Best LED face masks 2024: luxury beauty tech for better looking skin

The best LED face masks are the latest products to have taken over the beauty industry. While you might think they look terrifying or are a fad, T3 has tested our fair share and have come to the conclusion that LED face masks are in!

Perfect skin that’s bright, clear and wrinkle-free is something everyone is trying to achieve. Whether you follow a strict 18-step skincare routine or choose to shave away the top layers of your skin by dermaplaning, a new-ish skincare advancement has arrived in the form of LED face masks.

I’m not talking about the slimy clay-like face masks that you can get from your local Boots. No, I’m talking about LED light therapy masks that you used to only see and use at spas. LED face masks have had a huge surge of popularity, and while they do give off a creepy Hannibal Lecter vibe, the benefits of this skincare are truly incredible.

To find out more, here's our top picks for the best LED face masks, including everything you need to know about them, like what they are, how they work and if they're really effective.

WRITTEN BY

WRITTEN BY

Bethan Girdler-Maslen

Beth is Home Editor for T3, covering style, living and wellness. Beth has tried the latest and greatest skincare tools, including LED face masks, microcurrent devices, facial brushes and much more. She gets a kick out of terrifying her fiancé when she walks into a room wearing an LED face mask, but she also enjoys being able to give advice on this new beauty tech to T3 readers, too.

The top three

Best LED face mask 2024

The best LED face mask overall

The best LED face masks you can buy today is the impressive HigherDose Red Light Face Mask. This wearable, comfortable and portable LED face mask will leave your skin looking and feeling rejuvenated. With 10 or 20 minute treatments to choose between, the HigherDose Red Light Face Mask fits easily into your lifestyle and its three-part head strap means you can easily wear it while relaxing or doing chores around the house.

Using red and near-infrared wavelengths, the HigherDose Red Light Face Mask works to stimulate collagen to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, calm redness, and create an even skin tone. The mask also works deeply into the skin’s hypodermis to boost blood circulation and bring oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

Read our HigherDose Red Light Face Mask review for all the details.

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The best LED face mask for acne

If you suffer with acne, breakouts and scarring, the best LED face mask to reduce and rid your skin of these problems is the Omnilux Clear. The comfortable mask uses a combination of blue and red light therapy to balance out the skin and clear it in a non-invasive way.

The use of blue light penetrate the skin’s surface to target and kill the breakout-feeding acne bacteria, while the red light penetrates the dermis deeply to trigger the body’s natural healing response and increase the production of collagen, while simultaneously decreasing excess oil production. Our reviewer who dealt with adult acne swears by the Omnilux Clear, not only for its ability to reduce acne but as it also prevents future breakouts.

Read our Omnilux Clear review for more details.

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The best LED face mask for youthful skin

For healthier, plumper and more youthful looking skin, the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask gets our vote! This LED face mask uses a combination of red and near-infrared lights to naturally stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. In doing this, it leaves the skin looking firmer and plumper.

The CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask claims to be 31% more powerful than other LED masks on the market, as it uses Pillow Technology that helps to evenly distribute the LEDs for maximum efficacy and absorption. Our reviewer found that her hyperpigmentation and dark circles decreased while puffy eyes appeared more open and lines around her lips diminished.

Read our CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask review for more details.

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The best affordable LED face mask

The best affordable LED face mask is the SENSSE Pro LED Face Mask. Comfortable to wear and with plenty of coloured lighting to switch between, this LED face mask has 90 lights that emit at different levels to tackle multiple skin problems.

While users found the remote a little flimsy, it’s great for blood circulation, collagen production and reducing wrinkles. But as the most inexpensive option on our list, the SENSSE Pro LED Face Mask is still a brilliant face mask to try, especially for beginners.

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The best luxury LED face mask

Loved by dermatologists, skincare experts and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Madonna, the Déesse PRO LED Phototherapy Mask is the most advanced and luxurious face mask you can buy today.

The Déesse PRO features 770 medical grade LED lights which is three times more than other LED face masks. It uses four different colours of LEDs and six modes of light therapry to treat a variety of skin concerns. For example, it's red light mode is best for circulation and inflammation, while its blue light is best for acne, spots and scarring. Its green light mode improves uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation and near-infrared light reduces fine lines and restores the skin barrier.

As it's seriously advanced, the Déesse PRO LED Phototherapy Mask comes with a pretty high price tag at £1,440. While LED face masks aren't exactly cheap, the Déesse PRO LED Phototherapy Mask is at an entirely new level, but who doesn't love a bit of luxury, after all?

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The best LED face mask for comfortability

An affordable and comfortable LED face mask is the Silk'n LED Face Mask 100. Despite its low price (compared to its competitors), the Silk'n LED Face Mask 100 performs surprisingly well with its four different coloured LED lights that support and tackle different skincare concerns.

