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Jun 17, 2023

Higher Dose Infrared Sauna Blanket V4 Review 2023

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission. Sweat is a powerful thing. It signals that you crushed your

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, WWD may receive an affiliate commission.

Sweat is a powerful thing. It signals that you crushed your workout, makes your skin look dewy and flushed, and more often than not, those tiny droplets comes as a package deal with feel-good endorphins. The HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket is touted as a top at-home sweat machine, and three WWD Shop editors put the wellness tool through rigorous testing to review its benefits.

For those who are new to the concept of infrared sauna blankets, allow us to break it down. In short, sauna blankets deliver the benefits of a steam room or walk-in sauna in a less stifling format. That’s thanks to far-infrared technology, which uses lightwaves to directly heat the body instead of heating the air around you, making it a much more enjoyable experience for those who prefer to sweat at a lower temperature.

Sauna blankets catapulted to popularity during the pandemic, when the hours we spent commuting, socializing, and traveling freed up seemingly overnight, allowing us to devote an extra hour or two to self care during the week. “The pandemic changed the way we think of our own health and wellness, and emphasized the benefit of bringing wellness into our homes and making these important investments,” explains HigherDose co-founder Lauren Berlingeri. Those at-home wellness tools abound: There’s facial tools for firmer skin, foot massagers to treat your feet, and luxury candles to make your pad feel cozy. But sauna blankets are unparalleled wellness gifts for yourself, as they benefit your mind and body.

“I feel like no matter what your health goals are, everyone always feels exponentially better after trying the sauna blanket,” says Berlingeri. “Obviously it’s different for each person based on what they are trying to achieve, whether you’re using it as a hangover cure or you just got sick or you have a lot of pain and inflammation in general, but you feel like a brand new person after using it.”

Because sauna blankets expose your body to high heat, it’s important to check with your doctor before using one. Those with chronic diseases or certain skin conditions may need to forgo the at-home sweat session. “Infrared radiation exposure is associated with worsening of conditions like rosacea and melasma,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner. “Heat exposure can cause flushing of the skin and a flare of rosacea.” Once you have your doctor’s sign off, the next step is choosing the right sauna blanket for you.

Of all the sauna blankets on the market, none are more popular than HigherDose’s. Our team of editors put this wellness device through months of thorough testing — here’s our honest review, plus details on the blanket’s benefits and how to use it.

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HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket $699 Buy Now at HigherDose

HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket $699 Buy Now at Amazon

HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket $699 Buy Now at Nordstrom

“Most health and wellness products sometimes take weeks, months, or a few sessions for someone to start to see the benefits, but with the sauna blanket you feel immediately better,” says Berlingeri. Beyond the post-sweat endorphin rush, this sauna blanket sets you up for a bevy of long-term benefits:

Finding a wellness product that delivers on first use is something of a unicorn discovery — and the HigherDose infrared sauna blanket doesn’t disappoint. After a holiday season filled with stressful days of work, excessive drinking, and a complete lack of exercise, my sleep schedule was completely out of whack. One of the first things I noticed after my first session (45 minutes on level 6) was that I felt so relaxed, I was actually ready to fall asleep in the early evening. (According to Berlingeri, deep, restful sleep is the number one benefit users experience. She recommends using the blanket after 5PM to put your body into a parasympathetic state, creating a better sleep experience.)

With a little help from Apple Music’s Pure Meditation playlist and a comfy head pillow, I was able to achieve full relaxation that made the 45-minute session fly by in what felt like a few mere minutes. And as for muscle soreness, I had recently started weightlifting again and thought I would inevitably feel some aches and pains from my workout prior to using the blanket, but thanks to the sauna blanket, I felt just fine. The blanket even helped to ease my upset stomach during my sweat session. While I can’t speak to all the mentioned benefits (though HigherDose has a great section on the brand’s site to learn all the benefits), I do know that the blanket delivered on what was most important for my needs, and that makes it well-worth the high price tag when calculating cost-per-use value. — Commerce director Adam Mansuroglu

“HigherDose’s Infrared Sauna Blanket is a wellness product I mulled over for months. When I finally decided to take the plunge on purchasing it in January of 2022, I was so happy I did. During the first month of receiving it, I tested it in many different ways. Some days I would use it in the morning after my cup of coffee to feel rejuvenated and start my day on the right foot. Other days, I would use it right before bed to see if it could put me in a meditated state and help me sleep better. However, after over a year of testing, I learned that I love the HigherDose Infrared Sauna blanket as a complement to a brisk walk or an at-home workout. When I use it during this time, I feel that it helps improve circulation, performance, and endurance. I love using it on Sundays, too. I lay the sauna blanket on my couch, turn on a meditation to unwind, and hit the reset button for the week ahead.” — Style commerce editor Nikki Chwatt

“Not to sound lazy, but I love any wellness tool that lets me take a passive approach — sign me up for all the acupressure mats and LED face masks that do their work without requiring me to lift a finger. So I had no trouble justifying the HigherDose sauna blanket; a sweat machine in my own living room, and all I have to do is lay down? That’s an investment I’ll use far more than a gym membership. I slide into it after a long day on-the-move or at my desk, and within 30 minutes on level 5, my hips feel looser, my back feels more flexible, and best of all, my head feels clearer. I was afraid that the blanket would feel a little icky when you’re sweating inside, but in reality, you don’t notice how sweaty you are until you get out. Follow it up with a shower and silk pajamas, and that’s a bedtime routine you can’t beat.” — Senior beauty and lifestyle commerce editor Claire Sullivan

Berlingeri recommends dry brushing to get your lymphatic system moving before you slip into the blanket. For inflammation or pain, apply CBD balm before to maximize the relief. To really bring on the sweat, Berlingeri says drinking a cayenne pepper and ginger shot or applying magnesium oil to your body will make you sweat like never before.

