FOREO UFO 2 review: before vs after

What is it?

The UFO 2 is a rechargeable, vibrating applicator device for applying Korean-inspired sheet masks to your neck and face. It’s controlled via Bluetooth connection to the Foreo App. Simply secure a fresh circular mask to the treatment plate and glide over your skin for a quick 2-minute pampering facial.

Foreo says it boosts absorption of the mask goodies using their T-Sonic^TM pulsations and gentle heat (up to 45^oC) from the treatment plate. Then, the plate cools your skin (down to 5^oC) to seal in the lushness. It also shines LED light energy from 8 different wavelengths/colours, depending on the mask treatment chosen in the App (or, your choice controlled via the App).

However…

There’s little scientific evidence supporting most of these technologies. And, each 90- to 120-second facial is just too short to deliver significant therapeutic benefits. There’s more on this in the full review below 👇.

Regardless, the UFO2 is very pleasant and pampering indeed. I’ve tested it too, so you can learn about my experience and results.

What does it do?

Foreo say the UFO 2 combines T-Sonic^TM pulsations, thermotherapy, and cryotherapy to get the nourishing mask serum as deep as possible into your skin. It also uses LED lights to target imperfections and refine your complexion. And because I research all the home beauty tech I test, I set out to check exactly how it works.

Long story short, I can’t find any scientific evidence for sonic vibrations, or heat and cooling significantly increasing skin’s absorbency. And while there is plenty of supporting data for red and blue LED light therapy, the way the UFO 2 applies it raises several questions too.

Let’s look at the LED light therapy in more detail first…

LED light therapy

First, there’s no supporting clinical evidence that the LED colours green, orange, purple and cyan used in the UFO 2 routines have any cosmetic effect or benefit. White and yellow LEDs don’t feature in any current mask routines, but still, there’s no data for these either. You will find internet articles and other LED devices/masks citing the benefits of these colours, but there’s ZERO clinical data supporting the claims.

But there is plenty of clinical evidence for red and blue LED light therapy.

Most supports red and near infrared LED light in tissue healing and dermatology. And several rival home devices are clinically proven to improve your skin and reduce wrinkles. There are also several studies showing blue light works to clear your complexion by killing acne causing bacteria. Now, the UFO 2 uses both red and blue LEDs, so you will see the benefits from this, right?

Hmmm…

Well, for LED light therapy to work it must meet three key treatment parameters. And I’m not confident they are in the UFO 2.

Here’s why:

#1 First and most important, the light wavelength must be specific, otherwise it won’t do anything at all.

Based on the published data and other home devices, for red LED it’s typically 633nm (or between 630-660nm), and for blue it’s 415nm. Foreo.com states the LED light range in the UFO 2 is 463nm (blue) to 627nm (red) which falls short of the ideal therapeutic wavelengths.

#2 The second important consideration is the intensity, or irradiance, of the LEDs.

The light must be strong enough to reach down to your cells so the target chromophore can absorb it. Other home LED devices publish this data and demonstrate their devices work with their clinical test results. But unfortunately, there is no clinical test data for the UFO 2.

#3 The third parameter is how long you expose your skin to the light energy.

The irradiance of the LEDs determines this; the stronger they are the less time you need. With other proven home devices, this ranges from 3 minutes per small facial section e.g., a cheek, to 15 minutes under a full-face LED mask. Therefore, a single 90 to 120 seconds UFO routine is just too short to have any significant effect on your cells.

Of course, for a longer dose of LED energy, you can repeat the routine. Or create your own custom red or blue light routine in the App (up to 3 minutes long) and repeat it a few times. However, if you really want the proven benefits of red or blue light therapy, there are alternative specialist home devices and medical devices you can choose, with supporting clinical tests and treatment schedules.

So, what about the skin absorbency boosting tech?

Thermo-therapy, cryo-therapy & T-Sonic pulsations

Foreo do a rather splendid job promoting the UFO 2 as a superior way to mask. They call the combination of therapies:

[an] “advanced Hyper-Infusion Technology” [which] “drives mask essence deeper into your face”.

Foreo

And it really does sound like you’re doing something gloriously scientific to your skin.

So, what does this tech do exactly?

