LED masks, which have light-emitting diode in the form of red, near-infrared and blue light, are still making wellness waves as one of the trendiest (and priciest) ways to revamp your skincare routine at home, using a powered-down approach to anti-aging and skin rejuvenation already done at the dermatologist’s office.
However, this doesn’t mean all LED face masks are created equal. In fact, many of them do not have the right specifications or safety clearance to improve your skin’s glow or reduce the appearance of acne.
Before you get started with light therapy at home, it’s important to note that an LED face mask shouldn’t replace an existing skincare routine consisting of research-backed ways to keep your skin healthy and glowing, including using a sunscreen with SPF 30 or over, finding a face-washing cadence that suits your skin type and regularly using other skin-boosting agents, such as retinoids.
It’s also important to keep in mind that even the best LED face masks will not work skin miracles or cause your face to change drastically. If that’s your goal, you can consider more invasive or direct cosmetic care such as botox or filler.
With all that being said, there is enough evidence linking red light therapy to the improvement of skin appearance to make an investment in a quality LED face mask worth it. To make your hunt a little easier, we’ve rounded up a list of the best LED face masks out there.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is used for skin rejuvenation and brightening for people wanting to reduce the appearance of some signs of aging, like fine lines, or brighten their skin overall. It’s traditionally been used in dermatologists’ offices in higher strengths, but in recent years, at-home red light therapy masks have become a hot new skin-care tool. Research behind it shows that, at certain levels (more on that below), red and near-infrared light can stimulate collagen production.
Light therapy has also been used as a medical therapy versus a more cosmetic one. For example, there is research showing potential benefit for red and near-infrared light therapy on tendon healing. Red light therapy may also be used for hair loss.
What type of light should I look for in a mask?
If you’re after skin-brightening or anti-aging effects, you should look for a mask that has at least 630 nanometers red light and 830nm of near-infrared light. This combination has been recommended by dermatologists we’ve spoken with in the past and has research backing its use in the way it penetrates skin.
If acne is your target, however, you should choose a mask with blue light, which has anti-bacterial effects and targets closer to the surface of the skin than red or near-infrared light, which go deeper.
How we chose the best light therapy masks
We selected masks only from companies that have clearance for their technology from the US Food and Drug Administration. This means that the LED light specs provided through each mask are safe to use as directed. It also means that — while you shouldn’t expect dramatic results overnight — the mask has shown at least some level of efficacy.
From there, we made selections based on the type and strength of light emitted and firmness or material of the mask. We considered popularity and reviews and tested a couple models ourselves (the Omnilux Contour Face and Omnilux Men).
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Omnilux is one of the most popular LED face masks on the market, and for good reason: Its tech is cleared with the FDA and it contains the right formula of light for anti-aging and brightening results (633nm red light and 830nm of near-infrared). Price-wise, it’s not the most expensive out there and is fairly middle-of-the-road. Of course, in LED face mask lands, that means it’s still a big chunk of change to drop.
I’ve been wearing the Omnilux Contour on and off for the past few months and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t think I’ve used it consistently enough to see improvements in fine lines (for me, that’s mostly around my mouth), but I do like how it gives me a bit of a glow after. I plan to keep using it, as I was not expecting any LED face mask to work “miracles” or drastically change my face overnight.
One thing about all Omnilux LED masks in general is that it has a cord and power button you’ll need to keep with you while using it. I don’t mind this at all, since I take my light therapy time as an opportunity to lay on the ground and practice mindfulness, but for multitaskers that want to do light therapy during chores, this may be annoying and they may opt for a different mask.
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At CNET, we’re a big fan of the brand Therabody and their massage guns. The brand also sells an LED face mask with particularly impressive specs: It contains both near-infrared and red light for anti-aging and skin brightening effects, but also has a blue light mode to target acne.
It’s also one of the most powerful on the list, with an irradiance of 64 mW/cm2 and higher, depending on which light you’re looking at. Another bonus: It vibrates for a mild face-massage effect.
For people who battle acne and want a little glow boost, the TheraFace is a powerful choice.
Depending on your preference, a con of the TheraFace could be that it’s hard and bulky compared to other LED face masks that are made of silicone. And while the mask is loose enough to allow for air (and easy to take off), it doesn’t have a mouth or nose hole, which may provide a more claustrophobic feeling for those prone to have one.
Therabody says it comes with two treatment settings: 3 minutes for a quick glow-up, or you can choose the full 9-minute setting for what the company calls “clinically-backed results.”