also the most easiest clay mask to wash off!  It just melted away with the water instantly. I have used clay masks where I have had to use a facial cloth to help wash it off and taken a good few mins. Clayspray I wash off with just my hands in seconds.

My face also felt great, very comfortable and moisturised and not left feeling dried out. My pores were refined, my skin tone was a lot more even and brighter too. it certainly delivered what the Pore Refining White Clay mask was supposed to do - Exfoliates, Removes Impurities and Smoothes!

I really enjoyed using this clay and would definitely try the other ranges and invest in the spring water spray to use with it.

The clay comes in a 125ml for £44.50 - giving you approx 17 facials ( which when you look at individual per facial works out at £2.61 which is a hell a lot cheaper than going to salon.

Available from Clayspray and www.feelunique.com

For more information please visit www.clayspray.com

Do we need to use a facial toner?

This question is asked a lot when I am doing a consultation on customer, more so than whether a serum or oil needs to be used.

I think this is mainly because the benefits of the toners are still unknown to clients. Also it was known to be used mainly for skins that acne prone, containing a high percentage of alcohol.

Toners these days tend to have little or no alcohol ( although there are some brands that still do have a high content of alcohol ) and can be used on all skin types. I would recommend using a brand that either contains an alchol dent ( which is a very mild form of alcohol which is used also to keep the product persevered or one that contain no alcohol ), unless you have really oily skin.

So the question, Why do we need to use a toner?

It is really down to preference, whether you like to use a toner. I prefer to use a toner for many reasons which I will explain.

1) It helps the PH of skin. 
Our skin is naturally acidic, normally with a pH balance of between five and six, and after cleansing  due to the alkaline nature of soap, the skin's PH level gets upset. Without a facial toner, you skin has to work really hard to restore the natural PH balance. This can than actually cause the sebum gland to produce oil. What a toner does is to restore this process a lot quicker.

2) It can help to shrink pores.
You can get toners to help you achieve certain results you want from your skin. Pore reducing is one of them and you can buy toners that help with this process. Although all toners will help close the pores after cleansing.

3) It provide a layer of protection.
When you cleanse your skin, your pores can open allowing dirt, make up and impurities that are trapped out.  Toners can help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing. This will than help reduce the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. It can even protect and remove chlorines and minerals present in tap water.

4) Refreshes and Moisturises.
Toners can be used in the absence of washing your skin when it is oily or dirty ( although I would advise not to do this as a regular routine, as oily skins still need to be cleaned properly ). Toners can leave you skin feeling revitalised.
Some toners are humectants, meaning they can help to bind moisture to the skin. I would say the one I use from Biotherm is a typical one of this.

Ok so now onto the different types of toners out there.

Types of toners

Skin bracers or fresheners

These are the mildest form of toners; they contain virtually no alcohol (0-10%), water, and a humectant such as glycerin. A popular example of this is Rosewater.
These toners are the gentlest to the skin, and are most suitable for use on dry, dehydrated, sensitive and normal skins.

Skin tonics

These are slightly stronger and contain a small quantity of alcohol (up to 20%), water and a humectant ingredient. Orange flower water is an example of a skin tonic. Skin tonics are suitable for use on normal, combination, and oily skin.

Astringents

These are the strongest form of toner and contain a high proportion of alcohol (20-60%), antiseptic ingredients, water, and a humectant ingredient. These are commonly recommended for oily skins as they are drying, removal of oil from the skin does not cause overproduction of oil as there are no structure in the skin that provides a mechanism that will send a negative feedback to the oil glands that the skin has become dry and it needs to compensate for that condition . to compensate for that dryness it would be recommended to use a water based, non comedogenic facial moisturiser.

A blast from the past, my most read beauty post.

I began my blog with a post about the difference between a moisturiser, serum and facial oil, mainly because I had a lot of customers asking me questions about the differences and why we use them.

Funnily enough it still remains one of the questions a client always asks ( another is the toner questions which I will answer in another post  ).

