Clarisonic Mia 2 (Comparison Pictures)

*DISCLAIMER: PLEASE CLOSE THIS BLOG POST IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO SEE PICTURES OF PIMPLES AND ACNE SCARS OTHERWISE CONTINUE PLEASE ;D*   


   In a previous post I mentioned how bad my skin was back in February. I wasn't sure if it was stress because it was around the period when I first tried out the Clarisonic Mia 2 and started using it a few times a week every night. I've done my homework and research before purchasing the Clarisonic Mia 2 because a majority of the people reported to be breaking out or "purging" from their first couple of weeks. "Purging" means getting little red bumps on the face or even pimples erupting like someone people said. In my case, I broke out like mad and because I have the worst habit of picking on pimples and trying to pop them, it left my breakouts inflamed and my face scarred all over. BUT, luckily I was able to heal all my acne over the period of only ONE month and by the SECOND and THIRD month the scars were lightening. Lastly, by May EVERYTHING WAS GONE... BYE BYE 




Now with all that aside, HERE ARE SOME PICTURES:

 Mid-February: Red pimples

 Mid-March: Brown scars

 Mid-April: Lightened scars

Mid-May: Minimal scars

 Left--->Right
Mid-Feb, Mid-March, Mid-April, Mid-May

 Left--->Right
Mid-Feb, Mid-March, Mid-April, Mid-May

 Left--->Right
Mid-Feb, Mid-March, Mid-April, Mid-May





So, I'm not saying you should buy the Clarisonic Mia 2 because even though its the mini size it still cost $149+ Tax, but I feel like that money was well spent for me. Not only have I seen a difference in my skin, but so have my family members who come in contact and see me everyday, especially my mom cause she's always the one saying that I should do something about all my acne and scars >_< . 


Anyways I'm not scared to show all of you guys what I've been through and how my skin was able to change for the better with not just this ONE product though because I did use this in conjunction with a bunch of other products to treat my acne and lighten scars. 


So what were your experiences with the Clarisonic? Did it improve your skin like it did to mine or was it a complete failure? Please share your experience in the comment section down below... I'd love to know ;D

My Scheming Mask 我的心機 Bamboo Charcoal Crystie Marine Whitening Double Lift Mask

    


   I got this mask awhile back in January/ February when I was first introduced to this brand of taiwanese masks by saaammage (the youtube guru) on a blog post she wrote long long long ago.... I knew I saw these masks before and didn't think they're were any special and because of the cute packaging I thought it was one of the My Beauty Diary masks. Similar to the My Beauty Diary masks, there are a lot of different kinds of masks within the brand, but I chose the Green Tea& Barely Whitening and this one. 

First Impression:

- Very cute packaging

- 10 packs of mask within one box

- thick diamond quilted cotton masks

- drenched in essence (tip for what to do with extra essence below)

Pros:

- Lots of left over essence

- thick cotton mask that will not dry out even after 30 mins

- whitens and brightens up the face

- leaves face feeling refreshed

Cons: 

- mask is a little over sized near the top

- ear flaps are very small


Tips: (for any cotton mask)
- scrap some essence from the cotton mask as you're pulling it out and put all the essence in the packet into a bottle or container and use it as a serum every night. (i swear it works the same)

Description:

My Scheming Bamboo Charcoal & Cryste Marine Whitening Double Lifting Mask contains bamboo charcoal extract to hydrate, repair and brighten all types of skin. Tea tree and allantoin help tighten pores. It leaves skin brighter and smoother. The 3D elastic mask fabric, imported from Japan, is imprinted with over 600 elastic, rhombus-shaped grids to provide the face and the neck a comprehensive lifting.

Ingredients:

• 【Bamboo Charcoal Extract】activates cells and boosts blood circulation, and acts as adsorbent.
• 【Melaleuca Alternifolia】has antiseptic, anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, healing and anti-mould virtues.
• 【Chamomile Extract】has anti-inflammatory, itching-relieving, disinfecting and allergy-alleviating virtues.
• 【Cucumber Extract】has hydrating, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and calming virtues.
• 【Water Lily】has astringent, antiseptic, wound-healing and antioxidant virtues, captures free radicals, calms, 
• 【Glyoxyldiureide】has anti-inflammatory and soothing virtues, and aids in the regeneration of skin tissues.

Conclusion:


   Back in February and March, I had the worst acne I've ever had in my teenage years and they all left me deep impressions and gifts. Honestly, not one spot on my face was not covered with a dark acne scar. Luckily, around that time I was trying out my clarisonic mia 2 and it saved my life (clarisonic mia2 post and pictures in the future), but I was also using the essence from this My Scheming Mask every night till this day. After using the Clarisonic I would put on a acne medication gel and then pat in about 2 pumps of the essence onto my face. Within a month I was able to get all my acne scars to either lighten or completely disappeared and two months later, I was me again!! 
**After 30 minutes of putting on the mask my face is brightened and fresh looking/ feeling.

Price: 

$12.80 for 5pcs @ Sasa.com (shipping from hong kong)
$15-16 a box (10pcs) @ Daigar Beauty (NYC): 7 Elizabeth Street New York, NY 10013 

Rating: 5 out of 5 

So, have any of you tried the masks from this brand? If so, please tell me how it went and which ones you have tried so I know what I should try next. Thank you ;D

Clinique Dramatically Moisturizing Gel

*NOTE: I have combination-oily-acne prone skin. I am oily in my T-zone and around the nose, dry on the side of my cheeks and around the mouth, and acne prone EVERYWHERE ;D*


So I've always wanted to try the clinique dramatically moisturizing gel because of all the good reviews on it and was always an allure product winner. My family always used the lotion form for normal to dry skins (like my mom and brother) but I always thought it was WAYYYYYY TO OILY for me. I finally decided to get it a month ago at macys. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it so I got the small tube size instead for $13+ tax.

First Impressions:
-gel texture
-light weight on the face
-not as hydrating as I would like it to be at first because I'm used to oily moisturizers
-a little goes a long way
-tube was really small

Pros:
-kept face not oily for at most only 3-4 hours
- extremely hydrating
-only need a small pea sized amount for whole face
-does not leave a oily- greasy look
-Great for the summer




Cons:
-expensive for only 1.3 oz
-doesn't help with oil control throughout the day (still very very oily)
- may still feel a little bit dry in some areas

Claims: 
-The oil-free moisture "drink" developed by Clinique's dermatologists to maintain optimal moisture balance for skins comfortable in the cheeks but oily in the T-zone for oily all over. Oil-free formula softens, smooths, improves.
-Skin type - III, IV (combination-oily or oily)


Conclusion:
 I love this moisturizer so much compared to the lotion form!!! I only use it for the morning for about a month now and I've only finished about 1/4 the tube so far. So remember a little goes along way and try to squeeze out only what you need because there's no way of putting any extra back.


Previously, I've tried the Body Shop Seaweed Matifying cream which is another gel moisturizer for oily skin and I hated it because it didn't hydrate the dry spot on the cheeks and around my mouth. Also the seaweed matifying cream had a strong smell and being that I am very sensitive to smells and will get a headache from them, this was not an exception. And it was $16 for the smaller one >.< So I guess for $13, the Clinique one isn't too bad in my opinion. 
Price: $13+tax @ Macys.com (1.7OZ)
           $ 24.50 @ Macys.com (4.2 OZ) 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Have any of you tried this moisturizer yet? What do you think about it? Please leave a comment down below and tell me what you thought of it.