13 Best LED Face Masks of 2024 Will Have You Glowing in No Time | GQ

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Viral TikToks, whisperings amongst your skin care-obsessed friends, and the glowing visages of your favorite celebrities have all led you to look for the best LED face masks. But what is it about these Hannibal Lecter-looking tech devices that have so many people shelling out hundreds of dollars to look like lit-up serial killers? We know what the brands have been saying: These LED face masks purportedly help to address skin conditions, such as acne, puffiness, and wrinkles, and help with both wound repair and hyperpigmentation. To figure out whether or not we've all been under the spell of some snake oil salesman, we consulted a dermatologist to dive in on the real benefits of light therapy devices—and on top of that, we tried some on ourselves to help shed a light on what’s real and what’s not.

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Dr. Dennis Gross

Amazon

Dr. Dennis Gross

Skin concerns: Wrinkles, acne, fine lines, dullnessTreatment time: Three minutesFDA cleared: YesWireless: Yes, good for up to 10 uses

LED devices function by using different wavelengths to solve different issues on skin. Red wavelengths are good for anti-aging purposes, like promoting collagen synthesis and promoting wound healing, while blue wavelengths are best for killing acne-causing bacteria. This mask has both, making it an ace for those looking for a do-it-all mask that rivals an in-office session.

New York dermatologist Dr. Gross may have made his name by doling out alpha-hydroxy acid peel pads, but his LED mask isn’t too shabby, either. GQ's editorial associate Heven Haile, who has combination skin type that’s oily in some spots and dry in others, was looking to tap the mask to help promote healthier-looking skin. “I notice that my complexion glows more and feels a lot smoother than before,” Haile says, having used it daily for two months and then sporadically for two months following.

Blue lights and red lights can be used independently or together depending on what skin conditions you need to address, and as Haile says, it's as easy as putting it on and powering it up. Plus, if you turn the mask upside down, you can use the light treatment on your neck and décolletage, two often-overlooked parts of the body that can show signs of aging the quickest.

Skin Gym

Nordstrom

Ulta

Bloomingdale's

Skin concerns: Uneven skin texture, acne, dullnessTreatment time: 15 to 30 minutesFDA cleared: NoWireless: Yes, good for five to 10 uses

LED face masks are an investment—with some devices going for up to a thousand bucks, which is a whole lotta retinol if you ask us—but the Skin Gym mask is a steal at under $100. It’s a good option for folks who are just looking to introduce themselves to skin-care tools. One thing to note is that you do have to wear it longer than other masks (up to 30 minutes a day!). The shield design of the mask makes it feel like the light isn't penetrating deeply enough into the skin because it sits farther from the face, but pros we talked to said that keeping it on for longer allows the light to do its job.

While some of the other masks require some maneuvering to get into, this one is actually quite simple. You just slide the glasses onto your face and the shield emits its light. Because the mask doesn’t come directly into contact with skin, this gadget is good for people with rosacea who shouldn’t create too much heat on their complexion.

Omnilux

Omnilux

Skin concerns: Acne, dark spots, redness hyperpigmentationTreatment time: 10 minutes daily for four weeks, then at the first sign of a break outFDA cleared: YesWireless: No

Most folks know the Omnilux Contour for its anti-aging purposes but folks love the Omnilux Clear to fight acne. Some 50 million Americans continue to deal with acne as adults, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, and rather than consistently shelling out money on creams, pimple patches, and specialized face washes, the answer could come in the form of this mask. The flexible silicone mask conforms to the head for better full-face coverage, utilizing the power of blue and red LED to target acne on the surface and underneath the skin.

GQ's visual editor for GQ Sports Brauna Marks was looking for a mask to combat hormonal, cystic acne that forms deep under the skin's surface. After about eight uses, Marks noticed that she did have less hormonal acne and that her existing hyperpigmentation had evened out. While she enjoyed the results of wearing the mask, she did find that there were too many wires—one for the remote and one for the mask—to be a pain point, especially since the two parts couldn't be charged together.

Therabody

Therabody

Neiman Marcus

Bloomingdale's

Skin concerns: Wrinkles, acne, dullness, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin toneUsage: Three minutes for targeted treatment or nine minutes for full treatmentFDA cleared: YesWireless: Yes, 120-minute battery life

Therabody's TheraFace mask is so popular that the brand can barely keep it in stock alongside its Theragun massagers. Having tried it ourselves, we think the mask is worth the hype. This mask distinguishes itself from others by also offering vibration therapy around the eyes, browline, and scalp, sort of like a tender massage, which boosts circulation to relieve tension and puffiness. Unlike other face masks, this one has way more lights so it can offer even more targeted therapy.