Thermo-therapy and cryotherapy are genuine therapies using heat and cold respectively. But that’s where the similarity with the UFO 2 ends.

Physiotherapists use heat and cold to manage pain and aid in the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries. In the case of the UFO 2, Foreo suggest the heat softens your skin and boosts your skin’s product absorption, specifically opening pores at 45^oC. They then say cooling shrinks the pores. This sounds familiar because we’ve all heard heat opens pores and cold closes them, right?

Well unfortunately, this is a myth. Our pores don’t have muscles and so they can’t open or close with heat and cooling. There’s simply no clinical evidence for these claims. That aside, the gentle heat does stimulate blood flow (more on this below), and the cooling can temporarily help depuff and soothe your skin. And there’s no doubt all this feels rather good.

So, what about the T-Sonic pulsations?

T-Sonic (or Transdermal-Sonic) pulsations are fast vibrations, up to 10,000 per minute in the UFO 2. Foreo says these gently exfoliate your skin and increase the absorption of creams and serums. However, there’s no clinical evidence showing these vibrations get significantly more skincare goodies deeper into your skin vs regular exfoliation. And Foreo don’t have clinical test data for the UFO 2 to demonstrate the benefits and results from these combined technologies.

However, the T-Sonic vibrations do have a massaging effect on your skin. As well as feeling pleasant and releasing tension, this also stimulates blood flow. This increase in blood delivers more oxygen and nutrients, and removes more toxins from your cells. So, it does as Foreo says “stimulate your skin at a cellular level” during each short routine.

Riiiight. Is it any good then?

I don’t see proof for a ‘hyper-fusion technology’. But I do rather like the calming, soothing combination of warmth, cooling and massaging vibrations. It adds a few minutes of sensory pleasure as the mask’s lushness sinks in.

But the primary skin benefit from UFO 2 is each mask doses your skin with a hefty amount of nourishing serum in just a few minutes. Plus, you apply it evenly and thoroughly using the UFO 2 device so ALL the goodness absorbs into your face and neck, and none in your hands. This alone can give immediate changes to how skin feels and looks.

This is what’s good about the UFO 2 and the masks:

✔️ Actives-packed hydrating masks
✔️ Loads of nourishing serum direct into your skin
✔️ None absorbed by your fingers
✔️ Flat surface gives an even and thorough spread of the serum
✔️ De-stressing, tension-releasing heat, cooling, & massage
✔️ 90 to 120 seconds of pampering self-care
✔️ It feels goooood

I think the UFO 2 is a very pleasant and pampering way to treat your skin every couple of days. It’s a soothing self-care ritual that lifts your mood and boosts your confidence.

Alrighty! Let’s learn more about what this little cutie is like…

First Impressions

The UFO 2 comes in three fun colours; Pearl Pink, Fuchsia and Mint. I have the UFO 2 in mint, mainly because the turquoise tone matches my bathroom.

The packaging is transparent, so the device is on show whilst cleverly blending into the design. It’s compact, cute, fun, and attractive. But I dislike all the throw-away plastic. It’s also not an easily reusable design so you can’t store the UFO 2 in for travel. It’s likely you’ll simply bin-it and it’ll end up in landfill 😞. I’d prefer all recyclable cardboard packaging as an eco-friendlier option.

UFO 2 design

The small disc shape UFO 2 is one of the most fun and attractive home beauty devices I’ve tested. The body is a grippy, durable body-safe silicone with a flat treatment plate on one side and an attractive rose gold pattern on the opposite side.

The round Aluminium alloy treatment plate cools and heats the skin from 5 to 45^OC. The transparent ring around it removes and replaces to secure the small circular microfibre masks. Take care not to misplace this when you take it off, or accidentally snap it with too much force!

Below the ring, the LED lights shine from inside the gap.

There’s just one simple, indented button on the top to power on/off, pair with the App and select your mask routines in offline mode. And a small, waterproof charging port on the opposite side.

But take care and don’t force the cable in the port, because it doesn’t insert all the way in the device. A full charge takes 2.5 hours and lasts for up to 40 routines.

The UFO 2 masks

You can buy 13 different UFO 2 compatible dermatologist-tested Foreo masks. Some are made in Korea, and others in China (it says which on the packet). Each mask has it’s own routine in the App.

