Beauty Geekery! Sharp IG-CM1 Portable Plasmacluster Air Ionizer Delivers Cleaner Fresher Air On The Go

Hands up who remembers when I told you I was taking this for a 1 month test run? Not bad right? I actually managed to (almost) keep to my promise :D

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I’ve always been a bit of a gadget junkie. Not necessarily beauty gadgets though but there was a time when I was at the forefront of gadgetry be it mobile phones, netbooks and the like. But I soon fell off that bandwagon. Too pricey a hobby to upkeep if you ask me and gadgets get obsolete so quickly! But being presented with a beauty gadget on a silver platter was too hard to pass up :)

This is the Sharp IG-CM1 or the Sharp Portable Plasmacluster Ion Generator. A portable gadget that generates lots of ions and throws them into the air around you to create a space of cleaner fresher air to breathe in. They also claim beauty benefits in that of adding moisture to the skin and helping skin retain its elasticity (!!).

To know the technology behind Sharp’s trademarked Plasmacluster ion generation, I suggest you read my earlier introductory post. This one will be strictly to tell you what I think of this gadget after a month, and if it has any beauty benefits as it claims. Tough standards to measure up to, Sharp!

Let’s first take a look at size. The Sharp IG-CM1 (I love techie names like this!) is about the size of an iPod Touch or iPhone but thicker.

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It in fact looks just like a flip out mobile phone. In Japan, their mobile phones do look something like this. When I visited Japan, I noticed that they could watch videos on their large flip out screens, take pretty good photos, surf, text and chat right on their mobile. I need 3 different gadgets to do that :P So in Japan, this shape and design would not be unlike that of a mobile phone. Over here, less so.

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You can see it fits right in my hand (almost) and always puts me in mind of the remote control for my air conditioner (Sharp!) Its light and fits nicely into your handbag because really, this little gadget was designed for women ;)

Operation is very very simple. You just have to flip out the stand at the back of the Portable Ion Generator and it stands on the table making a very small footprint. Smaller than that of my mobile in fact. You can keep the flippy flap closed, but I wouldn’t advise it, because a) you can’t stand it up and b) there are holes at the back for air to circulate. The more air circulates through, the more it purifies and the more ions get thrown out = good!

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Pop open the plastic that covers the top before you switch it on. It can be a little stiff the first time, but give it a little jerk. The holes there are for the clean ionized air to exit so you don’t want to block them. Keeping it closed when unused will prevent too much dust from getting in there. You should direct the gadget towards you, so the air blows at you.

Then, turn it on. The switch is by the side, and when switched on, a blue light appears telling you ions are being generated. Yay! There is a rechargeable battery that can last about 8 hours on a full charge. A charger cable is included, as well as a USB cable charger.

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You see, the Japanese think of everything. They realize that the people who might want to use this gadget are working women in offices, who don’t want to catch cooties from their sick colleagues. Office air is notoriously dirty and germs circulate around – that’s why people say the flu bug is going around the office, because it quite literally is! :P

So, a good way to neutralize those bugs is to stick ions on them, and that’s where this portable air ionizer comes in handy. The USB cable allows you to plug it into your computer or laptop and use it while it charges up. I asked initially if it was long enough to connect to my CPU which sits on the floor only to be laughed at for not using a laptop :( I don’t – I don’t like laptops. They cramp my style :P So I use desktops and I’m happy to report that yes, the cable IS long enough to connect to a desktop CPU that sits on the floor next to you.

To be honest, I wasn’t too convinced by this the first few times I used it. I’d pop it up in front of me at work, and direct the air flow at me, and on hot hot days when the air conditioning doesn’t feel like its doing anything, it blew a stream of cool air at me. I didn’t think too much of it and wasn’t sure if it was doing anything.

But then the annual haze hit, if the Malaysians amongst you might remember. We have an annual haze problem when forest fires from neighbouring countries (or even locally) cause a haze to hang over the country. Air quality is bad, there is a burnt smell in the air and for those who have breathing problems, its a horrible time of year. The air also feels very dry and smoky. This was when I noticed the improvement in air quality most, when using this portable air purifier/ionizer gadget thingy.

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The air around me at the office was cleaner and fresher, without that dry burnt smoky smell. My throat did not feel as dry from breathing in all that air. It actually helped me get through those 2 weeks a lot easier. My colleague spotted this on my desk and nicked it one day, and when I went to collect it, almost did not want to give it back. He told me that he felt the difference in the air quality using this and when he didn’t. He had absolutely no benefit to tell me this, so I had to believe him. Perhaps for those used to using an air purifier at home, you might notice a difference but it isn’t something that will smack you in the face immediately.

When I last told you about this, reader Peach_ left a comment saying that she had this gadget and uses it when she paints her nails because it helps clear the air of the smell of polish. I think that’s a great idea and tip on when or how to use this, as the plasmacluster ion technology also neutralizes smells quite quickly.

In terms of beauty benefits, I will have to confess that I didn’t notice much improvement in the quality of my skin nor in my skin elasticity during the time I was using this. I tried leaving it on at night, on my bedside table but it doesn’t quite work very well for that. I think its too small and a bigger room air purifier will probably work better.

I can see myself carrying it on board planes for long trips though. We all know how dry and stale plane air is and can be, so if this works on the personal space around me, and if it does add moisture as Sharp will have us believe, I think this would be a right winner! Also, maybe … just maybe if someone on board has Ebola, the ions will help to take care of the nasty germs and viruses and I won’t die. Maybe :P

I don’t normally use an air purifier at home. I had been meaning to get one for a while for my bedroom but didn’t. I don’t have breathing problems or asthma so that might be why an air purifier isn’t too high on my list of priorities. But I might still get one one day – fresh clean air does really make a difference!

Do you use an air purifier or ionizier at home? Are you intrigued enough to try this Sharp Plasmacluster Portable Ion Generator or do you perhaps already have it? Would love to know what you think or if you have any other ideas on how you can use this :)

Paris B

The Sharp Portable Plasmacluster Ion Generator comes in 3 colours (pink, white and black) and retails at RM499 each.