Our tester, GQ's associate commerce director Michael Nolledo, had struggled with acne before getting it under control with Accutane. He mainly hoped the mask would help him tackle acne scars, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation, all of which were addressed by the TheraFace, according to him: “The mask has helped reduce inflammation, and evened out some of my darker scars.” While the massage aspect of the mask felt a little gimmicky to him at first, Nolledo says that it does feel relaxing, and that he's incorporated it into his daily skin care routine, which is also a testament to how easy it is to use as well as how it effective it's been since his two-month stint testing it.

Qure

Qure

Amazon

Skin concerns: Wrinkles, acne, dullness, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture Treatment time: Three minutesFDA cleared: YesWireless: Yes, good for 10 uses

Few masks are equipped with infrared light, which is most sought after because of how deep it can penetrate into the skin for better, longer-lasting results. Qure's Q-Rejuvalight Pro harnesses the power of lights from blue to infrared to address nearly every skincare concern you could imagine. One of the coolest parts of this mask, however, is that instead of blasting your whole face with a single treatment, you can pick and choose one of five targeted facial areas for a specific treatment. That means if you have a breakout on your chin, you can blast that bad boy to hell, and then target your forehead later on to help smoothen out some wrinkles. GQ's visuals director Stephanie Tran has used this mask every day for two masks, hoping to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. While she says the jury's still out on the wrinkles, she did note that her skin looks brighter and has been looking forward to using it whenever she can.

Currentbody

Amazon

CurrentBody

Skin concerns: Wrinkles, acne, dullness, fine linesTreatment time: 10 minutes, three to five times a weekFDA cleared: YesWireless: Yes, up to 12 uses

Few masks are equipped with infrared light, which is most sought after because of how deep it can penetrate into the skin for better, longer-lasting results. Qure's Q-Rejuvalight Pro harnesses the power of lights from blue to infrared to address nearly every skin care concern you could imagine. One of the coolest parts of this mask, however, is that instead of blasting your whole face with a single treatment, you can pick and choose one of five targeted facial areas for a specific treatment. That means if you have a breakout on your chin, you can blast that bad boy to hell, and then target your forehead later on to help smoothen out some wrinkles. GQ's visuals director Stephanie Tran has used this mask every day for two masks, hoping to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. While she says the jury's still out on the wrinkles, she did note that her skin looks brighter and has been looking forward to using it whenever she can.

Shani Darden

Net a Porter

Skin concerns: Acne, dullness, wrinkles, hyperpigmentationTreatment time: 10 minutes, four to five times a week for six weeksFDA cleared: YesWireless: No

One of the earliest signs of aging can be seen in the neck, and the Shani Darden by Déesse PRO LED light mask makes sure to address both your face and neck simultaneously. It features a large of number of LEDs, which increases the surface area of the skin that gets direct, targeted light therapy treatment. We like that the duration of the treatment is only 10 minutes, but having to deal with all the wires is a bit of a mess, though the results at the end of the six-week usage might justify the hassle.

Higher Dose

Amazon

Bergdorf Goodman

Dermstore

Skin concerns: Acne, dullness, wrinkles, hyperpigmentationTreatment time: 10 minutes, three to five times a weekFDA cleared: NoWireless: Yes, good for up to 12 uses

For an untethered way to get into LED therapy, the cordless Higher Dose offers a face mask that lets you live your life while you treat your skin. This mask is able to target skin concerns like acne and wrinkles, all while letting you keep your eyes open in case you have a busy schedule that won't let you pencil in 10 minutes for self care (though we highly recommend you do just that). In addition to pure lights, the mask utilizes heat to penetrate the skin to aid the skin's ability to repair itself for those looking to fight signs of aging.

Omnilux

Omnilux

Skin concerns: Fine lines, wrinkles, redness, dullnessTreatment time: 10 minutes, three to five times a week for four to six weeksFDA cleared: YesWireless: No

For the most part, we think all grooming is unisex. Face washes targeted specifically for men and women are dumb, but a face mask designed just for men? Considering the skin of dudes is about 25% thicker than women's, LED face masks should have to readjust their lights to better penetrate those mugs. The Omnilux Men does just that, with near-infrared light that wiggles its way into the skin barrier for increased collagen production to fight signs of aging and reduce redness and inflammation.