This post was written 3 years ago, yet it is always my top most read post, and so I thought as it still seems to be a question to be answered, share this post again.

http://beautyalchemy.blogspot.com/2011/02/difference-between-serumfacial-oil-and.html

Philips VisaPure Review

I was kindly given by Philips their New VisaPure electric cleansing brush to test and review for them.

As you know I have already reviewed the Clarisonic, so I am going to write this review as if I haven't, for 2 reasons.
 1, I was supposed to have got this before receiving the Clarisonic and so my review would have been just on the VisaPure.
2. I feel the VisaPure review should just reflect my opinion on this brush.

I will however, for those who wish to know any differences on the two brushes do a separate post on the comparisons.

The VisaPure Experience

Philips knows that cleansing is the most important part of every women's skincare routine. With the VisaPure, women can now take their cleansing routine to the next level,  providing a gentle, easy-to-use electronic skin cleansing device that massages the skin to remove make-up, dirt and impurities, which is 10 x more effective than manual cleansing.

VisaPure is fully waterproof enabling it to be used in the shower. It features a unique "Dual Motion " technology ( vibration and rotating ) creating a comfortable massaging effect to stimulate micro-circulation beneath the skin's surface, renewing skin to bring out its natural radiance.

Revitalising the face and decolletage just takes 1min each, easily fitting into the every woman's daily routine alongside their existing products. The added benefit of using the device is that it optimise the skin preparation to absorb other products ( i.e Serums and Creams ) much more effectively, reinforcing their beneficial effects and helping the skin to look healthier and more radiant.

My VisaPure Experience

The VisaPure has definitely been designed with women in mind. My first impressions of the brush was that it looks very feminine stylish and almost sexual, in the sense it remains of something you would have in your sex drawer. However, I do love the design and it looks fab on the dressing table or in the bathroom.
It is also very light weight and could easily been taken with your on travels ( I will certainly be packing this in my hospital bag for when I go in to have my baby ).

The brush comes with two brushes to start you off, a normal brush head and a sensitive brush head. You can also buy an exfoliating brush head separately. The price of the brush heads are really competitive from just £7.99! As like a most electric devices with brush heads ( i.e toothbrush and other electric skin cleansers ) brushes should be changed every 3-4 months.

I've been using the normal brush head on this device and it is very soft ( think of a how a baby brush feels like ). I have used this now for 2 weeks and the brush feels amazing on the skin.  On my opinion alittle on the small side but than it fits with size and style of the device. I also found the device a little awkward to hold at first but after a few days of using it, I got the feel of the device. I have used both settings - the everyday "Gentle Cleansing" and the 1-2 times a week " Deep Cleansing " ( which you could use the exfoliating brush head for too ).  Both feel great and leave your skin amazing soft, smooth and radiant.
There is also a Skin Zone Timer on the brush which indicates when it is time to move on to the next area, which ensure the face and decolletage are cleansed thoroughly and evenly.

What I was surprised about, was it only took 6 hours to charge up, meaning  I could use this the next morning of receiving it. The stand is the charger, but you can unplug the cord so that the stand can sit in the bathroom when the device is fully charged. The device when charge has 30mins of use, which gives you a whole months use before charging up again, which in turn again is fab if your wanting to take this on holiday.

You also don't need as much cleanser as you would have used manually. A small blob just in the middle seems to be enough to cleanse the whole face.  Since using an electric skin cleansing device, I have noticed my skin is less prone to blemish or breakouts, my T-Zone is less oily and the skin is amazing smooth, radiant and even skin toned. You will also notice your serums, oils and creams go in much easier and their results are more effective too.

The price is very competitive too at £150  and available though Boots.com or instore. I would definitely recommend using an electric skin cleansing device to anyone who wants to supercharge their cleansing routine and skincare routine.

For more information on Philips VisaPure you can visit their Facebook page, or www.philips.co.uk

Kiehl's Superly Smoothing Argan Products - Review

I've tried loads of different smoothing products for my hair. Even though my hair is naturally straight, my hair is full and I always get it thinned out. I also use my straightners everyday to keep it looking smooth and managable. My hair is also highlighted and as you know with highlighted or coloured hair it can feel a bit dry at times.

