I originally bought these two gadgets with the intention of reviewing them right away, but that never happened. Instead, I ended up actually using both of them for months, which gave me a much better idea of whether they were worth recommending. One uses heat to tackle mosquito bites, while the other uses flickering light to help me relax, clear my mind, and sometimes fall asleep.
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Gadgets Reviewed After Months of Use
Smartphone Heated Insect Bite Healer
The first product is a small smartphone-powered insect bite healer that I paid about $30 for on Amazon. It connects directly to a phone through USB-C and uses concentrated heat on mosquito bites and other insect bites.
When plugged in, the accompanying app launches and provides several settings, including short, medium, and long treatments, adult and child modes, and a sensitivity option. Once the heating cycle is ready, I simply place the small heated tip directly on the bite for several seconds.
The manufacturer says the device reaches 124°F. When I checked mine with a thermal camera, I generally measured temperatures closer to about 100 to 105°F. I also didn’t notice dramatic temperature differences between the various settings.
What matters more to me is whether it actually works, and after months of using it, I can say that I’m a fan. I usually use the adult long setting and apply it about three times to a mosquito bite. After a couple of applications, I typically notice a significant reduction in itching, and the bite also seems to stop bothering me sooner than it otherwise would.
Before buying this gadget, I used to use the old hot-spoon method on mosquito bites. That works too, but this is considerably easier and more convenient. It’s also tiny enough to take almost anywhere, although that also means it could be pretty easy to lose. There’s a place where you can keep it on a keychain, and I recommend doing that!
If mosquito bites are a regular annoyance for you, this is one little gadget that I’ve continued reaching for long after I originally planned to review it.
Lumenate Nova Light Mask
The second gadget is the Lumenate Nova, a light mask designed to work with the Lumenate app. I originally reviewed the app in 2024 and liked it enough that when the company later released the Nova headset, I bought one for about $130.
The Lumenate system uses rapidly flickering lights along with audio to create changing colors, patterns, and visual effects behind closed eyes. The company describes the experience as potentially producing a deeply meditative or semi-psychedelic state.
The app used the flashlight on my phone, which meant I had to position the phone very close to my face. That worked, but it wasn’t especially convenient, and I even had the phone fall over and hit me in the face after I fell asleep a couple of times.
The Nova solves that problem by putting the lights directly inside a soft wearable headset. It automatically connects to the app, blocks out most outside light, and is comfortable enough that I can even lie on my side while wearing it.
I’ve now been using the Nova for around six or seven months, usually four or five days per week. Sometimes I use it when taking a nap, sometimes when trying to fall asleep at night, and sometimes for just a few minutes in the middle of the day when I want to clear my head.
With my eyes closed, the lights can produce some surprisingly vivid effects. Colors shift, patterns seem to move, and at times it reminds me of old film grain, shapes, or other visual illusions. Combined with music or background audio, it gives my mind something specific to focus on and helps me tune everything else out for a while.
I particularly like the app’s option to choose my own music because I can use Spotify, YouTube, or whatever else fits the mood I’m in.
My biggest complaint with the Nova is the position of the LEDs. When the mask sits comfortably on my nose, the lights are positioned a little too high for my eyes. Moving the headset down improves the alignment, but then it presses against the tip of my nose. It isn’t a dealbreaker, but it is the main design issue I’ve noticed.
Battery life has been excellent. I typically charge mine about once a week, and I don’t think I’ve ever actually run the battery low.
Obviously, a device built around rapidly flashing lights isn’t going to be appropriate for everyone. Anyone who is sensitive to flashing lights should avoid it. For me, however, the Lumenate Nova has become something I use regularly, particularly when I want to quiet my mind or fall asleep.
Neither of these products started out as a long-term review, but that’s essentially what they became. I bought both of them myself, kept using them, and months later they’re still products I reach for regularly.