My secret bullet in the chamber for soothing my chronic tension headaches and dry eyes are Renpho’s heated eye massagers. I’ve worn the soft contraptions over my eyes and brows near-nighty since 2020, enjoying warm kneading that relaxes my stressed muscles and often puts me right to sleep.
Regular usage has also done wonders for my dry eyes, which are often so parched after a day of screen-staring that they feel like they’re burning; as previous HuffPost reporting has shown, heated massage can help abate the symptoms of dry eyes by releasing moisture from clogged glands.
Years in, I now consider Renpho’s massagers the best available at-home heated eye massage treatment for their effectiveness relative their affordability. For me, the devices have become non-negotiable tools for my personal wellness. And, because I’ve now tried nearly every model the brand has to offer, I can opine, based on my experience, which version is best. This guide, hopefully, is helpful for others, as when I first searched for the best Renpho eye massager, I found no definitive advice and instead had to cobble together information from disparate reviews and online pages. This is my attempt to rectify that gap.
The TL;DR? Of the three main Renpho models available, I’ve found that the Renpho 3 delivers the most effective combination of heat, massage and functionality, providing excellent lasting heat, a fast-charging battery and a soothing massage.
I also recommend purchasing the optional add-on insurance with your device, when available; my Renphos usually last about a year before they need to be replaced, and insurance allows me to quickly repurchase another without having to pay for one again (because, truly, given their heavy rotation in my life, I am not willing to be caught without one).
Read on for more details on each of the Renpho models, all of which offer fifteen minutes of massage, 104-113 degree Fahrenheit heat and Bluetooth compatibility, and why we think the Renpho 3 is the heated massager best worth your while.
Highlights: Three heat and massage intensities, memory function, cooling mask add-on, fast-charging
Renpho's third version of their famed Eyeris offers three levels of heat and massage, providing better personalization (the other models possess just two levels of heat and massage). Best of all is the 3's last-used settings recall, so you don't have to repeatedly plug in your preferred modes and can settle into your treatment faster.
Renpho 3's charging is much faster than that of previous devices, requiring only 1.5 hours to rejuice. The device also displays its level of charge via an LED light, which previous models also lacked. The 3 also ends your treatment silently, without a loud voice announcing the end of the experience.
This version also sports indented buttons that are easier to manually select while wearing the mask, plus optional built-in voice control settings. It also includes a cooling pad that you can insert once chilled in your fridge.
Drawbacks: The priciest option, massage does not target pressure points like the Renpho 1
Bottom line: The Renpho 3 is our top pick for the best overall Renpho heated eye massager, with long-lasting heat and the ability to recall your last used settings. While this model is the priciest of the three I've tried, its upgraded functionality makes it worth the extra money, in my opinion.
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Highlights: The best kneaded massage of all the devices, has a remote-control option
The Renpho 1, in my experience, possesses the most effective headache-fighting treatment thanks to its uniquely blissful massage, which is designed to target 10 acupuncture points around the eyes. This brilliant massage, combined with the device's heat, delivers relaxation that's so deeply soothing the result is near trance-like (in the words of one reviewer, "it really clears my mind like a meditation").
The tool offers two massage intensities and two levels of heat (from 104-113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Drawbacks: No previous settings memory, touchy buttons, a voice that announces the treatment's end (which can disturb relaxation and woke some reviewers up), longer charging
Bottom line: For folks most focused on soothing tight brow muscles, especially during headaches, the Renpho 1 will deliver. I've stopped many a headache in its tracks with this model's pressure point-targeting compression. Still, I prefer the Renpho 3 for its improved functionality, particularly its settings memory; continually plugging in my preferences, which rarely change, can get tiresome when I'm already experiencing a headache.
Highlights: Extended massage pad that can reach your temples, upgraded manual buttons, usually the most affordable device
The Renpho 2 offers indented buttons that are less touchy than those of the Renpho 1, so you won't accidentally switch settings when you're melting into your pillow.
Of the three models, the Renpho 2 also has the longest-reaching massage pad, which is designed to better target the sides of your temples. While this was a nice feature, I preferred the pressure point-targeting massage of the Renpho 1, and didn't miss the expanded pad when I switched to the Renpho 3.
The 2 offers two massage intensities and two heat settings (which span between 104-113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Drawbacks: No memory settings, a voice that announces the end of the treatment, longer charging
Bottom line: The Renpho 2 is usually the cheapest of Renpho's heated eye massagers, so it may be a good option for folks wanting to try the line of devices for a little less money.