Clarisonic Mia 2 Review

Our Verdict on the Clarisonic Mia 2

Get ready for the future of beauty. Huh? How many times have you heard that and raised an eyebrow? Well, I certainly did when I first heard about the Clarisonic Mia 2.

But I have to admit that it does work wonders. After the first use, I could already tell that this would become part of my morning shower routine.

The Mia 2 uses different brushes that vibrate at a very high frequency to deeply clean your skin from dirt and makeup. It cleans six times better than your hands and will tighten your pores. There are a bunch of different brushes to choose from, so you’ll need to find the one that’s best for you. But once you do, it’s an amazing little tool.

There are dozens of cheaper alternative out there (see other options below), but they all differ from the Clarisonic in one major aspect: the cheaper versions use a rotating brush to clean your skin whereas the Mia 2 uses thousands of micro vibrations. The rotating brush is an improvement compared to a normal wash, but the sonic vibrations are vastly better to deeply cleanse your skin and remove debris that clogs pores.

Continue reading our review of the Clarisonic Mia 2 to see the results.

Summary

WHERE TO BUY IT

Make sure to buy from the official Clarisonic page on Amazon to get a genuine model and qualify for the two years warranty.;

OTHER ELECTRIC FACE CLEANSERS

• The Olay ProX Facial Cleansing Kit is a cheaper alternative but works with a rotating brush instead of the sonic vibrations of the Mia 2. Check our comparision of the two electronic brushes at the bottom of our review to see the difference ().
• The Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift 2-in-1 is a more advanced (and more expensive) alternative. It comes together with a micro-firming massage head. It’s great if you have the money, especially for mature skins, but the basic functions are exactly the same than the Mia 2 ().

One month with Clarisonic Mia 2

If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering why you should add a new tool to your daily cleansing routine. You’ve been washing your face and applying moisturizers and makeup by hand forever. What could an electric brush do better?

Well, surprisingly quite a lot. Six times more to be exact.

That’s how much deeper the Clarisonic Mia 2 will cleanse your skin. You’ll see dirt and impurities, that you didn’t even know were there, removed from your pores. It works!
In fact, I love it so much that I bought an extra set of brush heads for my husband (yes, you can swap brushes, more on that below).

If you’ve ever used an electric toothbrush (the very stylish Philips Sonicare Diamond is our favorite by far), you’ll know exactly the kind of difference that vibrations can do. It cleans so much better than what you’re used to. You’ll wonder how you could ever feel clean before.

The Mia 2 is an electric brush that deeply removes makeup, dirt, oil, and sweat. It has two different speed level to adapt to your skin sensitivity. It comes in three colors (pink, turquoise, and white) and is waterproof so you can take it under the shower.

How to use the Mia 2?

The Mia 2 is very to use. It has two-speed levels and a programmed timer to let you know when to move from one zone of your face to the next.

This is how you use it:

1. Apply some cleanser to your face or directly to the Clarisonic brush
2. Wet the brush and your face
3. Place the brush to your forehead and turn it on
4. Gently massage your face with the brush in small circular motions
5. A timer will tell you when it’s time to move to the next zone

The normal routine is to start with your forehead for 20 seconds, then move to your nose and chin area for another 20 seconds, before ending with 10 seconds on each cheek. A little buzz will let you know when it’s time to move from one area to the next.

You’ll probably need to practice a little at the beginning to get the hang of it. It’s best not to press the brush too strongly against your skin so it has room to vibrate and deeply cleanse your pores. Just gently massage your face for 60 seconds and you’re done.

Find the Clarisonic brush that’s right for you

Now a big part of what makes the Mia 2 so great is the variety of brushes that you can choose from. There is a brush for every skin type and every problem. There is even a brush for men that I recently purchased for my husband so we can share the Mia 2 by just swapping brushes.

We’ve pretty much tried all the brushes that are available for the Mia 2, so here’s my selection of the best 3 brushes:

1. Acne Facial Cleansing Brush: For sensitive, acne-prone skin. The Acne Cleansing Brush comes with extra-plush bristles to gently clean the skin and remove debris from pores.
2. Deep Pore Facial Cleansing Brush: For all skin types with enlarged pores. The brush will flush and dislodge oil and debris that clogs pores in order to minimize the appearance of pores.
3. Radiance Facial Cleansing Brush: For normal skins, the radiance brush gives the perfect amount of stiffness and softness. The inner brush rotates and the outer circles vibrate to remove sebum and dullness.

There are also two more accessories that I highly recommend:

1. Foundation Makeup Blending Brush: you can use the Mia 2 to apply your makeup as well. And this blending brush is perfect to blend your foundation, contour, blush, and highlighter. It results in a more even coverage on the skin.
2. Men’s Facial Cleansing Brush: as I said above, I started sharing my Mia 2 with my husband. The men’s brush is specifically designed to clean bearded or close-shaved skin. Plus it’s also just cleaner to each use our own brush 🙂

A few important things to keep in mind regarding the Clarisonic brushes:

• You should change a brush every 3 months or so. The better you clean them the longer they’ll last, obviously.
• They are much cheaper when you buy them in bulk from Amazon. Just make sure to get them from the official Clarisonic account (all the links on this page have been vetted to make sure that they are).

Which cleanser works best with the Mia 2?

You can use any cleanser really. Just avoid exfoliants and cleansers with active ingredients such as BHAs and AHAs. At least not in conjunction. You can alternate between an exfoliant and the Mia 2 every other day if you want, but most people shouldn’t need a daily dose of exfoliation.

