Want Ridiculously Good Skin? Let’s Talk About LED Masks (2024)

I tested the ultra-IG-famous Dr. Dennis Gross red-light mask for an entire month, and now it has a permanent spot in my skincare routine. It's got a whole lotta bells and whistles (162 red and blue LED lights to amp up your collagen production and help get rid of pimple-causing bacteria, to be exact), but my absolute favorite feature is just how quick the treatments are. I only have to stick this on my face for three (3!!!!) minutes daily. Every morning while I'm making my coffee, I just strap it around my head, turn it on, and let the lights do their thing until it automatically turns off. It's done by the time my kettle's done boiling. It's that simple. And as someone who struggles with both acne and faces the imminent formation of fine lines and wrinkles, I'm obsessed with the ability to use both red and blue light at the exact same time. Truly, it's a game-changer in my self-care routine.

• Light type: Red and blue
• Mask type: Hard shell
• Usage: Three minutes daily

Glowing customer review: “I bought this about a year ago and it totally helped clear up my breakouts and adult acne. It also helps with wrinkles too. My skin looks amazing and I am always receiving compliments on it—highly recommend!!”

Of every LED mask I've put on my face, this is hands-down the most fancy. It has 770 LED bulbs, emits four different types of light (infrared, red, blue, and green) and has six different treatment modes, including anti-aging, purifying, brightening, post-procedure, calming, and anti-aging express.

I freakin' love that there are so many options depending on your skin type and needs. During my treatment, I went with 10 minutes of blue light to help prevent acne, followed by 10 minutes of red light as a boost for collagen production. And the glow after was real. Plus, it felt totally comfortable on my face, heating up slightly, which actually made me fall asleep on the table (lol).

Deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo, who co-authored this story, has the device at home, where she does 10 minutes of the purifying and 10 minutes of brightening. "After a month, I feel like my hormonal acne breakouts have chilled out quite a bit and the overall tone of my skin has improved too," she says. And yes, at $1700 this is absolutely a major investment, but it's the closest thing to a professional LED treatment at home, per her testing.

• Light type: Red, infrared, blue, green
• Mask type: Hard shell
• Usage: 5 to 30 minutes daily

Glowing customer review: "I compared my Déesse mask to two other LED masks I had lying around and this definitely was a case of you get what you paid for. The LEDs alone were surprisingly so much brighter than the other two masks. My skin felt supple after my first session, the post mask glow is heavenly."

My favorite thing about the trendy Solawave Skincare Wand is the LED light feature, so when I saw the brand also had a full-face LED mask while scrolling on Insta, you better believe I snagged one for testing ASAP. The mask has one setting for anti-aging with red lights and another setting for acne with blue lights, but because acne is my main skin concern I focused on the blue light setting. After using it daily for five weeks, I really felt like it helped make the cystic breakouts around my chin and cheeks less angry and inflamed.

• Light type: Red and near-infrared
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: 10 minutes a day at least 3 days a week

Cosmo review: "One thing about me... i'm not a tech savvy girl. so I was a little hesitant to step into the world of LED beauty tools, but wow I am SO glad I did. This face mask from Solawave is quite literally a foolproof spa-esque treatment in the comfort of your home. The mask itself is super easy to assemble, and the silicone material is very comfy so you can sit, lie, or scroll—however you please—during the 10-minute treatment. After just a few uses, I noticed the hyperpigmentation around my chin (curse you, hormonal acne) faded after many failed spot treatments, and my skin overall feels rejuvenated AF." — Jasmine Hyman, assistant shopping editor

Fact: This light-therapy mask is pretty well known in the Hollywood circles (remember when Lily Collins wore it in season three of Emily in Paris??), thanks to skincare-obsessed makeup artists (and, sure, some good advertising). But the hype is valid: The silicone LED mask is not only super flexible—so it can bend and reach every angle of your face and jaw—but it’s also specifically designed to target fine lines and wrinkles with two red-light wavelengths. It’s not exactly a substitute for, say, getting Botox, but it’s definitely a noninvasive, non-irritating treatment to try at home.

