I'm an incredibly nosy person when it comes to beauty products, so I'm fortunate that, as an esthetician, it's part of my job to interrogate people about their skincare routines. I want to know whether you double cleanse at night, what your go-to sunscreen is, the order in which you apply your serums, and which moisturiser you swear by under makeup. In short, I love talking beauty—which also means I spend a lot of time recommending products and helping people to build and tweak their skincare routines, too.
My clients and I discuss everything from face masks and lip balms to supplements and tweakments, but one of the topics I've been most frequently asked about this past year has been LED skincare. Most significantly at-home LED masks—are they worth it, and which are the best ones?
In short, yes, they're totally worth it. As I always say to my clients—if you want to elevate your skincare routine and invest in a beauty tool, an at-home LED mask would be my top recommendation. They have benefits for a wide range of skin types and concerns and are actually very easy and low maintenance to use.
Want to learn more? Below I've answered my clients most-asked questions about at-home LED masks, and listed the devices I've tried and recommend.
What is LED and how does it work?
LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy uses low-level, skin-safe, and totally painless wavelengths light to improve skin’s appearance. Unlike other types of light, LED is safe for use on all skin tones and types because it doesn't contain ultraviolet (UV) rays.
There are a number of different LED colours to choose from, which are determined by the wavelength of the light. Each colour targets a different layer of the skin, and delivers specific skin benefits. The most well-researched and promising wavelengths of light are red, blue, and near-infrared light.
Red light therapy (633nm) reaches into the dermis (middle layer) of the skin, where collagen and elastin are produced. As a result, it's typically used to address signs of skin ageing that result from decreased collagen and elastin production—like loose skin, fine lines, and wrinkles. Red LED light therapy boosts cell energy for collagen and elastin production, leading over time to smoother skin and a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Red LED light is also proven to reduce inflammation and improve circulation, which means it can help to treat inflammatory skin conditions, like rosacea, acne, and eczema.
Near-infrared light (830nm) penetrates even deeper within the skin, increasing cellular activity so that our cells behave more efficiently. It increases the skin's production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid to result in a firmer, tighter and brighter complexion. Near-infrared also reduces inflammation and pain by increasing blood flow and tissue oxygenation.
Blue light therapy (415nm) functions as a treatment for breakouts by killing off breakout-causing bacteria in the epidermis (upper layer) of the skin It also reduces excess oil production and increases hydration—hydrated skin is better able to balance oil production and promote skin healing. Furthermore, blue light increases blood circulation, which helps to eliminate toxins and provide nutrients to the skin.
One of my favourite things about LED light therapy is that it doesn’t require any physical stimulation of the skin, so it's suitable for even the most sensitive and easily-irritated complexions.
What should you look out for when buying an at-home LED mask?
When shopping for an at-home LED mask, the most important things to keep in mind are the amount of lights on the device (basically, the more, the better) and the irradiance coverage that the lights provide (the power per unit area of light that hits the surface illuminated).
It's also really important to check that the device specifies the exact wavelength of the lights that it uses, rather than giving a vague span.
Some devices claim to utilise other wavelegnths of light, like green and yellow, however there's not enough evidence to prove that these colours are effective.
To further ensure that the device you're buying will be safe and effective, look for further accreditations. Devices that are produced or sold in America will often be 'FDA-cleared' or 'FDA-approved'.
As a general rule, devices which tick all of the boxes above and are high-quality and well-made will cost upwards of £250, so don't be tempted by cheaper options, which may have compromised efficacy.
How do at-home LED masks compare to professional ones?
Professional LED devices used by skincare professionals in facials typically have hundreds more lights than at-home masks. This means they can offer a very powerful treatment in a short space of time, but it also means they're much more expensive—typically costing thousands of pounds.
At-home LED masks are designed to offer the best results possible at a more affordable price point. They still utilise the same effective technology, but will need to be used more frequently to see results.
What is the best at-home LED mask?
I've tried a number of different LED devices so am frequently asked this question, but most at-home masks have a very similar specification, and providing your device has all of the features listed above, there isn't necessarily one that's better than any other.
What I always advise clients to consider is what they want from a mask. Many have extra features, some are more travel-friendly the others, and some masks will offer a number of different lights whereas others will utilise just one.
To help you figure out what which at-home LED device will be best for you, I've listed my favourites (all tried and tested) below.
Shop At-Home LED Masks:
The new and improved version of Current Body's original LED mask is one of my go-tos. It always helps to calm any redness or sensitivity, and I always get compliments on my 'glow' when I've been using it frequently. If you want to read our full review, our beauty editor put it to the test for full months.
Wavelengths: Red, near-infrared, and deep near-infrared.
Number of lights: 236
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Flexible silicone material, lightweight and travel-friendly, chin and jaw coverage, FDA-cleared.
Cons: Large fit, can be bright around eyes.
Customer Review: "Absolutely in love with this product. I get excited to use it. The results on my skin pigmentation and wrinkles have been unmatched.The mask itself is super flexible and extremely comfortable to wear compared to others I’ve tried. I can’t fault this product."
If I'm reading or watching TV then I typically use this mask, since the enhanced eye protection blocks the brightness. The under-eye cooling pads are also a blessing for puffy morning eyes.