‘Make My day’ and ‘Call it a Night’ masks are slightly cheaper, with fewer ingredients. You get seven masks per pack, which suggests you should use them daily, morning and night. However, that’s probably beyond most monthly skincare budgets at £9.99 per pack. Assuming 4 packs of each per month, that’s a whopping £79.92. Yikes.

Then, there are five more advanced masks with lots of goodies in them, and six biodegradable masks with delicious natural ingredients in their ‘Farm to Face’ collection. They’re more expensive at £18.99 for a pack of six.

So, it’s best to buy a few different packs and experiment to find a regimen that works for your skin.

I’m testing Make My Day, Call it a Night, H₂Overdose, Glow Addict, and Acai Berry. I plan on using one of the cheaper masks daily, then swapping in an alternative, more expensive mask 2 or 3 times per week, as a little treat.

There’s A LOT of serum with each mask. Each sachet weighs 6g. And there’s plenty goodness left inside the sachet – enough for 2 or 3 applications. The Advanced and Farm to Face collections are much wetter, thicker and gloopier than the basic ‘Make My day’ and ‘Call it a Night’ masks.

Foreo say you’ll notice the benefits if you do a mask treatment 2 or 3 times per week. Here’s a comparison table of the UFO 2 masks and routines:

You can also use your own preferred sheet masks. Simply apply the mask and glide over the UFO 2 with your preferred routine. But be aware that heat can damage certain ingredients, like peptides. So, check the ingredients and create a custom routine if necessary.

Before you start

The UFO 2 comes with a quick start visual guide. There is a more comprehensive user manual which you can download from Foreo.com.

I advise you read the user manual before using any home beauty device. That’s because most have a list of warnings and reasons you can’t use the device (contraindications). But not the UFO 2. The user manual simply states “If you have a skin condition or any medical concerns, please consult a dermatologist before use.”

Otherwise, you should simply check the specific mask ingredients if you have any known allergies.

How to use it

It’s very easy to use the UFO 2.

You can sync with your App at the start, or as I prefer, after I secure the mask on the device.

And depending on your phone’s operating system you may have a slightly different/older version of the App. In the older version you choose your mask from a wheel of options, and you must scan the barcode of each mask you use. I have the latest App version which you can see in the photos below.

First cleanse and dry your face. Then get the mask ready.

Throughout the routine, glide the UFO 2 in small circles around your skin to massage in the serum from the mask. Start circling on your chin, then to your right cheek, forehead and then left cheek. Each routine is in three sections and starts with a 30 second prep stage. During each section, there’s a combination of LED light, cooling or warmth, and T-sonic vibrations to match your mask routine. Keep moving around your facial contours as the routine progresses.

The App explains, in both writing and voice, what the UFO 2 is doing as you progress. There’s relaxing plinky-plonky background music too – you can turn off sound in the App if you prefer. There’s a helpful countdown timer too.

Finally, the LED stops, the vibrations intensify and gradually fade out marking the end of the routine. The LEDs shine white.

There’s plenty of serum left in the sachet. So, I squeeze some more out onto the mask and repeat the routine, but this time on my neck and decolletage.

When you’re done, remove the mask and put it in the bin. Then wash the device and ring with soapy water and pat dry. Place on the stand to help dry it out properly.

Follow with your favourite moisturiser and enjoy your pampered skin!

But what if you don’t want to use the App?

How to use it without the App

UFO 2 device is pre-loaded with ‘Make My Day’ and ‘Call it a Night’ routines. You can also add your own custom routine, and add more mask routines to your device to use without the App in offline mode. However, to add more routines to your UFO 2 you must download them with the App (but just one time!)

Then, without syncing to the App, you can select your routines using the power button.

‘Make My Day’ and ‘Call It A Night’ are preloaded and fixed in positions 1 and 2. Position 3 is reserved for your own custom routine which you can build in the App.

There are 8 spaces in total. Add/download your preferred mask routines in positions 4 to 8 using the App. (Any new routines you select after that replace the routine in position 8). Then, to use later without the App, press the power button to cycle to the correct position, and stop. The treatment starts a few sections later.

I use a total of 5 masks so I can usually remember which position is which routine.