• Light type: Red and near infrared
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: 10 minutes daily

Glowing customer review: “I’ve had so many compliments on my skin since I started using this mask. It’s made my skin appear more smooth and glowy and even though it costs a pretty penny, I see it as an investment since I no longer need to get pro facials as often.”

The combo of red and near-infrared LED lights in this mask are clutch for reducing inflammation, rejuvenating skin, and giving your face a healthy glow. I love that it’s cordless, so you can pop the mask and go about your day. For optimal skin plumping and smoothing results, you’ll want to use this LED face mask for either 10 or 30 minutes five times a week.

• Light type: Red and near infrared
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: Up to 30 minutes a day 5 times a week

Glowing customer review: “This LED mask is so compact and lightweight that it is such an ideal travel product. The adjustable fitting of the product was really nice too—especially since I do struggle with masks like this fitting my smaller face."

Therabody (the makers of the buzzy TheraFace PRO skincare device) launched this full-face LED mask back in the fall and it's been a hit among influencers and editors (myself included) ever since. For one, it's the probably the most comfortable LED mask I've ever tried (largely because of the protective eye inserts and adjustable strap design). It's also got a gentle vibration setting to help ease facial tension and help you relax during the treatment, which is so nice after a long day. And it works quickly—just pop it on and let the pre-timed 9-minute treatment cycle through the red, infrared, and blue lights.

• Light type: Red, infrared, blue
• Mask type: Hard shell
• Usage: 9 minutes daily

Glowing customer review:"With my skin tone and overall radiance, I can see a huge difference. The vibration is very soothing. My skin is getting tighter and I love how it feels."

When I first saw aesthetician Elizabeth Hand, she gave me a full protocol to help my acne, including sitting under this LED mask panel every single day. It's actually the specific device she uses in her practice (along with hella other pros, including Dr. Rogers, peep her review below). "Celluma Pro is by far the best LED on the market, with red, blue, and near-infrared light for anti-aging, acne clearing, wound healing, pain relief, and even potentially hair-growth benefits," explains Hand.

I specifically went for the Lite model, which is great for at-home use. "It gives an amazing glow after just one 15-minute use, but for long-term benefits, it should be used on clean, product-free skin at least 3x per week for 15 minutes," says Hand.

We both love the flexible panel design, so it can be used as a face mask (when propped up with the facial rest stands) or on different areas of your body (like I constantly hold it over my stomach to potentially help encourage collagen production to prevent and smooth stretch marks over time). But "I love flattening it out and laying on my chest for fine lines, bending it over my head like a little bonnet for hair growth and wrapping it over my forearm muscles to ease the soreness that comes from giving facials," adds Hand.

• Light type: Blue, red, infrared
• Mask type: Flexible panel
• Usage: 30 minutes daily

Expert review: "I use the Celluma for 30 minutes twice a week on my entire face, including my lips, and I love the results." — dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD.

If you’re dealing with allover face breakouts and already have a consistent routine of acne products, spot treatments, and prescription help (ahem, seriously, go see a dermatologist before shelling out any more money!), then you might want to add this FDA-cleared LED mask to your routine. It’s specifically designed to help treat acne with red and blue LED lights, and the mask itself is silicone and flexible, making it relatively comfy to wear. FYI: Dr. Rogers is a fan of this LED mask, so you know it's a good one.

• Light type: Red and blue
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: 10 minutes a day four times a week

Glowing customer review: “I’ve spend so much time and money trying to fix my acne and nothing has worked as well as this mask. It’s not cheap, but it’s honestly so effective at clearing up whiteheads and red pimples.”

While some LED masks can make you gulp at their price, LED mask from Skin Gym is one of the most affordable full-face light-therapy masks on the list. It’s simple, easy to wear, and comes with red, blue, and orange lights to switch between. Bonus: It’s fully wireless (and comes with a USB charger), so you won’t be stuck in one spot during your daily 15- to 30-minute session.

• Light type: Blue, red, orange
• Mask type: Lightweight plastic
• Usage: Up to 30 minutes a day five times a week

Glowing customer review: “This LED mask is perfect for the amount of money that you’re spending. It’s lightweight and cordless and my skin feels tighter and looks more even-toned after using it.”

