I’ve been using Clarisonics for about five years now.
My first Clarisonic I picked up around the holiday times with a Sephora gift card and it was a lilac-coloured Mia. After about two years the battery wasn’t holding its charge anymore so I invested in the Mia 2 since it had a two-year warranty and more advanced features (which I’m not going to lie, I don’t really use, I mostly bought this model for the extended warranty).
Clarisonic is known as the best skincare device on the market. If you’re a beauty buff, you probably already own one, and if you’re not, they are recommended by dermatologists for their skincare benefits. In case you aren’t familiar with the benefits of the Clarisonic, it cleanses six-times better than hands alone. The micro-massage motion oscillates at more than 300 movements per second, getting rid of impurities trapped within pores. In addition, it also lets skincare products deeply absorb into your skin better and it’s safe and gentle for most skin types.
I’ve been a Clarisonic lover for a number of years now and although I do use my Foreo Luna most nights, I have gone back to my Clarisonic Mia 2 for a deeper cleanse. There really is nothing like it.
Anyways, this brings me to today’s post when I got to try out one of their newest devices, the Mia Fit. The Mia Fit is just the its Mia sisters, but instead it’s missing the handle. This little girl (and boy! but more on that later…) is handheld, meaning it’s more travel-friendly and takes up less room on your bathroom counter. Like the Mia 2, it has two settings for a delicate and powerful cleanse. It differs from its predecessors in price and design. Like all Clarisonic’s it’s also waterproof.
The Mia Fit is charged via a cradle powered by a USB (it also includes the adaptor to plug in). So unlike the traditional Mias, where you need to charge it every few days (and then run the risk of using it and it being dead – me on so many occasions), you just place the Mia Fit on the cradle when you’re done washing and it’ll always be ready to go. The Mia Fit is also available in three colours – white, pink and blue, whereas the Mia Fit 2 is often released in special-edition colours and designs (mine is lime green). Lastly, in terms of price, the Fit does retail on the higher end at C$229 (Mia is C$159 and Mia 2 is C$199). The Fit also comes with a trial size of the Clarisonic cleanser (which the other devices have also), as well as the Radiance Brush Head.
In terms of use, it works the same way as the other Mias. Wet the brush head, put some cleanser on the brush then turn it on. It will beep or vibrate when it’s time to move onto the next zone on your face (20 seconds across the forehead, 20 seconds on nose and chin,10 seconds on each cheek, and 20 seconds across the neck). After, dry your face and then carry on with the rest of your skincare routine.
So how does this device differ from the other ones? Well, the biggest difference I can see is the aesthetic and the settings. I have normal skin, so I don’t really need two speeds, but if you suffer from skin issues, having that delicate setting could really help. You should replace your brush heads every three months just so you aren’t putting bacteria back into your skin (which is a downside for me for the Clarisonics – they can add up to be pretty expensive), so really it doesn’t matter which device you get, they all fit (no pun intended).
The biggest difference so far for me is actually the Mia Fit’s boyfriend, the Alpha Fit. From what I gather, this is the first Clarisonic designed just for men. Again, it features two speeds, one for clean-shaven faces (60 seconds) and one for power cleansing for beards or more cleansing power post workout (80 seconds). The device comes with the Daily Cleanse Brush Head to remove sebum and surface-level pigmentation for healthier-looking skin. It also includes a deluxe sample of the foaming gel Alpha Cleanser.
Now although this device is for men, that’s not to say that ladies can’t use it. In fact, if you look it up on Sephora’s website, there’s tons of reviews by women who have chosen to purchase the Alpha over the Mia. If you do choose to go with the Alpha and you’re female I would recommend the first setting since it’s 60 seconds, similar to the Mia. You may also want to switch out the brush head for a more delicate one so you don’t irritate your skin.
Overall, I’m quite impressed by the fit devices. Although there’s more of difference with the Alpha model (since this is targeted specifically for men), the Mia Fit is a nice update to the family. It’s also more of a current-looking model that the other ones with the handle. According to Janine from Beauty Geeks, this was the original shape that the founder of Clarisonic wanted, however, when they launched they couldn’t do it because of the technology needed to be put into the device.
