I was doing a bit of thinking recently. Dangerous business, this thinking thing 😛
But I was thinking of all the beauty gadgets and fads that have hit us with cult status at one time or another through the years and how many I’d fallen for just “to try” and how much money I have wasted over time. Yeah, I think you know my answer to my question above.
I have followed fads and although they were fab at the time, just how many of they are still fab for me months or years down the road?
I’m going to share with you a couple of beauty gadgets and fads that I’ve tried and you can tell me if you too have fallen for them or any other fad or gadget du jour, and whether you are still using them. Deal? 😀 Onward!
Clarisonic Mia (review)
Biggest and most expensive fad of all. I think it did a fair job of cleaning out pores but I couldn’t use it too often. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have oily skin. Perhaps it’s because my pores are already fairly clean. Either way, it killed my skin and gave me one of the worst breakouts I’d ever experienced as an adult.
I can use this weekly if I wanted to. I did. Then the battery wore out and I never bothered getting it recharged. It is now a very expensive white elephant. Bah.
Aspirin Mask (review)
Back in the day when I was just learning more about my skin the aspirin mask was THE thing. Everyone and their aunty was trying it. So I naturally did.
Only to find out that we don’t take aspirin for headaches here in Malaysia, we take paracetamol, popularized by Panadol. So, aspirin is terribly hard to find and not as cheap as it is in the USA where the hype was coming out of. The key ingredient in this aspirin mask is salicylic acid. So no, paracetamol or Panadol is NOT a substitute for aspirin when making this mask. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn’t know what they’re on about.
It does work, in case you’re wondering. It leaves your skin feeling lovely and smooth and clean. But it’s helluva messy and when I eventually ran out of Disprin (which is about the only brand of uncoated aspirin we get here – yes it must be uncoated for it to work) I told myself to forget it. I could get just as good results from using proper skincare. I have 🙂
Konjac Sponge (review)
Konjac sponges burst on the beauty scene some time last year, I believe. I tried it and it was a very lovely, gentle way to cleanse and exfoliate your skin. It’s like the Clarisonic, only less abrasive. It was fun.
But friends reported of their sponges growing mould (yucks!) and it will disintegrate over time, and also, after a while, it looks manky and horrible and you don’t want to use it anymore. They come in varying prices, and although I don’t know if the cheaper alternatives are as good as the pricier “branded” ones, I never bothered finding out. I now use a washcloth that I change daily. Better in the long run, I’m thinking 🙂
Talika Cream Booster (partial review)
I have to say this gadget does work. It did make my skincare absorb into my skin more quickly and seemed to make lines less noticeable. But, it takes far too long. I think it was something like a minute each time, but it was a minute too long. I found that I preferred doing just a simple facial massage and my skincare never takes effort to absorb into my skin anyway. So, often I was running the gadget over a cream-free face which I didn’t like either.
Yes, it works, but no, I have no patience nor enough conviction to use it daily. I find I get better results with my skin with just using proper skincare and techniques, rather than a gadget.
BeautyBlender foundation Sponge (no review because I don’t own it! LOL)
Ok, this one is a curveball out of left field (if you forgive my mangling baseball terminology) I don’t own the Beautyblender although I have toyed with the idea from time to time over the years. Back in the day when it first exploded on the beauty scene, I was not into liquid foundation and when I did use it, I was using my hands to apply foundation.
I eventually got the hang of using liquid foundation but not with a sponge. I’ve graduated to brushes and learned an awesome technique for applying foundation with brushes but I’ve recently experimented with using a damp sponge and I’m liking the results!
I happen to own the Sonia Kashuk foundation blending sponge pictured above, which at one time was widely touted as a “dupe” for the Beautyblender. Had it for a couple of years and this is the first time I’m actually getting any results from it LOL! Opinions do differ of course, and I can’t compare since I don’t own the BB (yet) but after about a week, I’m quite happy with the effects and the results. Maybe once this dies, I’ll graduate to the Beautyblender. I know it gets a lot of love so feel free to share the love 🙂
Are you using or have used any of these very popular beauty gadgets/fads? Are there other fads/gadgets you’d like to share?
So far, it appears only the foundation sponge fad has found favour with me and only now, because I’ve only worked out how to use it now LOL! As for the rest, as fads go, they were fleeting (and expensive).
Paris B
Haha, you got me thinking about all the white elephants I have that are tucked away. I have the Clarisonic Mia and the Beauty blender and I’ve never tried the others. Clarisonic… It got a good amount of use for the first few months I had it, but I didn’t see a difference when I stopped using it so I got lazy and stopped. It did, however, irritate my skin when I used more than once a day. I’m talking red and raw.
