The 6 Best LED Face Masks, Tested and Dermatologist-Approved

Best Overall

Foreo UFO 2

View On Amazon $180 View On Sephora $299 View On Foreo.com

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4.8/5
• Skin Texture
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

We can’t rave enough about the Foreo UFO 2 device. We could start by explaining how easy the little handheld device was to use, or how quick the entire process was — 90 seconds! — or even that its wireless design meant we could use it in the bathroom — or not! But what we really want to say is that in less than four weeks, our skin looked visibly radiant. We saw our fine lines soften, revealing a smoother and youthful visage. Our faces looked so glowy, in fact, that strangers began complimenting our skin — which was a total first. 

There is a bit of a learning curve because it functions unlike most other masks we’ve used. The LED device should not touch the skin. Instead, we had to smear the activation mask onto the applicator of the device. The thick, hydrating mask acts as a base layer which helps the device glide over the skin and amplify its therapeutic properties. Once on, it’s easy to start the machine up — just press the button on the side, and then navigate through the app to choose your therapy settings which come in the form of presets that correspond with the type of mask it is compatible with.

Frequency: Twice a day for 90 seconds per session | Device: Handheld | Concerns: Wrinkles, dull skin, swelling

Best Budget

Solawave Bye Acne

View On Amazon $69 View On Ulta $69 View On Solawave.co $69

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.7/5
• Design
  4/5
• Skin Texture
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

To be fair, this device costs about as much as a fancy skincare product, but when you factor in how much more it can do for you, it’s really a great steal. The tiny device is about the same size as a traditional cleansing brush, but instead of a bristled head, there’s an applicator that emits both blue and red lights in order to target acne, redness, and hyperpigmentation. It doesn’t come with complicated user instructions (just charge it up and press a single button to turn on), nor does it have any annoying wires or cords you need to swerve around. While we do think a larger handle would be easier to hold and get a firm grip, its slender size does make it very travel-friendly.

We used this device three times a week and each session lasted three minutes. We watched our complexion brighten, while the bumpy texture on our cheeks subsided. It’s not a night and day difference, but it’s enough that our friends noticed. The brand recommends using it every day, so perhaps over time with consistent usage we would have seen more dramatic results. Still, for $99, we’re very pleased.

Frequency: Daily for 3 minutes per session | Device: Handheld | Concerns: Acne, textured skin

Best for Acne

Therashield 3-in-1 Light Therapy Mask

View On Therashield.la

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.6/5
• Skin Texture
  4.7/5
• Value
  3/5

The Therashield 3-in-1 Light Mask was truly designed to be a do-it-all device for the most common skin woes. Through testing, we learned why Kourtney Kardashian swears by this exact mask. Unlike other options, this one wears like sunglasses, except instead of lenses, there’s a large face shield that covers our entire face (and then some). It felt surprisingly lightweight and comfortable, so we didn’t mind wearing it for the full 20 minutes per session. We also found it to be very user-friendly — there’s only one button to turn on, off, and switch between lights. Thanks to its cordless and handless design, we didn’t have to sit still or even in one place at all — we could walk all around and do our chores while wearing it. 

While undergoing the treatment, we never felt a tingling sensation or any kind of irritation on the skin or the eyes. After three weeks of consistent use (about twice daily to start, building up to three to four times a day), we noticed that our blemishes and little pimples disappeared quicker (within 24 hours to be exact). Cystic acne, fine lines, and dark spots however remained relatively unchanged. While we did see some improvement in wrinkles, which gave us an overall smoother complexion, we saw the biggest results with clearing our skin congestion and blemishes.

Frequency: Daily for 15–30 minutes per session | Device: Mask | Concerns: Acne, wrinkles, inflammation

Best for Discoloration

NutriSkin Wrinkle Clearing Light Therapy Face and Neck Mask

View On Trynutriskin.com

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.2/5
• Design
  4/5
• Skin Texture
  4.3/5
• Value
  4/5

This NutriSkin Therapy Mask features 192 LED lights — and we were eager to see whether it was able to neutralize our dark spots and hyperpigmentation. And so we strapped in (literally, there is a velcro strap) for 20 minutes a day, three to five times a week for a little LED mask treatment. The number one result we saw was a brighter complexion. A lot of the redness surrounding our pimples was diminished, and we loved our new, even complexion. Perhaps the amount of time we dedicated to the device (six weeks) wasn’t enough to see any greater improvements, like changes in wrinkles, but we could imagine this device would take you there with more time. 

It’s worth noting, the mask placed a little bit of pressure on our forehead, which was uncomfortable, but not painful. We found that the discomfort subsided when we wore the mask while lying down, which meant that we couldn’t do the dishes or walk around while using it. There was also a thick cord attached to the mask that needed to be plugged in during use, which limited our mobility — we really just needed to lie down and be still. Although slightly tedious, it felt like a bit of a reward to unplug from the day and take a moment for ourselves. The remote control made it easy to switch between the seven different color options, too.

Frequency: Daily for 15–30 minutes per session | Device: Mask | Concerns: Blemishes, wrinkles

Best for Face

HigherDose Red Light Face Mask

View On Fwrd.com $349 View On Revolve $349 View On Neiman Marcus $349

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.3/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Skin Texture
  4.7/5
• Value
  2/5

We saw immediate results following a single session with this HigherDose Mask — our skin had a newly found luminosity to it. After continuous use, we were impressed by how healthy, plump, and radiant our faces looked, without any unpleasant side effects, like dryness. In terms of our skin’s texture, it looked a lot less bumpy and we even noticed that we were able to retain moisture slightly better. 

To begin, the full-face mask was very comfortable to wear, thanks to the three straps that attach it to your head. While there is a cord attached to the mask, it doesn’t need to be plugged in during use, so we just tucked it into our robe pocket. This mask only emits red light, with the intention of rejuvenating the skin, leaving behind a healthy glow. We could choose between two treatments, a 10-minute and a 20-minute, and the device automatically shuts off upon completion. Although we were able to see through the small eye slits, we wish they were a little larger, but the red light never irritated our skin or eyes, only giving off a slightly warming effect.

Frequency: 3–5 times a week for 10–20 minutes per session | Device: Mask | Concerns: Dull skin