Once exclusive to dermatology clinics and expert facialist treatments, the best LED face masks have become one of the most sought-after skincare investments.
A quick scroll through social media and you’ll likely spot one glowing away on someone’s face. But with LED therapy masks costing hundreds of pounds – and some even upwards of £1,000 – which one should you invest in?
After years of testing beauty launches and skincare gadgets, I’ve learnt that the most expensive product isn’t always the one that deserves a place in your routine.
With LED masks, the difference often comes down to the things you can’t judge from the packaging alone – think the light coverage and how comfortable the device is to wear.
Best LED face masks at a glance
Best overall – Shark cryoglow under-eye and LED repair mask: £299.99, Sharkninja.co.uk
Best budget buy – Silk’n LED face mask pro: £220, Lookfantastic.com
Best for comfort – MZ Skin lightMax superCharged LED 2.0 mask: £750, Libertylondon.com
Best for acne – Dr Dennis Gross DRx spectralite faceware pro: £465, Sephora.co.uk
It also depends on your skin goals. “Different colours of LED light penetrate to different levels and can help support different skin concerns, such as blemishes, dullness, fine lines and overall skin quality,” says Dr Mo Hamed aka Dr Motox, owner of Dr Motox Clinic.
But how exactly do they work? “LED light therapy works by using specific-coloured wavelengths to enact change within the skin cell. The skin is receptive to LED light like any other topical ingredient, such as vitamin C or retinol”, explains Dr Dennis Gross, board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Dr Dennis Gross Skincare. “Red LED can immediately diminish redness and inflammation, and with continued use, can also stimulate skin cells to make more of its own collagen, resulting in smoother, stronger skin.
“Blue LED is a powerful tool for targeting acne without harming good bacteria or the surrounding skin. It connects to acne-causing bacteria, encouraging them to self-implode, thus treating acne and preventing breakouts in the first place”.
Modern LED masks even boast features such as under-eye cooling, so knowing what you want to get out of your device can help narrow down your options. After putting the latest devices to the test, these are the LED therapy masks that stood out for their technology, comfort and results.
How I tested
I’ve spend the last few months testing the best LED face masks
Emma North/The Standard
I used each LED face mask consistently over several weeks alongside my usual skincare routine. I assessed how comfortable it felt to wear, how easy it was to use, how well it fitted into my routine and the technology behind each device.
Shark cryoglow under-eye cooling and LED anti-ageing and blemish repair mask
Emma North/The Standard
★★★★★
Best: Overall LED face mask
What we love: Unique cooling under-eye feature, comfortable and skin looked brighter and calmer after consistent use
Take note: It’s noisy, bulkier than most on the market, and doesn’t yeild dramatic results
Shark's cryoglow stood out because it does more than your average LED mask. Alongside red, blue and near-infrared LED light, it features ice-cold under-eye pads designed to help reduce puffiness, which makes it feel like a luxury clinic treatment.
Shark claims visible improvements to fine lines, blemishes and skin firmness in as little as eight weeks. While I'd always take those kinds of promises with a pinch of salt, I found my skin looked brighter and calmer after consistent use rather than dramatically transformed.
It’s comfortable to wear, and I loved the adjustable treatment modes depending on your skin goals. Compared with the CurrentBody LED light therapy face mask, it feels more versatile, although it's noticeably bulkier and not one I'd want to pack in my suitcase.
- Device type: Rigid mask
- Light modes: Red (630nm) and blue (415nm) light, and near infrared (830nm)
- Number of LEDs: 480
- Wireless: Yes
- Treatment time: 8 minutes
- Uses per charge: 9-30
Silk’n LED face mask pro
Emma North/The Standard
★★★★★
Best: Budget LED face mask
What we love: Great for travel, relatively affordable, chin coverage, and hands-free
Take note: The seven modes might feel confusing for first-time users
Silk’n’s LED Face mask pro is the one I’d pick if you’re curious about LED therapy but don’t want to spend over £300 on your first device. It has seven different modes designed to target a range of skin concerns, from signs of ageing to blemishes, using a combination of red, blue, near-infrared and other LED wavelengths.
I liked the full face and chin coverage, as well as the fact it comes with a handy travel pouch to keep everything protected. Compared to the CurrentBody Skin LED face mask series 2, it gives you far more settings and is totally hands-free.