Don’t wanna physically hold or strap on your LED light to reap the anti-aging benefits? WOW, OKAY. But hey, I gotchu. This light therapy shield fits on your face like a pair of glasses and combines red light to boost collagen, blue light to kill acne bacteria, green light to reduce discoloration, and amber light to potentially calm inflammation. After cleansing your face, put on the included safety goggles, slip the FDA-cleared mask over your ears, then wear it for 15 minutes, switching between the three colors. Repeat three to five days a week and marvel at the magic that is technology.

• Light type: Red, blue, amber, green
• Mask type: Lightweight plastic
• Usage: 15 minutes a day five times a week

Glowing customer review: “I love, love, love this mask. I come home, put my PJs on, put on my fave podcast, pop this baby on, and treat myself to an acne-clearing session. My skin looks brighter with fewer dark spots and breakouts.”

The latest LED mask to cross my desk, this pick from NYC-facialist Joie Tavernise checks all the right boxes. It's easy to use (thanks to the lightweight, wireless design), feels comfy on my face and doesn't dig into the skin around my eyes or nose, and emits tried-and-true red and blue LED lights to stimulate collagen production, minimize inflammation, and help prevent acne.

• Light type: Red and blue
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: 10 minutes daily

Glowing customer review: "I'm so happy I bought this! It's really giving my skin a nice glow and it's so easy to use so I stay consistent with it."

When you’re wearing an LED mask for 10 minutes a day, three to five days a week, comfort is something you’re going to want. This LED mask is made of lightweight, medical-grade silicone, so it bends to fit snugly across your face. Not only is it FDA-approved for safety, but it’s also been tested to the highest eye-safety standards, so you don’t have to stress while the red and near-infrared wavelengths get to work on reducing inflammation and redness and smoothing your wrinkles and fine lines.

• Light type: Red and near infrared
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: 10 minutes daily five times a week

Glowing customer review: “Great for rosacea! I love this product. It’s straightforward and easy to use. I love that it’s cordless and hands-free. I’ve been using it every night for almost a month now and my rosacea has improved noticeably.”

This top-selling LED face mask will give you all of the selfies thanks to a chic rose-quartz design—and some extra-glowy skin. The LED mask uses red and blue lights to reduce inflammation, boost skin elasticity and firmness, and curb breakouts. Start out with 10-minute sessions (after washing your face each morning or night), two to three times a week, then gradually increase your treatments to five times a week.

• Light type: Red and blue
• Mask type: Flexible silicone
• Usage: 10 minutes a day five times a week

Glowing customer review: “Not only is this the prettiest LED mask I’ve ever seen, it genuinely works! I’m six weeks in and my skin feels plumper/smoother and my breakouts are less red and angry too.”

Provided you're using a reputable device, light therapy or LED (aka light-emitting diode) masks might potentially work. These devices use varying wavelengths of light, which are thought to trigger skin changes at a molecular level—like stimulate collagen production, kill some acne-causing bacteria, balance oil production, and even reduce inflammation.

That said, "in the short term, LED lights seems to be safe, but long-term safety of these light therapies remains uncertain," says dermatologist Hadley King, MD. "The bottom line is that there aren't yet large studies demonstrating that these lights are effective." So while I swear by them and have seen hella benefits from my at-home LED masks, the jury's still out on their efficacy and more research needs to be done. Which brings me to...

In my opinion (and that of most derms), the biggest disadvantage of LED masks is that they are an expensive, time-consuming treatment that might not give you the results you're looking for, since more research needs to be done to prove their efficacy. But many derms, aestheticians, and editors swear by them and have seen results. So it's all up to your discretion whether you want to add one to your routine. And, as always, run things by your dermatologist before self-treating. Cool? Cool.

FWIW, overall, these devices are generally considered to be safe, but Dr. Svidzinski recommends purchasing ones that have been cleared by the FDA (which, reminder, is only a testament to its supposed safety—not its efficacy). Dr. Svidzinski explains that while LED skin devices are weak and unlikely to have enough energy to burn your skin, the primary safety concern here is the effect they can have on your eyes, so it’s super important to shield them from the light while using these devices.