I’ve had skin problems pretty much since I entered 7th grade. First it started out on my forehead and that was my problem area all through high school. Just like everyone says, I tried everything to make it better, but nothing ever worked. Flash forward to college and the acne spread to my cheeks. That’s when it was at it’s worst. Over the years, I changed my diet, tried a bunch of different supplements, and facial cleansers, but nada. About a year ago it started to get better, but it would clear up and then it would just get bad again, and so on. The past month my skin has been at it’s best in years! It has been very consistent and clear, as long as I stick to the routine I’ve been doing. So I wanted to share with you guys what my skincare routine has been like this fall and hopefully give anyone that’s suffering with acne issues a few suggestions and tips to try out.
The Clarisonic Mia 1 has been a godsend for me. I received it in the beginning of October, so I’ve been using it for about a month now. I like to use it after I shower, when my skin is soft and my pores are open from the steam. That’s the time that I feel like my skin is reaping the most benefits from the sonic cleansing of the device and the Refreshing Gel Cleanser. You can even use it in the shower, which I do sometimes, since it’s totally waterproof! (Perfect for those mornings when I’m rushing and I’m just like, ‘I’m gonna do EVERYTHING in the shower!!!!’)
Here is how I use it step by step:
1. Wet my face with warm water.
2. Liberally apply the Refreshing Gel Cleanser to the brush head and wet with warm water.
3. Turn on the device.
4. Begin cleansing! I usually start on my cheeks because that’s my biggest problem area and then I move to my forehead, nose, and chin. I move the brush in slow circular motions all across my cheeks, and then move on.
5. Rinse my face with warm water to remove all the cleanser, followed by a splash of cold water to seal up my pores.
5. The brush automatically shuts off after 1 minute. If I feel like my face needs a little extra cleansing, for example, if I had a long day and had a full face of heavy makeup on, I’ll go over my whole face again with the Mia and cleanser, just to make sure I did a thorough job.
The brush head is super gentle on purpose because the bristles move back and forth, or “oscillate,” so they are gently flexing the skin and flushing water and cleanser into the pores.
I also have been removing and cleansing the brush heads separately with soap and warm water about once a week, just to make sure there’s no residue or germs hiding out between the bristles.
The Clarisonic Mia 1 uses a technique called sonic cleansing to remove dirt, oil, and debris that can age your skin and break you out. Since the Mia 1 is so gentle, I’ve found that it’s perfectly okay to use it up to 2 times a day, in the morning and at night.
I’ve also been loving using my Mia with the Refreshing Gel Cleanser. This cleanser is super gentle, but removes impurities, controls shine, and balances the pH of the skin. My skin feels clean afterwards but never dry or stiff, which I think is so important because I’ve read that that can lead to your skin over-producing oils to replenish the ones you removed, therefore causing more breakouts.
The Mia also comes with the Radiance Brush Head (which is my fave) and you can also get the Acne Brush Head and the Deep Pore Brush Head. All the brush heads are super gentle and great for daily use, but my favorite is the Radiance Brush Head because it has the softest and finest bristles, yet I still feel like it’s being thorough. I’ve said before on my blog that my skin looks best when it’s being cleansed very gently, so for that reason I like the Radiance brush head the best. However, about 1 to 2 times a week, I feel like I maybe need a little extra cleansing, so in that case I’ll use the Acne and Deep Pore brush heads. 
After using the Clarisonic Mia 1 for a month, I’ve found that my skin is smoother, more even in tone and texture, and just clearer over all! I have little to no pimples and blackheads, and even my pores look smaller. Since my skin has been so smooth and even, a lot of the time I don’t even feel I need to wear any makeup, but when I do, my makeup goes on smoother, looks better, and lasts longer throughout the day. I can honestly say that the Mia 1 works great for my skin type (which is pretty oily/combination/acne prone) and has made my skincare routine so much easier and stress free because I know it’s working!
If you’d like to try the Clarisonic Mia 1 for yourself, Her Campus is offering 15% off all devices featured HERE using the code ‘HERCAMPUS’. Clarisonic also offers a monthly payment plan that’s definitely something to think about. With the holidays coming up next month (where has the time gone???) Clarisonic is a perfect gift idea! Whether you have acne prone skin or you just want to work on having more youthful, radiant skin, a Clarisonic can be great for just about anyone.
Hope this post helped you in some way and let me know below in the comments if you’ve ever used Clarisonic! What do you think about it? I’d also love to hear all about any struggles you’ve been having with your skin and what you’ve done to help it 🙂
Have a great day!
xo Athena
*Thank you to Clarisonic and Her Campus Media for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Athena Alex 
I really enjoyed it 👌
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