Beauty blender… I whip it out on the rare days that I use foundation. If I’m just applying BB cream or tinted sunscreen, I use my fingers. The beauty blender does give a nice even finish which doesn’t look like I’ve got foundation on.
Haha good to make you think Lana 😉 Your experience with the Clarisonic sounds painful! I haven’t recharged it since, because I need to use an adapter and it’s just too much of a hassle setting everything in place. Also, I figured my skin wasn’t looking worse for wear without using it 😉 I have heard a lot of good things about the Beautyblender and am tempted to give it a go, but am going to wear out the SK sponge first 😀
Of all the above, I only have the beautyblender. It works well enough, but I hated cleaning it. So now I only take it out occasionally.
I’m feeling the same way about using the sponge! So I use it in the bathroom and then wash it immediately. Quite a pain, and definitely not for days when I’m in a hurry!
Konjac sponge before anyone starts to rave about it. I was attracted to it because it is bouncy. Haha. Gadgets, not interested. Am using washcloth these days.
I’m using a washcloth too! I like it, and at least it isn’t an expensive experiment 🙂
I have used Konjacv Sponge before and I stop using it because I think that using your hand is far more better than the sponge… It gets mouldy and I break out easily and even when I used up all of it I dont think it gives any difference at all..so why bother using it ….
Good point, Bee! I had good results when I was using it, as in my face felt clean, but then, it feels clean now too LOL
Hi Paris,
Interesting post again! But some how I don’t understand the need of so many gadgets in the beauty world. I am not saying they don’t work, some of them do and do it well but quite a lot of others just sit with you after a while as ‘white elephants’, either they are too cumbersome to use or we get super lazy to replace their one or the other replaceable parts.
And, to tell you, after living in Japan and now in Singapore, I have seen these gadgets here and not so much in India. Even if you do get something in India, people are not very open about trying them out while here I have seen, everybody would like to possess the latest fad.
I know it looks so tempting when the SA or the promoter show you how products work and also the before and after effect specially for those ‘As-seen-on-TV’ products but then after a while, you don’t feel like using them or maintaining them.
Btw, Thanks for telling about Aspirin Mask, I never knew about it… that was interesting and since you say you can get similar effect by proper skin care, still I think I would love to try it once. And Disprin is most commonly used headache medicine in India, so I am getting some on my next visit to India 😉
Hi Neha, that’s interesting. I think people in this region are heavily influenced by the gadget culture that emanates from Japan and Korea. We love our gadgets in everything haha 😀 The late night or day time TV shopping channels are the funniest. I have to admit that they actually do look very tempting (especially kitchen gadgets for which I’m a real sucker!) but I’ve tried enough to know they don’t work or if they do, don’t last! The aspirin mask is quite nice and very affordable. Just be sure not to inhale it or you’ll end up sneezing the mask right off your face LOL
Expensive white elephant – ouch! 😛 My friend just got the new Olay regenerist one and she’s been waxing lyrical about how effective it is… makes me a little bit tempted to get it but I need to finish up my Neutrogena Wave pads first! 😀
Ahh my favourite Aspirin mask! Still works like a charm for me although I have to admit that I have ran out of tablets and haven’t replenished in awhile! 🙂 Oh, you can get Bayer Aspirin which is the one I use – it melts pretty quickly with just a few drops of water.
I hopped onto the Konjac sponge bandwagon pretty late so I’m still loving it now! I have a review scheduled for next week so I hope people are still interested to read what I have to say about it!! Hahaha! 😀
You know, I’m actually curious about the Olay one, but I keep telling myself that I should look at my Clarisonic to see just how much use I get out of these things 😛 I compared Bayer aspirin once, but I didn’t like them although I can’t remember why. Maybe because they were more expensive than Disprin? I’m not sure LOL But I’ve worked out I’m not a DIY skincare girl. I’m sure loads of people are still keen on the konjac sponge! I do think it is a nice tool, just that I got tired of it far too quickly (but just before mine started getting mold!)
LOL! my thoughts exactly towards the MIA, when the batt is out, i just couldn’t be bothered. and the konjac sponge is in my bathroom as a deco now 😉 and the beauty blender…well i still use it once in a while when i need seriously flawless skin. guess i should never spend a bomb on these again ><
Sigh, us and our 15 second passions LOL! Do you mean you haven’t tossed your konjac sponge?!?! I remember you had it before I did!
Very interesting post as usual 🙂 Have not use any of the gadgets/tools mentioned but I am about to purchase the Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System since I have managed to find a good deal and plus it is highly raved about on Makeup Alley. I am pretty late to the bandwagon for this tool but I guess I just wanted to try to see what the hype was all about. Lol. By the way, what sort of washcloth are you currently using?
