I’ve sung the praises of the Clarisonic for years now. I wasn’t always a believer in the sonic brush cleansing system for skin, but once I tried one over time, I’ve become an advocate that it in fact does make your skin better by way of getting it cleaner.
The basic premise behind any Clarisonic brush is that it gets your skin six times cleaner than manually cleansing which in turn helps your skincare products penetrate the skin better. You can see my Clarisonic posts including a breakdown of the various models including the Mia, Smart Profile, Aria, etc. here.
With the Clarisonic Sonic Radiance Brightening Solution Kit (sent to me for review consideration), the focus is of course on cleansing but also treating dark spots and uneven skin tone. This kit contains:
– Aria™ Cleansing Device
– Radiance Brush Head
– Drying stand
– USB-enabled pLink Charger
– 3.4 oz Sonic Radiance™ Brightening Solution Skin Illuminating Cleanser
– 3.4 oz Sonic Radiance™ Brightening Solution Skin Renewing Peel Wash
– 0.98 oz Sonic Radiance™ Brightening Solution Brightening Activator Serum
If you already have a Clarisonic device, you can just buy the Radiance brush head. The Clarisonic system is created to work with any skincare regimen so you can also use your own brightening products. In testing I made sure I used the system as closely as the instructions advised and with what was inside.
The kit advises you to…
Cleanse and treat:
-Every morning, cleanse with the Skin Illuminating Cleanser and a Clarisonic cleansing device with radiance brush
-Treat your complexion with the Brightening Activator Serum immediately after sonically cleansing for dramatically more radiant and even skintone.Peel and treat:
-Nightly, cleanse with the Skin Renewing Peel Wash and a Clarisonic cleansing device with radiance brush head to exfoliate and support natural skin cell turnover to help with dark spots for a smoother, brighter complexion.
-Treat your complexion with the Brightening Activator Serum immediately after sonically cleansing for dramatically more radiant and even skintone.
I had to tweak this to suit my skin. I started using it as directed but my skin is not built to use a Clarisonic brush twice daily even if it’s on the lowest setting in the morning. After doing so for about 3-4 weeks, I wound up cutting my skin near my orbital bone under my eye but closer to the top of my cheekbone from overuse. I stopped using it for about a week or so until it healed and then only used it 2-3 times per week like I usually do with my previous Clarisonics.
My results though?
I take good care of my skin and its texture and tone is usually pretty nice, but it’s not always where I want it to be. Then like most women of color, let me get any type of pimple and once it goes away—hyperpigmentation. Not to mention it’s winter and a time where the skin can tend to look a little dull. Keeping one’s skin even is an on-going process.
After using the Clarisonic Radiance kit for about two months (I took two weeks off while I was in Grenada and have been back on since getting back home about a week ago) my skin has never looked so even and radiant. I was able to go makeup free so often (I mean, I’d go makeup free before using it, but the way my skin looked had me not wearing makeup a good 60% of the times I went out). Even in Grenada I skipped foundation and BB creams completely. I wore eye makeup and lip color, but no foundation whatsoever. In fact one of my friends said to me one day while in Grenada, “I don’t know how you have on foundation in this heat.” I had her swipe my face with her fingers to see I was bare skinned.
My eyes still need work—I don’t have “true” dark circles but I do have natural pigmentation around my eyes and on my eyelids. I’ll just use concealer though to cover it.
I didn’t remember to take a before pic right before using this (my bad) but before I had hyperpigmentation on my chin and forehead and my skin both with and without makeup didn’t look as even and radiant before using the system.
Here’s me without foundation (not a single stitch) with concealer on my eye area, brows, liner, mascara, and blush:
And here’s how I’d look with a full-face of makeup on:
Here’s me completely bare faced in Grenada:
To anyone asking why I wear makeup: because I want to…lol. Also the differences in my skin tone between each pic is because of lighting.
Bottom line: I’m a total fan and would recommend it BUT I’d advise to maybe use the brush head less often as directed.
Price and where to buy: $249 for the complete Radiance kit (Aria + Radiance brush + skincare set); $125 for the Radiance brush head + skincare set; $27 for a single Radiance brush; $44 for a double pack of the Radiance brush head; $25 for the Peel Wash; $25 for the Skin Illuminating Cleanser; $65 for the Skin Brightening Activator Serum.
