Too much stress? This eye massager with Headspace meditations might do the trick

Putting on an electronic sleep mask might not be the most attractive way to get some shut-eye, but it is effective. The Renpho X Headspace Eyeris Zen Eye Massager branches out beyond heat and head massaging and also includes meditations from Headspace.

After spending some time with the device to get a sense of how it works, I’m more convinced that it might be the sleep machine some people are looking for. Despite spending over a decade reviewing tech and lifestyle gear, this is the first eye massager I’ve spent some real time with. It’s a neat gadget for instant relaxation. There are some things you should know about the high-tech eye mask before diving in, but it’s a tempting way to melt away some stress.

How the Eyeris Zen Eye Massager works

The Eyeris Zen Eye Massager might seem like a complicated tech gadget, but it’s simple to operate. Even without connecting the device to its mobile app or configuring it, you can press the power button and start relaxing. From box to face, it should only take a minute or two.

There’s a power button on the side that doubles as a way to cycle through the guided meditations. There are also heat and intensity buttons. All of these controls are fairly easy to feel for, which is important since you can’t see anything while wearing the eye massager.

The eye massager is made out of plastic and PU leather. It’s comfortable to wear. The material felt gentle on my skin. Surprisingly, even with the heat on high, I didn’t notice any sweat or condensation. The plastic piece on the adjustable strap was occasionally annoying when lying on my back to sleep. But in general, the device has been easy to wear.

Renpho advertises a battery life of up to four hours. That will likely vary depending on which massage and heat levels you use. There are three modes for both, and the heat can range between 108 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit (42-48C). But if you don’t want either of the functions, those can each be turned off.

I found myself using the device for about 20 to 30-minute periods. So, I’ve usually been recharging the device every five days.

The company says the device’s operation remains under 40 decibels in volume. I never found myself considering how loud the massaging function was because I never noticed it. You can hear it working. It isn’t completely silent, but it shouldn’t be noisy enough to garner attention if you use it outside of the house, like on an airplane. The bold purple color is more likely to catch people’s eye, rather than how loud the massaging mechanics are.

The cons of the Eyeris Zen Eye Massager

The weakest spot of the electronic eye mask is its speaker. There aren’t stereo speakers. There’s only one on the right side, and its audio quality isn’t very good. Largely, that doesn’t matter because when it’s used for the meditations, the person’s voice sounds fine.

You can connect the eye massager to your phone with Bluetooth and stream music from Spotify or Apple Music. Using it for that purpose highlights how poor the speaker is. It’s more disappointing than a deal-breaker for the product. But I would have liked a speaker on each side, or a little bit more capable speaker included.

Is the Renpho x Headspace Eyeris Zen Eye Massager worth spending money on?

If you’re looking for a device to massage a particular part of your body, it probably exists. The Renpho x Headspace Eyeris Zen Eye Massager can be the one to take care of your temples and eyes. It works well and feels sturdy enough to last as long as your stress sticks around.

In terms of value, the $130 collaboration between Renpho and Headspace hinges on wanting the built-in meditations. While I didn’t crave those audio guides, they did serve as a reminder that wearing this device was a time to slow down and relax. If that doesn’t interest you at all, then I would check out Renpho’s other eye massagers, which are cheaper and can heat and cool.