- Device type: Flexible mask
- Light modes: Amber (605nm), red (633nm), near infrared (830nm), deep near infrared (1072nm), blue (463nm)
- Number of LEDs: 120
- Wireless: Yes
- Treatment time: 10-15 minutes
- Uses per charge: 12-13
MZ Skin lightmax supercharged LED 2.0 mask
Emma North/The Standard
★★★★☆
Best: Comfortable LED face mask
What we love: Clear treatment modes, premium design, and brighter, firmer skin after every use
Take note: Fuzzy display on controller and expensive
The MZ Skin LightMAX supercharged LED 2.0 mask makes it easy to know which setting you should be using, with two straightforward treatments depending on your skin concerns. At £750, it’s one of the most expensive LED masks available and a real investment, but it does feel like a premium piece of kit.
The brand makes bold promises around brighter, smoother and firmer-looking skin, and I definitely noticed my skin looking brighter and clearer after every use. Compared with Shark’s cryoglow, it doesn’t have as many features, but it is a more streamlined approach to LED. One gripe, particularly given the price, is how fuzzy the controller display is.
- Device type: Rigid mask
- Light modes: Anti-ageing mode (red - 633nm and near infrared - 830nm) and anti-blemish mode (blue - 415nm and red - 633nm)
- Number of of LEDs: 84
- Wireless: Yes
- Treatment time: 10 minutes
- Uses per charge: 13-14
Dr Dennis Gross DRx spectralite faceware pro
Emma North/The Standard
★★★★☆
Best: LED face mask for acne and blemishes
What we love: Lightweight and quick to use, targeting hormonal breakouts and reducing redness
Take note: Rubber strap catches hair
If spots are your main concern, the Dr Dennis Gross DRx spectralite faceware pro is one of the most targeted LED masks to consider. It combines blue and red LED light, with the former designed to tackle blemish-causing bacteria and the latter supporting smoother, healthier-looking skin.
Along with the Qure mask, the SpectraLite was brilliant for my hormonal breakouts. As well as reduced redness, I also noticed the scarring and red marks left by previous spots, otherwise known as post-inflammatory erythema (PIE), were fading a lot faster than normal.
The fast three-minute treatment is also one of its biggest selling points, making it much easier to fit into a busy routine than masks that require 10 or 20 minutes. Compared with the CurrentBody Series 2, it feels less focused on overall skin rejuvenation and more geared towards breakouts. The only drawback I found was its flimsy rubber strap, which caught in my hair quite a lot.
- Device type: Rigid mask
- Light modes: Red (630nm) and blue (415nm)
- Number of LEDs: 162
- Wireless: Yes
- Treatment time: 3 minutes
- Uses per charge: 10
Qure Skincare Q-rejuvalight pro facewear
Emma North/The Standard
★★★★☆
Best: For multiple wavelengths
What we love: Highly customisable with app connectivity and five wavelengths that improve inflammation and hormonal breakouts
Take note: Doesn’t offer great face coverage and the rigid design can be uncomfortable
A little under the radar compared with some of the bigger names in LED skincare, the Qure Skincare Q-rejuvalight pro facewear is one of the most versatile masks I tested. It uses five different wavelengths of light, including red, blue, amber, deep red and near infrared, allowing you to target different skin concerns rather than relying on a single setting.
I'm prone to hormonal breakouts and the Qure mask – while on the blue light setting – did a brilliant job of calming my angry red spots. They didn't magically heal overnight, but I did see a considerable improvement in inflammation and my pimples definitely healed faster than they usually do.
I liked that it felt more personalised than many LED masks, although the app adds an extra step before you can start a treatment. Compared with CurrentBody’s LED face mask series 2, it offers more choice, but the rigid design isn’t quite as comfortable to wear and didn’t cover every inch of my face.
- Device type: Rigid mask
- Light modes: Blue (415nm), amber (605nm), red (630nm), deep red (660nm), infrared (880nm)
- Number of LEDs: 80
- Wireless: Yes
- Treatment time: 3 minutes
- Uses per charge: 10
TheraBody theraface mask glo
Emma North/The Standard
★★★★☆
Best: LED face mask for relaxation
What we love: Massaging vibrating head strap is a relaxing feature, and skin look sculpted, brighter and tighter after each session
Take note: No mouth hole
Endorsed by its brand ambassador Kendall Jenner, the TheraFace mask glo has quickly become one of the most recognisable LED masks around. What really sets it apart from other masks is the built-in vibrating head strap, which gently massages your scalp while the red, blue and near-infrared LEDs get to work. I loved this feature; each 12-minute treatment felt like a relaxing in-salon experience.
