With the boom of light therapy and all its benefits, the best LED masks have been increasingly sought after over the past few years, with everyone trying to make use of the technology at home. But with so many to choose from and so many factors to consider, our expert testers have picked out the very best performers for different needs.
While our pick of the best red light therapy devices is full of options that are great for brightening skin, stimulating collagen and boosting the elasticity in the skin in lots of different formats - from mask to wand - here, our experts have narrowed in on LED masks to discover which ones are the best for usage, comfort and - most importantly - results on the skin.
From our top pick, the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask that visibly improves skin texture, firmness, fine lines and inflammation all in a comfortable and flexible format, to lesser-known but just-as-good options like the Sensse Professional LED Face Mask and UNICSKIN UnicLED Korean Mask, which offer different coloured LED therapies to target different skin concerns like acne and dullness, these are the best LED masks our expert testers would recommend to everyone.
The best LED masks, reviewed by our experts
Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best overall LED mask
1. CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
Specifications
RRP: £299
Type: Mask
Target issues: Texture, firmness, lines and inflammation
Reasons to buy
+ Very flexible and comfortable Can be used with hydrating masks A-list approved
Reasons to avoid
- Pricier than some other models
Not only is CurrentBody's LED Mask one of the most comfortable red light therapy devices we've tried, but we also found it the quickest to use and easiest to store. This comes down to its unique flexible silicone material, which hugs the face so you can sit up and wear it for the required 10 minutes while you watch television, for example. The grippy material also ensures that the red and near-infrared LED lights can reach and evenly penetrate the contours of your complexion.
A combination of two different types of light boosts collagen production and helps to calm the skin for long-term effects, as well as revving up circulation for instant radiance. You can also opt to use a hydrating hydrogel mask underneath for extra glow, or simply apply it after your best cleanser and before your best face moisturiser. Aside from a sizeable initial investment (which is common for an LED mask), this tool ticks all our boxes. No wonder it won a in 2020 and is loved by many celebrities, including Halle Berry, Renée Zellweger and Carey Mulligan. You may also recognise it from the Netflix hit Emily In Paris.
The best reasonably-priced LED mask
2. Sensse Professional LED Face Mask
Specifications
RRP: £140
Type: Mask
Target issues: Fine lines & wrinkles, blemishes, firmness & elasticity
Reasons to buy
+ Pre-programmed and manual settings Four different colours of light Cordless; comes with a remote control
Reasons to avoid
- Can be a little uncomfortable USB cable included but no plug Requires frequent charging
Made from flexible silicone and with 90 LED lights, the Sensse Professional LED Face Mask utilises several different colours of light: red for fine lines and skin damage, yellow to improve skin's elasticity, blue to manage excess sebum and blemishes, and purple to target pigmentation and uneven skin tone. It also claims to improve blood circulation and tighten the skin.
Our head of shopping Millie Fender tested this one out. "The biggest appeal for me is the four light options," she says in her dedicated review. "As someone with a myriad of skin problems, this all-rounder has improved a number of my main concerns. It's a great option for people of any age and will suit just about every skin type."
Read our full Sensse Professional LED Face Mask review
The best LED mask for comfort
3. MZ SKIN Light Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device
Specifications
RRP: £500
Type: Mask
Target issues: Skin texture, lines, collagen and inflammation
Reasons to buy
+ Four LED wavelengths Comfortable; no need to lie down Slick and visually appealing
Reasons to avoid
- Though not the most expensive here, it's a pricey investment
The MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device brings visual appeal in abundance. It's hard to make skincare tech look desirable, but you could happily display this slick gold-toned mask on a shelf, should you wish. This red light therapy device isn't just a pretty face; it's another that's been created by a highly-respected aesthetic doctor and oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Maryam Zamani, combining not one but four LED wavelengths (red, blue, green, and yellow) to achieve results on skin texture, tone and firmness in one hit.
You only need to wear it for 10 minutes per day, a couple of times a week, at first, then you build up to longer, 30-minute sessions with time. Unlike some LED masks, this one fits securely to the face thanks to a robust adjustable strap at the back. While it's not the cheapest red light therapy device on our list, it's far from the priciest, either. And given its medical pedigree, multitasking results and user-friendly feel, it is a great investment in your skin. We're hooked!
Read our full MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device review
Best LED mask for travelling with
4. The Light Salon Boost LED Face Mask
The best plumping red light therapy device
Specifications
RRP: £395
Type: Mask
Target issues: Skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles and hydration
Reasons to buy
+ Lightweight silicone material Combines red and near-infrared light Works in 10 minutes
Reasons to avoid
- Adjustable strap is a little fiddly
If you haven’t had a chance to visit The Light Salon in real life, we suggest rectifying that, pronto. Located in department stores across the UK, the station boasts an impressive menu of LED treatments from The Blue to target acne to The Full-Body Signature for top-to-toe results. If, however, you can’t book in, why not invest in their at-home alternative instead? The Boost LED Face Mask delivers 10-minute treatments of near-infrared and red light to soften fine lines, calm inflammation and plump the skin.
