Byrdie / Joy Kim

Popping on an alien-looking at-home LED mask for a few minutes a day does more than just look cool—these nifty devices stimulate collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, combat inflammation, and leave skin healthier and glowing. But how? LED light therapy involves exposing the skin to different wavelengths of light, each of which has a different effect on the skin (and comes with a different color).

Although at-home LED masks won’t give you the same results you’d achieve from an in-office procedure, they’re an ideal option for use in between appointments (or to maximize treatment). 

We conducted hours of research on top-rated at-home LED masks, evaluating each on the skin concerns it targets, the ease of use, and the number of LED lights per device. Then, we tested the devices at home for two months, taking into account how effective they were and whether or not they lived up to our expectations. 

Foreo

Offers different wavelengths of light to target enlarged pores and texture

Short treatment period

Not hands-free

This high-tech tool basically gives you a customized facial in 90 seconds. How it works: Start by applying a sheet mask or serum, then use the accompanying app to help tailor your session. This tool uses red, blue, and green LED light, at a variety of temperatures to deliver sonic pulsations for improved product penetration. During testing, we appreciated the fact that it’s cordless—which made for easy movement across the face—and compact (it fits in the palm of your hand). The directions can be a little confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, treatment is a breeze. 

Target Areas: Full face | LED Lights: Red, blue, green | Skin Concerns: Large pores, dull skin | Duration: 90 seconds

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Revolve

Comfortable medical-grade silicone mask 

Near infrared and red light therapy options

Hands-free

Straps can be hard to adjust at first

Looking for a quality red light mask to invest in? Look no further than the HigherDOSE Red Light Mask. The device combines the power of red and near-infrared LED technologies to mimic low-level wavelengths found in natural sunlight, reducing redness, rejuvenating cells, and promoting skin healing. We love the hands-free approach, too; whether you want to lie down and relax or multitask, you’ll love how comfortable the hands-free mask is. The head strap and functional eye holes let you get lit while doing yoga, watching tv, or doing laundry—there’s no cord in the way.

Target Areas: Full face | LED Lights: Red, infrared | Skin Concerns: Redness, dull complexion | Duration: 10 minutes

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Amazon

Targets fine lines and acne

Doesn’t have to be used daily

Comfortable

Cord can be slightly cumbersome

The hard, plastic Power Rangers-esque vibes of many of these masks can be quite off-putting and uncomfortable-looking. That’s why we appreciate this unique pick from CurrentBody; it’s made of a patented flexible silicone, so it quite literally wraps around your face. Not only does this make the whole experience more comfortable, but it also ensures your complexion is more evenly targeted by the LED light. (In this case, it’s a combo of red and near-infrared light to help target signs of aging.) Also nice: You only need to use it three to five times per week for best results. 

Target Areas: Full face | LED Lights: Red | Skin Concerns: Aging, acne | Duration: 10 minutes

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

NutriSkin

Ideal for all skin types and tones

Works on face and neck

Can put pressure on the forehead while in use

Science-backed and aesthetician-approved, this face and neck mask leans on blue and red light to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. With a short 15-minute session each day, you can expect to see glowier, healthier-looking skin and a reduction in the appearance of lines on both the face and neck. The only thing we didn’t love was the fact that it can feel heavy on the forehead, so you may want to use this one when lying down. But, for a one-stop shop that targets the wrinkles from your forehead to your decolletage, we’re willing to overlook it. 

Target Areas: Full face and neck | LED Lights: Red, blue | Skin Concerns: Fine lines, wrinkles, age spots | Duration: 15 minutes 

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Therashield

Red, blue, and amber lights

Rests comfortably on the bridge of the nose like sunglasses

Doesn’t reach the far side of the cheeks

Unlike some of the other full-face masks on this list, the Therashield device relies on a pair of comfortable built-in glasses to hold the mask close to the face (rather than straps). Because of this (and comfy pads attached to the bridge of the nose), we found that we were able to wear it more comfortably for longer. Each time we wore it, we felt like we could have left it on longer because it felt so light. What’s more, the device comes equipped with three light options—blue, red, and amber—to reduce inflammation, calm redness, and prevent breakouts. One thing to point out: The mask covers the forehead and upper cheeks nicely, but it doesn’t cover about 25% of the far side of the cheeks. If you have dark spots or wrinkles in this area, it might not be the best choice for you. 