I’ve heard the Olay one is quite good and it’s not as pricey so even if you don’t use it after a while, it shouldn’t be too much of a heart ache 😀 I just use your regular handkerchief or face towel. You know how sometimes you buy a set of towels and there’s a random square that you aren’t sure what to do with it? Those 😀
i’ve always been conflicted about the beautyblender. i remember really wanting one when it first came out, but i much prefer my fingers for application. i’m still feeling a bit tempted though. I didn’t really like the clarisonic either, so I returned it after a week or two :/
I’ve been toying with the idea of the beautyblender for years, Joyce! LOL I never got the hang of using a sponge before so I decided not to take the plunge. Just as well, because it would have been an expensive experiment again! Now that I’m comfortable using a damp sponge, I reckon I could quite easily achieve similar results with any sponge, not just the beautyblender so I’m holding off for a while more 😉
I use the assets we are born with – hands! :p
I tried using damp makeup sponge (those denser ones) for liquid foundation application. Coverage is lovely, and skin feels cool when sponge touches skin. The ONLY setback is… it’s DAMN difficult to wash off. Brush is easier to clean!!
Agree with you re: sponges! Which is why the Daiso sponge detergent is such a Godsend! I use it to wash the sponge after I use it and it gets it as clean as it ever will be 😀
I don’t use my Clarisonic now either. I started to earlier this year, but gave up again. It’s too aggravating for me. I use it now in the shower on my arms! WHen I remember though LOL.
I LOVE MY BEAUTY BLENDER. The Sonia Kashuk one isn’t the same at all-you need to get the real deal girl! I never use a brush.
I’ve been trying to kick start the Clarisonic but every time, I get tired just thinking of the charging. Takes so damn long to charge! Ahhh thanks to you I have been again toying with the idea of trying the beautyblender! I’m waiting for the Sonia Kashuk one to die and then I’ll see 😛 The funny thing is, I keep reading people complaining about their SK sponges dying on them after a short while and I”ve had mine for years! No signs of it giving up yet
don’t own any of these.. hmm.. but the cleaning brush is a hype nowadays especially after Olay launched the cheaper version. might give it a try and see if would clean up my dirty nose (hate those black/white head).
Yep! Olay has theirs available here now, and there are some manual face brushes you can get too. Just be sure not to overdo it when you do get it or your skin may hate you and break out 😉
I discovered the Konjac sponge about 3 months ago and I have not stopped using it =D Initially I was thinking of getting a Clarisonic, but the mixed reviews scared me. I’m not ready to spend over RM400 for something that isn’t necessarily going to work for me haha~ The sponge is so much cheaper too! Yes it needs replacing every 2 or 3 months, but for RM8.90 that’s not too much to shell out =D I get mine from Sasa, but I’m not too sure if it’s real Konjac @_@
The konjac sponge is quite nice to use, if you’re diligent about it Angela 🙂 On the bright side, it isn’t abrasive at all, so there’s no fear of your skin being rubbed raw the way the Clarisonic can. The only thing I’d caution is to be very sure you hang the sponge to dry properly or it is very susceptible to getting mold and that won’t be nice to use on your face!
I still love my BeautyBlender! Nothing beats it when it comes to liquid foundation application. Love.
The Clarisonic Mia is a tough one. I gave up on it 3 years ago after trying it for just 1 month. It was way too abrasive for me, even when used weekly. Back then I have normal-dry skin. Now, my nose gets clogged really easily and has become a true combination skin. I just whipped it out 2 weeks ago and have been using it once every two days. It has really helped with my clogged pores. So, I guess it really depends on your skin type(?).
The Konjac sponge was a fad for me. Gave up after 2 weeks and just lost interest. 😛
Yep! Anyone who asks what I think of the Clarisonic I tell them the same thing. Use it if you have oily/combination/clogged pores. Don’t if you already have fairly decent skin or dry skin because there is a chance it can break you out the way it did for me. No one listens of course, because everyone wants to try it LOL! So, the Beautyblender is all that and a bag of chips eh? 😛
Hahaha my Clarisonic has taken the boot now (not even the backseat) as I’m now using the Olay Regenerist brush. Works just as well and cheaper too. I’m afraid the Konjac sponges have also taken a backseat but that’s more because I’ve got other new stuff to try and not because I don’t like them. I used the Baby Quasar for a while and that too has stopped because I’m lazy to hold it to my face for 45 minutes 😛
Y’know, I still have yet to try the Beauty Blender or similar from other brands. I guess it’s just not for me (also because I’m, again, lazy to wash the sponge every time I use it :P).
