The best LED face masks to improve skin from the comfort of your home
The rise of at-home beauty treatments has led us all the way from water flossers to microneedling tools. The latest trend to add to the list? LED face masks. Yes, they’re expensive, and yes, they can look a bit Star Wars to wear, but all those A-list celebrities can’t be wrong, right?
To see if they live up to their claims (and price tags), the Women's Health Lab recruited a panel of 130 women to put some of the best LED masks to the test. These were their four favourites to buy now:
What is light therapy?
Light therapy has long been used to help treat some types of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but it’s also been a staple in every leading dermatologist's surgery for decades.
Originally deployed to encourage growth in plants, it rose to fame in the 1960s as a healing treatment for soft tissue injuries – and that's when the skincare industry started investing in the technology.
Dr Kemi Fabusiwa, medical doctor and founder of the Joyful Skin Clinic, explains why it works: “Plants directly absorb light from the sun in order to grow. In the same way, certain wavelengths of light (red, infrared and blue lights, in particular) can be absorbed into our skin cells, improving their health and helping to reduce wrinkles, inflammation, acne, scarring and premature signs of ageing.”
Light therapy has proved especially popular in the anti-ageing realm of beauty, but it can also help those plagued by monthly breakouts and an oil-slick T-zone.
Dr Sharon Wong, consultant dermatologist, says: “LED may offer beneficial results for oily skin by reducing sebum production and fighting acne-inducing bacteria. It can also provide anti-inflammatory support.”
Previously exclusive to a dermatologist's chair, you can now access light therapy (albeit at a lower power) in the form of LED face masks designed to be used at home.
“The quality and efficacy of these masks can vary,” warns Dr Fabusiwa. “More research and studies are needed to confirm their efficacy. For maximum benefit, be sure to use them alongside an excellent skincare routine.”
How we test LED masks
Each of the LED masks in this round up has been tested for (at the very least) a month to see how they affected their skin. We judged each mask on how comfortable it felt to wear and how easy it was to use. We noted how happy we were with the treatment time and the brightness of its LED lights.
Skin-wise, we analysed our appearances after the trial and noted any improvements to fine lines, redness, dullness and more.
Cellreturn Platinum LED Mask
Definitely an investment piece, this mask topped our list after proving worthy of a splurge during testing. It improved the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for just over half our testers and boosted glow for most. Younger and more radiant after only a month? Yes, please!
If it looks a bit dauntingly tech-y to use, rest assured that hardly any of our testers experienced any problems getting started and almost all found it comfortable to wear.
Some found its LED lights too bright, so avoid it if you have sensitive eyes, but many said their skin looked plumper after use and over half of those who suffer from redness reported an impressive improvement.
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
Naturally glowing skin is a key goal for many of us, and this mask delighted most of our testers by supercharging their radiance. Half found their skin in overall better condition after the month-long trial, with almost everyone planning to continue using it.
It didn't do much for anyone struggling with rosacea or redness, but just under half our panel found their wrinkles less pronounced. The LED lights didn't strain their eyes either, with most finding the mask comfortable to wear for each ten-minute session. Read one of beauty writers' full review here.
FAQ 202 Smart Anti Aging NIR + 7 LED Face Light Therapy Mask
One of the most common complaints we found when heard back from our testers about using an LED mask was that many of them made it hard to multitask. Either they had to lay still with their eyes closed, or the light was so bright it hurt their eyes.
Our favourite thing about the FOREO FAQ 202 mask is the fact that you really can go about your usual routine while you're wearing it. While many masks claim to not hinder your eye sight, we found many actually do. But not this one from FOREO.
WH's Ecommerce Editor, Jess, has been using this mask multiple times a week for a year and a half now, and she is an LED convert. She says 'This mask has been an absolute game changer for me. I've not historically been someone with great skin, but in the year and a half I've been using this mask I've lost count of the amount of compliments I've gotten on my complexion. My skin has never been this radiant.'
The mask has eight modes, including blue (great for breakouts), green (great for radiance) and red (great for anti-ageing). Jess typically switches between these three modes, using red the most frequently.
Déesse PRO LED Phototherapy Mask
Multi-tasking skincare products are all the rage these days, so it’s great that this Déesse design doubles up as what can only be described as the *ideal* Halloween mask. If your partner or housemate can hack walking in from work to find a scene from Scary Movie, our testers thought the skin benefits were worth the scary price tag.
They found pigmentation was reduced after the trial period and it left them with soft, smooth skin. It was quick (the same time it takes to boil an autumnal brew) and comfortable to wear, with testers noting a decrease in inflammation and breakouts because of the blue light mode, too.
It’s pretty chunky and needs plugging in, so although a great investment for your long-term skin health, it’s not a handy handbag or travel kit tool.
Foreo UFO ™ 2 MintPowerful Skincare Infusion
This mask is diddy enough to chuck into your gym bag if you fancy a post-workout pamper session. It gets the job done in two minutes flat and doesn’t cover your entire face, which any claustrophobes among you will appreciate. This also means it doesn't shine directly into your eyes, leaving most of our testers happy with its brightness.
Not only is it quick, but it also ramped up radiance for many of our panel. It wasn’t as effective on age spots and pigmentation, but just over half said their skin was in better condition by the end of the trial. It minimised the look of fine lines, too — not bad for a handful of speedy sessions. Connecting it to the integrated app (a necessity for it to get going, alas) proved a bit fiddly for some testers, but don't let that put you off.
Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
This unusual looking LED was a real hit for rosacea sufferers and those with patches of redness — on their face and body. You can move it around according to your skin’s needs in different areas, whereas much of the competition is just for the face and décolletage if you’re lucky. It may just be us, but the adaptability of this mask feels like you’re getting more bang for your buck.