Now since it is the holidays, I mean who wouldn’t want to unwrap one of these. You can find Clarisonic basically anywhere – Sephora, Hudsons Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, dermatologists offices, etc. Now the question is, is the fit a fit for you? 😛
Do you own the Clarisonic Mia Fit or Alpha Fit? What’s your opinion?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again, The Body Shop is the quintessential shop for gift giving. I remember as a kid my parents would buy me gifts from the popular bath and body store for my teachers since bath and body products are just staples for “I was stuck on what to get you” gifts. With it being wintertime, who doesn’t need new lotions, scrubs and lip balms?
Since The Body Shop has a million-and-one gift sets and products this season, I rounded up my favourite items from their holiday collection to gift. The best part is, there’s something for every budget.
Let’s dive in…
Have a manicure-obsessed friend, or just a bestie named Rose (I do!!), then the British Rose Expert Manicure Gift Set is a fab gift to give. Retailing for C$21, this set is a great small present or one to gift collectively. It’s filled with travel-size essentials like the British Rose Hand Cream (100 ml – it’s a pretty generous size too!), a nail file, a four-way nail buffer, and a nail clipper. Oh, and it comes housed in the cutest tin.
Have a friend obsessed with taking baths (I have one of those friends too), the Frosted Berries Foaming Bath (C$14, on sale for $8.40) is made from cranberries from North America and gives you the most luxurious foaming bubble bath. This special-edition product has fresh notes of cranberry, black currant and raspberry with white flowers, creamy praline and sweet vanilla.
What about a friend who loves masks? You may have heard about The Body Shop’s new mask collection, which is getting rave reviews. They have a ton of different kinds but I’m loving the Ethiopian Honey Deep Nourishing Mask (C$28), which is a 100 per cent vegetarian honey face mask that includes Community Trade honey, marula oil, and olive oil. Apply it to your face and then rinse off in five to 10 minutes to replenished and restored skin. This particular mask is perfect for skin that needs an intense dose of replenishing moisture (AKA any skin that is going through this awful cold, dry winter).
Have a friend going on a winter vacation somewhere hot? I have three of those (myself included!). Since we are all so fair during the winter months, you can fake a summer glow with the Honey Bronze Drops of Sun Holiday Glow Creator (C$22, on sale for $13.20). This miracle liquid is a shimmer-free, sun-tinted liquid gel that you add to your moisturizer or foundation to give you a slightly bronzed look. Even if you aren’t going somewhere hot this month, no one at the offices needs to question the fact on whether or not you spent New Years in Mexico…
Have a friend that is obsessed with The Body Shop’s White Musk and Red Musk fragrance? Okay, this one is totally me, I love those scents! The Body Shop has a cute little gift set with their Black Musk fragrance, a musky scent with bambinella pear and black vanilla notes. Included is a 2 fl. oz.s of the eau de toilette, body lotion and shower gel.
Unfortunately I cannot find this set online on the Canadian site, but it retails for $35 USD.
Of course, there’s more to The Body Shop than just bath and body, they also have a wide range of cosmetics to choose from (25 per cent of women plan to give more beauty gifts this year compared to last year).
I’ve heard from a few people this year that they are looking for a new lip colour to wear around the holiday season. Since matte lipstick is so on trend right now, take a look at their Matte Lipsticks, available in seven shades for C$12 each. Want something that will stick all day? Then the Matte Lip Liquid (C$15, on sale for $9) is perfect. It applies as a cream and then sets on your lips and doesn’t budge. This formula is available in 12 different shades (seen here in Nairobi Camellia). Lastly, gift a fab glow with that awesome lip colour. The Lightening Touch luminizor is a lightweight moisturizing cream that hides imperfections like dark circles and fine lines. As a result, skin looks highlighted and dewy.
Finally, for the most show-stopping set of the bunch and the one to rule them all, The Best of The Body Shop set includes 11 full-size bestselling products from the iconic brand to celebrate their 40th anniversary. This retails for C$149 with a $253 value.
Included in the set is a Fuji Green Tea Shower Gel, British Rose Instant Glow Body Essence, Mango Body Scrub, Shea Body Sutter, Almond Hand and Nail Cream, Lip & Cheek Stain in Pink Hibiscus, Smoky eye Definer in Black, Vitamin E Moisture Cream, Drops of Youth Youth Concentrate, Oils of Life Intensely Revitalizing Sleeping Cream, and Recipes of Nature Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask.
