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Every now and again, there’s an tech innovation that takes the world by storm: robot vacuums, noise-cancelling headphones, and now in the beauty space, there are LED face masks.

While they’ve been around for a little while, light therapy facial devices are now available everywhere from Boots to Sephora, and even Amazon.

And we know what you’re thinking: okay but aren’t those a fad? That’s a fair assumption, but there is a whole load of evidence to show that red and blue light therapy can take your skincare to a whole new level, reducing everything from signs of ageing to blemishes, and evening skin texture overall.

But often, LED face masks come with a pretty hefty price tag attached.

If you’re going to spend a considerable amount on a new step to your beauty routine, you want it to be effective, so to save you the hassle and the cost of getting it wrong, we’ve tested out the best LED face masks on the market right now.

Keep reading for our round up, and a break down of the benefits using red light therapy. 

Best LED face masks at a glance: 

• Best for overall relaxation: BON CHARGE Red Light Therapy Mask
• Best for blemishes: Shark CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling & LED Anti-Ageing & Blemish Repair Mask
• Best for anti-ageing: Megelin Duo-Lux LASER&LED Light Therapy Mask
• Best app-controlled: Lustre RENEW Pro Facewear Wireless LED Mask

How we tested the best LED face masks

As with most things beauty-related, results are not instantaneous. To make sure we got the full impact of LED face masks, our shopping writer called in the help of other HuffPost colleagues, including our deputy editor Dayna McAlpine, along with friends and family to speed up the testing process.

Each tester used their chosen LED mask for a series of weeks, if not months, to tell whether they thought it was worth recommending.

We asked testers to consider: the comfort of the LED mask, including the weight of the mask itself and if the straps were adjustable; how easy it was to control using the remote or an app; the types of light therapy it uses and if the settings were intuitive; and added extras like storage bags and cooling eye technology.

The best LED face masks to shop now

BON CHARGE Red Light Face Mask

Pros:
+ BON CHARGE encourages you to slow down and relax while using the face mask
+ Can feel the difference after one use
Cons:
– Feels hot against your skin, which other masks don’t

Too often, we add another step into our skincare routine with results in mind, rather than enjoying the process.

If you need an excuse to slow down and smell the roses a little, BON CHARGE has just launched its new method led by ‘personal trainer to the stars’ Fike Swan.

I tested the mask for two weeks and the method encourages you to massage your lymph nodes and manifest better skin confidence while using it, which admittedly sounds quite woo woo but is an enjoyable experience and reminder to chill out for at least 10 minutes a day.

Instead of distinct ‘modes’, this mask lets you choose from three different red light intensities and enable near infrared power, as well as set a timer for up to thirty minutes of use.

Then, if you want a little extra step to help you wind down, the accompanying skin manifestation video will guide you through facial and neck massage before leading into a guided breathwork and manifestation.

While my skin certainly looked brighter and more radiant after a few uses, one thing to note is that the mask feels slightly warm against your skin, which can result in condensation building up against the surface while you’re using it – so remember to give it a wipe down between uses.

Rating: 4.4/5.

Shark CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling & LED Anti-Ageing & Blemish Repair Mask

Pros:
+ Comfortable to wear
+ Improves under eye circles and puffiness
+ Can see improvement after a couple of weeks
+ Use for as little as five minutes a day
Cons:
– Some say it’s too heavy.

If blemishes are your main concern, this Shark face mask has been proven to improve skin texture in a matter of weeks. Using a combination of red and blue light therapy, it targets pore size, minimises blemishes, and reduces the texture of fine lines. 

Use the attached remote control to choose between the blue light setting, which calms the skin and evens skin texture, or the red light setting to plump skin and target wrinkles or sagging. 

Plus, on either setting you can choose an extra boost from the CryoGlow, as it’s the first LED light therapy mask in the UK to use under-eye cooling technology to improve the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes.

Dayna McAlpine, Deputy Editor: ”My relationship with my CryoGlow Mask might be my most consistent – I’ve been using it religiously, every single night, for over a year now. When I have stopped using it for a few weeks at a time here and there, I’ve noticed the difference in the plumpness of my skin considerably! 

“As a mega PMS girlie whose skin is normally annihilated by hormonal acne every month without fail, the mask has had a huge impact on the number of zits that call my face home in the run up to my period. 

“The best bit, however? The under eye cooling technology on a hungover morning. Get it dialled up to the highest setting and you can actually feel life seeping back into your body.”

Rating: 4.7/5.

Megelin Duo-Lux LASER&LED Light Therapy Mask

Pros:
+ The shape and feel of it is the best I’ve tried
+ Packaging feels luxury (because at £600 it is!)
+ Targets deep into the skin with different levels of red light
+ Easy to set up and put on – no fussy straps
Cons:
– It’s pricey, to say the least.

If you’ve dabbled with red light therapy before, you might be looking for something a little stronger.

This heavy-duty LED mask is loaded with a fusion of red light and laser, which sends the light deeper into your face to target ageing, pigmentation, and overall inflammation. 