My other problem with my hair was that I could never style my hair like my hairdresser. I can't seem to blow dry it like her at all, which is mainly half my problem why my hair after washing is so puffy and full.

So, I decided when I got my allocation from work, to try the Kiehls products as heard very good reviews about them and on the plus side they are also contain a lot of natural and orgain ingredients in.

As I love Argan oil products, I was instantly drawn to getting the Argan oil range. The shampoo however was out of stock so only managed to get the Conditioner and the Treatment in the Superbly Smoothing Argan Oil Range.

WOW! I have totally fallen in love with these two. My poor GHD's have been almost made redundent!

And the best bit........... Blow drying my hair is a totally different story now. I can almost get a blow dry as good as my hairdresser. It is more managable to blow dry and style, and does not go all puffy and full. It creates a very nice smooth but can create some volume to the style, without having to really use my hair straigtners after ( unless I really want a very slick straight look without the little volume ).

Okay, so lets talk about the products.

Superbly Smooth Argan Conditioner
Formulated with Argan Oil, it helps to moisturizes, detangles, and provides intensive smoothing, giving long-lasting shine with a frizz-free finish. - and it actually does that!
The smell is amazing too, no un-natural parfum smell, just pure natural ingredients shinning though, it make the hair smell totally gorgeous.
I am definitely sticking this range, and I can't wait to try out the shampoo too.
Cost is on the premium side - £18.50  - 200ml, but definitely worth it. I have used it every other day for over a month now and still got at least another month left of usuage.

Key Ingredients:

Argan Oil

Indigenous to Morocco’s Atlas Mountain Region, this fairly-traded, organic Argan Oil is derived from the Argan Tree and is naturally rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, including Tocopherols (Vitamin E), and Omega-6 and Omega- 9 fatty acids, which are known for having restorative and protective properties.

Coconut Oil  

Coconut oil is an off-white, semi-solid, highly saturated fat expressed from the kernels of the coconut. It lathers readily and is stable when exposed to air.

Sesame Oil

Sesame Oil, which is a refined moisturizing oil derived from Sesame Seeds, has the same emollient properties as other nut and vegetable oils and is commonly used as a carrier oil.

Deeply Restorative Smoothing Hair Oil Concentrate

As we know  Excessive heat styling and external aggressors can leave hair looking frizzy and feeling coarse.Kiehl’s Deeply Restorative Smoothing Hair Oil Concentrate helps to treat this concern, - a lightweight oil treatment that helps to nourish hair. 

Enriched with Fairly-Traded Argan Kernel Oil and Sesame Seed Oil, the formula helps to helps to nourish hair while creating a natural barrier that helps lock out humidity. 

Hair is left feeling smoother, more manageable and free from frizz.

As I have mentioned above, this is key product in making my hair more easier to blow dry and style, without having to use my straigtners every day.  I would recommend this for anyone who colour their hair or has very frizzy, unruley, curley hair. Depending on hair length, I would either spray on hair as described on the bottle.

Or for short hair like mine ( which is chin lenght at front but cut in at the back ), I would definitely spray up to two pumps only onto the palms of hands and blend into hair. 

You can use this on dry or wet hair. I like to use it on freshly washed hair before blowing drying.  If you hair is really dry or frizzy you can put it onto dry hair afterwards as described on the bottle.

This is far the best treatment oil I have used and I can not recommend it enough. I had a lot of comments from work colleagues when I first started using these products. I also been recommending it left right and centre to my friends.

Cost I beleive is actually very reasonable at £18 for 180ml. I have again used this every other day after washing my hair and got almost a whole bottle still left to use. It applys to the hair very easily with out leaving it heavy or oily.   There are quite a few different oils used in this product but here are the main key ingredients.