Schedule, effort & results

You don’t have to use the UFO 2 daily, but Foreo recommends a mask routine two or three times per week to see the benefits. However, they don’t say what results you’ll see or how long it takes. And it’s for ongoing use. Therefore, I’m very interested to see what it does to my skin after around one month of use.

As covered earlier, it’s unlikely you’ll see any benefit from the LED therapy. So, any improvements come from the actives in your choice of mask, and how the pampering, massaging routine boosts your mood and your confidence.

So, off I go to test the UFO 2 and a selection of masks.

My UFO 2 before vs after

Here’s my feedback from using the UFO 2 almost daily for 5 weeks.

I use either ‘Make My Day’ or ‘Call it a Night’ daily. And I swap in a richer, more actives-packed mask 2 or 3 times per week. I have Acai Berry, H₂Overdose and Glow Addict.

First, I get 3 applications from one mask. ‘Make My Day’ and ‘Call it a Night’ take 90 seconds per facial, so that’s a total 4.5 mins for three facials. The other more expensive masks take 2 minutes a pop. So, that’s 6 minutes total for three facial routines. Therefore, each facial takes longer than advertised, but it’s still easy to fit in your morning or evening routine.

Second, with three applications in one go you’re applying A LOAD of quenching serum to your skin. I treat my face with the first routine, then my neck and decolletage, then finally back to my face again. All the product sinks in without pilling, but I do need to spread it from my eyebrows where it tends to hide!

I then follow with a simple (and cheap) moisturiser from good old Aldi. Any more product overloads my skin.

Third, I love the ‘Acai Berry’ masks – they leave my skin extra soft. But I don’t notice much difference in hydration and smoothing with ‘H₂Overdose’ verses ‘Make My Day’ and ‘Call it a Night’. And I see a subtle glow from ‘Glow Addict’. However, they all feel gorgeous. And I find it a very uplifting way to start my day after showering in the morning.

So, is there any difference in my skin after 5 weeks of use?

Well, after each facial my skin feels super-hydrated, slightly plumper, soft and smooth for sure. I couldn’t see much change by looking in the mirror, but I do see changes in my before and after photos.

The masks have given me plumper and more glowsome skin that’s touchably soft and smooth. And I like it very much. I enjoy spending a calming, pampering 5 or so minutes with it each day. Compared to my usual skincare routine, the UFO masks give me noticeably more hydrated, soft, and dewy skin.

However, this lasts only a short time, until I next cleanse. So, you must top up the hydration each day for best results. Otherwise, I see no lasting improvement in my skin. For me, the UFO 2 doesn’t give me significantly healthier skin as with red light devices or microcurrent. But it does feel rather special.

The Negatives

There are a few negatives with the UFO 2.

First, as mentioned earlier, the UFO 2 is packaged in A LOT of wasteful plastic which ends up in landfill. In addition to this, the mask sachets and microfibre masks end up there too. I don’t want a pampering facial at the expense of the world around me, so I’d love to see biodegradable upgrades for the masks (as with the Farm to Face collection) and for the sachets very soon ♻🌍❤.

Second is a minor point. I’d love the addition of a small silky storage bag (that you get with other Foreo devices). I’d find it itshelpful when travelling and popping the UFO 2 in your toiletries bag. It’d protect the fancy rose-gold pattern on the top of the device from teeny scratches that otherwise appear.

Third, if you use it without the App, there’s no way to know when the battery will run out. This means it could die before you’ve finished all three routines from your mask. This is slightly annoying, but you can apply the rest of the serum without power.

Next, it’s all rather pricey. The UFO 2 retails at £249, and then there’s the ongoing cost of the masks.

If you don’t have the money to regularly invest it’s probably not the best choice for you. But if you’re partial to a daily pampering sheet mask facial, I think these rich and nourishing masks are pretty good value, and you’ll probably love this device.

🤫 I’m trying to ignore my inner eager-beaver who wants to try the Manuka Honey and Youth Junkie masks….

But for me, the biggest negative here is there’s no clinical evidence showing this beauty tech yields any specific results 😞. So, if you want something to make noticeable and lasting changes to your skin, this probably isn’t the best investment. But, if you want a cute, pampering device with delicious, hydrating skincare, go ahead and spoil yourself.

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