Wavelengths: Red, near-infrared, blue.
Number of lights: 480
Treatment time: 8 or 6 minutes.
Pros: Built-in cooling eye pads, fits securely, good eye protection.
Cons: Large and bulky, not travel-friendly.
Customer Review: "My first LED mask and I love it! So far all good, easy to use, unsure of results as still early days. Short programs make it easy to use daily. Under eye cooling is amazing! Love!"
This is a great option if you're breakout-prone—I typically recommend this option to my acne-prone clients. The combination of red and blue light works very quickly to take down breakouts.
Wavelengths: Red, blue.
Number of lights: 132
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Flexible silicone material, lightweight and travel-friendly.
Cons: Large fit, can be bright around eyes.
Customer Review: "Invested after seeing this all over tiktok - I have suffered from up and down skin for years, usually stress/alcohol/hormornal - this time around around my jaw but usually my cheek areas with re-occurring issues. I use this every morning when I get up in my 10 min snooze and my skin has completely cleared up - I’ve changed nothing else in my life!! My skin is clearer, less scaring and looking much clearer overall. I love it!"
Price shown is member price.
Beauty Pie's excellent LED mask is one of the more reasonably priced (if you're a member), but it is often sold out. Curious to know more? Read our full review here.
Wavelengths: Red, near-infrared.
Number of lights: 58
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Affordable price point (for members), lightweight and travel-friendly.
Cons: Often out of stock.
Customer Review: "I can't believe the difference in my skin after 3 months of using the mask. The darker pigmentation on my forehead has reduced and my skin looks brighter."
The Light Salon offer professional LED facials in their salons across London, so their at-home LED mask is a trustworthy option.
Wavelengths: Red, near-infrared.
Number of lights: 112
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Flexible silicone material, lightweight and travel-friendly.
Cons: Expensive price point.
Customer Review: "Battery charge is very good. I like the fact that it has an automatic timer. Mask is comfortable to wear and very relaxing. I have only used the mask a few times but can see an improvement in skin tone already."
This FDA-cleared mask is another excellent option for breakout-prone skin, thanks to its combination of red and blue light.
Wavelengths: Red, blue.
Number of lights: 132
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Flexible silicone material, lightweight and travel-friendly
Cons: Expensive price point.
Customer Review: "I know everyone says this but i genuinely never write reviews. But I feel like I have to. I was waking up every morning with new blemishes just adding to the ones I had. A mixture of stress and hormones as I have endometriosis. Since the first use of this mask (I have had it one week) I have not had any new spots AND my existing ones have cleared! Scarring has gone down. It’s an investment but it is so so worth it!"
Shop More At-Home LED Devices:
Wavelengths: Red, near-infrared.
Number of lights: 96
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Flexible silicone material, lightweight and travel-friendly, can be used anywhere on the body.
Cons: Small size.
Customer Review: "Its early days but have used for a couple of weeks, nearly every other day, on different joints and muscles including knees and hands, also on lower back and it does seem to help mild aches and pains as red light is anti-inflammatory. There are a lot of scientific papers about red light online and I researched before buying.I also use it on upper chest for sun damage and on a couple of scars on my arm."
Wavelengths: Red, blue.
Number of lights: 12
Treatment time: 4 minutes.
Pros: Small and travel-friendly, can be used while on-the-go.
Cons: Doesn't always stay stuck in place.
Customer Review: "Best product for my hormonal breakouts! Better than any skin care product I have tried. I love how small it is, so I can carry it with me every where I go."
Price shown is member price.
Wavelengths: Red, near-infrared.
Number of lights:
Treatment time: 10 minutes.
Pros: Targets signs of ageing in the neck and chest area.
Cons: Only fits one area of the body.
Customer Review: "Impressed [by] the face mask so bought the neck. Only used for a week but can already see an improvement."
Wavelengths: Red, deep red, near-infrared.
Number of lights: 80
Treatment time: 3 minutes.
Pros: Targets signs of ageing in the eye and brow area.
Cons: Doesn't cover full face.
Customer Review: "In just four weeks, I saw a visible difference to the fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes. I also found that my skin is more radiant, and looks much healthier than it did before the treatment."
-
I Asked 6 Jet-Setting Beauty Editors for Their Nonnegotiable Travel ItemsJust in time for your holiday travel plans.
-
I'm Kicking Off 2025 With an Elite Beauty Routine—30 Finds I Can't Wait to Start UsingMy wallet won't know what hit it.
-
I Don't Believe in Glow-Ups, But My "Winter Arc" Is Fueled by These Beauty PicksIt's all about consistency.
-
Of the 53+ Cyber Monday Beauty Finds I Favorited, These Are the 12 I Actually BoughtI can't wait to use them.
-
I Just Learned You Can Get Botox for "Tech Neck," and I'm Sprinting to My DermHere's what you need to know.
-
Peach & Lily's Viral New Sheet Mask Is the Ultimate Hack for *Instant* Glass SkinA lit-from-within glow that doesn't quit.
-
16 K-Beauty Gifts Every Skincare Lover Deserves—Including YouTreat yourself!
-
TikTok's Nyane Is Making AI-Inspired Makeup Feel Nostalgic One Viral Video at a TimeIt doesn't get more real than this.