It provided a moment of calm for those who used it regularly, breaking up their day with an eyes-closed, lie down treatment set-up — it doesn’t have eye holes, so you really do have to lean into the R&R like you would in a professional LED facial. Some testers loved this, telling us it made for a mindful moment as well as a skincare slay, but others (hello Type As) said they didn’t like sitting still and would have preferred the option to multi-task (as you can do with other masks).
LUSTRE® ClearSkin RENEW PRO FACEWEAR
Lustre began their pioneering work with LED therapy in 2004, initially focusing on improving skin healing for non-melanoma skin cancer patients. Building on these positive results, they developed their technology to target acne, dull skin, and other skin concerns.
The mask features three LED light settings: red light to firm, tighten, encourage collagen production, and combat wrinkles; blue light to fight acne and blemishes; and near-infrared technology to reduce inflammation, increase cellular energy, and boost blood flow.
Our Fashion Editor has been testing their Renew Pro Facewear for the past few months and found the standout benefit to be a faster healing time for blemishes and marks. 'I’m guilty of skin-picking, so I’d often have marks from pimples I’d played with too much (gross, sorry). But I noticed that when using the treatments (particularly the blue light), the recovery time was much shorter than usual.'
The mask is wireless, quick to charge, and connects to an app where you can track your treatments and learn about the science behind it. The only downside is that the forehead area can dig in and feel uncomfortable during longer treatments.
£270.00 at lustreclearskin.com
Omnilux Clear
This FDA-cleared, dermatologist-recommended blue and red light therapy mask is designed to help reduce the appearance of acne and blemishes, and clear breakouts faster. The recommended treatment time is four 10-minute sessions each week, for a total of six weeks (after six weeks you’ll need to give your skin a break).
Combining both red and blue light, the Omnilux Clear has built-in eye shields for comfort. Although, some of our testers found that these dug into their skin – and recommended using it before heading to bed, rather than first thing in the morning. Made from a flexible silicone, it’s light and easy to wear and comes with velcro straps so you can properly secure the mask to your head and wander around the house without it slipping off.
WH Nutrition Editor, Alice Barraclough, says: ‘I’ve suffered with adult acne on and off for the past decade, so I’m always on the lookout for products that can help reduce the appearance of my acne scars and any active blemishes. This mask was recommended to me by a facialist I saw for a micro-needling session and made a visible difference to my skin. Easy to use, flexible (and comfy-ish to wear), there are a lot of things to like about the Omnilux mask. For those who hate sitting still for 10 minutes, it even comes with a remote control which you can pop in your pocket and carry on with your chores.’
Currentbody LED Neck and Dec Perfector
Have you ever heard the saying 'your face ends at your chest' and wondered what on earth that meant? Essentially, it means that you should be using all the same skincare products that you're using on your face on your neck and decolletage, too.
Focusing all your attention on just your face can enhance the appearance of signs of ageing on your neck and chest, as the difference between the areas can be more stark.
Once you've started seeing the benefits of using an LED mask on your face, it makes sense that you'd want to increase the surface area of the treatment, and the Current Body LED Nesk and Dec Perfector helps you do just that.
The mask covers your neck and most of the chest, emitting red and infrared wavelengths through 50 LEDs that work to firm, tighter and brighten the skin in that area.
This mask is well and truly A-lister approved, with celebs like Olivia Coleman and Naomi Watts both known to be fans.
HigherDOSE Red Light Hat
Studies have shown that red light can help with hair growth, so it makes sense to utilise this technology for the hair, as well as the skin. This easy-to-wear hat looks like a regular cap before you look on the inside and see the 120 LED lights on the lining.
These lights help to increase blood flow to the scalp, reduce hair shedding and encourage hair growth.Keep in mind that this is no quick fix, and it will take a few months of consistent use before you start to see a difference.
HigherDOSE also warns that during the first few weeks, you may notice an increase in shedding as the weaker strands are replaced by new growth.
How do the different coloured lights help the skin?
To find your perfect mask, you must first suss out which lights will benefit your skin the most. Take a look at our handy key:
Infrared: This light will ring the most bells as it’s talked about a lot in regards to premature ageing. It’s known for increasing collagen density to help treat fine lines and wrinkles.
Red: 'Red light acts directly on the skin cells that help support the production of collagen, which provides support and structure to the skin,' explains Dr Fabusiwa. 'It is therefore used to help reverse some of the signs of ageing, and some studies show that it may also be useful for certain types of hair loss.'
Amber: It’s rare for this light to be offered by at-home masks (but we’ve found an option, don’t worry). It’s ideal for those with sensitive skin who may be struggling with rosacea or redness. It increases cellular growth to help skin heal and calm any inflammation.
Blue: 'Blue light is often used in DIY LED masks as a treatment for acne, due to its potential ability to lower grease production and tackle the bacteria that causes acne,' says Dr Wong.
Green: If age spots and hyperpigmentation are your main problem, this is for you. It helps brighten the skin (including dark under eye circles) and is often used to treat broken capillaries.
Are LED face masks safe?
LED face masks are generally considered safe throughout the skincare industry, but they must be used correctly – that means not overdoing it (aim for two to three times weekly, max) and stopping usage if you experience any irritation.
'There is a concern relating to eye damage, especially with prolonged exposure of the eyes to red and blue light,' says Dr Wong. 'it is imperative that appropriate protective eyewear is worn, even if the intention is only short term use. LED masks are also not recommended for those with a photosensitive condition, such as lupus, or an underlying ocular disorder.'
If you’re unsure how your skin will cope with the treatment, check with your GP before trying it.
You Might Also Like
