Keeping your skin clean, and free of dirt and pollutants, should be a major part of anyone's skin care regime. I have always subscribed to the notion that a good cleanser which suits your skin type is a key element of healthy skin, yet most people spend big bucks on anti-ageing products to counteract wrinkles instead.

When you travel, your skin can come under attack from all manner of things. You may not be able to remove or change your makeup as often as you like, your skin can be subject to climate changes which can cause an overproduction in oil, and environmental pollution where you are travelling can cause skin to look dull and stressed. The solution? A product which deep cleansers your skin without causing any sensitivity.

I was sent a Clarisonic cleansing device mid-last year to test, and without question I loved it from the very first use. This rechargeable hand-held device has a rotating brush which glides over the skin's surface, deep cleansing as it goes while also giving your complexion a massage to stimulate circulation. The result is skin which has had dirt and oil removed more effectively than by traditional manual washing alone - they say up to six times - and better prepped to absorb those other vital products in your skin care regime such as serums and moisturisers.

This nifty device is gentle on skin, however, that you can use it twice a day without concern. There are other benefits too. The appearance of pore sizes can also be reduced; this was probably one of the most profound results I noticed overall, with trouble areas on either side of the base of my nose. There are three different types of Clarisonic - two for consumers with slightly different features including speeds - and one for professional/salon use. They also come with different head types; the standard issue is sensitive, but there are other choices including one which is more suited to tougher men's skin.

I loved this product so much that while travelling in the US a year ago, when I discovered there was a travel version after a spa facial, I dashed off to Sephora to buy it that afternoon. This little sister, the Clarisonic Mia, is a smaller version of the same thing, but has similar features in as much as it's also rechargeable (the charger is small and won't take up much space), cordless, it has a single speed setting, and comes with the sensitive brush head. 

For women on the go this product is a lifesaver. The single setting means you just need to time how long you use it for - usually a minute divided between the four areas of the face (forehead, chin, both cheeks) concentrating on areas which need more work. The charge is also very impressive; I have travelled for up to four weeks at a time, used the product twice daily, and haven't had to recharge it once. And when you are travelling on a beach holiday and using extra sunscreen or zinc for protection, this is the product which will remove both easily leaving your skin to recover and breathe. 

The good news for Australian skin care fans is that the Mia is now available here! The kit comes with the device, the charger, a sensitive brush head, and a bonus 30 g trial size Gentle Hydro Cleanser. It does come at a price, but if you love your skin and want to keep it looking its best, this is one product you should seriously consider buying.