Review : The Katie-sonic – A budget beauty Clarisonic alternative

I researched around for a while and found a cheaper similar version made by Champneys. It was around the £5 so I thought it was better to get that one and give it a whirl before I comitted to the £150+ of a Clarisonic, especially as it’s not something you can go and try before you buy really is it!

In the Champneys kit, you get 2 mini foam applicator discs, a small brush and a large brush. I like to ‘get my moneys worth’ and use as many as I can.. in one go!

I have read many tutorials and FAQs about using the actual Clarisonic and this is how I use mine…..

1. First I remove the majority of my make up with eye make up remover / face wash as if you don’t, the heads just get incredibly gunked up far too quickly and they just don’t look very nice! Ick!

2. After washing the large part of my make up off, I click in the small foam applicator pad, dampen it slightly and add a pea size glob of a foaming face wash (or whatever cleanser you prefer!) and then I swirl it over my face to get the wash on my skin and start it foaming up. Alternatively, if I’m using my Elemis melting gel cleanser, I apply it to my made up face, rub it in, let it eat away at the make up and then lather it up with water before going straight in with the small brush like step 3.

3. I then switch to the small brush head and again dampen it. I focus this head around my nose and t zone area and all along my hair line. I use the small one as I find it gets in closer to my features, meaning I don’t miss anything out.

4. After I am sure I have worked the skin, lightly with the small brush head I click on the large brush and take it round and over the larger expanses of my skin – Forehead, cheeks, jaw line and neck. I find the larger head gives a quicker exfoliation without being too harsh to the skin.

I follow this by rinsing off all the face wash with a few splashes of water to my face before patting dry and continuing with my skin care regime.

I give each attachment a good wash with running water as hot as my hands can stand with an anti bacterial face wash, making sure I rinse all make up and soap residue out of the bristles and foam. To dry the attachments I swirl them on a clean hand towel just to take the bulk of the moisture out then I dry them upside down, bristles down on a piece of tissue.

I only use my Katie-sonic once a day, just before bed as I like to feel like I’m cleaning the entire days dirt off before bed and I find my skin looks fresh, red and rosy after using the brushes which I don’t want to be trying to cover on a morning when applying fresh foundation.

It does certainly make me feel much cleaner than my usual routines and I haven’t had any bad reactions or sensitivity to using the brushes. I know the range offered by Clarisonic themselves is obviously wider than the 3 types of head with the Champneys but if you are in 2 minds about trying the Clarisonic, or if you just want
to get the same kind of effect on a budget then I really recommend trying the cheaper alternative.

Hopefully this should help you make a decision one way or the other!