My Mia 2 Saga
Clarisonic devices have
been deemed as a must-have in the beauty world. The more rave reviews I
encountered the more I wanted a Clarisonic Mia 2. Unfortunately, they are
costly devices. The Mia 2 usually retails for $150. Yikes! That's really pricey
for the average Jane. Not knowing if it would work for me, I took to Ebay
to find one for a cheaper price. I was so pleasantly surprised to find LOTS of
Mia 2s new in box for half the cost! I placed a bid and about 1 week later I
had a cute, pink Mia 2 to call my own. Or so I thought. Immediately upon
opening and holding the supposed Mia 2 I knew something wasn't right. The more
I went through the included items the more I was disappointed I became.
Everything felt 'cheap'. I unscrewed the cap of the cleansing gel to see the
small safety seal was already opened and mold (yes,
mold) was forming around the opening of the bottle and the cap.
Appauld I emailed the seller ASAP. I began to think how do people pay so much
money for this kind of quality and rave about it?! Crazy. Then what really sent
me over the edge was the enclosed authenticity code included. Every Clarisonic
device comes with an unique code that the consumer uses to register their
device on the Clarisonic website. Easy enough. Took not even 5 minutes to go to
the website and enter the code given. Except the code automatically was
returned as unable to register. Hello, I'm a big red flag! Once
again I quickly messaged the seller confused while slowly starting to
catch-on.
Soon after I went to Macy's and saw a Clarisonic display. I picked-up an almost identical Mia 2-same color. Immediately I noticed a huge difference- the weight was heavier, the color was brighter. Overall, it didn't have that 'cheap' feel. Then it finally clicked for me- I didn't buy and receive a Clarisonic Mia 2 from the seller off Ebay. It was a knock-off. Proving the old adage "if it's too good to be true then it probably is..." right. I began researching the market of fake Clarisonics and the tell-tale signs of a fake and was shocked to see my exact fake Mia 2 plastered all over the internet as the fake poster child.
A long story short the seller played coy, but they really knew it was a fake. I opened a case and won it. I also reported the seller because he continued to sell these fakes. Nothing, as far as I know, was done pertaining to him selling counterfeit Clarisonic devices. Armed with more knowledge I returned to Ebay hoping to find a real Mia 2. I was once again shocked to see how many of the Mia 2s listed on Ebay were indeed the same fake pink knock-off. After becoming frustrated and slightly paranoid, I started to search for cheaper Mia 2s but from reputable business (e.g. Sephora, Ulta, QVC, etc). I found what I consider a great deal. It was still a splurge, but was a safer bet altogether. I will offer tips of where to get the best Clarisonic deals so keep reading!
Soon after I went to Macy's and saw a Clarisonic display. I picked-up an almost identical Mia 2-same color. Immediately I noticed a huge difference- the weight was heavier, the color was brighter. Overall, it didn't have that 'cheap' feel. Then it finally clicked for me- I didn't buy and receive a Clarisonic Mia 2 from the seller off Ebay. It was a knock-off. Proving the old adage "if it's too good to be true then it probably is..." right. I began researching the market of fake Clarisonics and the tell-tale signs of a fake and was shocked to see my exact fake Mia 2 plastered all over the internet as the fake poster child.
A long story short the seller played coy, but they really knew it was a fake. I opened a case and won it. I also reported the seller because he continued to sell these fakes. Nothing, as far as I know, was done pertaining to him selling counterfeit Clarisonic devices. Armed with more knowledge I returned to Ebay hoping to find a real Mia 2. I was once again shocked to see how many of the Mia 2s listed on Ebay were indeed the same fake pink knock-off. After becoming frustrated and slightly paranoid, I started to search for cheaper Mia 2s but from reputable business (e.g. Sephora, Ulta, QVC, etc). I found what I consider a great deal. It was still a splurge, but was a safer bet altogether. I will offer tips of where to get the best Clarisonic deals so keep reading!
Get educated about the Mia 2
It comes with a charger, sensitive brush head, and one bottle of
Clarisonic refreshing cleansing gel. The differences between a Mia and a Mia 2
are few. The Mia is about $25 cheaper than the Mia 2. The Mia 2 is slightly
more money because it has two speed options and a built-in timer. The timer is
a beep: 30 seconds for your forehead and nose/chin area respectively, and 10
seconds for each cheek respectively. For a grand total of 60 seconds (1 minute)
of cleansing.
- I HIGHLY recommend getting a hands-on experience with your desired Clarisonic device in-store. Sephora and Ulta are both great places that usually have the Clarisonic line on display. Don't be afraid to pick employees' brains about the device. I have found Sephora's employee to be some of the most knowledgeable when it comes to these kind of purchases. Also, Ulta and Sephora both have great return policies. Keep your receipt, even if the device works!
Here's Sephora's return policy per their
website:
http://www.sephora.com/customerService/customerServiceTemplate.jsp?mediaId=10800030
Here's Ulta's return policy per their website:
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/guestservices/guestServicesCenterDetails.jsp#ReturnPolicy
- Register the code inside the included booklet as soon as you decide you are going to keep your Clarisonic device so it will be under warranty.
Where to buy a (real) Mia 2 and save $$$
So you have saved up and decided you are going to buy a Mia 2.
Great! Congrats!
I am all about getting the most 'bang for your buck'. Given my previous
saga and hours of research I am can tell you what to expect and where to
buy.
- You are going to spend at least $130 to $150 easy. Don't forget to include tax into your total cost.
- Look for a bundle type deal. I purchased mine around November from QVC.com for about $125 + tax. I was shocked to see such a good deal. It was their Today's Special Value. QVC offers the great bundle everyday, not just around the holidays. It's everyday QVC price is $149 + tax and shipping. It's $213 worth of product! Score!! The best part for all of you saving up for one is that QVC offers a payment plan with multiple payment installments. Plus they offer a good variety of cute designs, such as zebra and leopard prints. I got mine in purple leopard print :)
- · Sephora and Ulta also offer great deals and bundles. Sephora seems to have some of the cutest bundles. Go check out their websites for all the deals.
·
If you purchase your Clarisonic from Ulta, Sephora, or even QVC
online then shop through ebates.com. You earn a percentage of cashback on each
purchase. If you you spend $25 in your first month then you get a free $10 giftcard from
select stores of your choice. I've gotten about $100 cashback just from online shopping. This is great for holiday online shopping.
Here's a referral link: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=LBNqV0PPCHrrKFh2gQ4fjw%3D%3D
If you take one thing away from
this long rant please do not risk wasting your money and time on a fake
Clarisonic device!! Buy it from a reputable store. The
counterfeit Clarisonic Mia 2s on Ebay are so convincing upfront that seeing
them on a listing is too risky.
Comment down below if you want more posts about the keeping/ care of the Mia 2 or how to spot a fake.
Hope this all was informative and helpful!
UPDATE:2 YEARS LATER
http://buckeyebeaut.blogspot.com/
UPDATE:2 YEARS LATER
http://buckeyebeaut.blogspot.com/
