When I received a Thermaclear, I was pretty excited. I'd already had good results with rival device Zeno. Like Zeno, Thermaclear uses heat to destroy acne bacteria, thereby making pimples disappear faster (or never come to a head in the first place). These devices are great for those times when you feel a pimple coming on; just zap it and it retards the blemish's growth.
Now that I've tried both zit zappers, I've made a guide to comparing and contrasting them. (FYI, both devices were sent to me for review, so I'm not biased toward either.)
For a chart that shows the pros and cons of each device, read more.
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Who wins? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looks | Sleek, modern design. Pro version available in pink and teal, too. | Grayish blue, not as sleek. | Zeno. It just looks better. |
| Warm-up time | About a minute | About 10 seconds | Thermaclear better fits my want-it-now attention span. |
| Application time per blemish | Two minutes, measured by a small beep every 30 seconds. | Two seconds. | Thermaclear. You could treat the whole face in the amount of time it takes to treat one pimple with Zeno. |
| Feels like | Warm and soothing. Feels great on cystic acne. | Yowza! It's a quick zap, but it stings for a second. | Zeno makes me feel pampered and cared-for, as though a benevolent complexion fairy were caressing me. |
| Replacement | Basic model comes with 60-count cartridge; replacements are $25 each. | Tip requires replacement once a year; a new one is $19.95 | Thermaclear |
| Price | $150 for basic model; $189 for prettier Pro model | $149 | It's a draw, although the replacement costs favor Thermaclear. |
Suss
Diane von Furstenberg
John Frieda
Thanx a bunch, Bella! I was about to buy the Zeno at sephora.
1I like Zeno, don't get me wrong. But if I had to choose, I'd probably go with Thermaclear because it's faster.
2I want to try one of these. Thanks for the rundown. I think I'll go with the Thermaclear one.
3I've had my Thermaclear for almost a year, and it is AWESOME! They say replace the tip due to normal wear & tear, but unless you scratch it up you don't even need to replace it. Plus there are 2 levels of heat, so if you are afraid of the "zap" just put it on the low setting.
4Thanks for the review - I'd been debating for a while whether either one was worth it, and then obviously whether I should get Zeno or Thermaclear. But now I feel equipped to make an informed decision.
5Have the Zeno, and frankly does nothing compared to my HG Benzo and scrubs. It still sits in a drawer. Wasted $200. Acck
6The above chart helps to suss out the basic design & use of both Zeno & Thermaclear but.... Which one works better?
7ok i know this isn't related but when i first saw the picture i thought it was the No No No hair removal thing- Bella can we get a status update on that? is it still working for you?
o and these look cool too
8Micka, they both work effectively. Just depends on which gadget's properties you prefer.
No!No! is still working. I hvaen't shaved my legs in about a week and I don't have much stubble.
9I second micka - which one works better? Do they work?
10I own a Zeno and rarely ever use it. Perhaps I have not used it consistently enough, but if I had to do it again, I definitely wouldn't have spent the money on it. I still find myself using my benzoyl peroxide acne gels. The problem with the Zeno is that you have to catch the zit before it actually is a zit for it to work. That's a very small window of opportunity.
11regarding the above comment...would it be possible/safe to use it consistently on your whole face to prevent pimples? at least using the zeno, as it is gentler? never heard of this product and not interested in getting one, just curious..
12Girlgreen, it isn't for your entire face like, say, an acne cream is. Instead, these gadgets are meant to be pressed up against a blemish that's forming. So I still exfoliate all over my face and use Differin, but when I feel a pimple brewing, I grab one of these and it does help.
13I liked the results I got with Zeno, but I wouldn't mind trying Thermaclear, especially since it has 2 different settings!
14thanks, bella!
15I bought a zeno and it didn't work for me at all. I have much better luck with regular old exfoliation and mud masks.
16the thermaclear would be better for me I think but how bad does it sting??
17Very interesting...
18Very cool! I want one...
19I have a zeno and i love it but wouldnt mind trying a new one...however, once you've shelled out the money (since they cost about the same) i don't have any reason to go out and buy a different product. Zeno is working for me so why mess with a good thing?
20yes! perfect! this is incredibly helpful. i'm desperate for new methods b/c cream is not cutting it anymore.
21Does anyone know how well either of these work with blackheads? They are so stubborn.
22these are not meant for blackheads.
23I love my zeno, i'm on bc, vitamin A acid gel, and Clindasol for my acne, and this regimen works pretty well for me, but there are still the occasional zits that i notice and grab my zeno at the first sight of, and it usually stops it before it turns into a really bad pimple.
I am one of those people that likes beauty over comfort and Thermaclear sounds like my kind of thing
24This product is awesome!!!! I mean this thing really works! I have had problems with acne since forever and the Thermaclear device has made dealing with it so much easier!
25i bought a zeno, and returned it. it didn't absolutely nothing for me!
26I read a USA Today Article that says Thermaclear heats up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Isn't that the temp of boiling water? I'm not putting that on my face...
27I'm really surprised at the comments. I've used zeno happily for about 6 months and it is true to it's word...pimples disappear within a day. I did have a friend that tried thermaclear, but she had absolutely no results (she actually thought it's high heat burned her skin because she had redness and flaking skin in the treated area on her face that lasted almost a week--and she did not have sensitive skin). She now uses zeno and is very happy. I guess I'm not surprised, since a lot of the responses on this "blog" are on the same day and all tend to favor thermaclear. How sad that a blog meant to help others is being used by company shills!
28I'm really surprised at the comments. I've used zeno happily for about 6 months and it is true to it's word...pimples disappear within a day. I did have a friend that tried thermaclear, but she had absolutely no results (she actually thought it's high heat burned her skin because she had redness and flaking skin in the treated area on her face that lasted almost a week--and she did not have sensitive skin). She now uses zeno and is very happy. I guess I'm not surprised, since a lot of the responses on this "blog" are on the same day and all tend to favor thermaclear. How sad that a blog meant to help others is being used by company shills!
29I need one of those...
30how do these things work?
31This is such a cool device!!
32Thanks for laying it out in a chart. It does sound like a draw. I think the shorter application time of the thermaclea5r would prob be a drawback for me... i tend to fixate in the mirror and i'd probably zap my whole head off
33Thanks for comparing Zeno vs. Thermaclear. It makes my choice so much easier. I'll buy Thermaclear because it works faster and you don't have to continuously buy the tips so it will be much cheaper in the long run. Zeno is prettier though!
34For those of you who have seen results with either one; how bad was your acne? Mine is really bad, I mean really bad and I am on medication and perscription face wash, but would love something like this to help as a preventative before the new ones get really bad. Let me know, please any advice would be great!!!
35Do these things also work on blackheads . . can you use them on blackheads, is it safe ECT?
36Is this safe for pregnant women to use? My acne has gone from manageable to out of control since I have gotten pregnant, and since I can't really use any of the traditional acne remidies, this sounds hopeful.
37Mommy to be, I'd ask your doctor.
38Love the the Thermaclear!! Wish I would have bought it sooner. Works wonders!!!!!
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