Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System Review

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A Clarisonic coveter becomes their latest true believer!

Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing Systemphotos: we heart this

I’ve heard the choir singing the praises of the Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing Systemicon for years. As any gadget lover and beauty product hoarder worth her salt, I have coveted one for each of those years. But there was always that price tag — a couple hundred bucks is nothing to sneeze at (or experiment with). When the compact Mia made its debut (clocking in at $119), I put it on my Christmas list; but my stocking came up empty. This year, however, everything changed and now I have felt that sonic boom.

My brand-spanking new Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing Systemicon ($199) has me wondering how I ever did without it. Was my skin ever clean…ever? This past summer my first facialist told me that my skin was clogged (she blamed my makeup) and that I had rosacea. I got cleansers and toners, lotions and even vitamins; they all worked to a certain extent in reducing my redness and smoothing my complexion but, short of a peel, nothing has worked like the Aria.

Closer look of Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System

I had tried automatic face cleansing brushes in the past. My desperate mother bought my teenage self one many moons ago and it didn’t do much more that foam and tickle. Though those brushes look very similar, they weren’t sonic. Sonic is where it’s at.

Clarisonic’s patented micro-massage motion cleanses the skin six times better than with hands alone, and it does it in a single minute. The massaging action loosens impurities trapped in the pores leaving skin perfectly prepped for absorption of moisturizers, creams, lotions and serums.

Closer look of Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System productcharge like this for travel…

The new Aria model features the coveted sonic micro-massage motion with a few new, travel-ready additions:

A battery indicator that let’s you know when it’s time to re-charge
A USB-enabled pLink charger – charge from your laptop!
A drying stand that converts to a charging station when coupled with the charger

Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System…or like this at home!

Like my other sonic miracle worker (my toothbrush) the Aria has a timer that is adjustable for one or two minutes. The one-minute cycle is divided into three 20-second intervals (20 forehead, 20 chin, 20 cheeks) so you don’t spend too much time in any one area.

The brush is very gentle but I’ve never felt the need to use the longer duration.
There are also three speeds (high, medium and low). The highest speed did feel slightly abrasive while the lowest seemed a little too gentle. Like Mama Bear, the middle one was just right.

Closer look of Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System brush head

The Aria comes with the Sensitive Brush Head but there are other brush heads available for different skin types. Since it is suggested that the brush heads be changed every three months, I’ve already stocked up on a twin pack (I’m giving the Deep Pore heads a go next).

The results are almost immediate. I alternated between the 1 oz trial size of the Refreshing Gel Cleanser (non-drying and gentle) included with the Aria and a basic tea tree oil cleanser that I’ve been favoring lately with fantastic results from both.

Without any anti-redness or rosacea treatment my skin has had nary a trace of red. My pores appear much smaller and my skin’s texture is smooth, glossy and healthy. A little moisturizer with sunscreen and I’m good to go! All that money I was afraid of spending in purchasing a Clarisonic is clearly made up for in the fact that I’m using less products on my face with better results—nothing fancy either.

Closer look of Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing System USB charger

The Clarisonic Aria is no space hog. Its compact design fits nicely in its charging/drying stand. Charging is made easier as well with a USB enabled Universal Voltage plink Charger with AC adapter. To make matters better (so far as travel goes, that is) there’s no need to lug around the stand if you don’t care to — the magnetic cord attachment connects directly to the handle. It seems like such a small thing — a charging station — but toting that stand is the one thing I hate about traveling with my sonic toothbrush.

Add my voice to the choir and give me a Hallelujah! The Clarisonic Aria Sonic Skin Cleansing Brushicon is an absolutely necessary beauty tool. I would never say that I won’t purchase another fancy skin cream or potion that claims to do what the Aria already does, but at least I won’t need to!

we heartsters – are you a Clarisonic convert too?

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.

Author

  • sherrishera

    Sherri is a writer, dog lover, old movie fanatic, history detective, political junkie, fashion pundit and social media consumer advocate. “A fancy dinner and expensive champagne are better than writing a rent check any day of the week.” skin tone: NC 25 skin type: oily/sensitive favorite beauty product: anti-aging anything

10 Comments

  1. @sherrishera — I am so glad that you now have a Clarisonic. Honestly, I love mine so much. However, I will admit that I did not “fully understand” what a wonderful job it does until I got one for Christmas. The first time I used it I was in shock! My face had never felt so clean.

    I have a Mia and love it but, the Aria sounds wonderful. I like that it is compact for travel.

  2. I AM DYING FOR A CLAIRSONIC.

    I had a Nordstroms gift card that I was going to put towards one, but ended up using it to restock my MAC supply. (Mama needs her Studio Tech.) But this is making me wish I didn’t, I’ve heard so many great things about the Mia, and now the Aria!
    My favorite part is that its got a timer; I would be the doofus who spends too much time in one area and ends up sloughing off part of my forehead or something…

    So glad to see you’re a convert, @sherrishera! Your review pushes me THAT much closer, I just need to bite the bullet and do it! :-)

    1. Ha, @lyssachelle , the timer got my attention, too! I tend to overdo these things, so the timer sounds like a great safety net.

      Fantastic review of the Aria, @sherrishera !

  3. One of these days.. one of these days I’m going to cave in.. This is just a great little number I have yet to purchase but will.. one of these days.. I have good sonic toothbrush, water pic and all that jazz but not the clairsonic.. what’s wrong with me? Glad you got one finally @sherrishera! Love your posts! :)

  4. rachelshay says:

    My word, this sounds like an amazing tool! Now I am afraid that my face is really dirty, and NEEDS the clairsonic! Thanks for the informative post!

  5. I want one of these so bad, going to have to save up to purchase one soon. I have noticeable pores and redness that I just can’t seem to shake.

  6. I want one! 2013 goal: finally own a Clarisonic!

  7. @hao9703 has been telling me how great her Clarisonic is and that I really need to try it. I just haven’t been able to convince myself to drop that much money on it! And then replacing the brush heads every three months… I felt the same way about electric toothbrushes though. I was convinced it was just another thing to spend money on, that it wasn’t THAT much better… and then my dentist said I really should, and so I bought it, and it is better at keeping my teeth clean.

  8. My Mia’s cool and all but Aria seems like the coolest one so far!

  9. I love my Clarisonic! I have been considering trying the new acne brush. I don’t think that the regular brush is really cutting it for me anymore.

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