Sigma vs Clarisonic

When I saw that Sigma had brought our their own facial brush I was pretty excited and once I had my Clarisonic I knew it was only a matter of time before I would pit them against each other.

It's almost impossible to truly compare these two products like for like because well.. they're not the same thing, however I can give you an overview of each so that when (if) the time comes for you to make a purchase you can make a more informed decision.

First of all lets compare the two on a basic "what does it do?" level before getting in to results etc.

The Sigma Cleansing & Polishing Tool

It retails for $39 (£25) here

It require 2xAA batteries (I'd suggest rechargeable)

It has no timer

It is supplied with 3 heads

Replacement brush heads can be purchased for $9 (£6) here

It can be used on face & body

It's water resistant

It has 2 speeds

The brush head spins in use

There is no colour choice available

The Clarisonic Mia
It retails for £120 here

It is rechargeable (UK charger supplied)

It must be charges for 24hrs for every 20mins use

It has a 1 minute timer

It is supplied with one (sensitive) brush head

Replacement brush heads can be purchased for £21 here

This model is designed only for use on the face

It's waterproof

This model has only 1 speed

The brush head vibrates in use

There's a wide variety of colour options

Now I've been using the Clarisonic for 2 months and so it's difficult for me to say 100% that the Sigma brush has done something special that the Clarisonic hadn't already begun but I believe that the brush you choose is very much dependent on what you require it to do.

When I first used my Clarisonic I was pretty disappointed not to feel any smoother than when using my Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser. I've never felt that it made my skin any softer than regular exfoliation but there are other benefits to it's daily use. It claims to 'prepare your skin for increased absorption' which allows your skincare to penetrate more deeply and I do believe the products I've been using have been more effective since I began facial brushing. It also claims to even out skintone as well as reduce pores, fine lines and wrinkles. I think it did do something to my pores early on but I haven't seen much improvement since a week or two in. My skin tone has improved but is that the brush or is it the daily gentle exfoliation? Where wrinkles are concerned I'm not quite there yet but it's definitely something I buy into as I get closer to 30.

The Sigma brush is very different. It spins against my skin rather than vibrating and after the first time I used it my skin was remarkably smooth. I should mention I used the firm brush head which I wouldn't recommend doing more than once or twice a week (not at all if you have sensitive skin) but I'm an impatient kinda gal and I loved the instant results. I used it on my chest, arms and back and felt the same immediate smoothing effect. This would be a great tool for all you fake tan addicts out there or those like me who are just suffering from rough, dry winter skin.

Since then I've been using the soft brush head every day and I am really impressed. I am someone who can't exfoliate enough and never feels clean without a good scrub so this is definitely more what I was looking for when I got my Clarisonic. The Sigma unit does feel cheaper and I am concerned about what happens if I drop it in the bath but at almost £100 less I can live with it!

As I mentioned at the start of this post you cannot truly compare these two brushes like for like. The Clarisonic I'm sure is doing something special deep down in my skin but for those of you that were expecting serious exfoliation.. it might not be for you. I will continue to use it because I have it and who knows.. maybe this time next year my pores will be invisible but if I lost my Mia tomorrow I doubt I would repurchase it. I will definitely be adding in my Sigma a couple of times a week for a good scrub and I will use it as my regular body polisher for sure.

In summary if you want gentle exfoliation I would recommend a muslin cloth, these are inexpensive and don't necessarily need to be Liz Earle. I'm currently trialling Superdrugs own hot cloth cleanser (£5.99 here) and it seems to do the trick. If you want super duper smooth skin I can't recommend the Sigma brush highly enough for the price! It does come from the US so postage is around £11 but it still only works out at £36 all in which is really not bad (and still cheaper than UK sellers). Lastly if you're looking for something a little swankier and willing to invest in your skin then I'm quite sure the Clarisonic will work some magic in the long run.

Each of these methods leave my skin clean and makeup free so it really is just down to your skin and what you think it will respond best to.

I'm very interested to hear your own experience with facial exfoliation whether they be from a scrub or one of these hi-tech gizmos. If you've used any of the products mentioned please let me know! What works for me won't work for everyone so more reviews are always helpful for readers!

Miss BB

PS

Don't forget that Sigma currently have 10% off purchases until 28/02 using code LOVE2012 here

They also just launched 3 new brush heads called 'spa solutions' which is definitely next of my Sigma wish list!

