I remember the first time I saw an LED light mask: I was a very junior editor at a magazine, and a more senior beauty editor had just got sent a plastic face mask that glowed a pinky-purple hue.
She popped it on in the office, turned it on, and the staffers collectively cooed ooohh. “That’s supposed to help your skin?” someone questioned; “How does it work?” chimed in another. The beauty editor said she didn’t know much about the technology yet, but she was eager to learn more and do some reporting. Apparently, I remember her saying, this is going to be the next big thing.
Fast-forward several years and here we are: By all accounts, LED light therapy masks are the most in-demand at-home skin care tools on the market (well, right up there with microcurrent devices). And with that popularity comes a lot of questions from the beauty community—both from users and potential buyers.
And if you count yourself in the latter camp, you’re in the right place. Because this article is all about the benefits of LED light therapy masks, how to pick one that will work for you, and the absolute best LED face masks to pick from.
Both of the testers noted how comfortable the fit was. As Schneider said, “I have a smaller face, so most LED masks slide off my head if I don’t hold it up the entire time. I was completely hands-free with Theraface, which I consider a win. The velcro head straps are soft and easy to secure, and the mask stayed snug throughout the whole 9-minute experience.”
It’s also cordless and has optional goggles, so it’s ideal for multitasking. “The standout feature design-wise is the removable goggles and the fact that the mask is cordless. I love having the option to either sit back and relax or go about my day-to-day while wearing this mask,” notes Ferrante. However, you should wear the goggles if you have sensitive eyes. While it’s safe to use sans goggles, some folks are just more sensitive to bright lights.
However, the primary drawback that both noted was that the mask is bulky and doesn’t fold—so it’s not very travel-friendly. Worth noting if you’re a frequent traveler who was planning to pack this along.
The mask is bulky and comes with a lot of add-ons and cords. (As someone who loses that sort of stuff very easily, that might be a concern.) The mask and neck component connect to the controller, which is where you power it on, select your mode (it has 3), press start, and pause.
The mask design fits easily on my face, including around the eyes. It has adjustable neoprene straps that don’t pull or tug at the hair. All-in-all, I would recommend using it while seated or (better yet!) laying down. Given the bulkiness of the mask and cords, it’s not the easiest to walk around wearing, although I don’t consider that a deal-breaker considering the efficacy.
I loved that there are 3 easy-to-understand settings: 1 for wrinkles, 2 for acne, and 3 for photodamage. Just pick the protocol that best suits your needs, press start, and it’ll run for 10 minutes.
I think one of the strongest selling points here is that it only takes 3 minutes out of your day, which is practically nothing. Says our staffer, “It’s been easy to add to my daily skincare routine and it allows me to do both my masks and a quick 3 minute meditation simultaneously.”
The mask sits on the face nicely, as it’s shaped to the face’s contours. Here’s another major bonus: It’s totally hands-free! No control handle, no cords, nothing. I’m literally wearing it as I type this sentence. The silicone strap is easy to use, however, given it’s only one strap, it has a tendency to slide down. But I fix this by putting my hair in a high ponytail, and resting the strap on top of the hair band.
However, given it is a bulkier mask, it’s not as travel friendly as silicone options.
Whether or not something is “worth buying” is relative. It depends on your budget, how much you’re willing to commit to a skin care habit, and what your expectations are.
Given that LED light therapy masks tend to be on the more expensive side, you need to be willing to commit to regular use in order to make it worth the price tag. Also, LED light masks are for long-term care, not overnight results.
If a few hundred dollars is within your budget, you can commit to diligent use, and you understand that the best results take time, then—yes, LED light therapy is a worthy investment. If not, this might not be the right modality for you.
Alexandra Engler
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