Getty | Katie Buckleitner
I’m not gonna lie: Every few months, when I’m dealing with yet another acne breakout, I find myself Googling light therapy masks and adding hundreds of dollars’ worth of LED masks to my shopping cart, convinced they’re the answer to all my pimples, redness, and fine lines. And I know I’m not alone in this excitement/hesitation circle. Because for whatever reason, LED masks are one of those at-home skincare devices that seem too good to be true—even though some of them really, truly work. So if you’re hesitant to spend the cash because you think they don’t actually work, or you’re feeling totally overwhelmed by the huge selection, I totally get it.
But I’m also here to remind you that it’s 2022, and light therapy masks have come a loooong way since their early days. So to help enlighten us on all things LED masks (especially for acne), I chatted with two experts about how they work—and if they work—and then rounded up the 15 best-selling light therapy masks to try for yourself at home.
Meet the experts:
- Uchenna Okereke, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Associates in Canton, MA, and a clinical associate at Massachusetts General Hospital.
- Cula N. Dautriche, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY.
- Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut in multiple locations in CT, and also an associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine.
What do light therapy masks do for your skin?
Light therapy, or LED (aka light-emitting diode) therapy, is a treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light to trigger skin changes at a molecular level—like stimulate collagen production, kill some acne-causing bacteria, balance oil production, and even reduce inflammation. You can get light therapy treatments at your dermatologist’s office (the quickest and most effective), or try light therapy at home in the form of LED masks (the slowest and least effective, but “still better than nothing,” says dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD).
If you’re already starting to scroll for the best light therapy masks, and you don’t give AF about the rest (ahem, reminder that knowledge is power, people!), feel free to take a look at a few of the top LED masks, below. Or—ideally!—keep reading to find out how they work, how quickly they work, and the full list of the top light therapy masks and why.
Our top LED masks and light therapy mask picks of 2022
What to look for in a light therapy mask
The right light type for your skin
At-home LED masks will usually come with a mix of different lights (see: blue, red, orange, amber, and green lights) that are thought to target specific concerns, but the science is iffy on the true efficacy of any light outside of red and blue lights—mostly because red and blue are the most-studied lights so far (so, you know, talk to us in 10 years).
That being said, there’s no harm in testing out each of the lights that come with your light therapy mask, so here’s a quick rundown of how to choose the right light frequency for your skin:
- Red light: If you’re trying to boost collagen production to potentially help with fine lines and wrinkles, choose an LED mask that uses red light.
- Blue light: If your main concern is killing acne-causing bacteria, go with a mix of blue light (which can “target bacteria in the skin,” says Dr. Gohara) and red light (an anti-inflammatory, says dermatologist Uchenna Okereke, MD). which means you’ll commonly find red and blue lights used together to tackle acne breakouts, says Dr. Okereke).
- Orange, amber, white, green lights: If you’re just hoping for an all-over miracle face glow, try ’em all out. They’re thought to help calm skin, fade acne marks, and even out hyperpigmentation, but again—the science isn’t all there yet.
The price of the mask
In general, the old “you get what you pay for” adage is relatively true when it comes to finding the best LED mask, but it’s unfortunately not that clear cut. Like, will the $300 LED mask created by a dermatologist be more effective than the $13 LED mask on Amazon? Most likely yes. But what about a $5,000 mask? Or even a $500 mask? Not necessarily.
Dermatologist Cula N. Dautriche, MD, says that although there isn’t enough data to validate or compare the efficacy across all of these at-home devices, the strength of the higher-end models might be comparable to that of in-office light treatments. But, again, there’s a huge discrepancy in the cost of these things, based on the technology used, the available features, and the materials. So always check the reviews—and the return policy.
Are LED light therapy masks safe?
Overall, these devices are generally considered to be safe, but Dr. Dautriche recommends purchasing ones that have been cleared by the FDA (which, reminder, is only a testament to its supposed safety—not its efficacy). Dr. Dautriche 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. And, as always, run things by your dermatologist before self-treating. Cool? Cool.
Are light therapy masks good for acne?
Listen, they’re not bad for acne. But, as all of our experts agreed, LED masks or light therapy masks won’t give you any dramatic results, especially overnight, and aren’t more effective than tried-and-true retinol, peels, Accutane, or spironolactone. “These devices have potential, but they need to be optimized with other standard treatments,” says Dr. Okereke. “We don’t have enough large studies that demonstrate that these lights are superior or as good as standard treatments.”
Not only that, but there are so many other factors with LED masks that will affect your results, like the strength of the light, the specific wavelength of the light, the distance from the source to the skin, the length of time you use it…the list goes on. Basically, LED masks won’t completely fix your cystic zits, whiteheads, wrinkles, or redness, but they can definitely help to a certain degree over time (think: at least 4-6 weeks to see any results).
Still, as long as you manage your expectations, take the proper safety precautions, and consult your dermatologist, there’s little harm in giving one a shot. Below, nine top-rated, internet-loved LED masks worth checking out. If nothing else, at least you’ll get a good selfie out of it.
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