Sigma's Gone Sonic

I can't review this yet as it was literally just delivered to me but I am way too excited to keep you waiting! Some of you may remember my tweets about ordering this Clarisonic dupe from Sigma (less than 2 weeks ago might I add) and how I couldn't wait to compare the two. Well it's finally here so my experimenting can begin. I thought I'd share my first impressions in a quick fire post now then come back to you with an in-depth comparison. The only test issue I do anticipate is that my skin has already improved through regular use of my Mia so I'm not necessarily going to be able to tell you that it does the same thing but I'm hoping to give it a fair enough trial to review it. 

First and foremost I would be remiss if I didn't admit that the packaging looks a little cheap. Sigma brushes and palettes are such fantastic quality I was a touch disappointed when I first got in to this but we do have to remember this is a budget facial brush and at the end of the day if it does the same job as a Clarisonic for less than a quarter of the cost do we really care what it looks like?

I'm very pleased to see that it comes with three brush heads, soft, medium and firm. The Clarisonic comes with just one head which needs to be replaced every three months and replacements are not cheap at £21! The extra brush heads from Sigma also appeal as the medium and firm are suitable for body brushing which I am very interested in! It's not just my face that appreciates good exfoliation you know. 

 This cleansing and polishing tool requires 2x AA batteries to operate and where batteries are need I would ALWAYS recommend rechargeable! They last longer and when they're dead you just pop them in the charger. If you don't already have them then yes it's an extra cost but ultimately they will save you a fortune. You can buy 4 batteries and a charger for just £14.99 here

It's dubbed "water resistant" as opposed to waterproof which I believe to be because of the battery compartment as opposed to the full sealed Clarisonic. Because of that I'd be inclined to use this more over the sink or in the shower to avoid accidentally dropping it in the bath.

And for now that's pretty much as in depth as I can go

The Sigma Cleansing & Polishing Tool is available here under "top sellers" for $39 (around £25) and if you order before 28th February you can save 10% with code LOVE2012

I get a lot of questions about Sigma delivery and customs charges so here's a little FAQ

How much is shipping?

International first class works out at around £11 which sounds expensive but remember it's being shipped from the US and the turnaround s pretty quick baring in mind theirs an express option at around £30!

How long will it take to arrive?

Everything I've ordered from Sigma has come in less than 2 weeks. This came in around 10 days so I'd never pay express shipping!

Will I have customs charges?

I never have and some of my orders have been pretty heavy. I've never heard of anyone else having to pay customs charges but I guess it's always a risk with US to UK orders. 

My review will be coming up in the next month but I want to give it a good run before comparing it with my Mia. I may even enlist a friend who is not currently using a facial brush to test the Sigma version too.

Have any of you tried this? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Miss BB

My January Favourites

It's that time again! Last year I wasn't great at putting my monthly favourites on my blog as well as my YT channel but it's a new year.. new start, those of you that don't watch my videos might appreciate my new commitment to the monthly posts. 

A lot of what I've used throughout January has been in my regular routine for a while, I haven't made many changes since it's all kinda working for me right now. I'm totally in love with my skin and hair care routines for the first time maybe ever so it's really just cosmetics that I switch out from time to time and even then.. the Garnier BB cream has had me hooked for 6 months.

Skincare

Liz Earle Cleanser 100ml £13.75 here

Clarisonic Mia £120 here

Soap & Glory Pulp Friction £8 here

Body Shop Shea Body Butter £12.50 here

I am absolutely obsessed with my Clarisonic.. I'm not convinced the Liz Earle does anything special for me but the fact I can remove my makeup in the tub is awesome!! I will be trying some drugstore variations this month. S&G Pulp Friction is fab.. keeps me as smooth as can be the only down side is that it's such a pain to clean out of the bath afterwards.. if it wasn't I'd probably use it twice a day. Lastly the Shea Body Butter... ahh the smell, it just melts in to your skin and is fantastic value for money as a little goes a really long way! Totally changed my mind about The Body Shop Body Butters, I used to think they were a total rip off but this one is great!

Haircare

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo & Conditioner £3.99 each here

Macadamia Natural Oil 125ml £23.95 here

The combination of these three products have totally rejuvenated my hair. I never thought I'd find a shampoo and conditioner I genuinely valued, intensive masques and treatments, yes but not run of the mill shampoo and conditioner. I tried very cheap, I tried very expensive nothing did anything special until I tried Aussie. Luckily they are very affordable as well as being super effective.