Beyond this little luxury, I found myself reaching for the Glo mask every time my face felt puffy. The combination of red light – and the head massage – left my skin feeling sculpted, tighter, and brighter with every session, as if I'd just had a facial. However, I like to sip my drink through a straw while I’m wearing an LED mask, so that’s a drawback as there’s no mouth hole on this design – this might feel claustrophic for some, too.
- Device type: Rigid mask
- Light modes: Red (633nm), red+infrared (633 + 830nm) or blue light (415nm)
- Number of LEDs: 504
- Wireless: Yes
- Treatment time: 12 minutes
- Uses per charge: 10
Déessee pro LED phototherapy mask
Emma North/The Standard
★★★☆☆
Best: Premium LED face mask
What we love: Lightweight, comfortable and leaves skin looking plumper, smoother and more radiant
Take note: Not wireless
At an eye-watering £1,440, the Déesse pro LED phototherapy mask is one of the most expensive LED masks you can buy, but it does offer some seriously impressive technology. It has the highest number of LEDs in this line-up, with 770 LEDs across four wavelengths and six treatment modes targeting concerns including fine lines, blemishes, pigmentation and redness.
At 34, my fine lines are only just beginning to concern me, but after weeks of testing I saw a big improvement to the crow's feet and frown lines I'd recently begun to fixate on. With every session, my skin looked plumper, smoother and more radiant.
Despite the advanced tech, I was surprised by how light and comfortable it felt to wear compared with some bulkier masks. The downside is that it’s wired to a chunky controller, which means you can’t move around freely during treatment. Comparing it to the MZ skin lightmax supercharged LED 2.0 mask, this one feels more advanced and customisable, but the price is a serious investment.
- Device type: Rigid mask
- Light modes: Red (630nm), green (520nm), blue (415nm), near infrared (830nm)
- Number of LEDs: 770
- Wireless: No
- Treatment time: 10-20 minutes
- Uses per charge: 10-20
What are the best LED face masks?
Shark’s cryoglow takes the top spot as the best all-round LED face mask thanks to its clever combination of red, blue and near infrared light, and a cooling under-eye feature.
If you don’t want to spend over £300, Silk’n’s LED face mask pro is the standout budget buy, offering plenty of settings, full face coverage, and a travel pouch. For acne-prone skin, Dr Dennis Gross’s spectralite facepro is the one I’d choose for its quick three-minute blue light treatment.
Do LED face masks work? Are they effective?
Dr Ayah, aesthetic practitioner and CurrentBody’s resident LED expert says, “There are so many benefits to using LED light therapy. It suits the majority of skin types so I can safely recommend it to all my patients.”
“LED face masks work – but remember that not all devices are created equal”, reveals Dr Dennis Gross board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Dr Dennis Gross Skincare. “Power is a super important feature that leads to best results. The right power allows for a quick, daily treatment that can fit into your lifestyle”.
Are LED face masks safe?
“LED face masks are safe, and LED therapy has extensive proven efficacy and safety”, confirms Shantel Noble, Skin & Injectables Aesthetic Nurse at the INJECTUAL clinic. “However, you do need to be wary to always cover your eyes”.
Dr Gross stresses this, “LED is different to ultraviolet radiation. When used as directed, LED face masks are generally safe. Be sure you are using a device that has undergone clinical testing”.
How to use LED face masks
Dr Gross says “I always advise to follow the directions listed on the device. I designed my LED face mask to be easily incorporated into your everyday skincare routine with one three-minute daily treatment. One treatment a day is all you need to clinically boost collagen production, smooth wrinkles, and clear blemishes.
“Use your mask on clean, dry skin. Applying topicals beforehand can block LED light from properly penetrating the skin. You can use in the morning or at night”.
Dr Ayah highlights the importance of clean skin, “It’s important to clear the face of make-up and oil that might block the LED light from reaching the skin cells”.
Can I use LED face masks every day?
“You certainly can”, according to Dr Ayah who adds that “using three to four times a week will also offer significant results”. This is agreed by Dr Gross who stresses that “Consistency is key to see the benefits of LED light therapy”.
Can you use LED face masks when pregnant?
“Most companies advise against it, not because it would harm the pregnancy but because you can’t do clinical tests on a pregnant person”, explains Nurse Noble.
Why trust me?
Emma has been writing about beauty for almost a decade and has a particular interest in skincare. She’s always testing the latest launches, speaking to experts, and finding out which products are genuinely worth buying. With bylines in Glamour, The Telegraph, HELLO!, Woman & Home, Cosmopolitan and Daily Mail, she has plenty of hands-on experience separating standout products from the rest.