I think one of the number one questions I get asked is how do I like my Foreo Luna Mini. I have had the Luna Mini for about three years now. I'm 39 now and I started getting hormonal adult acne around 33 or so. I never had acne as a teenager and to be honest my whole adolescent life I spent with only a blemish here or there. Getting adult hormonal acne was devastating to me. I had multiple months of depression about it then finally decided to do something about it. At the time Clarisonic was huge and I was convinced by an Ulta sales rep to grab the Clarisonic Mia 2. I was desperate and figured nothing could hurt at the time. I charged it up for a night and went to town the next day. Details per Ulta:
It's time to think beyond the washcloth and elevate cleansing to a sonic level. The essential first step in your skin care regimen, Clarisonic goes beyond cleansing by using sonic technology to gently yet deeply cleanse pores without abrasion or harsh chemicals. Clarisonic removes six times more makeup than manual cleansing, cleansing so well that products absorb better - making skin more receptive to skincare ingredients (up to 61% of vitamin C).
With regular daily use Clarisonic reduces dry skin patches, oily areas and blemishes and immediately leaves skin feeling and looking smoother. Developed by the lead inventor of Sonicare and recommended by leading dermatologists, spas and cosmetic surgeons. Mia 2, enhanced with 2 speeds, a 2 year warranty and Clarisonic's patented T-Timer allows you to customize your skin care needs while still providing all of the sonic cleansing benefits and compact, travel friendly design that you know and love from the original Mia.
Features & Benefits
- 2 speeds for added customization for your skin type
- 2 year warranty
- Pulsing T-Timer for an efficient and even 60 second cleanse
- Improved user interface indicating speed & charge functions
I think at this point everyone knows what a Clarisonic does--It's an electronic facial cleansing brush that uses sonic pulses to help deep clean. It's waterproof, rechargeable and has replaceable brush heads. It's recommended to replace the brush head every 6 months. The first set retails for $169 and the brush heads vary on which you get but average $30 a piece. I found I had to charge this about once a month. It takes a good full overnight to charge fully.
This did feel harsh at first on my freaking out new acne prone skin. I was told by the Ulta rep that things would get worse while using and to power through and that it would get better. She was right. My acne got much worse for the first four weeks. I only used this at night and almost gave up, then around week five my skin started to get better than before the Clarisonic. My new found acne was not gone, but it was better and I felt like I was doing something about it. After the five weeks this also no longer felt harsh on my skin, it felt kind of good like a facial massage. I used this for a good solid two years. While my acne was still present for those two years it was better than when I started. I still was unhappy because it just was not going away.
The last year I was using this I also started to research acne skincare and ingredients. I started trying brands like Renee Rouleau and Perricone MD which allowed me to customize my skin care regimen and actually wash my face properly versus just use a standard lotion like La Mer and wipes that I used to be so fond of. Renee Rouleau was the best discovery I made for acne. The BHA Clarifying Serum and Anti Cyst Treatment were amazing at helping reduce my acne. Finally at 35 I decided to go off the birth control pills. That was the key for me. My acne started to go away and I kept using the Renee Rouleau for a while. By 36 my acne was gone. A short lived but painful memory of what going through daily acne is like.
I actually wasn't using any kind of electronic cleansing brush for that one year everything was improving. Then three years ago I grabbed the Foreo Luna Mini as I was just intrigued by it. This little round device was cute (it's the size of my palm), rechargeable and seemed cheaper with its non brush replacement head system. It retails for $99. Details per Sephora:
A facial brush that channels T-Sonic™ pulsations through soft silicone touch-points for deep and gentle cleansing. The LUNA™ mini's three-zone brush is suitable for all skin types, with thicker touch-points on the reverse side designed to deeply cleanse oilier skin, particularly on the T-zone. The thinner touch-points gently channel pulsations and are best used for sensitive or dry skin. This powerful device gently removes dead skin cells, and unclogs pores of dirt, oil, and makeup residue. It enhances the absorption of skin care products and delivers visibly brighter, more radiant skin.
Suggested Usage
- Use for one minute twice daily with any cleanser.
- To use, turn on, apply cleanser, wet brush surface, cleanse face, and rinse.
- Do not use clay-based, silicone-based, or grainy cleansers, exfoliators, or scrubs—they may harm the soft silicone touch-points.
I've been using this Luna Mini now for three years. I have charged it only twice in three years. Seriously this has the longest battery life of any electronic device I've ever seen. Though I don't have adult acne anymore I love using this little device. One minute in the shower is all it takes to deep clean my face. I use this about 3-4 times a week. The pulsing action is gentle and not harsh or abrasive like the Clarisonic brush. I turn it over and use the larger touch-points for a deeper clean on my nose and chin. If I'm having some rough skin around my nose and clogged pores I use this Luna Mini in the shower and my skin comes out baby smooth. It does have basic skincare benefits.
Clean this with the Foreo Cleanser every month and it should be fine. I did ignore cleaning mine for a few months when we first moved here and the humidity and constant wet in the shower caused some build up on mine. We get this pink white hard water build up in the shower here in Texas and it comes off if you clean it. So I soaked mine in vinegar that night (not the plug) and scrubbed it. I have cleaned it pretty regularly after that and it seems to be fine.
Both devices have two speeds and one minute timed sonic pulsing cycles. The Clarisonic is more expensive, uses replacement brush heads at an extra cost, feels less hygienic, needs to charge once a month and feels harsher on the skin. The Luna Mini is gentle on the skin, has no extra hidden costs, needs to charge once every 18 months and seems more hygienic. Plus it's smaller, more compact and cuter in the shower or on the bathroom counter. Now I did not get to use the Luna Mini while I had the hormonal acne so I can't speak to it's acne curing benefits. Acne is a disease of inflammation in the skin. The Luna Mini, being more gentle and less abrasive than the Clarisonic, I would assume that makes the Luna Mini better for acne prone skin.
I wrote a comparison post about three years ago HERE. I just felt it was time for an update particularly since I get asked about the two a lot. My pick is the Foreo Luna Mini. I'd love to hear if anyone else with acne has used both and has thoughts on which they felt was better. Or if the prefer no sonic cleaning devices.