Yahoo Lifestyle I tried five LED masks that actually work, and they’re all on sale for Black Friday
From CurrentBody to Silk’n, I put all the top LED masks to the test.
If you're looking to upgrade your skincare routine and invest in a tool that can help reduce redness, inflammation, and fine lines, an LED mask could be the answer. Especially now there's some huge discount to snap up in the Black Friday sales. Previously used exclusively within clinic settings by celebrities and those in the know, they have become widely available for at-home use in recent years.
As you might expect, they don't come cheap, with many costing upwards of £150, but thanks to Black Friday, there's many on offer for a reduced price. While they're by no means essential, they have been proven to have a number of skincare benefits, which I've outlined below. An LED mask is an initial investment, but it can actually end up being much more cost-effective than having similar treatments at a professional salon, with comparable results.
If you're considering taking the plunge and snapping up one for yourself, I've put six different LED masks through their paces over months of testing (five of which are on sale for Black Friday) and have shared exactly why they're worth a spot in your skincare routine.
💰 Best LED mask Black Friday deals 💰
Best LED mask for beginners: Sensse Professional LED Light Therapy Face Mask - save £50
Best LED mask under £200: Silk’n LED Face Mask 100 - save £40
Best luxury LED mask: MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device - save £150
Best budget LED mask: Magnitone London Get Lit Tri Colour LED Face Mask - save £24.75
💡 How LED light therapy actually works 💡
Using different wavelengths of light, LED masks are a non-invasive way of rejuvenating tired skin and reducing signs of ageing by helping to improve skin texture and firmness.
They sit on the skin, held on with ear loops and velcro straps, and on the inside, there's tiny bulbs which emit different wavelengths of LED coloured light.
Some devices provide one type of light, while others have multiple options. Typically red light can stimulate collagen to improve plumpness, blue is anti-inflammatory, yellow can work wonders to reduce redness, dryness and sensitivity, purple is designed to soothe irritation and lastly green can combat pigmentation.
Why I rate them
Firstly, an at-home LED mask is much cheaper than undergoing LED treatments in a clinic, so if you're looking to save money while still enjoying its benefits, it much more economical.
Secondly, while they may look intimidating, they're actually incredibly easy to use. Typically a treatment takes 10-minutes - most have timers and automatically switch off - and all you need to do is strap in, select which colour to use and relax. I like to watch some TV while we wait.
Once done, there's no downtime either; in fact, your face won't look any different after the first use. Much like with anything, consistency is key. I only started to notice a change after using it twice a week for two weeks.
The main benefits I noticed were that my complexion looked brighter, less red, and my hormonal acne and wrinkles had reduced. However, a quick scroll through the reviews reveals that shoppers have noticed everything from improved skin tightness to reduced dryness, a more glowing complexion, as well as improvements in fine lines around their eyes and forehead.
Sensse Professional LED Light Therapy Face Mask
⏰ Tested for: Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
This mid-range mask is a great entry level to LED if you've never incorporated it in your routine. My favourite feature is the velcro straps which comfortably secure to your face so every area is fully covered. It's designed with 90 bulbs in total, and provides four LED wavelengths; red, yellow, purple and blue.
It's recommend for use every three days, with five-minute treatments, and you can flick through the different options using the rechargeable handheld remote.
A great option if fine lines are your concern, this mask doesn't feel restrictive when worn, and within two weeks, I began to see an improvement in the fine lines around my eyes.
LED light programmes: 4 | Treatment time: 10 minutes
This is a great all rounder if you're new to LED treatments and want something that's easy to use and comfortable to wear.
- Comfortable to wear
- Good variety of LED light settings
- Saw quick improvements in fine lines
- There are more affordable options
Silk’n LED Face Mask
⏰ Tested for: Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
Another fantastic mask under £200 is this Silk'n design. The silicone material is soft and flexible, without feeling heavy when strapped to your face. It comes with four velcro straps, along with the ear loops on the mask, so you can adjust is very easily to your head without worrying about it slipping off in the middle of your treatment.
While you will need to charge this using the accompanying charging cable before use, the battery life is impressively long - it lasted me four 10-minute treatments before I had to top it back up. You can select from red, yellow, blue or purple LED wavelengths and it will automatically shut off once the 10-minute treatment is up, which is very handy if you're forgetful.
If you're prone to redness or dryness, this is the most suitable one for you, I found it really improved flaky skin on my nose following a chemical peel facial.
Boots
If you're looking for an LED mask that delivers quick results, is easy to use and is under £200, this is a fantastic option.
- Less than £200
- Long battery life
- Doesn't come with any charge
MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device
⏰ Tested for: Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
This golden number is one of the most luxurious I've tried (and a lot of fun to scare my family with).
Designed to brighten and balance your complexion, I found with regular use it reduced the mild rosacea that's often dotted across my cheeks.
It is bulkier than the other LED masks I've tried, but the remote is what won me over. You can select a treatment time of up to 60 minutes, there's five energy levels (the higher the energy level the brighter the light) as well as five different wavelengths to switch between, including yellow, white, green, red and blue. While no means an essential, this is a lovely indulgence for your skin.
Net-A-Porter
This super luxe LED mask brightened my complexion and soothed areas of redness.
- Reduced appearance of rosacea
- Feels very luxurious
- Very expensive
- Bit bulky
Magnitone London Get Lit Tri Colour LED Face Mask
⏰ Tested for: Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
If you're keen to dip your toes into the world of LED treatment but have a budget of less than £100, this is a great affordable alternative. Unlike the others, it sits on your face using the sunglasses-like arms, which some may prefer.
The mask itself is a thin sheet that doesn't obstruct your vision or feel uncomfortable to wear. Simply hit the on/off button on the left side, and flick through your chosen light treatment. Your choices are red, blue and yellow. Each treatment is 15-minutes and it'll shut off once the timer is up.
If acne is your biggest bugbear like use, we found the yellow light help heal blemishes faster.
Lookfantastic
This is an affordable option if you're looking to spend under £100 for a basic LED mask that will tackle blemishes and inflammation.
- Very affordable
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Feels cheaper
Rio Facelite Beauty Boosting LED Mask
⏰ Tested for: Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
Recommended to be used three to five days a week for a minimum of four weeks, this mask is focused on improving elasticity and stimulating collagen through the use of red and near infra-red light.
Like most of the others on this list, it's a silicone design that comes with eye shields to help it sit comfortably on the skin during treatments.
Soft and flexible, the accompanying velcro straps does a stellar job of keeping it secure. The box includes a cloth bag, so it's much easier to store without taking up a lot of space in your drawers.
Boots
This LED mask soothes, brightens and boosts elasticity.
- Soft and flexible mask
- Comes with storage bag
- Only has red and near infra-red light
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
⏰ Tested for
Three months
💸 Reasons to buy
Kourtney Kardashian and Renée Zellweger are counted as fans of this LED mask, and I have to say I can see why. Like most LED masks it comes with a velcro strap, handheld charge, storage bag and a charging cable.
It's made of silicone and uses infra-red and red light to boost skin elasticity and improve texture. It stays securely in place and can reach every inch of skin - it even comes with safety goggles to prevent the bright bulb lights getting in your eyes.
While it's not currently reduced in the Black Friday sale, I definitely noticed my skin looked brighter and more radiant after a fortnight of use, so I believe it's a worthwhile investment if you have the budget.
Currentbody
This LED mask is loved by celebrities and comes complete with protective glasses for your eyes and storage pouch.
- Improved dullness in a matter of weeks
- Comfortable and lightweight
- The ear loops are very large