While the straps were a bit fiddly, our reviewer found that the Silk'n LED Face Mask 100 visibly improved the conditionof her skin in just four weeks. The results showed a brighter-looking complexion and reduced signs of blemishes and acne. With red, blue, purple and yellow coloured lights to choose from, the Silk'n LED Face Mask 100 takes care of most skin concerns in an effective and low-cost package.

Read our Silk'n LED Face Mask 100 for more details.

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The best LED face mask for light options

From the massaging and sports recovery manufacturer, Therabody, the TheraFace Mask is an admirable LED mask that leaves the skin look brighter and tighter. It banishes blemishes quickly and stops spots from fully emerging and getting too red and sore.

To tackle most skincare concerns, the TheraFace Mask has 648 lights in the mask that covers the entire face. With quick nine minute programmes, the TheraFace Mask runs through the three different light options: red, red + infrared and blue. It also has vibration massaging technology that massages your forehead, undereyes and scalp to relieve tension.

At £549, the TheraFace Mask is definitely an investment piece. The only negative our tester could find was that it's not best for smaller heads and faces, as it can be quite heavy and dig into the nose. Aside from that, the TheraFace Mask gives amazing results and makes you feel relaxed while it's in use.

Read our TheraFace Mask review for more details.

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The best LED face mask for under eyes

If your eye area is a main concern, then you'll love the CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector. Solely dedicated to soothing signs of crows feet, wrinkles and wrinkles around the eye area, the CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector sits comfortably over your eyes and does its magic in just three minutes.

The CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector uses four powerful LED wavelengths to boost collagen and elastin production for a more youthful eye are. Its 80 LEDs are surprisingly powerful, so we wouldn't recommend using it without the safety goggles as the brightness can be intense. But the CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector is comfortable to wear and makes you look like a superhero!

Read our full CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector review for more details.

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LED face mask FAQs

What are LED face masks?

LED or Light Emitting Diode face masks use light in and beyond the visible spectrum to treat the skin. They emit varying wavelengths of light which penetrate the skin and are absorbed by the skin’s receptors. As the wavelength increases, so does the depth, meaning the skin absorbs more light further into its layers. LED light therapy comes in many different colours, including red, blue and yellow. Each light type tackles different skin problems or conditions (more on this later) as the colour stimulates a different response within the skin’s cells.

LED face masks have become increasingly popular, mainly due to TikTok and Instagram, and provide a variety of benefits to the skin. Like normal face masks, LED face masks sit over the face and many come with fastenings that tie to the back of the head. I’m not going to lie, they look pretty freaky but with so many 5-star reviews, there’s something to be said about their effectiveness.

It’s important to note that if you want to use an LED face mask, always make sure you’re using one that’s approved and has been tested. If you have any eye or skin conditions, you should also speak to your doctor or dermatologist before using an LED face mask.

Which light colour should I use?

Different coloured lights do different things, although the most common light therapies you’ll find are red, blue, yellow and infrared.

Red light is best for reducing inflammation, promoting blood circulation and giving the skin a plumper, healthier glow. Blue light is commonly used to treat acne and scarring. It does this by targeting the skin’s oil glands which kills bacteria inside the pores that leads to fewer breakouts. Red and blue light is often used together for these reasons. Yellow or amber light stimulates collagen production and firms the skin to give a healthier and more glowy complexion. Near-Infrared is used to reduce inflammation, redness and pigmentation.

How to use an LED face mask

Doctors and skincare experts recommend removing any make-up or products from the face and thoroughly cleaning it before using an LED mask. Doing this will ensure your skin properly absorbs the light and gets the full benefits from the light therapy. After using the LED mask, make sure to moisturise or simply complete your nighttime skincare routine.

When it comes to how often you should use an LED face mask, it’s always important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most LED face masks are safe to use every day if you want to, but experts recommend starting with using one 3 times a week for up to 20 minutes a day.

LED face mask pros

LED face masks are primarily designed to clear the skin and remove bacteria to prevent further breakouts. For those who experience acne, LED face masks reduce inflammation, redness and scarring. Depending on the coloured light that you choose, they also improve skin texture, tone and pigmentation, and can reduce wrinkles and signs of ageing. Essentially, using an LED face mask should make your skin look and feel brighter, clearer, smoother, healthier and more radiant.

Another benefit that many users have commented on is LED face masks can improve your mood and stress levels. As LED face masks use light therapy, this light stimulation can boost serotonin levels, leaving you feeling more relaxed and happier. The technology used in LED face masks is similar to the best SAD lamps which are recommended for people who struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Of course, using an LED face mask isn’t going to solve any depression or anxiety symptoms but if they give you a bit of relief from those feelings, that’s a major bonus.

LED face mask cons

Despite their many benefits, LED face masks do come with a few negatives. If you’re constantly exposing yourself to bright light, this can damage the eyes, leading to pain, irritation and changes in vision. If you have any eye conditions, it’s best to speak to a doctor before using an LED face mask, or using protective eyewear underneath the mask. Some experts also say that LED face masks can bring about headaches and sleep disturbances.