Unboxing Beauty

I love love my FOREO (FOR-RAY-OH) LUNA Mini (see reviews here) so I was so pleased that FOREO sent me several of their products, including the UFO 2 device, which is a smart sheet mask treatment.  I have been intrigued by this concept for a long time and now I can give you my thoughts on it!  Many thanks to FOREO for sending me this item.

Skin Type/Concerns: Oily, blemish prone, pores, aging, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines/wrinkles

All reviews are my own honest opinion and  I never have been asked to write copy for a brand.  This blog post might contain promo codes, affiliate and referral links, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. 

FOREO is a Swedish based company that has created a line of skin and beauty devices, including Luna 2, Mini Luna 2,  Luna foto (so many Luna’s) facial brushes,   ESPADA ~  acne treatment device, IRIS ~  eye T-Sonic massager,  ISSA ~  sonic pulse toothbrush, two new products with the BEAR series microcurrent devices and finally the UFO 2 ~  smart sheet mask treatment device which I am reviewing today. 

What is the UFO 2?  Let’s step back a bit and talk about sheet masks.  As you know, I primarily review K-Beauty (Korean Beauty) skincare products which include facial sheet masks.  I believe Japanese brands had facial sheet masks before KBeauty, but it was the immense popularity of Kbeauty that made sheet masking a common skincare step in millions of people’s routines.   Facial sheet masks use a material ~ whether it is cotton, tencel, hydrogel, bio-celluose or others, which is soaked in essence, then you apply and leave on this full face mask for about 20-30 minutes on your face, leaving your skin softer, smoother and hydrated.  The essence is targeted for a skin concern or skin type and there are  thousands of sheet masks out on the market today.

UFO 2 takes the concept of facial sheet masks and amps it up to an eleven (Spinal Tap fans will get that joke)  It’s a marriage of Korean skincare experts and Swedish dermal technology.  Within 90 seconds, you will get a spa-like facial with the UFO 2.  Fun Facts according to FOREO

• Time saver: UFO 2 turns a 20-minute mask routine into a 90-second treat, saving you more than 5 days a year  
• Better absorption: instantly infuses serum into the deepest layers of skin, for superior results 
• Rejuvenating skin: It locks in moisture while reducing the appearance of pores 
• Pampering effect: Provides a soothing facial massage 
• Evenly distributes mask ingredients across every area of the face (unlike the conventional sheets masks which create air pockets that reduce benefits) 
• Complete Mask Treatment 
  • Hyper-Infusion Technology combines heating, cooling &  T-Sonic pulsations 
    • Thermo-Therapy (heat) mode  preps skin and enhances skin’s absorption of UFO Power Activated Masks’ ingredients.  Heats up 5X faster than original UFO. 
    • Cryo-Therapy (cool) refreshes, and instantly lifts and firms skin, shrinking the appearance of pores and puffiness. This is only in UFO 2 models
    • T-Sonic Pulsations stimulate blood microcirculation and better absorption of products, facilitating skin renewal.  Up to 10,000 sonic pulsations per minute
• Full Spectrum LED Light Therapy 
  •  8 different LED lights provide targeted photofacials: Wavelengths 463 – 627 nm
    
  •  Purple, white, green, orange, blue, cyan, yellow and red lights 

image from foreo

That is the first part of the smart mask treatment, now you need the UFO Power​Activated Masks!  These soft microfiber mask rounds are developed and sourced in South Korea, so you know you are getting the best of skincare technology here.  FOREO has 3 different collections to choose from ~ the Daily Duo, which I will be reviewing here, the Advanced Collection, which contains 5 different types of UFO Power​Activated Masks that will target specific issues and the natural collection of Farm To Face UFO Power​Activated Masks.  All of their dermatologist tested masks are formulated with premium quality botanical and fruit extracts and do not contain parabens, phenoxyethanol, silicones, disodium EDTA or mineral oil

So, let’s start out with the device and how to use it.  First, you need to charge it up ~ it comes with a USB port cable ~ please use only cables that FOREO provides and sells on their website.  Any of your FOREO cables will work as they are interchangeable.  If you lose your cable, FOREO sells the USB recharger cable for $19.00.   I just plugged mine in and let it recharge overnight.  I still don’t know how long a full charge will last as I have not needed to recharge it in 2 weeks.