Argan Oil

Indigenous to Morocco’s Atlas Mountain Region, this fairly-traded, organic Argan Oil is derived from the Argan Tree and is naturally rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, including Tocopherols (Vitamin E), and Omega-6 and Omega- 9 fatty acids, which are known for having restorative and protective properties.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba Oil is extracted from the beanlike seeds of the desert shrub Simondsia Chinensis and has been traditionally used by both Mexicans and Native Americans for skin care purpose. It reduces transepidermal water loss without completely blocking the transportation of water vapor and gasses.

Sesame Oil

Sesame Oil, which is a refined moisturizing oil derived from Sesame Seeds, has the same emollient properties as other nut and vegetable oils and is commonly used as a carrier oil.

For more information about Kiehl's, product catalogue and where to buy visit www.kiehls.co.uk

 

Saaf Skincare - Review Face and Body

I received a PR request from Tots100 asking to review a skincare brand called Saaf. When I read up about the company, I knew this was something I really wanted to try. As you already know I am in the field of skincare and regularly write up about skincare so this was definitely an great opportunity for me.

Saaf Skincare got back in touch and recommended two of the products to trial, and asked was there anything else in particular I would like to try. As I am currently pregnant, I saw they had a body oil for stretchmarks so kindly asked if I could sample this.

Few days later the postman brought me the products :-)

Saaf Skincare - Who are they?

Saaf means "pure" in Persian. Their philosophy is in harnessing the powerful properties of organic ingredients. Ingredients that are so pure they allow our range to be one of the most certified & accredited in the world, including approvals from vegetarian, vegan and halal societies.

The smell and colour of products certainly show off the ingredients used well. I love the smell of organic skincare, the blend of essential oils and natural ingredients. A-Z-of-goodness.

Dr Mah Hussain-Gambles, the founder of Saaf Skincare is a trained pharmacologist and homeopath. She discovered the powerful properties nature and science when she first created the balm for her mother, for condition that no other cream touched. And so Saaf Skincare was born with the combination of the finest natural ingredients in scientific formulations to create a pure and powerful range of products that nurtures both body and soul.

Saaf Skincare has developed a wide range of products to suit every skin type and help every condition that her family, her friends and you can truly trust.

Review on the products sent are below. I have used all for just over a week now. Please note my reviews will only reflect a weeks worth of results. To see the full potential of any product, you will  need the full 4 weeks ( 28 day cycle of your skin ) to see the maximum results.

Skincare - Pure Face Cleanser & Organic Face Cloth

 This face balm is suitable for all skin types and comes with a muslin cloth. It melts on the skin like an oil, and you really don't need a lot of it.  The balm helps to purify, balance, sooth and moisturise your skin leaving it feeling luxurious, and it certainly does that. The organic face cloth gently remove impurities and makeup whilst exfoliating and rejuvenating the skin.
All the products have a signature yellow/gold appearance to them and the balm smells Divine with the essential oil of geranium showing though for me.
Key ingredient in the balm are; 

Jojoba Oil melts away make-up while softening, protecting and leaving skin feeling nourished.
Safflower Oil helps soothe irritations and Olive Oil has a regenerating effect on the skin.
Organic Beeswax helps soften dry skin whilst Shea Butter helps improve elasticity.
Soothing Lavender, skin-harmonising Geranium and nurturing Grapefruit Peel Oil help calm and normalise all skin types.

To use, I would definitely follow the instructions. I first used it with my Clarisonic as you are meant to be able to use any cleanser with it, however for this type it didn't quite work out.

Soak the Organic Face Cloth in warm water and wring it out so it’s damp.
Smooth a generous amount of cleanser onto your face with your fingertips and massage in.
Gently wipe off with the face cloth, taking care around the sensitive eye area.

As I love to use my clarisonic, I use this balm as pre-cleanse. The balm really feels luxuries on the skin and leaves your skin feeling soft. I felt you didn't need a lot of the balm as it melts so easily into your skin and glides around, and would imagine the pot lasts for quiet some time too. The price is really competitive at just £29.99 for 40g. I would definitely recommend this balm to all my friends. 