If you need help choosing the right cleanser, we’ve reviewed some of the best organic and vegan cleansers available today:

• Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel ()
• Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Scrub ()
• Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Cleansing Oi (Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil)

Beware of the Clarisonic purge

While you definitely can use the Mia 2 twice a day once your skin is used to it, you should absolutely not start that way.

You might have heard of the Clarisonic purge effect. It’s very frequent when people go from zero to using their Mia 2 twice a day right away.

Because your skin isn’t used to being deeply cleansed, you need to give it time to adjust. And you need to give yourself some time to learn how to use the tool as well. Finding the right pressure to apply depending on the brush that you choose is particularly important.

If you observe breakouts on your face after your first few days with the Mia 2, you’re probably irritating your skin. You should space out each usage and give your skin time to adjust.

Start slow is the key idea here. Try it once per day every other day in the beginning and see how your skin reacts to the treatment.

And if you have acne or a very sensitive skin, you should start with the super soft cashmere or sensitive head brush.

Also, don’t use it with an exfoliant cream or a scrub. The Mia 2 is already acting as an exfoliating tool, you don’t need anything extra.

Results

You’ll immediately feel cleaner after the first use. Your makeup will be completely removed and your pores deeply cleansed.

But once you start using the Mia 2 regularly for two to three weeks, you’ll see your pores tighten and your skin feel softer. That’s because the vibrations of the Mia 2 will begin to have long-lasting effects on your skin by stimulating blood circulation. The result is a healthier-looking skin with fewer breakouts.

Who It’s For

It works with every skin types really, so the Mia 2 is for everyone. You just need to find the right brush and learn how to use it properly.

About the brand: Clarisonic

Clarisonic is an American brand from Washington. It’s part of the L’Oréal group so you can trust the quality of their product.

It’s worth noting as well that Clarisonic supports the Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center and works to prevent school bullying. Clarisonic wants everyone to feel confident about the skin they’re in so everyone can resist bullying and make this world a more kind and beautiful place.

What’s in the box

• Mia 2
• Radiance Brush Head with a protection cover
• USB cable and charger
• Refreshing gel cleanser sample (1 fl oz, 30 ml)

Clarisonic Mia 2 Price

You can get the Mia 2 for .

Other products from Clarisonic

• The slightly more sophisticated Clarisonic Mia Smart Sonic Cleansing Face Brush with a few intelligent features.
• The Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift 2-in-1 with massage function to help with aging skin and wrinkles.
• The more compact Clarisonic Mia FIT Sonic, more pricey but perfect for travelling.

Electric face cleaners from other brands

• The Olay ProX Facial Cleansing Kit is a cheaper alternative but works with a rotating brush instead of the sonic vibrations of the Mia 2. Check our comparision of the two electronic brushes at the bottom of our review to see the difference ().
• The Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift 2-in-1 is a more advanced (and more expensive) alternative. It comes together with a micro-firming massage head. It’s great if you have the money, especially for mature skins, but the basic functions are exactly the same than the Mia 2 ().

A note on Olay ProX vs Clarisonic Mia 2

People often compare reviews for the Olay ProX versus the Clarisonic Mia 2. At first glance, the two beauty devices seem to help with the same goal: deep cleansing.

But the Olay ProX costs only whereas the Clarisonic Mia 2 goes for . So what can possibly justify such a big price difference?

The Olay ProX also has two different levels of speed. More importantly, the Olay’s brush only rotates on its axis. It’s better than just washing your face with your hands. It will leave you refreshed. But it’s far inferior to the sonic vibration technology of the Clarisonic Mia 2.

The Clarisonic, on the other hand, uses sonic vibrations that penetrate much deeper under the skin. It’s more gentle to your skin and deeply unclogs pores. Something that the Olay ProX just wouldn’t be able to do by brushing the surface.

In addition, the Mia 2 runs on a timer, so you know exactly when to stop your cleansing.

Clarisonic Mia 2 FAQs

• Question: How does the sonic vibrations technology works, exactly?
  Answer: Well, it’s quite complex actually. Unlike cheaper alternatives, the Mia 2 brush doesn’t rotate but pulsates 170 times per second. This movement loosens the skin and removes dirt from clogged pores. And it does it in a very gentle manner so it’s safe to use it twice a day if you want. The Clarisonic patent describes it as follow: “the personal care appliance includes an oscillating motor structure in the body thereof which drives an armature through a total angle of 8°-26°, at a frequency in the range of 120-220 Hz.(1)” “By oscillating at sonic speed the net result is the inelastic comedones become loosened and detached from the infundibular wall and are then cleared from the acro infundibulum.(2)”
• Question: How can I contact Clarisonic’s customer support?
  Answer: You can call Clarisonic’s toll-free (1-888-525-2747) or contact them by email at support@support.clarisonic.com. You can also check their website for more information.
• Question: What is the Clarisonic Mia 2 warranty?
  Answer: The Mia 2 comes with a standard two year warranty. We recommend you contact Clarisonic if you experience any issue with your model after purchase. You can call them during normal office hours or email their customer support team. Their response time was relatively quick and comprehensive.
• Question: What is the difference between the Mia 1 and Mia 2?
  Answer: The Mia 1 is an older model with only one speed whereas the Mia 2 has two speeds. The brushes remain compatible between the two models though.

Photos by Beauty Wise Up, Clarisonic, Christine C. and Marie.