For best results, the brand recommends wearing this mask three times a week over four weeks. (Clinical trials found that wrinkle depth was reduced by 36% in this timeframe.) With its soft silicone shell and adjustable straps, we found this one super comfortable to wear. It’s also portable, boasting an impressive 5,000 hours of use. If you’re a frequent flyer, it's worth noting that this is also an ideal choice for travel as it can be laid entirely flat in its protective bag and help give your skin a pick-me-up post-flight. Big tick!
Read our full The Light Salon Boost LED Face Mask review
The best LED mask for targeting different skin concerns
5. UNICSKIN UnicLED Korean Mask
Specifications
RRP: £315
Type: Mask
Target issues: Wrinkles, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, acne, sebum regulation, redness, sagging and inflammation
Reasons to buy
+ Seven different colour modes Results can be seen after three sessions Brightens and smooths skin
Reasons to avoid
- Has to be plugged in while wearing Harder to find in stock than others on this list
If you’re after an LED mask that tackles every major skincare concern going, this is the one for you. With seven (yes, seven) different light modes, the device tackles wrinkles, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, melasma, acne, sebum regulation, redness, inflammation and sagging. So, how does it work? Despite sounding complicated, we found it incredibly easy to use. Plug the mask in, set your preferred time and intensity (there are five options), select a colour (red, blue, green, purple, yellow, aqua blue or white), then sit back and relax.
The downside is this tool does have to be plugged in while wearing, which we found slightly less convenient than some other models on the list – but it is comfortable to wear and sometimes it's nice to have a reason to just kick back and relax. The best thing about this mask is that you can create a treatment that's bespoke to your skin's needs. For instance, if you want to treat pigmentation and acne try the green light for 15 minutes, followed by the blue light for another 15 minutes. Clever!
How we tested these LED masks
In order to make sure we tested each of these masks thoroughly and gave them a chance to work on our testers' skin, each tester used the product everyday (or as often as recommended by the brand) for a few weeks. Our expert testers made their judgments based on the following criteria:
- Comfort: If you find using tools like this tricky, this is important to consider - especially if you're planning to use while moving around, as some like the MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device have robust fastenings to keep it put while multi-tasking, while others, like the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask, are comfortable in a different way as they are more flexible to wear.
- Colours of LED offered: With LED, different colours work towards different skincare concerns, so it's important to choose something that will target your particular issues, like the UNICSKIN UnicLED Korean Mask or Sensse Professional LED Face Mask, which come with different colour options to target concerns such as acne, redness or skin sensitivity.
- Ease of use
- Results on skin tone, texture and clarity
- Price and value for money
Our testers assessed skin after each use for any post-treatment reactions, looked at the progress throughout the weeks they were using it, and compared how skin had changed overall once the testing period finished.
How do I choose a good LED mask?
Today's saturated market can make it difficult to choose a model that's right for you - but there are some factors that can help you make your decision. "For at-home LED devices, you should look for a device that incorporates red and blue LED and sits flush to the face – this allows the LED to penetrate the skin," says board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Dr. Dennis Gross. It's also helpful to consider:
- LED colour: Use red or infared for wrinkles, fine lines and general anti-ageing, while blue if best for acne and build-up. Red and yellow light can help to plump and reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone.
- Mask type: Consider whether you would prefer a hard shell or soft, more flexible mask.
- Usage instructions: You may want something that you can walk around and multitask with or something that will allow you a more peaceful treatment for some time out. Or maybe you want something that's easy to pack away and travel with. Familiarise yourself with the usage of each product in order to make your decision.
- Price point: While there are a lot of good models on the market, most of them are pretty expensive. Consider whether the features on the pricier versions are something you actually need or not.
Our expert panel
Reviewed by
Reviewed by
Emma Stoddart
Emma has worked in the beauty industry for eight years for some of the UK’s top women’s titles, including Net-A-Porter, Stylist and Grazia. During that time she has tested hundreds of beauty products and tools, and kept up-to-date with all the latest innovations in beauty tech.
Emma has contributed to woman&home since 2020, and as the brand's contributing LED expert, she knows everything there is to know about how to choose the best tool for your needs.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by
Aleesha Badkar
As Digital Beauty Editor for woman&home, Aleesha has tested dozens of beauty tools, including a wide range of LED masks.
Here, she has tested and reviewed products, as well as spoken to industry experts on what to look for when considering such a purchase.