You may recall me mentioning "Project Hair" which I started at the beginning of the year, well I've had a lot of questions lately about how I've improved the condition of my dry, damaged barnet and you can look forward to a comprehensive hair post very soon!

Base

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector (BB Cream) £7.49 here

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.19 here

My Garnier still reigns supreme as my favourite daytime "foundation" but this month made way for a brand new concealer. I've lost count of the amount of recommendations I've had to buy this so I finally caved. It's a similar consistency to YSL touche eclat and great for the money but I do think while I'm surviving on little sleep I need a touch more coverage under my eyes.

Cheeks

Miners Bronzer/Blush Blend in Sunblushed £4.99 here

Only one product this month but this has been a long time love of mine! Not many people are familiar with the brand (or at least not since they were around in the 90s) but there are some great, affordable products to be found there. This gives just enough glowy colour to do the job of a bronzer and blush in one.. I wore it at my wedding, that's how much I love it!

Eyes

Loreal Volume Million Lashes Luminizer £11.29 here

Rimmel Exhaggerate Liquid Liner £5.29 here

Rimmel Brow Pencil in Dark Brown £2.99 here

The mascara has served me well over the last three months, used almost every day it does exactly what it says on the tin. I plan to repurchase the Maybelline one bu one this month to really test which is my all time favourite. The liquid liner is back. It's been my go to look since Christmas, it's a quick way to open up my eyes and look more awake in the mornings and this particular liner has been a firm favourite for more than 5 years! The Rimmel brow pencil is the same.. I never strayed from this from the ages of maybe 15/16 to 23 when I discovered brow powders. I've recently returned to my old faithful because quite frankly.. it's easier!

Lips

Miners Matte Factor in Peach £3.99 here

Another one from Miners, my friend StyleSoCoy recently did a review of this range you can check out here. I love that these are easy to apply, long wearing and non-drying and still so inexpensive. My favourite everyday shade is peach (more pink in my opinion) but I love them all.

So that's it for January.. well this is actually February (oops)

I love these posts because in a years time I could be using something else that's not doing it for me and I can look back at my own recommendations.. plus it's always interesting to see what consistently makes the favourite lists. Sometimes you just use things for months without really thinking about how great they are or why you're repurchasing.. next month I'm bringing in shower gels and such.. an under-appreciated product in the beauty blogging world in my opinion but I love mine!

Miss BB

Wedding Countdown - Beauty Bootcamp

4 DAYS TO GO

Here's a little peek at the beauty regime I have been following in the run up to the wedding. As you know it was all booked last minute and so I had little notice to start looking after myself but I've been using most of these things for around two weeks now. Some are part of my usual routine and others have been brought in to up the anti for my "beauty bootcamp" 

Facial Skincare

I now religiously use Liz Earles Hot Cloth cleanser with my Clarisonic mia every evening. I use the original hot cloth to remove my eye makeup and my mia to polish the rest of my face. I have a full "first thoughts" post on the Clarisonic here and although I still don't feel like I've had it long enough to give it a proper review I can tell you that so far I LOVE it! It leaves my skin so soft and I honestly believe it's shrinking my pores. After I've cleansed I use S&G's Wish Upon A Jar which is sold as a 21 day collagen treatment to be used every three months but I've been using it off and on since I bought it and since the start of this month it's been firmly in my every day routine. The best thing about this cream, other than it's genuine magical powers, has to be that you can use your regular moisturiser on the top. I don't tend to need that but as and when I get a breakout I can use my Clean and Clear dual action moisturiser to neutralise is. Although I find that my skin needs a little more moisture lately the Clean and Clear remains one of my all time favourite products.. you can watch my rave review here. Lastly I use Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream on any super dry patches but more often, my lips. It's officially winter out there now and for me this is a must have.

Bodycare

Other than my regular body lotion (Garnier 7 day Moisture - Shea Butter) I have been experimenting with the above two products over the past fortnight. The Loreal Cellulite gel is something I'm hanging a lot of hopes on because if it works it will be a staple in my bikini prep before we go to Vegas in March. My Wedding dress is short.. just above the knee and my pregnancy cellulite still lingers and is (no joke) also all the way to my knee so I'm doing the crazy lymphatic massage and all that jazz in the hope this will diminish it before the big day. Does it work, who knows? I'm not sure it would be feasible to gather accurate before and afters but I figure it only matters that you think it's worked, right? As Gok would say.. "It's all about the confidence!"

