Clarisonic Cleansing System

Hello there everyone :)

So a few months ago I decided that I wanted to give the Clarisonic cleansing system a bit of a go. It just so happened I had a gift voucher for a store that was selling them and I thought 'why not'. I have read heaps of reviews on it, some people love it and some people hate it!!!! Here is my take on it.......

Firstly I brought the Pink Clarisonic Mia (pictured below). This one comes with the Clarisonic, the sensitive brush head, a charger and a mini gentle hydro facewash cleanser for sensitive skin. Let me firstly say, I have used the mini facewash cleanser only once, that was all I could manage as I cannot stand the smell of it. So when I use my Clarisonic Mia, I use it with my Dermalogica Essential Cleansing Solution which is my go to cleansing product anyway.

I love this cleansing system, I find it makes my skin feel incredibly soft, it really deep cleanses my face and it lightly exfoliates. Now, I will be honest, I have read many reviews where people have said it has brought them out in spots etc. I kept this in mind when I first purchased it and decided to use this at the END of my cleansing routine, in order to try and avoid this.

How I use my MIA:

Firstly I only use the Clarisonic Mia on days where I have had to wear makeup. On days where I haven't I don't feel like my skin needs such a deep cleansing routine. Being that my skin is more to the dry side I am always careful of not stripping my skin of it's natural oils.

So I start off by using a pre cleanse. I personally use the Dermalogica Pre Cleanse. This helps to melt off the bulk my makeup before using the Clarisonic. Once I have rinsed off my pre cleanse I then use my usual non foaming cleanser (mentioned above) and massage it all over my face. I then wet my Clarisonic Mia and use it (VERY GENTLY) in circular motions. If you push to hard, you are going to stop the brush from rotating properly and it is probably going to irritate the skin, so I make sure I use a light grip on the handle and gently go over my face. The Clarisonic Mia turns itself off after 60 seconds. Then I just rinse and follow up with my toner, serum, eye cream and moisturiser.

Clarisonic claims that their system removes 6 times more makeup than manual cleansing, now I will agree that it leaves my skin feeling much much cleaner than just manually cleaning my face!!! They also claim that it leaves skin feeling and looking smoother, again I completely agree with this, my skin always feels AHHHMAZING after using it. They say that the system is gentle enough to use 2 times a day, I personally wouldn't use this twice a day. It may work for some people, however I prefer to use it as I have previously explained and find that is the best routine for me and my skin.

In all I am very pleased with the system, I like the Mia model cause it is travel friendly, the charger that I have is nice and small, not heavy or bulky so it is great for me when I am travelling between Australia and the UK. I like how it has made my skin feel and I LOVE how it does remove all traces of makeup, I feel like I have just washed the day away and I am ready to start a fresh :)

http://www.clarisonic.com.au/index.php
http://www.clarisonic.co.uk/
http://www.dermalogica.com

Spa Breaks

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Xmas and New Year. Being that we have just come through the busiest season over the last few weeks, I am sure that like me, people will be feeling a little sluggish after all the naughty treats, tired from burning the candle at both ends and in need of a little TLC.

Well let me tell you, I am a huge lover of mini spa breaks. There is nothing more reviving than treating yourself and your body to a little me time. So for those who have never been, I am going to tell you about my last visit to my favourite spa. For those who have been I am sure reading this will allow you to relive those relaxing moments.

Whenever I go back to the UK to see my family, me and my Mother have a girls break away to a place called Ragdale Hall Health Hydro and Spa. From the moment you pull up to the extremely picturesque building, you are looked after. Your bags are taken in for you and taken up to your room, someone parks your car for you and you are taken straight to a beautiful conservatory where you are offered a complimentary drink. Mum and I  always sit and talk excitedly about what treatments we have booked, while sipping on a wonderful cup of Earl Grey tea. Whilst you are enjoying your drink a receptionist will come and bring you your room key. For first timers the receptionist will take you on a little tour of the Hall, show you where the hydro spa is, the library, gym, mind room and much more importantly where treatments are done and where you have to go when waiting for your treatment.

Once the introduction to the spa has been done, Mum and I usually go and check out our room. On the journey to our room we can smell essential oils seeping out of the treatment rooms, as we breathe it in we can already feel the tension begin to melt away. Once we get to our room we find our timetable of the treatments we have booked, with the times to go to our appointments, and the times to go to lunch and dinner. Breakfast is brought to your room, so you can start your day with breakfast in bed.

Now when your are staying for a mini break you have full and unlimited access to the health hydro, usually on your first day (because arrivals are in the afternoon) you won't have any treatments booked in. So we usually put on our swimmers, followed by our dressing gown (which we will be living in for the next 3 days) and our slippers and we make our way to the hydro spa. There are numerous little rooms to go in, there is the candle pool, where along the walls are flickering candles and the ceiling has stars lighting it. There is also my favourite room the volcanic salt bath, a steam room which has eucalyptus, is dimly lit and has a little volcano in the middle of the room which dispenses the steam and lights up. There is the indoor/outdoor pool that had various little massage jets, one for feet, shoulders, back etc, I like to go in there and use the massage jets to further my ever growing relaxed state. There is a rose sauna, a scented room, a colour flow cave steam room that changes its scents. There is also a nice big pool for those who want to swim and a hot tub too.

Once we have fully relaxed ourselves, we head to dinner (in our dressing gowns, not everyone does this but most people do). There we are presented with a delicious menu. What I love most about the way the menu is done is their little 'window' system. Each dish will have 1, 2 or 3 windows printed next to it. One window means that dish is very healthy and low fat, two is a little more naughty and three, well I am sure you know what three means!!! When I go, I try to be good and have one window meals, 'when in rome!!!' You can buy wine if you wish. I recommend buying a bottle rather than by the glass, whatever your don't finish, they will keep for you for the next day and so on.

After dinner there is still plenty to do, talks on various different beauty/health things. But we usually head to bed so we can wake up bright and breezy ready for Breakfast.

Now I had quite a few treatments the last time I was there and they were all absolutely wonderful!! However, I won't talk about them all as this blog will end up waaaaay too long. But my favourite treatment that I will go back and have time and time again was the Elemis Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Float. This treatment was 55 minutes of pure bliss. Oh my goodness, they trickled this beautiful warm Elemis Frangipani oil all over my body, massaged it in, wrapped me up, lower me into this dry floatation tank that made me feel totally weightless, during my 'floating' time they continued my pure bliss by giving a massaging facial. By the time I left the room, not only was I walking on air, my skin looked AHHHMAZING, it was vibrant, soft, supple and smelt fantastic. I purchased the oil for use at home and I am totally addicted to it!!!

Imagine several treatments like this over the span of 2-3 days, and you can see why it is something that yes is completely self indulgent, but hey, in this day and age when the world is going at such a fast pace  all the time, isn't it nice to take a time out for yourself every now and then!!! You certainly leave feeling revived, refreshed and ready to jump back into the real world!!!!

For those in the UK who are interested in health spa's, check out the Ragdale website. There are always some good little deals going on throughout the year :)

http://www.ragdalehall.co.uk/

Once again Happy New Year Everyone xxx