If money were no object, I’d quit my day job, buy my own private island, and gobble up every high-tech skin-care gadget on the market. But as it stands, I have to settle for the occasional sick day, happy-hour piña colada, and tube of benzoyl peroxide. So months ago, when I heard about the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush ($195; sephora.com), I dismissed it as yet another pricey product that (A) I didn’t really need and (B) I couldn’t afford. For a quarter of that price, surely I could snag a new Sonicare toothbrush on eBay and improvise (both products are made by the same manufacturer, Pacific Bioscience Laboratories). And beyond that, I couldn’t help but wonder whether one’s face is meant to be brushed in the first place. But then I heard the magic words—“full refund if not completely satisfied.” So I had a change of heart, whipped out my AmEx, and waited for the package to arrive like a kid on Christmas Eve.

Much to my surprise, there was nothing harsh about the process—the brush’s oscillating bristles do all the work, so you can glide it gently over your skin for a thorough and relaxing cleaning, rather than scrubbing away obsessively with the standard exfoliants or washcloths. According to the company, in an eight-week at-home test, 87 percent of subjects reported that Clarisonic cleaned and unclogged pores, 94 percent felt their skin was softer, and 81 percent felt it was healthier looking—but I witnessed all these improvements only a few hours later. After a few weeks, it noticeably improved my oily T-zone and smoothed dry patches, and ever since, it’s given me consistently supple and glowing results—like I’d splurged a luxurious facial twice a week (but only paid for the introductory session). Plus, because the Clarisonic is waterproof and adjustable, you can use it in the shower and choose the setting that’s right for you. Using Sonicare as a stand-in? Doesn’t work, I tried it. And a refund? Not on your life. —Jennifer Riley