This is a really cool looking device ~ it fits nicely in my hand and one side has a raised textured gold round with the brand name and the other side has a flat gold round with the clear attachment ring.   Under the attachment ring are the UV LED lights that change colors as you cycle through your treatment.  The rest of the UFO 2 is covered in a soft silicon casing.  One one side of the base, there is the port for charging and the other side has an indentation where you press to turn on and then cycle to your treatment, using the LED lights to guide you.  The lights are a pale purple when you are selecting your treatment and for each treatment, it lights up another section around the ring. 

image from foreo

You can use it manually but I suggest first starting out using the app to help you navigate and understand how the UFO 2 works.  You just download the FOREO app on your smart phone ~ iPhone or Android ~ and then register your UFO 2. 

Once you register your UFO 2, just pick your mask ~ the Daily Duo set is already preprogrammed into the UFO 2 and you just need to keep your mask packet handy.  I will have another review with how to set up the programming for the other UFO Power​Activated Masks later on.   

I like to get my UFO 2 set up with the mask inserted before starting with the treatment.  You just remove the UFO Power​Activated Mask from the packet and then take the clear attachment ring off the UFO 2.  Place the mask round on UFO 2’s gold flat surface  and then place the clear attachment ring back onto the UFO 2, making sure that everything lines up and it will snap back into place.   Keep the packet!!  You will need it for the app AND I have a tip for you later on.

Just follow the instructions on the app ~ it is pretty easy ~ just need to turn on your UFO 2 and the app will guide you through the instructions ~ you will need to sync your UFO 2 with the app and then it wait while you applied the mask round to the device, if you already haven’t.  You will scan the barcode off the packet using your smartphone’s camera.  UFO 2 will select the appropriate treatment for the mask. 

As I said before, the Daily Duo is already preset, so it will then start the treatment.   The following treatment is for the Make My Day UFO PowerActivatedMask. I move UFO 2 up and around my face, in slow circular motions and as I do this, the app will cycle through the treatment phases, which include the Thermo-Therapy mode, T-Sonic Pulsations and the Cryo-Therapy. 

The Thermo-Therapy is not HOT, it is a nice soothing warm feeling at 45°C/113°F.   The Thermo-Therapy will help prepare your skin for deeper penetration of skincare.   The T-Sonic feel really good as it gently pulsates on my face ~ these pulsations will gently massage my face, exfoliate without tugging at my skin, reduce puffiness, stimulate skin at the cellular level while smoothing fine lines. 

Red LED UV lights for Thermo-Therapy

As the treatment winds down, UFO 2 will switch to a cooler, but not icy cold,  Cryo-Therapy mode.  Cryo-Therapy mode cools to 5°C/41°F and helps with reducing inflammation, puffiness and tones skin.  

Green LED UV lights for Cryo-Therapy

At this point, the T-Sonic pulsations also begin to wind down.  And just like that, 90 seconds are over! But I WANT MORE. 

Here is my tip ~ the UFO Power​Activated Masks are FULL of a lovely essence.  A LOT of it ~ in fact, when I remove the sheet round, it is dripping in essence with tons left in the packet.  After my first 90 second treatment, I just remove the attachment ring, flip the mask round over so it is clean, snap back the clear attachment ring and squeeze the remaining packet essence onto that round.  I then start my second 90  second mask treatment.  No waste here!  Once you are done, just remove the mask round and rinse the device and ring under water ~ yes, this baby is wrapped in silicone so it is 100% waterproof

Results

I feel like I got a mini facial ~ this is a totally different experience than using a regular sheet mask.  This is a treatment device and my skin feels really rejuvenated and good. It’s hard to explain, but if you ever had a facial, you know that feeling.  My skin feels softer with reduced redness.   I have been using it daily for the last 2 weeks and it has become a normal daily treatment for me. It is so quick as well ~ just 90 seconds or if you do it my way, 3 minutes total.  The essence is absorbed quicker and due to the heating pulsations, I feel the essence  penetrates deeper in to my skin.  

Daily Duo Masks

This is the starter set for UFO 2 users ~ it contains a refreshing hydrating morning mask and a nourishing, repairing evening mask.  Currently, if you purchase an item on FOREO’s website, you get both of these mask boxes FREE.  They are $9.99 each and each box contain 7 masks. 

Make My Day daily mask is a hydrating, refreshing mask, made with three types of humectant hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, sodium acetylated hyaluronate) and vitamin C-rich red algae extract, known for its skin brightening, anti-inflammatory and blemish busting benefits.   This mask is full of jelly essence and it has a faint floral scent to it.

This treatment starts out with just the Thermo-Therapy with UV red lights,  then adds a gentle T-Sonic Pulsation and then moves to Cryo-Therapy with UV green lights green UV + deeper T-Sonic Pulsations and then just winds down with its pulsations.  I love how hydrating and refreshing this mask is on my skin.

