There was a time when I purchased every new "miracle" skin product I could afford, desperately seeking the magic combination that would, once and for all, solve my skin woes. And then... I gave up. I never found the panacea I sought. I settled for "okay" and tried to forget about it.

My face, you see, presents a bit of a conundrum. The first problem is that my skin is extremely sensitive -- even "hypoallergenic" foundation products often give me a rash, and more than one moisturizer has caused such a burning sensation that I can't continue its usage. Combine this with mild but persistent adult acne (my own special slice of eternal youth!), winter dryness (which does not, oddly enough, cut down on the acne) and the emergence of those middle-age "fine lines" (maybe if I call them that, I can continue pretending they're not wrinkles), and you can see how I've become cynical.

So when I was offered the chance to test out the new Clarisonic, I almost said no thanks. But I figured I didn't have anything to lose, and it's not every day I get to try a $195 sonic facial brush. That's not to say I had high hopes, but at least I figured it might be entertaining.

Remember when sonic toothbrushes first arrived on the scene? The commercial voiceovers assured us that sonic technology allowed for the loosening and release of plaque far beyond the ability of conventional toothbrushes. The Clarisonic (from the makers of the famed Sonicare toothbrushes) operates on the same principle -- the soft-bristled, round brush both rotates and pulsates (sonically!), theoretically achieving more thorough pore penetration and surface-smoothing than would be possible without such a device.

I charged my unit for the prescribed 24 hours before taking it into the shower with me, the next morning. I'd read the instructions and so knew that the default setting would beep to alert me to how much time I should spend scrubbing each part of my face: 20 seconds for the forehead, another 20 seconds for the nose and chin, and then 10 seconds apiece for each cheek. I felt a little bit like a remedial hygiene student, following the prompts to switch areas, but it did make me realize that my natural inclination is to spend too much time on my cheeks and not enough on my forehead, so it was actually really useful to be prompted.

Mine has the "sensitive" brush, which seems fine for me, though there is also a "delicate" brush for those who need something even gentler. The vibrations feel a little strange and tickly the first time, but I soon got used to it.

After the first usage, I studied my face in the mirror. I thought the pores on the sides of my nose (you know, the perpetually-clogged ones you can only unstick with those pore strips) looked a little clearer, but maybe it was wishful thinking. I went about my day, and used the unit again that night before I went to bed. (Note: My Clarisonic came with several samples of their branded cleansers, but I continued to use my regular face wash so I could see if the brush alone made a difference.)

The next morning, I had several new pimples. Given my sensitive skin, this is not an unusual reaction for me to changing product or cleaning regime, so I continued to use the Clarisonic anyway, and in a couple of days they cleared up. Once they did, my skin... stayed clear. Huh. The dry patches I typically have as the temperature drops haven't made an appearance this year, either. The Clarisonic claims one of its benefits is that skin has better absorption of other products, and my moisturizer did suddenly seem to be doing a better job.

But the truth is that I'm sort of suggestible. So I really wasn't sure if the Clarisonic was working or if I just wanted it to work.

I decided to ask my husband. "Hey, I have to write up my review of that Clarisonic thing--" I began.

"What is that?" he interrupted. "I mean, I see it there in the shower, but what is it?"

"It's a facial brush--" I started, but I never got to finish, because my husband immediately said:

"Because your skin looks amazing!"

Huh. "Really?" I said. "Why do you say that?"

"Well I don't know what that thing does, but your face looks... I don't know. Really good. I can't explain it."

"Brighter?" I prompted. "Smoother? Younger and healthier? Fewer wrinkles?" I may have been batting my eyelashes. He looked thoughtful as I ran through the various complimentary options.

"Zit-free," he said, finally. My expression may have changed. "I mean," he hastily continued, "not just that. But you're not broken out, and yeah, your skin does look brighter and smoother. Or something. Especially your forehead. Oh no, you're going to use that in your review, aren't you?"

"Yep," I answered. "You're a guy. When's the last time you noticed my skin? This thing is magic!" So there you have it, from an impartial (and usually oblivious) source. From me, I'll tell you this: In addition to the notable absence of acne, my pores seem smaller and my skin more even. A few days ago the husband and I got dolled up for a fancy event, and here's my face after using the Clarisonic for a couple of weeks. That's with no foundation, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't need any cover-up, either.

You know that ever fiber of my penny-pinching soul cringes at recommending a couple-hundred-dollar device to replace... your washcloth. But I can't help it, because it's done something my washcloth was never capable of doing: Made my face look awesome.

I am officially a Clarisonic convert.

BlogHer Contributing Editor Mir also blogs about issues parental and otherwise at Woulda Coulda Shoulda, and about the joys of mindful retail therapy at Want Not.