Wellness technology has moved from dermatologists’ offices, spas and physical therapy clinics into our bathrooms and living rooms. LED face masks, infrared sauna blankets, microcurrent devices and PEMF mats now promise to bring treatments once associated with professionals into your home, often for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
HigherDose is one of the buzziest brands in the category. It launched with its viral infrared sauna blanket and has since expanded into red light face masks, PEMF mats, a red light showerhead filter and more.
But at HigherDose prices, the bigger question is whether these devices are actually worth buying. Six NBC Selected editors spent weeks and, in some cases, months testing six of the brand’s products. Below, we break down what we liked, what we didn’t and who we think each device is best for.
HigherDose is offering an exclusive discount to NBC Selected readers: Use code SELECTED15 for 15% off at HigherDose’s website through December 31, 2026.
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Our honest review of HigherDose
The list below includes HigherDose products that NBC Selected staffers have personally tested for months. Our testers generally found them easy to incorporate into their routines and liked their design, comfort and convenience. However, results varied by device, and several require consistent use before you may notice changes. They’re also expensive: Many cost several hundred dollars, making them more of an investment than an impulse buy. HigherDose links to research and provides information about the technologies used in its products on its website. Keep in mind that evidence varies considerably by technology and intended benefit, which we discuss below.
Two of the devices on our list are also FDA-cleared: the Red Light Face Mask and the Red Light Hat. (FDA clearance is not the same as FDA approval; clearance generally means the FDA determined that a device is substantially equivalent to an existing legally-marketed device.)
Best overall
The Infrared Sauna Blanket was the very first product that HigherDose released, and of the devices we tested for this guide, it has the broadest appeal: It’s simple to use, effects are quickly noticeable and it’s easy to fit in your day-to-day routine.
According to experts in our red light therapy guide, infrared light therapy has been used to treat joint pain for years. Laid flat, the blanket looks like an oversized black sleeping bag made of vegan leather. It plugs into the wall and connects to a small handheld controller with a dial that lets you adjust the heat across eight levels, so you can start low and work your way up as you get used to it. The brand recommends preheating it for about 10 minutes, then zipping yourself in for a 30- to 45-minute session. When you’re done, you let it cool, wipe it down, fold it up and tuck it under a bed or in a closet, which makes it much easier to store away than a full-size sauna.
The purpose of the sauna blanket is to soothe aches and pains and wind down. NBC Selected editorial operations associate Jem Alabi says this product “changed [her] life,” and she regularly falls asleep when using it because she’s so relaxed. “Since I’ve been using it, I’ve been able to [reduce] the soreness I experience after a long work day and commute. I hop in the shower right after and head straight to bed,” she says.
It’s also designed for post-workout recovery: Lauren Swanson, NBC Selected editorial director, used the sauna blanket while training for the New York City marathon two years ago. Though she didn’t notice a measurable difference in her performance, she liked using it as a way to unwind after training. “While I don’t have hard proof that it helped my pace, I did enjoy those 15 minutes of lying down and sweating after a long run,” she says.
Best for relaxation
Like the sauna blanket, the mat uses infrared heat, but because you lie on top of it rather than zip yourself inside, the experience is less intense and sweaty. Along with infrared, it has pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, which sends low-level electromagnetic waves through your body and has been studied for pain and recovery. However, evidence for many of the broader wellness benefits associated with PEMF products is still limited.
“I’ve been using this mat a few times a week at night to help relax me before bed,” says Alabi, who notes it’s particularly good for times you want to avoid getting sweaty or only have a limited amount of time to use it. “Unlike the sauna blanket, this one doesn’t make you sweaty or require time to heat up, so you can just lie down for as long as you like.”
However, since the mat has 20 pounds of amethyst and obsidian crystals built in, lying down directly on it may feel uncomfortable, so Alabi puts a thin blanket down. You can also buy a cover for the mat directly from HigherDose.
The mat is also fairly large and heavy (it’s around 6 feet long and weighs 43 pounds), which can be cumbersome to roll up and put away. If you’re short on space, HigherDose’s smaller Go Mat has the same technology, but is about half the size and much lighter.