Ok, this is a scary scary post! Just when I was planning to buy Clarisonic 🙂 For makeup, I so rarely use tools (meaning brushes) since I do my makeup at work and use very little. But skincare is a whole another dimension! I’m sooo obsessed with my skin and since it is acne prone and porous (well, you know what I mean!) I am willing to try anything. I usually use a plastic brush-like thingy I bought from Sephora and use my cleanser with it. If I don’t use brush or similar stuff while cleansing, I don’t feel like I’m clean enough. The plastic brush is very veeery mild and doesn’t have modling problem like sponges. But still I’m gonna get me some Clarisonic, I didn’t get well results from mild chemical peelings, physical peeling is still the one that gets me going..
Haha here’s the deal Casey, as I tell everyone, the Clarisonic will work for you if you have oily/combination/clogged skin. It will help improve your skin quality. If you have dry/normal skin then you won’t get as much benefit from it and you can also risk breaking out if used too regularly 🙂 I have come across the hand held brushes so if you think of the Clarisonic as a mechanized version then it’s pretty much that! 😀
I saw your post on the Olay Regenerist one and I have to admit I was bloody tempted! But I’m going to be good and if I use a brush, to try the Clarisonic again. After all, it’s already sitting in my room as a bloody white elephant innit? 😛 I’d read about the Baby Quasar but it just looked like far too much effort. Different when you are in a salon getting a treatment you know 😀
Beauty blender is a LIFESAVER for me! I use it every time I use liquid fdtn and it works when nothing else does. I think if you already get great results from fingers/brush you don’t need it, but I highly rec for people whose skins tend to cake everything up, even after exfoliating, primers, all that jazz.
Haven’t tried any of the others!
So I’ve heard so often, Julia! So many people love the Beautyblender and I have to admit that this damp sponge thing has its merits. My foundation looks flawless 😀
I try konjac sponge pretty late. The 3rd one is still hanging in my bathroom, all dry and wrinkly ^_^ . It did soften my skin, so I think it really did exfoliate but it did nothing to clear my congested chin, and that the black heads on my nose are still there. I get a clearer nose when I use better quality cleanser.
You’re right about it not doing as good as job at unclogging the skin. I find the konjac sponge is great for gently exfoliating the skin, getting rid of flaky skin etc, but not for unclogging. Definitely need something stronger for that!
I just bought Olay pro x cleaning brush and loving it!! First few times used my skin really looks brighter and squeaky clean. After many tries, skin look d same and really squeaky clean. Mine is sensitive with dry combination skin more to really dry side. So using pro x make my skin dry n taut but if you quickly slap on moisturizer skin will look fresh n good:-)
Good to know you’re getting good results from the Olay brush, Leona 🙂 You have mentioned that you have dry skin so I’d just have a word of caution not to use it too regularly. I have dry skin too and using the Clarisonic regularly is what killed my skin. So, use it weekly or twice a week. It is just as bad to overcleanse the skin as it is to undercleanse 🙂
I have been using the Clarisonic Mia 2 since the end of last year and I am currently still using it. I place the Clarisonic in the same basket as my hairdryer in my bathroom so that I will remember having it. Haha. If I don’t, it will be a case of out of sight out of mind. And it’s near a plug point too, easy for recharging.
But I am naturally a lazy person so I ended up using the Clarisonic once a week at most. This Clarisonic has a timer function and I love it. Normally I use it to deep exfoliate before I put on a moisturizing mask. It works for me this way.
Good idea, Kay! I have my Clarisonic with my shower things actually but because I only use it sporadically, it was easy to forget. Now that I’m using a regular chemical treatment, I’m keeping it aside. Can’t overdo all the exfoliation or I’ll have no skin left! Haha!
I hate to talk about my clarisonic mia. It’s sitting in a quiet, dark corner somewhere. I hope i forget all about it. One of my worst pricey investment. Yes, it broke me out if used daily. And talking about cleansing brush, I’m currently testing out two cleansing brushes from Taiwan brush maker Lam Sam Yick: the clean acne brush and the clean brush. So far so good, no break out and face looks quite clear. Will continue with it and see how it goes. Personally, it feels quite therapeutic to use at the end of the day as the brush is so densely made and just so soft.
hahaha “I hope i forget all about it.” It does make us feel bad right? 😛 I was asked to test out a face cleansing brush that is pretty much a manual Clarisonic but I passed. I just knew I’d never be able to keep up with these things. For now, I’m using a washcloth which is relaxing and comforting and I think, I’m reaping a lot of benefits from it (plus it’s cheap!)