This futuristic-looking mask slips over your eyes to gently warm and massage the area. (Amazon)
The most wonderful — er, stressful — time of the year is here. And now that Black Friday sales are live (albeit a couple of days early), the hunt for the perfect, no-fail present is on. The only thing better than finding a great gift for a loved one is scoring it at an even greater discount — like, say, over 40% off. Call it a holiday miracle: The ultra-relaxing, futuristic-looking Renpho heated eye massager (with nearly 17,000 five-star reviews!) is just $52 at Amazon right now and if I were you, I'd wrap one up for anyone who could use a little R&R right about now — your parents, husband, wife, you name it.
It uses massage and percussion therapy techniques to help ease pain.
This pain-relieving doodad is nearly $40 off right now. This isn't the lowest price we've ever seen, but it's close to it — and it's cheaper than a bunch of bottles of ibuprofen. If you suffer from frequent headaches, this guy could pay for itself quickly.
The Renpho Eye Massager uses both heat and massage to enhance relaxation and help ease migraine pain.
There are a few possible ways these elements can help with migraines, said Medhat Mikhael, M.D., pain management specialist and medical director at the Spine Health Center at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. "A lot of people feel that some of the main triggers of migraine are stress and lack of sleep," he says. "Massage can be a preventive measure. If you get a massage regularly, your stress may be relieved, you may sleep better and your triggers of migraine don't happen."
When you're in the throes of a migraine episode, massaging the top of the back of your neck may help ease the pain, Dr. Mikhael says. However, some people may get relief from massage around the eyes during a migraine (others may find it's too much).
As for heat, Mikhael says that it can help relax muscles that can feed into migraine pain. And, like massage, it may be helpful to apply it to the top of the back of your neck during a migraine episode. Otherwise, applying heat around your eyes can help you relax, he says.
The mask is essentially like a personal masseuse tending to your temples as you recline and listen to soothing sounds. That's right: It can even play music through a Bluetooth connection while it works its magic.
The headband is adjustable to help get that just-right fit, and it folds up compactly for easy portability.
An astounding 16,000-plus fans have given this massager a perfect review, saying it's helped with everything from relaxing before bed to soothing tired eyes to offering relief when bad headaches strike.
Pros 👍
"Sweet relief!" raved a shopper. "I received this product on a day when I was having a massive migraine. Not only did it provide relief, but it relaxed me to the point I could fall asleep. If I'd complain about anything, it would be a lack of control on the pressure intensity. In spite of that, still a five-star product."
One five-star reviewer swears it helps her sleep: "I put it on before I attempt to sleep and it relaxes my eyes, which helps tremendously. My eye muscles have been so stressed, they make sleeping difficult. This machine has helped me so much. ... I'm grateful to have it. When I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get my eyes to relax, I use this for 15 minutes and go back to sleep. It's a literal lifesaver."
"Can't live without it," wrote another verified buyer. "This eye massager cured my insomnia as well as my vestibular migraines. It takes my migraine away at the start. I love the heating and vibration on my eyes."
"You guys, I never take the time to make reviews, but this thing: It is next-level," said another satisfied reviewer. "My headache is gone. Not only does it give you gentle heat and eye rubs, it also massages your temples, which is a total soft spot for me. I’m in awe. I feel so relaxed. The pressure is so perfect. How they made this thing feel like hands rubbing my head is just such a mystery. I’m so excited I found this. Absolutely get it if you have eye pain and strain, and for headache, anxiety relief."
Cons 👎
The calming effects of this eye massager can't be beat, but one shopper pointed out two minor (like, really minor) annoyances. "At the end of each session a voice will come on and say "Renpho massage complete," which is really a bummer when you've fallen asleep," they wrote. Another miss: "The massage portion cannot be tailored."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo's Black Friday coverage here. Shop the best expert-picked Black Friday deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. And find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.