Best for skin
The HigherDose Red Light Face Mask brings the brand’s signature light therapy to a smaller, more targeted format. Red light can have anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe skin when used consistently, though research is limited, experts previously told us. However, our testers noticed some positive effects on their skin: “I’ve had this mask for about three years and my skin has really improved,” says Alabi. “It reduces the appearance of my pimples overnight and keeps my complexion smooth. I have also experienced hair growth around my hairline, since some of the red light reaches my baby hairs and edges.”
The flexible silicone mask straps over your face, using red and near-infrared light (the biggest difference between the two is how deeply they can penetrate skin) to even out skin tone and reduce inflammation without any heat or mess involved, according to the brand. There is also a neck attachment you can purchase separately to extend those benefits to your neck and chest area. The convenience really sets this face mask apart from other red light masks: You can easily wear the mask while scrolling on your phone or watching TV, and sessions typically run just 10 to 20 minutes.
To use the mask, you want to make sure you have clean skin because products like SPF and heavy moisturizers can block the light, according to HigherDose. The actual mask is made of medical-grade, flexible silicone that contours to the face and a head strap keeps it secure. You can choose a 10- or 20-minute session (HigherDose suggests using it for 10 or 20 minutes three to five times a week). When it runs out of juice, you can recharge it with the included USB-C cable.
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Best for depuffing
This wand, which HigherDose launched in October, is the brand’s latest product in its wellness tech lineup. It’s a lightweight, handheld device that packs three technologies into one: The wand combines an 808-nanometer cold laser, red, near-infrared and blue LED light, and a cooling attachment. These different settings can target concerns like fine lines, acne, redness and puffiness, according to HigherDose.
After using the wand consistently for six weeks, I’ve noticed that my skin feels smoother and looks less red and irritated throughout the day. I also like that it comes with a travel case, a charging cable and mini sizes of the brand’s Light-Activated Peptide Serum and Hydrating Botanical Facial Mist, which you apply first to prep your skin.
There are two light modes: Tone + Tighten and Clear + Calm. The Tone + Tighten mode pairs the laser with 630-nanometer red and 830-nanometer near-infrared light to support collagen and soften the look of fine lines, according to the brand. When I use this setting, I focus it on my forehead, smile lines and jawline. The Clear + Calm setting uses 415-nanometer blue light, which targets acne-causing bacteria and reduces the appearance of redness and breakouts, according to HigherDose. The wand beeps every minute to tell you when to move to a new area, and a full session takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
My favorite part, though, is the cooling attachment. The cryohead cools to either 50 or 54.5 degrees Fahrenheit (you can choose), and when I glide it along my cheekbones, jawline and under my eyes, it feels incredibly refreshing. It helps depuff my face, especially in the morning, and I can even use it over makeup for a quick midday reset.
Best for the shower
This shower filter combines two wellness upgrades into one fixture: a filtered showerhead and a red light attachment that bathes your hair, face, and body in light therapy while you rinse. Because it’s built into a step already in your routine, it solves one of the biggest hurdles with red light therapy — actually committing to doing it regularly.
“After two months of testing, I didn’t notice any dramatic changes in my skin or hair that I could confidently attribute to the red light. But the biggest benefit for me was the convenience: Since I shower every day anyway, I didn’t have to remember to set aside separate time for red light therapy,” says NBC Selected commerce editor Mili Godio. She also likes the added control the remote offers: “I easily choose how long each session is, and, depending on what I selected, the light automatically turns off after five, 10 or 15 minutes.” It also took Godio less than 10 minutes to set up.
Best for hair growth
The HigherDose Red Light Hat takes the brand’s light therapy tech and puts it in one of its most wearable forms. Styled like a baseball hat, the device is lined with red and near-infrared LEDs designed to stimulate the scalp, making it a popular option for people who want to use red light therapy for hair growth without sitting under a stationary panel or dealing with wires. In our guide to red light therapy for hair loss, experts told me that red light can help soothe inflammation on the scalp and promote hair growth in some people with pattern hair loss, though results depend on the type of hair loss and how consistently you use it.
