I Used a Sauna Blanket For 5 Straight Days & Here’s What I Discovered

HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket Review

Before I get into the review of this new sauna blanket I’ve been testing out…let me share a really cool story about how this came to be. Two days before Black Friday this year, I learned about sauna blankets…I had never even heard of it before and started doing some research. On Black Friday, I got an email about a sauna blanket that was on sale. I did some more research on the benefits of sauna blankets, the pricing of sauna blankets, and read reviews of sauna blankets. I concluded that I really wanted one…but I wasn’t ready to bite the bullet and splurge quite yet.

I actually said in my mind, “I should collaborate with the brand so I can test it out and share my findings.” And, then, like most things that float into my mind, the thought floated right out. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening hanging out with the family.

And, then… the Magic Happened!

The next day, while I was checking my phone, I noticed that a brand collaboration email had come through. I didn’t recognize the brand at first, which was unusual as I tend to collaborate with the same brand partners again and again. I scanned through the offer and saw the words, “Sauna blanket.”  I looked at the brand again and then referenced the one I had researched the day before…and you know what..? They were the SAME!

HigherDOSE, sent the offer to try out their infrared sauna blanket ONE DAY LATER. How cool is that?! This is a perfect example of the incredible power of manifestation. This is literally the fastest I’ve ever manifested something! I’ve said before that in order to manifest something into being, it has to be tied to a heart-centered why. I think this came so quickly because the sauna blanket represents my desire to take better care of myself and love myself more.

If you want to know more about how I’ve manifested things in my life, be sure you watch this video.

Infrared Sauna Blanket Benefits

So..now, here I am, sharing my initial thoughts on the HigherDose sauna blanket! (Just a reminder that I am not a healthcare professional and I’m simply sharing resources I love and find helpful for me.)

First, let’s talk about the benefits of the infrared sauna blanket. This is what it can do:

• Detox your body
• Boost your mood by naturally increasing your brains “happy” chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins.
• Calm your nervous system
• Improve skin
• Increase metabolic rate
• Increase circulation
• Strengthen immune system
• Lower inflammation
• Expedite muscle recovery
• Deep relaxation

How to Use the Infrared Sauna Blanket

I have a few tips that I’m sharing in my thoughts and experience below. But here’s what you need to know about how to the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket.

• Step #1 – Prep – HigherDOSE recommends you wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and socks while you use your blanket. Alternatively, you can use the Infrared Sauna Blanket Insert and go naked or with as little clothing as you prefer. (I prefer option 2.)
• Step #2 – Set Up – Lay your sauna blanket on a flat, heat-resistant surface. I use mine on my bed and it doesn’t get too hot.
• Step #3 – Preheat – Set the temperature dial to your desired level and wait 10 minutes for your blanket to heat up. Level 4 or 5 is recommended to begin but you can slowly increase to levels 6-7 if you’re body allows it. Level 8 should only be used if you don’t sweat at the lower levels.
• Step #4 – Get In! – Slip into your sauna blanket and enjoy a relaxing 30-45 minute session.
• Step #5 – Cool Off – Rinse off in an icy shower to cool off and shock your system. This is said to help fight aging.

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My Experience with HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket

I’ve been using the sauna blanket for almost a week and my first impression is that I’m really loving it! It’s easy to store, use, and I could feel the benefits working after the first use. I’ve been folding it in half and storing it under my bed, which I think is the perfect place to store it so you can easily access it. It’s super easy to pull out from under the bed every day, plug it in, and hop in.
For my first time using it, I set the heat level to 5. I tried 6 but it felt like too much for my body. Some people say they don’t sweat right away, but at level 5, I started sweating almost immediately, which was interesting because I’m not a super sweaty person naturally, and it takes a lot for me to sweat while I’m exercising.

Important Note: You should always listen to YOUR body and how you’re feeling to determine how you use your sauna blanket.

How I Use a Sauna Blanket

I like to use my sauna blanket in the evening, around 8 pm, for about 30 minutes. Where, when and for how long you use your sauna blanket is up to you! One thing to consider is… you need to let the blanket cool down before folding it (about 30 minutes.)

The first time I used it, I put my headphones on and listened to binaural beats on YouTube. I wanted to create a spa-like set up and listening to that music was super mediative, soothing, and relaxing. I was SO deeply relaxed my body felt heavy and I felt an overall sense of calm. After that, I showered, went to bed, and slept like a baby. I’ve been doing this every night and have found that I sleep much better and my body feels more relaxed in general. I’ve also been changing up what I listen to each night…you could listen to music, watch TV, or just close your eyes and enjoy the stillness. Overall, I find it very relaxing and therapeutic so far. It’s kind of like going to hot yoga, except without moving your body.