Skincare - Complexion Boosting Face Serum

This is 1 of 2 serums Saaf do to help moisturise and perfect your skin after cleansing, depending on your skin type. The Complexion Boosting Face Serum is for Normal to Combination skin,  to help decongest, balance and improve the tone of the skin.
 Ideal for:
Detoxing congested skin
Oily and acne prone skin condition
Dull skin
Hyper pigmentation and uneven skin tone and texture

Key Ingredients are;

Safflower Oil soothes skin irritations and itchiness as well as increasing the moisture content of the skin.
Jojoba Oil has long been used as a skin lubricant as its composition is close to that of the skin's actual sebum. In harmony with your skin, it is easily absorbed and imparts a soft, velvety quality. It is also protective, helping the skin retain its moisture.
Rosehip Seed Oil promotes healthy skin renewal whilst Black Seed Oil acts as an anti-inflammatory to help clear breakouts and smooth blemishes.
Lemongrass essential oil was used in traditional Indian medicine for its pore refining properties and
Juniper Berry essential oil is long known for its skin detoxifying and purifying effects. It is a marvellous aid in balancing oily complexions and helpful for soothing acne.

Directions for use; After Cleansing, Push down the pump dispenser once, and pump the serum into your palm.Gently press a small amount onto your skin and massage gently in a circular, upward direction.

Leave to penetrate for a few minutes and, if necessary, blot off any excess with a tissue.
Apply morning and evening.

I love facial oils, purely because I love to do a mini facial on my skin with my cleansing routine and find oils are easier to work with. This facial oil smells also Divine, with the smell of citrus and absorbs into the skin easily, as I haven't had the need to blot any excess off, one pump is enough to face and neck area. I also press a serum into the face first ( with an oil you can warm this up with your hands first by rubbing them together than pressing ) than starting with my neck I use a sweeping motion upwards to the chin. Than I proceed with a mini facial which takes depending on my time from litarly 1 -2 mins.
I allow the oil to penetrate by putting my eye product on next before than proceeding with my moisturiser. This is great product to use both day and evening. Highly recommended for combination to oily skin. I have noticed my skin isn't as oily on the t-zone now and complexion is very even toned, radient and smooth.  I just love the smell too that it leaves on your skin.
Price is very competitive at a very good price of £29.99 - 30ml.  1 pump is all you need, so the bottle lasts quite awhile.

Body Care - Eraser Body Oil

Saaf philosophy on this product is -

Nature’s correction fluid in a bottle, this impressive toning and smoothing oil is a skin-saving formulation.

 The Oil contains a high percentage of Rosehip Seed Oil, a known to effectivelyingredient to effectly reduce uneven pigmentation and the appearance of raised scar tissue, along with Safflower Oil which soothes skin irritations while increasing the moisture content of the skin.
Both nourishing and protective, Organic Eraser Body Oil promotes healthy skin renewal, guards against scarring, calms irritated, itchy skin and helps keep skin supple and smooth.

Ideal for:

• All skin types - especially pregnant and post pregnancy skin
• Preventing the development and reducing the appearance of stretch marks
• Soothing away hyper pigmentation
• Old scars
• Protecting the skin from the effects of a sun tan

Key Ingredients :

Safflower Oil is mentioned in ancient Egyptian texts and was used to heal old wounds. It is easily absorbed by the skin due to its high linoleic acid content and leaves no greasy residue. It soothes skin irritations, increases the moisture content of the skin, so it is particularly good for sensitive skin.
   
Rosehip Seed Oil helps to reduce pigmentation and raised scar tissue by promoting healthy skin renewal, even on old scars. It also aids cell regeneration and boosts collagen and elastin to create smoother, firmer skin.
Mandarin essential oil helps ease and repair scars, spots and stretch marks and gives Eraser Body Oil its lovely citrus fragrance.

The citrus smell from the mandairn is just divine. I have totally fallen in love with this product and by far the best oil I have used in the pregnancy so far. From first use it made my skin feel much smoother and hydrated. I don't itch as much using this oil throghout the day as like some of others I have used, which have needed me to put more on. This oil goes though the day lovely without any more application until I go to bed.
I have noticed the appearance of my old stretchmarks from my last pregnancy and from teenage grrowth have appeared to have faded and much smoother too. I look forward to seeing results are my baby is born.