Before you lay in the sauna blanket, preheat it: Turn the device on to your desired setting and let it set for about 10 minutes. Then get dressed. “Extended exposure to heat can be damaging to the skin, so you must be cautious whenever a heat source comes in direct contact with the skin. Laptops, heating pads, and even infrared blankets have been associated with a rash called erythema ab igne, where a lacey pigmented rash permanently develops in areas of heat exposure,” according to Dr. Zeichner.

Always wear loose fitting clothing (lightweight men’s or women’s sweatpants and a thin, long-sleeved top are great choices). If you prefer to go with minimal or no clothing, then you can purchase HigherDose’s Sauna Blanket Towel Insert as an alternative. Zip yourself into the blanket and feel the heat for 30 to 45 minutes.

After your session, unplug the blanket, wipe away any excess sweat with a towel, and let it cool completely before storing it in a closet or somewhere cool away from moisture. To clean the blanket between uses, mist a gentle disinfectant spray onto the interior of the blanket and wipe it down with a towel. Make sure the cleaner is fully wiped off before folding and safely storing it.

Ice baths are another popular wellness routine — Jake Gyllenhaal, Kristen Bell, and Bella Hadid are just a few celebrities who’ve taken the plunge. Like infrared sauna blankets, cold plunge tubs have promising benefits that include a mood boost, better sleep, and less muscular pain. And cold plunges are a great way to enhance the benefits of your sauna blanket.

“Contrast therapy (moving quickly from hot temperatures to cold temperatures) is a powerful practice – and one that has been around for centuries,” says Berlingeri. “Following a heated sauna session, the icy rinse-off may shock your system, but that cold shock comes with some serious benefits: strengthened immunity, improved circulation, reduced stress levels, and muscle relief — to name a few.”

To try contrast therapy at home, Berlingeri says to always start in your sauna blanket, as moving to heat after a cold plunge can induce swelling and inflammation. “After your sauna blanket session, move immediately to the cold water,” she says. If you’re new to these therapies, Berlingeri recommends easing into a full-on ice bath by starting with a cold shower — she advises aiming for two full minutes under the cold stream to start out.

Berlingeri emphasizes the brand’s mission to constantly find ways to better the user’s experience, better the technology of their products and better the materials used in its quality wellness offerings. Along with user-friendly upgrades, like the industrial-sized zipper for easy entry to the blanket, the HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket is made from VOC-tested, non-toxic materials; incorporates layers of amethyst and tourmaline for natural infrared that emits negative ions to increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; a clay layer for balanced heat; a detoxifying charcoal layer; and a medical grade magnetic layer to increase blood circulation that helps to pull toxins out through sweat. Essentially, you’re getting a quality blanket featuring high-grade materials with added technology to compliment infrared technology.

Three WWD Shop editors tested HigherDose’s Infrared Sauna Blanket over the course of a year. Each tester carefully read the instruction manual to ensure we operated the device correctly, then we took notes on our individual experiences and outcomes with consistent use of the blanket. We tested all of the sauna blanket’s settings, and each of our testers was able to find a heat level that felt comfortable and effective for our needs. We noted the size of the blanket and how easy it is to clean, store, and operate.

HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket $699 Buy Now at HigherDose

HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket $699 Buy Now at Amazon

HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket $699 Buy Now at Nordstrom

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Lauren Berlingeri is the co-founder of HigherDose. She began her career as a renowned nutritionist and health coach, wellness product developer and host of the popular series Woman vs. Workout. As a female biohacker and mother of twins, Lauren brings a fresh perspective to a space that has been dominated by male voices from its inception, making it HigherDose’s core mission to educate women about their bio-individuality and give them the tools they need to reach their own best selves, with content designed to educate people on how to take control of their own wellness regimens.

Dr. Joshua Zeichner is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He is one of the country’s key opinion leaders in treating acne and rosacea, and is an expert in cosmeceuticals, skin care, and cosmetic Dermatology.

Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for WWD and Footwear News, overseeing shopping content for both sites. The Brooklyn-native has written and edited countless fashion and beauty stories for publications such as Cosmopolitan Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, Out Magazine and more for over 12 years. Mansuroglu wrote the original version of this HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket review, and contributed to the 2023 update of the story with his testing notes after one year of using the sauna blanket. Mansuroglu’s favorite way to use the HigherDose Sauna Blanket is after a workout in the evening so he can relax and unwind for the best sleep.

Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News. She’s spent over five years researching, reporting on, and writing about the beauty and wellness industries for publications like Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. Sullivan contributed to the 2023 update of this HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket review with her testing notes from using the device. She also included more details on the benefits of sauna blankets, enlisting the help of a board-certified dermatologist to speak to the tool’s potential for improving your skin.

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