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Tips for Cleanup

I think buying the towel insert makes the cleaning process so much simpler. With the insert, I barely have to wipe the sauna blanket down because the towel absorbs everything, and you can easily wash the towel after. You might be tempted to not get the towel, but I think it’s definitely worth it. To clean the sauna blanket itself, use a non-chemical cleaner and just wipe it down. Or you can purchase their cleaner here.

If you’re interested in trying out the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket, use the code ‘ERIN15’ for 15% off! This would make a great gift for yourself or to add to your wishlist and drop a hint to your partner!

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Infrared PEMF Go Mat

I was also given the opportunity to try the HigherDOSE Infrared PEMF Go Mat! It has all of the same amazing benefits of a sauna blanket, but without the sweat, and you can take it on the go! I’ve been putting it in my office chair and it fits perfectly. If you have a slightly larger chair or a chair that doesn’t have arms, it should fit pretty easily. It’s super lightweight, easy to move around, and can fit into a tote bag. It heats up and gets quite warm, which is great especially here in Colorado when it’s so cold in the mornings. It’s super relaxing and comforting and I can’t wait to try it out even more! There is also a full-size version of the mat if you’re interested.

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Red Light Face Mask

I’ve seen quite a few red light therapy masks on social media lately so I was so excited to see that HigherDOSE had one I could try. I just received it in the mail, so I haven’t gotten a chance to try it out for long, but I wanted to share some of the benefits in case you’re interested or have been thinking about purchasing one. Two things I can already tell I’ll love about this mask is that it’s cordless and has a secure strap, so I’ll be able to wear it and walk around the house. But, for the ultimate relaxing experience, wear it with while you’re lying in your sauna blanket for the ultimate relaxing experience!

Red Light Potential Benefits

Stimulates collagen
Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Regenerates cells
Treats blemishes
Reduce inflammation
Activates glowing skin
Boosts your mood

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Supercharge Copper Body Brush

If you’re a fan of dry brushing, you’ll love this brush! Not only is this ion-charged brush great for prepping the skin for your sauna blanket or PEMF sessions, but it has a ton of other benefits too. It accelerates blood circulation, and lymphatic drainage, exfoliates your skin, helps reduce cellulite, and more!

More About HigherDOSE

HigherDOSE is all about taking care of YOU and up-leveling your self-care routine. Their at-home infrared, PEMF, and red light devices have changed the wellness game to give you a DOSE of those feel-good chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins). They’ve made it easier for busy women like you to pour more love into yourself and prioritize YOU. These devices make it easier to create that spa-day-at-home feel and elevate your wellness and beauty routines. The two female co-founders, Lauren and Katie say “We’re changing the way you think about beauty and wellness by building tools that ignite vitality from the inside out” which is a mission I LOVE!

I will keep you posted on additional thoughts with continued use. Have you tried an infrared sauna blanket before? If so, please share the benefits you noticed in the comments. Your feedback can help someone else make a more informed decision. 

Huge thank you to HigherDOSE for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive some incredible style resources. If you’re interested, I recently launched my Style Made Simple course. You can start your style journey and learn more here.
Thanks for stopping by!

1

Alissa - Social Media Manager

It's all too easy for me to get carried away with my own mental checklist of things to do, and I often find myself feeling overwhelmed and bogged down by the pressure of it all. The practice of "mindfulness" was highlighted at Miraval, and it's easily one of my biggest takeaways. Mindfulness is defined as simply bringing awareness and acceptance to our moment-to-moment experiences. To practice it, I have been focusing on being more mindful of my everyday experiences. Whether it's reflecting on everything I am grateful for as I cozy into bed at night, breathing in the fresh air outside as I notice the sights and sounds around me, or simply standing in my kitchen appreciating the smell of delicious homemade food with the sound of my kids' laughter echoing in the background. Taking the time to be more mindful has made such a difference in pulling me out of the grind and into the moment with a deeper appreciation for where I am.

2

Susan - Digital Content Editor

There were many poignant takeaways from the retreat, but if I had to choose just one it would be the importance of accepting transitions in life. As someone who really doesn’t love change, this is difficult for me. But recognizing transitions are inevitable and trying to find the positive in them has been eye-opening and has taught me to reframe my thoughts about change. This pretty much leads to the one habit I’m implementing fairly consistently (still a work in progress!) which involves rethinking my reaction to stress or anxiety…even if it’s something small. At Miraval, we learned that even small (seemingly relatively innocent) little stressors can together have a BIG impact in terms of our happiness and the negativity we carry around in a day. If I start to get anxious about something, I can control the feelings by doing one of these things: breathe/meditate for one minute, change my thinking pattern, listen to music, walk or move briskly. Basically, just change what I’m doing to temporarily step back and gain some perspective. I can ask myself, “Am I giving this “problem” more weight than it deserves?” Essentially, I’m distracting myself from the negativity and choosing to focus on something more positive. I’ve learned there is always something positive to focus on if I choose to find it! So, I try to catch myself before I go down the negative rabbit hole.