Now the sun is out, I am going to also try this on my arms where I have freakles which appear more when the sun comes out, as the oil is meant to be great for pigmnation and sun effects.

High recommended during pregnany for certain. The price is also very good!!  I have used oils in the pregnancy from self selection and premium beauty that have been of similar size quanity but seem to use up quite quick and not as great on the skin like this one. At just £39.99 for 100ml. I use this everyday and the bottle still looks I have used much, even though i smother this on.

For more information on Saaf Skincare, and to purchase their products visit www.saafskincare.com

Clarisonic Plus - Review Part 1

I couldn't believe my eyes when the postman brought me this to my door at the beginning of the month. As a Thank You Gift from work for our hard work, we were given this wonderful gift. A Clarisonic Plus for Face and Body.

I am doing this review in two parts, this one is for the face and I will do the body at a later stage as currently 8 months pregnant I am finding it hard to reach certain parts.

Now I know the Clarisonic has been around for a while now, and many companies have tried to sell there own version of it. It would be great to compare them all but for now this is my experience of using the Clarisonic.

Firstly what makes Clarisonic different from any other electric cleansing face brush?

Clarisonic Cleansing uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to gently, yet thoroughly remove significantly more makeup. There research has shown that Clarisonic Cleansing:

• Removes more makeup than manual cleansing.

• Leads to greater absorption of Vitamin C when compared to manual cleansing.

• Helps to improve the appearance of skin tone, texture, elasticity and firmness

• Makes skin look and feel softer, smoother and healthier.

• Reduces the appearance of visible pores

• Is a gentle cleansing process that can be used up to 2 a day, for a maximum of 2 minutes in total.

The Clarisonic is suitable for all skin types with different brushes for each type - Sensitive, Delicate, Normal and Deep Cleansing.  Although you can use any cleanser with the Clarisonic, Clarionic also do there own cleansers for each skin type and an exfoliator.

In the package you get a sample size of  the 3 cleansers; cleansing refreshing gel, nourishing care cleanser and gentle hydro cleanser. I have so far only used the refreshing gel cleanser after my usual cleanser ran out a week ago ( my usual cleanser is Biotherm's Normal/Combi cleansing mousse ). The refreshing gel is just a good as my usual cleanser, and it does feel refreshing and doesn't dry your skin out after like it says.

You also get a sensitive brush head but can purchase other heads if needed. As the brush isn't suitable around the eyes, it suggests to remove with eye make up first. I also pre-cleanse my face with a bit of cleanser to wash my eyes before using the brush.

To use the brush, all it takes is 1 minute which is spilt down into individual timer parts indicated by a bleep timer on the brush. This is called the T-Timer,  Starting with the forehead, than nose and chin finishing on the cheeks.
Check the Videos on the Clarisonic website The Sonic Difference Videos

It is also waterproof and can be used in the shower, which is great for me as I shower every morning. The brush feels amazing on the skin too and you can really feel the difference from first use. My skin has improved with its tone and texture almost instantly and was getting comments alot in the first week or two.
My pores have definitely reduced as well which is something I've tried many products to do but nothing worked, so I am really happy a brush can do this. Pores have been reduced on forehead, nose and chin.
Due to this, I believe this is why my skin isn't so oily as it used to be on those areas which is fab news.

I love using this product and just like I would never swap my electric tooth brush for a manual. I think the same goes for my cleansing routine.

I can not wait to try out the body brushing after I have had my baby, and see the results it can do on my thighs, knees and other parts. Part 2 for the body will done around end of July/August.

I would definitely recommend using the clarisonic for anyone who loves to look after their skin. Suitable for all skin types due to the different heads. Prices start at £99

For more info on Clarisonic and where to purchase visit www.clarisonic.co.uk

Please note: Although this was a gift from my work, my opinion and review on this product has not been affected, influenced or biaz. This is my true review of the product.