The Clarisonic Mia has truly changed the way I clean my face. I have been using it every day, twice a day for five months and although I still get the occasional blemish, my skin’s texture has vastly improved. The pores on my nose are now smooth and I no longer feel the need to use pore strips. I also use it on the neck, where signs of aging can be seen. For those of you who are concerned about the stiff, vibrating bristles against sensitive skin, there are several brushes for different skin types: delicate, sensitive, normal, acne (gentle bristles) and a deep pore brush.
…Let’s get to the regimen!
Day Routine
From L to R (in order of application):
Clarisonic Mia
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
Kiehl’s Abyssine Eye Cream
Reviews:
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser + Clarisonic Mia- I used to wash with Kiehl’s Washable Cleansing Milk but Cetaphil is just as gentle and works fine. Do not use any sort of exfoliating scrub with the Clarisonic, unless you want your face buffed with sandpaper.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner- I love this toner! I switched to this when Kiehl’s sadly discontinued their Yerba Maté Tea Toner. I like refreshing, alcohol-free toners and this is just that. I prefer putting it in a spray bottle and spritzing it on my face before wiping it off with a cotton pad. I think cotton pads are less fidgety and use less product than cotton balls.
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution- Only two drops of this serum claims to help fade dark spots from blemishes. I also use a drop on my neck from preventative measures.
Kiehl’s Abyssine Eye Cream-I tried this eye cream for the first time when I was 18 and didn’t repurchase because I didn’t see a difference. It was probably because I was 18. Now that I am older, I am giving it a second go. The cream has a thin consistency, which I appreciate during the day. It layers well under makeup.
Kiehl’s Abyssine Cream- I tried Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream which was very light and silky. As much as I loved the gel cream, I wanted a cream with anti-aging properties so I tried Kiehl’s Cryste Marine Firming Cream which was heavier, and Rosa Arctica, which is as thick as Crisco. Abyssine Cream is the Goldilocks of Kiehl’s moisturizers: it’s consistency is just right. The Abyssine with SPF 23 is a bit thicker that Abyssine Cream + because of the sunblock and I use both.
Evening Routing
From L to R (in order of application):
Clarisonic Mia
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner
Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
Kiehl’s Abyssine Cream
Kiehl’s Line-Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate (every other night)
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Reviews:
Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate- 3 pumps for the face and neck are all I need of this vitamin C serum. Formulated to reduce wrinkles and prevent crows feet and frown lines, the PSLR Concentrate feels warm upon application due to the vitamin C.
*Note: As gentle as this product claims to be in comparison to retinol, do not open the bottle and expose the serum to air. The vitamin C oxidizes and will create an extremely unpleasant, burning sensation on your face.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate- Again, 3 drops are all I need for the face and neck. This bottle will probably last a year. Even though I don’t usually like the smell of lavender, this heavenly-scented oil potion really does soothe, repair and restore.
Kiehl’s Line-Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate (every other night)-This eye brightener is so potent that the Kiehl’s representative told me to use it every other night. She apparently suffers from horrible under eye circles and while this product works, the vitamin C burned her skin to the point of scabs because she used it every day. The jury’s still out on this product’s efficacy. While my undereye circles seemed to improve, it could be due to other factors, e.g., diet, sleep, exercise.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye- I returned this eye cream because it didn’t seem to work but I got it as a sample so I’m using it again. I use it more as a hydrator than anything.
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado- It is so much more than a simple eye cream! Not surprisingly a best seller, this non-greasy avocado treatment is one of the thickest, hydrating eye creams out there.