The Palmers Gradual tan is up for discussion. I used it last week in preparation for my hen do and loved the result but I'm not sure I want to be fake tanned, let alone risk it going wrong. Most of all I don't want to make Lee look even paler beside me.. he's practically translucent as it is!!

Teeth Whitening

Very briefly.. I know this works, You can see my review and results in this post. I only started using them on Monday night so I'm not sure what effect they'll have in 5 days but it's another last minute attempt at improving my overall appearance. I have pretty yellow teeth and always have, I don't drink coffee of red wine I'm not a smoker, there's no rhyme or reason but I've never had white teeth so anything that can help is something I'm willing to try.

Haircare

I'm going to do a comprehensive current haircare post very soon because I've found my perfect products but this masque is one thing I've recently added to the mix that I am totally in love with. It advises to use it a maximum of twice a week but having read and watched reviews I know that some people use it in place of their regular conditioner on a daily basis. I'm sticking to the recommended usage for two reasons, 1. I add macadamia healing oil to my regular conditioner every time I wash my hair anyway and 2. it's not cheap! I can't afford to use this as a conditioner!!! It does leave my hair soft, shiny and manageable and I will be using this the night before the wedding to give my hair an extra bridal-worthy gleam.

Phew.. that was a longer post than I anticipated and it's very much my bedtime now but I hope you enjoyed it and can get some tips for your own "beauty bootcamp"... whatever the event.

Miss BB

Meet Mia

 

I think the day she arrived might have been one of the most special of my life (don't tell the kids)

I have wanted a Clarisonic since.. well probably since I heard of the Clarisonic. the reviews were unanimous, I'd never seen an appliance - or anything for that matter - so consistently raved about before and I knew sooner or later I would have to have one. The initial hurdle was that they were only sold in the US. They were all over eBay of course but they had US plugs and the mark up was insane. Soon enough they hopped across the pond and Clarisonic launched a UK website.. now the problem was the price. The original is £155 which no matter how amazing is just way out of my budget. Last year they launched the 'travel sized' Mia version, you can choose from a range of colours, the charger has had an update and although the overall unit has downsized considerably the brush head has remained the same. This means that the replacement and alternate heads available are interchangeable between models and you're not really losing out on anything but the size of the handle.. and why would you want that to be huge anyway? The other difference between the classic and the Mia is that the Mia has only 1 speed setting where as the classic offers to go down a notch.. but again.. I wouldn't want any less speed so it would be a wasted feature for me. Now I know what you're thinking.. 'but isn't it still expensive?' Yes! Although the Mia is a more compact version it is still £120. For most of us that's a lot of money for something replacing your old washcloth. 

Having only been using this for just over a week I'm not in a position to fully review the system, I can't tell you whether it's worth the investment for you. Only you know if your skin would benefit. If you're a hardcore exfoliator like myself then I would say almost certainly, yes. My skin can never feel too clean, I hate face washes that are missing those little microbeads and the Clarisonic leaves me feeling the cleanest I ever have and my skin has never been so soft.. and that's only a week in. Already I can see my pores are less obvious and even acne scarring seems reduced. I wasn't expecting to see results for at least a month and had heard my skin could get worse before it got better but (so far) that has not been the case. I had a stubborn blackhead which had been standing it's ground for a good two months and it's gone.. I am already just so much more impressed than I thought I would be. 

Now like I said.. I can't tell you how this will work for you, I can't even tell you how it will work for me long term all I can  tell you is that I love my Clarisonic and if I had to go out and replace it I would gladly pay that £120! I am going to follow up with a more in depth post in a month or so and let you know how I'm getting on with her but so far Mia and I are becoming fast friends.

 

I want to mention the charger which you can see clipped on the the bottom of the handle in this picture (below). They call it a pLink which is oh so fitting as it's kind of the noise it makes, it's a magnet that kind of 'clips' on to the base with no plug or port of any kind.. it's just plastic on plastic.. bizarre but it works. Once it's charging you get a little acknowledgement in the form of a buzz and a green light in the back of the unit glows through the plastic. It's all very sleek and swish. They've definitely taken some cues from Apple in the design department. The charger is also suitable for use anywhere in the world thanks to its compatibility with multiple volts so you needn't worry about outing the rechargeable battery if you travel a lot. The brush supplied is a sensitive head.. I will probably switch that out for a normal one (brush head are £21) in a month or two when my skin gets used to the daily use. I've not suffered any dryness so far and am using my regular moisturiser (clean and clear dual action) so change there. I've tried two cleansers with the system up to now, Liz Earle and Cetaphil. I've heard conflicting advice on what formula's to use but I thought I'd stick to non foaming for now to be on the safe side. I will no doubt branch out as I read more reviews.