Oooh I’ve been waiting for this post! I got the Radiance kit for Christmas and am loving it so far but I’ve only been using it for like a week so I really wanted to hear how it worked for you. Your skin looks AMAZING. I hope I have as much success with it – with two year old twins climbing all over me I really need a foundation-free life!
Author
Yikes at the two year old twins! Sending prayers your way…lol.
Yes, I seriously loved how my skin looked after using this. I even went two weeks off and noticed I lost some of my radiance so I’m back on…lol.
Do you think just changing to this brush head would be beneficial without using the cleanser? I’m currently using the regular brush head and wondering about the differences in the Clarisonic brush heads.
Author
Hey Kimberly!
The Radiance brush head is specifically designed to help remove surface pigmentation and sebum so I definitely think it’s worth switching to this brush head if that’s what you’re looking for (the brush heads need to be replaced every 2-3 months anyway—might as well try something different). I did really like the cleansers (the morning one and night one) and do believe they helped get me the results I got, but I also think if you have a good brightening cleanser in your routine, you can just use that. I didn’t use the serum that’s included and still got great results so you don’t necessarily need everything included. If you’re curious though you can get samples of the cleansers at Sephora to try out—though probably not enough to really see how it affects your skin (unless you went in multiple times for samples…lol) but at least you can try it out. Also Sephora and Nordstrom both have good return policies when it comes to makeup and skincare.
Did you ever try Olay’s version? It worked well but I gotta make sure the Clairisonic is worth it and will be better.
Author
Yep! Reviewed it here: https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/2013/01/olay-pro-x-vs-clarisonic/
Your skin looks flawless! I need to try that brush head asap
Author
thanks, Fancie!
Do u still exfoliate while doing this: I use Mario badescu glycolic acid wash twice a week , wondering if to stop that if getting this
Author
Hey Nadia!
I LOVE the MB Glycolic Acid wash and would use it with my Clarisonic 2-3 a week to deep clean. I wouldn’t use anything to exfoliate that has bigger granules in it along with the Clarisonic (because: ouch) but my short answer is yes you can exfoliate with it but be mindful of what you’re using and make sure you’re not using it too often (you’ll know it’s too much when your skin gets irritated).
Your skin is glowing on Leroy Green levels. I will be slipping and sliding my way to Sephora for my lunch hour to pick up the radiance kit (I will not be snowtimidated). I read that you’ve started using StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Concentrated Serum. Is that what you used in place of the Sonic Radiance™ Brightening Solution Brightening Activator Serum?
Author
Hi Ayana!
Thanks so much! LOL @ Leroy Green levels!
I started using the Strivectin after I tested this. I didn’t use any serums at all when testing this device.
Author
also LOL @ snowtimidated!!!!
Wow. It did all that without the aid of a serum? I can’t wait to take this radiance system for a spin (pun intended).
At the moment I use Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer daily thanks to you :-) , but as I am a doer of the most I was wondering if you had a recommendation for a brightening moisturizer (for oily skin) for day or night?
Author
Haha! I LOVE FFM! I’ve been buying it for over 10 years now…lol.
Last brightening moisturizer I used that I LOVED was the Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Sleeping Mask (for night of course…lol): https://www.thestyleandbeautydoctor.com/2014/04/skincare-routine-for-hyperpigmentation-oily-skin/. Get a sample at Sephora to try it out before you buy it but I looooooved it.
Have you ever tried this neutrogena system, reviews have been great! http://www.neutrogena.com/category/anti-aging/microdermabrasion+system.do?nType=1
Author
Hi Shawn!
No, I haven’t. Have you?
I have not yet but I plan too. I know a few people who are using it and they love it.
Girllllaaaa!!! So of course reading your winter skin care regimen led me to this page (with all those lovely helpful links that I love! haha!)… Your skin is honestly unbelievable. The results with no makeup are insane. I honestly thought that you had makeup on because (like I sometimes do) got excited and scrolled down to see your pics before I read it,and I was like oh yea this is great so I think I’ll pick it up if shes looking like this, but when I found out it was makeup free! Chile, I almost fell out my chair at work. So, why did you not use the serum that came with it? Did you use any other serums to compensate for it? And what moisturizer did you use day and night while using this system? As you know already I expressed my need for better skincare products in your IG posts so I’m taking alot of notes. Oh yea this is me, the girl who leaves long comments on IG :) lol
Hey, thanks for your review. You use the whole system ( brush, cleanser, serum) twice a week? Are you still doing it regularly? I want to know if I can stop once I see my blemishes go away.