Unlike other masks, this one doesn’t have a hole for your mouth, but don’t worry, it’s not uncomfortable, despite actually sitting on your face the most snugly out of all of the masks.

It’s easy to set up, with just one set of straps for each side (no fussing around) and the shape is moulded to contour your face precisely to optimise the delivery of the light.

There are also four modes to choose from for an even more tailored experience, including to target wrinkles, skin toning, inflammation, and daily repair.

The remote control makes it clear what mode you’re on, as well as which of the amber, red, near infrared, and deep near infrared intensities you’ve selected.

After using this for a couple of weeks, I noticed my skin looking glowier and smoother overall – and I’m not the only one.

One reviewer says: “my skin looks noticeably firmer after only a couple of weeks” and another claims: “I’ve used many masks but this is the first one where I see real wrinkle smoothing and tone improvement.”

Rating: 4.7/5

StylPro Wavelength LED Face Mask

Pros:
+ Flexible shape that moulds to your face
+ Mask straps are adjustable

Cons:
– The eye pads are fiddly to put in

Good skin shouldn’t have to cost a fortune, so if you’re tempted to try LED therapy but don’t want to break the bank, this Stylpro mask comes in at under £100.

Unlike other LED face masks, this one is flexible, so it moulds precisely to your face – helped along by the adjustable straps that hold it tight against your head.

Choose from four settings: anti-ageing, target (to reduce blemishes and inflammation), recovery (for inflammation and overall skin health, and balance (for a combo of all three). 

While the eye pads aren’t quite as easy to put in as other masks, the rest of the process is entirely intuitive, as it only takes a few seconds to set up the remote control once it’s charged.

Not to mention, it’s just as effective as other LED masks despite being on the cheaper end. Our tester noticed their skin was more glowy and spots were less noticeable after just a few uses, and other reviewers also claim that using the mask reduces their fine lines and wrinkles.

‘I have been using this consistently for a few months now and I have noticed a huge change in my skin,’ says one five-star reviewer. ‘I have PCOS, therefore I struggle with painful cystic acne and I have done since I was 12. This has helped me manage my breakouts and my skin has cleared. I now only get the odd few pimples. I would recommend this to anyone.’

Rating: 4.3/5

Lustre RENEW Pro Facewear Wireless LED Mask

Pros:
+ App-controlled (and easy to use)
+ The shape is comfortable and not too rigid
+ Eye pads are thick
+ Comes with a storage bag
Cons:
– No remote control to power up without app

Of all the LED masks I tested, the Lustre was the most accessible in terms of price and usability.

While it’s not the cheapest LED mask on the market, you get serious bang for your buck thanks to the fact it’s app-controlled and not too heavy.

Thanks to the stretchy adjustable velcro straps, it sits flush against your face, and it’s not too rigid or too floppy (what Goldilocks would call just right, folks).

It also uses blue, red, and near-infrared light, which are all completely customisable and can be used in combination with one another via the app, for personalised skincare depending on your concerns.

I used the mask a few times a week for a month and my skin has a noticeably more even texture and looks glowier than ever. 

Rating: 4.8/5

Buffy LED Light Therapy Face Mask

Pros:
+ Simple set-up
+ Six modes to choose from including red, blue, and yellow light
+ Can share with a partner
+ Comes with a storage bag
Cons:
– Over the head strap is a bit fussy

Men love their gadgets, so there’s no reason they shouldn’t love one for skincare, too.

Designed specifically for larger faces, this mask uses a combination of red, near infrared, blue, and yellow light therapy to target concerns from ageing to blemishes. 

Choose from one of the six different modes – including repairing, rejuvenation, anti-ageing, morning, anti-acne, and bedtime – and sit back for just 10 minutes a day to work towards clearer, less inflamed skin. 

“I bought this mask after having one from eBay for a while,’ shares one five-star reviewer. “I swear to god my acne scars are so much less noticeable with this mask.”

There’s also no difference in the technology used on this compared with female-specific LED mask, so it can easily be shared with a partner to make it even better value for money.

Rating: 4.7/5

Final verdict

Overall, the best LED mask for anti-ageing is the Megelin mask, as it uses a combination of near infrared light and red light, and it’s the most comfortable to use.

However, a more budget-friendly option is the LUSTRE mask, which is a similar structure and can be controlled via the app to personalise your therapy benefits. 

What are the benefits of LED light therapy?

While there are plenty of skincare devices on the market these days, it’s unclear what is simply a gimmick and what will actually be effective. However, there is plenty of research to suggest that red light therapy will improve skin health and appearance. 

A 2022 study found that red and amber light therapy could reduce wrinkle volume by 30%. Meanwhile, a separate study shows LED therapy could improve skin elasticity and boost collagen, which can also reduce signs of ageing.

What is the difference between red light therapy and blue light therapy?

Due to the length of the light rays, red light can reach deeper into the skin than blue light.

Therefore, red light therapy is used to stimulate collagen and reduce inflammation, which can prevent breakouts, while blue light targets the surface of the skin and can kill bacteria that leads to breakouts.