"Hello, Lover!" revisited...

Back in April I blogged about my new Clarisonic and told you how much I loved it and the results I was already seeing after only using it a short time.  Well, it's been 5 months since that post and I thought an update was in order.

I have used my Clarisonic every day since I received it, sometimes twice a day, but mostly I use it at night after removing my makeup.  I tried a few times to not use it, but my face just didn't feel as clean and I'd cave and use it anyway.  I think I'm addicted to it.  On a related note, the Mia hold it's charge a long time... considering the fact that I use it daily, I can go at least two weeks without having to charge it.  I think that's pretty good.

Originally my Mia came with a sensitive brush head and I'll admit I was pretty happy with it...at first.  Initially I was impressed with how it seemed to make my pores appears smaller, my fine lines appear more smooth and my breakouts less frequent, but I'd say about two months after starting to use it the long-term results weren't as great as I was hoping for and I was a bit let down.  However, I still continued to use it faithfully. 

The makers of the Clarisonic recommend replacing the brush head every 3 months.  Well, being the frugal person that I am (and the fact that they're $25 a piece), I thought as long as the brush looked good and felt OK, that it was doing it's job.  Wrong.  By month 4 I was starting to experience more frequent breakouts, my skin was lackluster and my makeup wasn't looking as good nor lasting as long throughout the day.  Finally one day it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, it was the brush head.  So I broke down and placed a Sephora order (they sell a 2 pack for $40, great deal!).  I went back and forth over sticking with the sensitive brush or bumping it up and trying out the normal...in the end I decided to try the normal and, worst case, I guess I could return them (no clue if Sephora would take them back, but I was hoping).

The first night I used the normal brush head I thought I had made a mistake - it felt harsh.  But I kept using it.  About a week or so into it I started to experience some horrible breakouts...probably the worst occurrence in about a year.  I was NOT happy, especially since it was a few weeks before we were leaving for vacation - not the best time to be looking like a pizza face!  But again, I kept using it.  Amazingly, by the time vacation rolled around my skin was in much better shape and it wasn't until I was actually on vacation that I realized what had happened...the normal brush head had purged my skin - the one thing I was terrified of when I first started using the Clarisonic was the "purge" everyone talks about.  I had never experienced it while using the sensitive brush head so I think I just kind of forgot that it was a possibility.  Apparently, the normal brush head was just doing it's job and getting all the gunk out of my skin like it's supposed to.  Now, after almost a month of using it and thankfully getting through that purge period, I'm super happy with the results and I now realize that the sensitive brush head was not enough for me in the first place.  Lesson learned. 

So that's the update.  I was asked by a friend a while ago if I was still loving my Clarisonic and if I would recommend buying it.  At that time I was just "eh" about it and suggested waiting for a really, really good sale, that I didn't feel it was worth paying full price.  Today, I've changed my tune.  While I still suggest waiting for a sale (who doesn't want to save some cash?), I really, truly feel it's worth paying full price if you have to.  It may take some trial and error to find the right brush for your skin, but once you do, you won't look back.


 

Fall Into The Gap

Ahhh, the whirlwind that is Give & Get sale time has come to a close.  I always love this sale, always find great deals, always buy too much.  30% off is hard to pass up! 

I made two seperate trips to the Gap because on the first trip I felt rushed and didn't get enough time in the dressing room.  So that required a second trip to leisurely browse and see if I missed anything.  I bought 14 items and spent $160...which works out to be $11.43 an item!  I saved $70 with the coupon alone!  Most of the things I purchased were already on sale, so all combined I think I did pretty well.  And my wardrobe is most definitely set for Fall :)

Wanna see what I got???  Sure you do!

I got two of the Oversized Striped V-neck sweaters in the navy/grey stripe, and the eggplant/charcoal stripe.  Both were on sale for $19.99, so I only paid $13.99 each with the coupon...

  

...a solid Oversized V-Neck sweater in a pretty green, again, only $13.99 with the coupon...

...a Vintage Cardigan in a dark grey w/ dark green stripes that you see if you cuff the sleeves, on sale for $26.99, so I paid $18.90...

...and the Cascading Ruffles T in flint grey.

The next few things I picked off the sale racks at the back of the store (which I freely admit is usually the first place I check out whenever I shop at Gap):

...three of the Pocket T's in charcoal, light grey and brown.  All on sale for $7.99, so I only paid $5.60 each!  Great to throw on w/ jeans or for that price just wear them around the house.

...a Vintage Henley T in a pretty tan color (and of course that color is no longer pictured on the website).

...and a Striped Cropped-Sleeve Henley T.

I also picked up a two basic tanks for layering and two lace-trimmed camis (which I plan to return because the "straps" are too long and I feel like I'm too exposed).  Overall, I'm pretty pleased with what I purchased in-store.  With the exception of a few things I need to return (those lace-trimmed camis and possibly the solid v-neck sweater...still deciding if I need all three and I adore the striped ones too much!), I can't wait to wear everything once the weather cools down! 

I did place an online order for a few things from Gap and Old Navy that I wasn't able to see or try on in person at either store.  I'll probably do a seperate post showing you what I ordered and then update with what worked and what didn't. 

At any rate, I'm so ready for Fall.  Ready for jeans and sweaters, mums and pumpkins, hot chocolate and warm apple cider, colored leaves and cool crisp weather.  Does it get any better than that?