3

Denise – YouTube Co-Producer

Since returning from our team retreat at Miraval, I have been doing a deep dive into habits. Research has shown that those who create a new “small” habit often have a larger ripple effect in their lives, even more than those who try to implement a larger change. At Miraval, we attended a session that focused on brain health. One of the small takeaways from this session was that the body needs to be hydrated in order to function most efficiently. We have all heard this before…drinking 8 glasses of water a day is in no way new advice, but for some reason, something in this lecture gave me the motivation to try and shift from virtually zero glasses a day to the recommended amount of 8. I’m a diehard Diet Snapple, coffee, and Diet Lemonade girl! Upon returning home, I bought myself a new water bottle, started filling it each morning, and brought it up to my desk. Without even realizing it, I found myself emptying the 32 oz bottle 2 and sometimes 3 times per day. Within a week, the changes I felt (more moisturized skin, less hunger, a more settled stomach) were undeniable. The same research also shows that once you develop a habit, it is easy to “habit stack”. This means you can add on more habits to existing ones and that is exactly what I did. I have moved my vitamins and supplements to my desk which I now take daily because I have the water sitting right next to me. As an added bonus, I am also consuming a ton less artificial sweeteners and caffeine now that I am reaching for my water. If you’re interested in diving deeper into information about habits, I’m currently reading The Power of Habit and Atomic Habits, both linked below.

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4

Joy – Virtual Assistant

While at Miraval, we took a class about intuitive living and one of the principles was to “Be Clueless.” Which just means that you should choose not to give power to the thinking mind. Instead, practice being clueless by enhancing your senses and connecting to them. One habit I have adopted since the retreat is going outside each day after work and sitting in silence for 15 minutes. I set the timer on my phone, close my eyes, and just listen. Once I've heard 10-15 unique sounds, I then open my eyes and finish out the 15 minutes looking around but remaining silent. It's been a wonderful calming way to transition out of my work brain. And I’m giving more power to my senses than to my thinking mind.

5

Rachel – Community Manager

The Team Retreat was something I was looking forward to for months, yet as we got closer and closer to it, I began to feel nervous and unsure of what was to come - anxious feelings that I get with anything new, no matter how exciting it may be. Well, this retreat was, first of all… AMAZING. It was wonderful to be in a beautiful place, to get pampered, to meet and connect with the most amazing team of women, and to simply have a break from the craziness of everyday life… but the best part of it all was what I took home with me. During this short time, I was able to learn so many helpful practices that have truly changed my own well-being and ability to connect with the world around me. The overall theme of the Miraval journey is to focus on and implement mindfulness and balance. Before this week, I thought I was practicing this in my daily life…but boy was I wrong! One particular practice that I have loved adding to my routine, is that of Mindful Eating. The question was posed in a group session at Miraval, “Are you tasting your food or just your thoughts?” Often when I sit down to have a meal, I’ll look at my phone, try to get work done, watch a show, or simply try to eat as quickly as I can to get on to the next task of my day. Without ever thinking about the food I'm eating, only thinking about whatever else is going on inside of my head. But this practice allows you to slow down and truly enjoy. The simple act of placing your fork on the table in between bites forces you to physically move slower and gives you the space to focus on and savor the food that you are consuming. As soon as I heard this, I thought it would be an easy thing to add to my routine every day. Even better…Every single meal could be mindful and what a difference that could make! Well, reality sets in once you return home from a place like Miraval, and the to-do list comes right back. But we were reminded that even one Mindful Meal a week can make such a difference. And how true that has proven to be!

6

Kaitlyn - Digital Strategy Manager

I’m extremely hard on myself…Even when it’s pretty unwarranted. I think many women can relate to that. Deciding to skip a workout, not getting to everything on my to-do list for the day, or forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning are all simple (and usually inconsequential) things that make me start that negative inner monologue about not being “insert adjective here” enough. If this sounds familiar…you’re not alone! One of the tools I learned during our Mindful Stress Mastery class at Miraval is something I’ve started implementing and can already tell makes a difference. When that negative inner monologue starts, put your right hand over your chest or stomach and place your left hand on your forearm. When you do it, say “gentle” in your head or out loud as a reminder to be gentle with yourself. Touch is such a strong sense and when you give yourself that small reminder, it can make a huge impact.