Ingredients; water, methylpropanediol, glycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, panthenol, hydroxyacetophenone, betaine, carbomer, arginine, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, hydroxyethylcellulose, dipropylene glycol, fragrance, sorbitan isostearate, polysorbate 60, butylene glycol, gelidium cartilagineum extract, brassica oleracea Italica (broccoli) sprout extract, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, sodium acetylated hyaluronate cosDNA

Call It A Night is more of a nourishing evening mask, but if you have dry skin, I don’t know why you could not use this in your morning routine.   I didn’t find it at all greasy or oily, but really moisturizing so it works well for me at night time.  This contains ginseng, which is a fantastic regeneration, anti-aging, and antioxidant ingredient and moisturizing olive oil, contain vitamins A, D, E and K, providing antioxidant and antibacterial care.  This also has red algae extract along with skin conditioning and hydrating, anti-inflammatory panthenol.  Just like the Make My Day, this mask is also full of jelly essence with a faint floral scent.

This treatment starts out with the Thermo-Therapy with UV red lights and a gentle T-Sonic Pulsation right away, then going to a deeper T-Sonic Pulsations with the Thermo-Therapy and then just winds down with its pulsations.  This is more relaxing and warming on the skin ~ making my skin feel more nourished and ready for my night time skincare routine.

Ingredients: water, methylpropanediol, glycerin, 1,2-hexanediol, panthenol, hydroxyacetophenone, betaine, carbomer, arginine, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, butylene glycol, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, hydroxyethylcellulose, dipropylene glycol, fragrance, sorbitan isostearate, polysorbate 60, crataegus oxyacantha fruit extract, gelidium cartilagineium extract,panax ginseng root extract cosDNA  

Does this mean I will forego my regular sheet masks?  Of course not!  FOREO has a nice selection of UFO Power​Activated Masks to choose from,  but there are masks with specific ingredients that I like as well the convenience  of traveling with a regular sheet mask.  It is not to say you cannot travel with the UFO 2 device, but I would be scared of losing it, as it is expensive.  Also, I have used this with regular sheet masks ~ like I mentioned, there are sheet masks I like with specific ingredients that aren’t in the FOREO UFO PowerActivated Masks.  It won’t work with all sheet masks as it is the material that is the issue. You cannot use this with hydrogels, bio-cellulose, uber thin masks, but you can use it with normal cotton plush type masks.  Just apply the sheet mask over your face as usual and then manually select a program from the UFO 2 device and start your treatment. 

Which brings me to the cost.  Yes, this is expensive. The FOREO UFO 2 is $279.00 USD but this is an investment for your skin.  How much does it cost for a spa treatment monthly?  I am not saying you give up your spa facials, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a daily mini treatment in the convenience of your own home?  The UFO 2 was on my list already to purchase during Black Friday, as I was ready to step up my at-home facial treatments.  I was just fortunate that Foreo offered it to me for review purposes.  This comes with a 2 year warranty, where FOREO will replace the unit free of charge ~ you just need to activate the warranty once you receive it at your FOREO account.

FOREO also has several UFO’s beside the UFO 2, which is the Star of the UFO range. There is a UFO 2 Mini, which cannot use all of the UFO Power​Activated Masks, for $179.00. The old UFO series is also there ~ UFO at $199.00 and UFO mini at $99.00.  As I never tried any UFO’s before, I cannot tell you how they would compare to the UFO 2 experience. 

When you purchase from Foreo’s site, they also have free shipping with purchases $50.00 and over.  Foreo does ship to many countries worldwide as well!  Foreo takes all different types of payments:  major credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, JCB International Asia;  Paypal, Alipay, Amazon Pay and if you live in the USA, you can use flexible payments with Afterpay.   

• UFO 2 $279.00 comes in 3 different colors: pearl pink, fushia, mint   
• Make My Day UFO Power​Activated Masks  $9.99 per box/7 masks (the more you buy, the more you save)
• Call It A Night Power​Activated Masks  $9.99 per box/7 masks  (ditto on the MYBTMYS)
• BEST DEAL EVER Summer Love Bundle $329.00  contains UFO 2, LUNA mini 2, 1×6 H2Overdose Mask and Micro-Foam Cleanser  (a savings of almost $100.00)  
• Double Duty Bundle $329.00 contains LUNA mini 2  and UFO 2 (savings of almost $70.00)

 

My unboxing of all of the FOREO products sent to me for review purposes!

[ product received in exchange for an honest review ]