Because it’s cordless and rechargeable, it’s easy to wear around the house while doing chores, reading or working from home, which makes it one of the more realistic red light devices to actually stick with. “I’ve been using this for a few months to see if it would help with my androgenetic alopecia,” says NBC Selected contributor Marilyn La Jeunesse. “The hat itself is very simple to use, you just attach a battery to the back of the device and sit with the hat on dry, clean hair for about ten minutes. After a few weeks of use I’ve noticed more baby hairs on the top of my head.” However, because La Jeunesse used the hat alongside scalp massages and the Cecred Restoring Hair and Edge Drops, she can’t attribute the new growth to the HigherDose hat alone.
What to know before buying HigherDose
While NBC Selected editors have all liked the HigherDose products they’ve tried, there are a few things to be aware of:
- The evidence doesn’t support every wellness claim equally. Red light therapy has stronger evidence for certain skin concerns and hair loss. Dermatologists previously told us that red light therapy can help improve fine lines and wrinkles, though the effects are modest compared to more aggressive treatments like laser peels, and a 2025 systematic review found it can work for pattern hair loss. Experts say that evidence around red light and recovery and sleep is more limited. As for PEMF, it has been studied for conditions like osteoarthritis pain, but there’s less evidence supporting some of the broader wellness claims made around consumer devices (like better sleep and less inflammation). We encourage shoppers to look into the science rather than rely only on brand claims.
- Price remains a barrier. Even HigherDose’s less expensive devices sit at a price point that puts them out of reach for many casual wellness dabblers, with a handful of items approaching or exceeding $1,000. Given that many require consistent use, the cost is especially hard to justify if you aren’t sure you’ll stick with them.
- You won’t necessarily notice obvious results right away. The heat-based tools, especially the sauna blanket, give you an immediate, noticeable sensation. The PEMF and red light products take more patience. Unlike heat-based products, where you immediately feel the warmth, the effects testers looked for from devices like the face mask and hat were more gradual. You also need to use these products consistently: HigherDose recommends using them multiple times per week for weeks or months to actually see results. If you’re not ready to make them a regular part of your routine, you may not get your money’s worth.
How we tested HigherDose products
NBC Selected editors tested HigherDose products at home for at least a month, though most were tested for a minimum of three months. We worked them into our existing routines to see how they hold up with everyday use. We followed the brand’s instructions for each product and judged them on these factors:
- Comfort: How does the product feel during use? Does it fit or sit comfortably on the body? Did anything feel too hot, tight or irritating?
- Ease of use: Is it easy to set up, operate and clean? Are the controls and instructions clear? Does it fit easily into a daily routine?
- Noticeable effects: What is the product supposed to do, and did we notice a difference? How long did it take to see or feel results? Were there any negative side effects?
- Storage: How much space does it take up? Is it easy to fold, pack away or move between rooms?
- Value: Does the product’s quality and performance justify the price?
Who is HigherDose for?
HigherDose makes the most sense for someone who already knows they enjoy spa-like wellness treatments like red light therapy or infrared heat and wants a convenient way to do them at home. The devices we tested stood out for how easy they were to work into our routines, but less so for dramatic, overnight results. The face mask is hands-free, the hat is cordless, the showerhead is simple to install and the sauna blanket is the perfect alternative to booking a sauna session.
However, these devices only pay off with regular use (usually for weeks or months) and come at a steep price, making them a harder sell if you’re new to red light or infrared therapy, or tend to abandon wellness gadgets after a few uses.
If you do want to splurge, we recommend narrowing down your purchase based on the benefit rather than buying into the HigherDose ecosystem as a whole. We think the sauna blanket is a great entry point because the relaxation effects are pretty immediate. The face mask, wand and red light hat makes the most sense for people who are willing to stick to a strict routine.
Keep in mind the science behind red light and PEMF therapy is still developing. Some studies are promising, but many are small, and results can vary from person to person. Still, after weeks of regular use, several of these tools earned a permanent spot in our routines. They’re well built, simple to use and easy to fit into an evening wind-down.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers wellness, beauty, home and lifestyle. I have written about honey skin care, the Jellycat craze and more. I have been intrigued by red light therapy for a number of years and have had the opportunity to try a handful of devices from HigherDose.
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