This gift set will make you the favourite gift giver of the year. Whether you have someone new to the brand or someone who has shopped here forever, this gift set is massive and is sure to impress.
If you’re stumped on what to get someone this year, I bet 95 per cent of the people on your list can be shopped for at The Body Shop. Although I mentioned a handful of items here, there are seriously loads of gift sets and amazing products to shop for in store (most of which are on sale!). Speaking of sale, The Body Shop online as some amazing deals going on right now, including 40 per cent off site wide!
Are any Body Shop items on your holiday list this year?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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Although gift sets are always bomb to give as holiday gifts, your recipient may just want a full-size product. Yes, mini mascaras are cute, but so are full size ones, especially if it’s one they love.
Since Tarte is 1) and awesome brand, and 2) full of every item from mascara to lip products to sunscreen, I came up with 11 gift ideas from the popular brand, everything from lipsticks to a very special gift set.
We’ll get into makeup in a moment, but did you know that Tarte has an extensive skincare collection? Your makeup isn’t going to look #flawless unless your skin looks great first.
Start your day with the Rainforest of the Sea frxxxtion Stick 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser (C$29), a twist up face cleansing stick. Apply this directly on the skin and then massage it in before rinsing it off. You can also use this guy as a mask as well. After, apply the Maracuja C-Brightner Eye Treatment (C$48), which is a multitasking eye treatment containing maracuja fruit and vitamin C that hydrates, firms, and brightens the eye area.
During the day, apply some Tarteguard 30, Sunscreen Lotion (C$40), which is a portable, non-chemical sunscreen that helps to protect, moisturize, brighten, and re-invigorate skin for a youthful-looking appearance. For mid-day touchups, blot your skin using the Not So Slick Oil-Absorbing Blotting Papers (C$13- a perfect stocking stuffer!), and finally, at the end of the day, rinse it all off with the Rainforest of the Sea Deep Dive Cleansing Gel (C$50.50), which is a daily facial cleanser that removes impurities and even waterproof makeup.
Skincare can be a great gift to give but it’s more of a need than a want. For some major want-worthy gifts, check out Tarte’s lip products.
I’m obsessed with the Lip Sculptor Lipstick & Lipgloss, which is a full-coverage lip contour product with a lipstick on one end and a corresponding gloss on the other. This is great because it’s one product you need to carry, making it convenient for small bags. It retails for C$31 each and is available in eight shades (shown here is So Basic, a white-toned nude – my favourite!).
If your recipient is more into hydrating lipsticks, then their Amazonian Butter Lipsticks (C$20 each) are worth looking into. Available in eight shades, these pack some serious colour and are infused with ingredients found in the amazon.
Finally, for the glossy kinda gal, try the Tartiest Glossy Lip Paint (C$24), a pigmented lip gloss that is totally vegan. This guy is available in nine shades (there’s also matte formulas as well!).
For the eyes, give their Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 mascara (C$25) a try, which is a super-popular mascara (my friend swears by it). This product lengthens, curls, volumizes and conditions lashes and is proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 330 per cent. Pair it with the Lights, Camera, Lashes Precision Longer Eyeliner (C$24) for a dramatic look (black eyeliner always make lashes appear fuller and longer).
Finally, if you are looking for a set, the Tarte Pretty Paintbox is one of the best gift sets of the season.
This Pucci-inspired case contains 24 shadows in matte, satin and shimmer formulas, two bronzers, a highlight and blush. It also contains a section that opens up to reveal a mirror, and minis of the Tartiest Lash Paint Mascara, Rainforest of the Sea So Fine Microliner, and the Tartiest Lip Paint in Obvi.
I played around with this set on the weekend and just admired the range of products you get in this. I’ve received the Tarte holiday gift sets for the past few years and always enjoy the value you get in them (they really do pack a lot of products into them).
I do want to note that although the shadow range is impressive, I didn’t find them to be very pigmented. Which is fine because I don’t mind building up products (I would rather go too light and add more, than too heavy), but just keep that in mind if you are gifting this. Although, to be honest, I feel like anyone who receives this set will be over the moon to unwrap it.
The great thing about Tarte is that they have such a range of products to choose from, so if you have someone on your list that isn’t all that into makeup, you can gift them other items like skincare, which is even more important that having that perfect highlight in your stocking.
Are any items from Tarte on your wish list this year?
Please note, product provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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