When it comes to certain trends, the Philippines is a little late to the party, even with the Internet.
Case in point: battery-operated facial sonic cleansing brushes. The Clarisonic has won many beauty awards internationally and even made it to the list of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2007 but, until now, it’s still not readily available locally.
Most of us still wash our faces the old-fashioned way —with our hands.
8 things to know
But, finally, you can see what the fuss over sonic cleansing is by walking up to a Clinique counter in Manila and picking up the Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush.
I had the opportunity to test-run the device for a month, and here are eight things you need to know before plunking your money down:
1) It’s priced lower than the Clarisonic.
For those who’ve yet to jump on the sonic brush bandwagon, the Clinique sonic brush is an affordable alternative. Also, since it’s available locally, you don’t have to pay for shipping or deal with Customs.
2) The brush head sports a unique ergonomic design.
If you look at the oval-shaped brush, you’ll notice that the bristles at the top are green and the rest are white. That isn’t purely aesthetic design. “The firmer green bristles are meant to be used on hard-to-reach areas, on the forehead, T-zone, even on the hairline,” explains Rick Santos Felicia, regional education manager for Clinique. “And the softer white bristles are meant to be used on delicate and bigger areas, like the cheeks.”
“You will notice that for every individual bristle, the tips are actually rounded. And that makes it really very gentle on the skin,” he adds.
For the T-zone, use a zigzag motion and, on the cheeks, switch to a circular motion.
3) You need to use it only for 30 seconds.
While Clarisonic recommends that you use the brush on your face for a full minute or two, the Clinique sonic brush needs to be used only for 15 seconds on your T-zone and hairline, and 15 seconds on your cheeks.
If you’ve just started using it, Rick recommends only at night for 30 seconds, and gradually building up to morning and night. Eventually, you can even work it up to a minute per session but, as Rick says, “Let your skin be the judge.”
4) You may purge.
When starting a new skincare routine, whether it’s oil cleansing or sonic brushing, it’s fairly common to experience temporary breakouts or rashes.
“You’re actually deep-cleansing and taking out what’s deposited in the deepest recesses of your pores,” Rick explains. “But once you’ve gone through that, your skin will get acclimatized to it.”
Also, you may be applying too much pressure. “Just let the sonic vibrations do the work. You won’t get any additional benefits if you apply pressure; you’ll just overstimulate your skin,” he notes.
While going through the purging period, just make sure to avoid active breakouts while using the cleansing brush.
5) You may need to change your facial routine.
If you like using facial scrubs, you may have to retire them once you start using the Clinique sonic brush.
“The scrubs sometimes have beads, so they can get stuck in the bristles,” Rick observes. “The other thing is, it might be too much for your skin.”
Also, you may want to avoid using retinols while using the sonic brush. “These agents can make your skin a little bit more sensitive, and we don’t want to cause any further irritation. Consulting with your dermatologist would probably be your best bet,” he says.
6) The device is low-maintenance.
With any device that gets exposed to moisture, the concern is always whether mold or mildew will develop.
But Rick says this isn’t the case with the Clinique sonic brush: “It’s submerged in an antibacterial agent [to] keep it clean, so there’s no chance for mold or mildew to develop.”
When it comes to power, just charge it once every three months if you’re using it for 30 seconds a day. As for the brush head, you’ll need to replace it every three months with regular use. The device itself will last more than two years.
7) More variations of the brush heads will be available.
“We will be coming out with brush heads for acne-prone skin, which are much denser and shorter and, of course, much gentler. We’re also coming out with a brush head for men,” Rick reveals.
8) Before purchasing, check with your dermatologist.
While using my Clinique brush, I experienced less pronounced breakouts. But I still tolerated a pimple or two during the course of my usage.
I also experienced a slight stinging sensation while applying my toner and facial treatments after—a sign, Rick says, that they were penetrating more deeply into my skin.
Eventually I stopped using the brush once my dermatologist prescribed a facial cleanser with exfoliating beads.
But once my skin normalizes, I could give the brush another go. It’s a lot more fun than using my hands.