Target Areas: Full face | LED Lights: Red, blue, amber | Skin Concerns: Aging, acne, redness | Duration: 15 minutes

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Jhett Thompson

Ulta

Portable and compact

Short 3-minute treatment

Spot-treat blemishes in all stages

Can be annoying to hold after a while

Looking to zap a zit in its tracks? You’ll love this spot treatment from Solawave. While we love the brand’s Skincare Wand, it’s this tool that has truly captured our hearts. The tiny, compact tool has to be manually moved across your face (or held in position over one spot), but since the treatment time is about three minutes, it’s not too cumbersome. While treating our skin during testing, we noticed a slight warmth—that’s how we knew it was working!—without any pain. After about a month of use, active breakouts healed faster and the texture and tone of our skin looked smoother and less red—a total win in our book. 

Target Areas: Spot treatment | LED Lights: Red, blue | Skin Concerns: Acne | Duration: 3 minutes

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Byrdie / Joy Kim

Our best overall pick is the Foreo UFO 2, a high-tech tool that offers a customized facial in just 90 seconds. It utilizes red, blue, and green LED light, plus a variety of temperatures, to target large pores and texture. If you’re looking to save a little more, you won’t be disappointed with the Solawave 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment, a spot treatment-slash-LED light therapy device that’ll cost you under a hundred dollars. 

Meet the Expert

If signs of aging are your primary concern, board-certified dermatologic surgeon Dr. Dendy Engelman says to look for a mask that offers red light. This particular wavelength is ideal for helping to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin for smoother, less wrinkled skin in addition to reducing the appearance of pores and inflammation. HigherDOSE’s Red Light Mask is an excellent choice for those interested in red light therapy. 

If you’re looking to banish blemishes or prevent future breakouts, Engelman says that blue light is best known for its ability to kill acne-causing bacteria. It also controls oil production and can be an effective treatment for psoriasis and eczema. The Therashield 3-in-1 Light Therapy Mask, for example, is a great blue light option. 

As Engelman explains, not all LED light therapy masks are the same, so you’ll want to look for a design that fits into your lifestyle. “If you want to multitask while you mask, make sure to get a wireless model,” she says. The CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask is your best bet—it performed exceptionally well during testing. 

As is the case with pretty much any beauty tool, opt for a pick that has either several different types of light and/or varying intensities. This will give you the most bang for your buck and will ensure that you can tailor the treatment to give your skin exactly what it needs. 

According to Engelman, LED light therapy masks can effectively target various skin concerns from aging to acne. “They work by sending light waves deep into the skin to trigger natural intracellular reactions,” she explains. “Depending on the wave of light, the skin has different reactions, and therefore, different results can be achieved.”

Engelman says that red light has powerful age-fighting perks, amongst other benefits, such as strengthening cellular structure, reducing inflammation, minimizing the appearance of pores, and accelerating repair. Blue light is antibacterial, reducing oil production to prevent acne while also treating eczema and psoriasis. White light penetrates the deepest and works to tighten skin and reduce inflammation, while amber stimulates collagen and elastin. Overall, she recommends six to eight treatments for best results. 

Engelman says that LED light therapy masks are also considered safe for pretty much all users, except for those who are photosensitive or have certain connective tissue conditions such as lupus. “There is no direct skin contact, and the wavelengths of light do not cause burns, so these therapies are actually completely painless for many patients,” she adds. 

Engelman explains that LED light therapy can be done in your dermatologist’s office or at home with an at-home device. “Clean your face first, then turn the mask on to your desired wavelength, and leave it on for the recommended amount of time,” she says. “This will differ by the type of mask, but typically treatment times are between 15 and 30 minutes.” 

Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty and style.

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. As a skincare enthusiast, she’s always loved professional LED light therapy treatments but recently hopped on board the at-home bandwagon as well. She uses the Dr. Gross face mask featured in this story every night (and has noticed a definite improvement in her skin texture and tone) and has also tried many of the other options on this list.