While some of the other masks require some maneuvering to get into, this one is actually quite simple. You just slide the glasses onto your face and the shield emits its light. Because the mask doesn’t come directly into contact with skin, this gadget is good for people with rosacea who shouldn’t create too much heat on their complexion.
Best LED Face Mask for Acne: Omnilux Clear
Most folks know the Omnilux Contour for its anti-aging purposes but folks love the Omnilux Clear to fight acne. Some 50 million Americans continue to deal with acne as adults, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, and rather than consistently shelling out money on creams, pimple patches, and specialized face washes, the answer could come in the form of this mask. The flexible silicone mask conforms to the head for better full-face coverage, utilizing the power of blue and red LED to target acne on the surface and underneath the skin.
GQ‘s visual editor for GQ Sports Brauna Marks was looking for a mask to combat hormonal, cystic acne that forms deep under the skin’s surface. After about eight uses, Marks noticed that she did have less hormonal acne and that her existing hyperpigmentation had evened out. While she enjoyed the results of wearing the mask, she did find that there were too many wires—one for the remote and one for the mask—to be a pain point, especially since the two parts couldn’t be charged together.
Best LED Face Mask for Hyperpigmentation: Therabody TheraFace Mask
Therabody’s TheraFace mask is so popular that the brand can barely keep it in stock alongside its Theragun massagers. Having tried it ourselves, we think the mask is worth the hype. This mask distinguishes itself from others by also offering vibration therapy around the eyes, browline, and scalp, sort of like a tender massage, which boosts circulation to relieve tension and puffiness. Unlike other face masks, this one has way more lights so it can offer even more targeted therapy.
Our tester, GQ’s associate commerce director Michael Nolledo, had struggled with acne before getting it under control with Accutane. He mainly hoped the mask would help him tackle acne scars, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation, all of which were addressed by the TheraFace, according to him: “The mask has helped reduce inflammation, and evened out some of my darker scars.” While the massage aspect of the mask felt a little gimmicky to him at first, Nolledo says that it does feel relaxing, and that he’s incorporated it into his daily skin care routine, which is also a testament to how easy it is to use as well as how it effective it’s been since his two-month stint testing it.
Best Infrared Face Mask: Qure Q-Rejuvalight Pro LED Therapy Mask
Few masks are equipped with infrared light, which is most sought after because of how deep it can penetrate into the skin for better, longer-lasting results. Qure’s Q-Rejuvalight Pro harnesses the power of lights from blue to infrared to address nearly every skincare concern you could imagine. One of the coolest parts of this mask, however, is that instead of blasting your whole face with a single treatment, you can pick and choose one of five targeted facial areas for a specific treatment. That means if you have a breakout on your chin, you can blast that bad boy to hell, and then target your forehead later on to help smoothen out some wrinkles. GQ‘s visuals director Stephanie Tran has used this mask every day for two masks, hoping to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. While she says the jury’s still out on the wrinkles, she did note that her skin looks brighter and has been looking forward to using it whenever she can.
Best LED Face Mask for Wrinkles: CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask
Few masks are equipped with infrared light, which is most sought after because of how deep it can penetrate into the skin for better, longer-lasting results. Qure’s Q-Rejuvalight Pro harnesses the power of lights from blue to infrared to address nearly every skin care concern you could imagine. One of the coolest parts of this mask, however, is that instead of blasting your whole face with a single treatment, you can pick and choose one of five targeted facial areas for a specific treatment. That means if you have a breakout on your chin, you can blast that bad boy to hell, and then target your forehead later on to help smoothen out some wrinkles. GQ‘s visuals director Stephanie Tran has used this mask every day for two masks, hoping to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. While she says the jury’s still out on the wrinkles, she did note that her skin looks brighter and has been looking forward to using it whenever she can.
Best LED Light Mask for Face and Neck: Shani Darden by Déesse PRO LED Light Mask
One of the earliest signs of aging can be seen in the neck, and the Shani Darden by Déesse PRO LED light mask makes sure to address both your face and neck simultaneously. It features a large of number of LEDs, which increases the surface area of the skin that gets direct, targeted light therapy treatment. We like that the duration of the treatment is only 10 minutes, but having to deal with all the wires is a bit of a mess, though the results at the end of the six-week usage might justify the hassle.
Best Wireless LED Face Mask: Higher Dose Red Light Face Mask
For an untethered way to get into LED therapy, the cordless Higher Dose offers a face mask that lets you live your life while you treat your skin. This mask is able to target skin concerns like acne and wrinkles, all while letting you keep your eyes open in case you have a busy schedule that won’t let you pencil in 10 minutes for self care (though we highly recommend you do just that). In addition to pure lights, the mask utilizes heat to penetrate the skin to aid the skin’s ability to repair itself for those looking to fight signs of aging.
4 More LED Face Masks We Love
For the most part, we think all grooming is unisex. Face washes targeted specifically for men and women are dumb, but a face mask designed just for men? Considering the skin of dudes is about 25% thicker than women’s, LED face masks should have to readjust their lights to better penetrate those mugs. The Omnilux Men does just that, with near-infrared light that wiggles its way into the skin barrier for increased collagen production to fight signs of aging and reduce redness and inflammation.
Solawave makes a variety of facial tools with LED, and we think its Skincare Wand is one of the best. Sure, it’s not a mask, but it still harnesses the power of red light for a quick and easy way to treat your specific skincare concerns. Besides the LEDs, the Skincare Wand also utilizes microcurrents, vibrations, and heat to help aid in skin repair for a youthful glow. We like that this is easy to tote on travels without having to haul a bulky mask, and you can return it within 60 days if you’re not happy with the results (though we’re pretty sure you will be).
One problem with LED face masks is that brands have to go for a one-size-fits all approach with them, but frankly, sometimes they just don’t offer the coverage the way you need. For the FAQ 202, the brand scanned over 10,000 faces to develop this model, which works better on more heads than other masks. This wireless and lightweight mask makes it easy to use, and it offers near-infrared light for deeper skin penetration.
Wait, don’t we have Currentbody’s mask here already? Well, we do, but since the original mask’s release, the brand has updated it with more lights (236 LEDs compared to the OG’s 132), which means you get more coverage across your skin for a more effective treatment. This one does cost more, given the additional 104 LEDs added to the mask, but the brand has also improved its overall fit. Now, the mask offers treatment to your lips, while being more effective for a great range of faces. Adam Hurly, GQ’s grooming correspondent, raved about his Currentbody Series 2 mask, giving it extra props for helping him get through a particularly nasty breakout period. Is this newer version of the mask worth an extra $89? Time will tell, but we wanted to let you know that we do in fact enjoy it—and can say it works very well.
What Is LED Light Therapy?
Essentially, LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy is a non-invasive way to treat and the skin, by harnessing different wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin for various treatments, whether it be acne, wrinkles, or other skin concerns. In the past, the only way to get LED light therapy was by going to an aesthetician, but now LED light masks let you get a facial at home. The at-home devices will emit lights of different wavelengths into the skin, each of which has a different effect on the skin.
Do LED Light Masks Work?
“Despite their striking visual appearance, which may make them seem like a gimmick, studies and physiology support the proposed benefits from LED masks,” says Dr. Luke Maxfield, a board-certified dermatologist. Depending on the wavelength you use on your face, you can find that you’ll have less acne, fewer wrinkles, and smoothened-out fine lines—or otherwise overall skin rejuvenation. Maxfield says that it takes regular, consistent use of an LED face mask before you see results, so don’t expect to remove your mask after the initial use and expect to look 10 years younger.
