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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Pretika: A wallet-friendly alternative to Clarisonic


Alright readers, you may or may not know by now that I've been desperately lusting after a Clarisonic Mia. It was on my holiday wish list last year (didn't get it though), and I tweet about it from time to time. Well, I still haven't gotten my act together and purchased one. But, a few weeks ago, while perusing one of my favorite spots for bargains (TJ Maxx) with my fiance, we stumbled upon this little device. The Pretika Sonicdermabrasion. It looked just like a Clarisonic, and I just couldn't resist. It was priced at $29.99, which is a price I don't have to think twice about! Thanks to David for noticing it as I was marveling at the DDF products TJ Maxx had on hand. When he showed me the box, I may have even squealed with joy. I was so excited at the prospect of actually finding a wicked bargain, because the Clarisonic Classic is a good $195 and the Clarisonic Mia (the travel sized version) is $149. Well, not only did I save by forking over my hard aged cash for this device, but when I got home and did a search for it so I could read reviews before I opened it and could no longer return it, I found that many people out there liked it as an affordable alternative to Clarisonic. Best of all, I found out that the Pretika actually retails at $50, so I saved an additional $20. Score!

Now that I've been using this for about three weeks, I can tell you I'm pleased with the results. It is pretty much a cheaper alternative to the Clarisonic Classic. There are some key differences, which I'll tell you all about, but if they don't bother you, then you can try this more affordable version until you can get yourself the real deal (or instead of doing so, whatever you prefer). 

I have noticed a perceptible difference in my skin, for the better. After two weeks of use, I saw a noticeable reduction in breakouts,  my skin feels softer and overall looks better. How does this work? The vibrating brush helps exfoliate your skin, which helps improve breakouts by removing dead skin cells from the skin surface and keeping them from getting into your pores along with the natural oils your skin produces and clogging them. By eliminating the dead skin cells your skin looks fresh, feels soft and looks more radiant. 

So here's the skinny:
  • The Pretika comes with a docking station and a an additional replacement brush.
  • The Pretika brush is not as soft as the Clarisonic, but I didn't find it too harsh. If you have sensitive skin, it might be too rough. So, you might want to think twice about purchasing this or if you still go for it, then use it sparingly.
  • According to instructions you use the Pretika once daily, I use it at night after removing my makeup.
  • Once charged you can keep it off the docking station for several days without recharging. So far, I've kept mine off the dock for over a week and it's still holding a charge.
  • It has two speeds, high and low
  • It automatically shuts off after 60 seconds, and beeps every 20 seconds (20 seconds on one side of the face, 20 on the other and 20 on the forehead). Works the same way as my SonicCare toothbrush, which helps me make sure I brush my teeth for the right amount of time achieving a deeper clean.
  • Unlike the Clarisonic, the Pretika only has one type of brush head. The Clarisonic sells brushes that vary in stiffness (normal, sensitive, delicate, and body).
  • The Pretika's entire brush vibrates, while the Clarisonic's brush vibrates in the center
All in all, I'm enjoying the benefits of using the Pretika. Not only does my skin look and feel better, but it absorbs my serums and moisturizers much better. 

You can buy your own Pretika at http://www.pretikafacebodyspa.com/ or if you want to enjoy additional savings you can find it on Drugstore.com for about $40 or see if your local TJ Maxx has one. You can purchase replacement brushes on the Pretika web site and on Amazon.
Have any of you tried the Pretika? If you have been wanting a Clarisonic, will you try the Pretika out instead? If anyone has a Pretika, would you still buy the Clarisonic once you had more money to spend on it? 

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