The Mia does come with a 30ml sample of Clarisonic cleanser but it's such a handy size I'm saving it for out Vegas trip. May have to test run it once beforehand to make sure my skin doesn't react though.. boy would that be unfortunate for my honeymoon pictures!

There are so many facts and random bits of information I could give you but this is such a well known product I'm not going to bore you.. ok just one.. Did you know the Clarisonic was produced by the same guy that invented the Sonicare toothbrush? I didn't and found that interesting so maybe you will too...no? Ok, sorry! Anyway...  In summary, if you're in the market for great skin this New Year I would definitely recommend you give this a go if you can stretch your budget. The Mia is available at FeelUnique for £120 where you can also buy brush heads for £21 and delivery is free. 

I, however, got mine from Buyapowa. I'm sure you're all familiar with them by now... although nobody was when I first posted in October (for more info you can find that post here). They have gone from strength to strength and the one product I wanted them to offer was a Clarisonic. You can request whatever you like as a "co-buy" and I campaigned in every video.. 'go and vote for Clarisonic' and low and behold it worked! They got it for just £90!!! It was gone in a day (boxing day no less, when nobody has ANY money).. well I have seen it appear today on their 'Coming Soon' page again.. so I guess it's coming back! Good news for all of you that missed it the first time around. There is of course another reason I'm giving Buyapowa honourable mention here.. and that's because I got mine for FREE!

Not because I'm a blogger, not because they like me (although who wouldn't want to give me free stuff?.. Urban Decay? Naked II? No?) I got my Clarisonic for free because on the day I spread the word and brought in more "co-buyers" than anyone else. Once you've signed up for a product they encourage you to use your social networks to advertise the deals which of course works for them but if you get enough people on board it works for you too and what's the risk? It's already a cut price product but every time you buy you have the chance to win your money back. I don't want to beat you over the head with it but I am so very impressed with everything I've bought from them so far, to get the one thing I was desperate for a discount on for FREE.. how can I not shout about that?

I'm sure everyone on twitter hates me right now 'cause I'm obsessed with this whole get it for free deal but I promise I'll stop. I'm on a 12 step program!

Miss BB

My 2012 Wish List

My wish list for the coming year is not long but it's compiled of items I am desperate to get my hands on. The Moroccan oil is a last minute amendment as I recently purchased the 25ml and will certainly be needing the larger size. The 25ml was on my wish list you see but I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Another thing to mention would have to be the Clarisonic which I am likely to receive next week but that's still technically 2012 and I have waited a whole YEAR to get it so it' still going on the list. The Naked 2 does not hit the UK until January 1st where I will be banging down the door at dawn to get mine so again.. it will be an early check off for that one too but I consider it an absolute MUST-HAVE! The Babyliss Big Hair has seen some major blogger buzz over the past few months and since I'm trying to lay off my straighteners I am loving anything that can leave me looking "done" while avoiding them and the reviews I've seen of this are amazing. Lastly, I'm not sure a haircut can really go on a wish list but I consider any trip to the salon a luxury. I've coloured my own hair for years and haven't had a professional cut in at least 3.. maybe 4 so it it kind of a big deal. I hate to pay for someone to cut my hair when I really don't want it doing but come January "Project Hair" takes effect and the dead ends must finally come off *sob*

 I am on a self imposed spending ban (all but for the Naked 2 which I am allowing myself as an early birthday treat) from now until our trip to Vegas in March. I have the wedding to pay for in January and then all my spare cash will go towards our spending money. It's going to be tough but I'll appreciate it when I'm throwing dollars around our hotel room and cleaning out Sephora (these are the mental images I've chosen to get me through this difficult time)

Watch out for my second annual Budget Beauty Awards post coming very soon where I round up the years most used and favourite products. I've switched a lot of my hair and skin care in the past month so many of my beloved staples have taken a back seat in my regime but they still have their place in my heart and I'm sure I will find my way back to them.. I always do!

What's on your 2012 wish list?

Miss BB