SolaWave

Solawave

Skin concerns: Acne, puffiness, wrinkles, dullnessTreatment time: 3 to 12 minutesFDA cleared: YesWireless: Yes, 90-minute battery life

Solawave makes a variety of facial tools with LED, and we think its Skincare Wand is one of the best. Sure, it's not a mask, but it still harnesses the power of red light for a quick and easy way to treat your specific skincare concerns. Besides the LEDs, the Skincare Wand also utilizes microcurrents, vibrations, and heat to help aid in skin repair for a youthful glow. We like that this is easy to tote on travels without having to haul a bulky mask, and you can return it within 60 days if you're not happy with the results (though we're pretty sure you will be).

Foreo

Foreo

Skin concerns: Acne, dullness, wrinkles, hyperpigmentationTreatment time: 5 to 15 minutes, three to five times a weekFDA cleared: NoWireless: Yes, 120-minute battery life

One problem with LED face masks is that brands have to go for a one-size-fits all approach with them, but frankly, sometimes they just don't offer the coverage the way you need. For the FAQ 202, the brand scanned over 10,000 faces to develop this model, which works better on more heads than other masks. This wireless and lightweight mask makes it easy to use, and it offers near-infrared light for deeper skin penetration.

CurrentBody

CurrentBody

Skin concerns: Acne, dullness, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, anti-agingTreatment time: 10 minutes, three to five days a weekFDA cleared: YesWireless: Yes

Wait, don't we have Currentbody's mask here already? Well, we do, but since the original mask's release, the brand has updated it with more lights (236 LEDs compared to the OG's 132), which means you get more coverage across your skin for a more effective treatment. This one does cost more, given the additional 104 LEDs added to the mask, but the brand has also improved its overall fit. Now, the mask offers treatment to your lips, while being more effective for a great range of faces. Adam Hurly, GQ's grooming correspondent, raved about his Currentbody Series 2 mask, giving it extra props for helping him get through a particularly nasty breakout period. Is this newer version of the mask worth an extra $89? Time will tell, but we wanted to let you know that we do in fact enjoy it—and can say it works very well.

Essentially, LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy is a non-invasive way to treat and the skin, by harnessing different wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin for various treatments, whether it be acne, wrinkles, or other skin concerns. In the past, the only way to get LED light therapy was by going to an aesthetician, but now LED light masks let you get a facial at home. The at-home devices will emit lights of different wavelengths into the skin, each of which has a different effect on the skin.

“Despite their striking visual appearance, which may make them seem like a gimmick, studies and physiology support the proposed benefits from LED masks,” says Dr. Luke Maxfield, a board-certified dermatologist. Depending on the wavelength you use on your face, you can find that you'll have less acne, fewer wrinkles, and smoothened-out fine lines—or otherwise overall skin rejuvenation. Maxfield says that it takes regular, consistent use of an LED face mask before you see results, so don't expect to remove your mask after the initial use and expect to look 10 years younger.

“Results are similar to most age related changes whereby people often notice an appearance over the course of two to three months,” Maxfield says. “And while studies have shown benefit with shorter treatment courses, even as little as three weeks, the majority of people will notice a more dramatic improvement over months with continued use.”

Maxfield says you can use an LED light mask in the morning or at night, but that it should be used on a clean face, without other products on the skin. Each LED mask works differently, so check the user manual before you go ahead and try to treat your skin. Otherwise, the chain of events should be: Cleanse your face, use the mask, and follow up with a moisturizer or your regular skin care products.

“Like most skin care, the benefits of LED can be classified broadly into acne and aging skin benefits,” Maxfield says. “While blue light mostly helps with inflammatory acne, red light improves signs of aging skin.” The benefits will be hard to see after just a few uses, so keep with it to ensure your skin actually reaps the rewards of incorporating an LED mask into your routine.

Blue Light: The shortest wavelength, blue light therapy targets the skin at the surface level, making it great for acne treatments. This light is great for killing and treating acne-causing bacteria that can lead to future breakouts.

Yellow Light: Compared to blue light, yellow light can penetrate into the skin more deeply, helping to address redness and inflammation. It also boosts collagen production, which is great for combatting wrinkles and fine lines, leading to firmer skin and better skin elasticity.

Red Light: Most people who are interested in LED face masks will be familiar with the term red light therapy, which is great for the “improvement of tone, texture, fine lines, and an overall healthier, softer appearance,” says Maxfield.

Infrared Light: Much like red light, infrared light will address skin concerns that require deeper penetration into the skin. Infrared light will permeate the dermis more thoroughly than red light, and it's great for more effective light therapy. Not many LED face masks offer infrared light, with some only going as far as near-infrared, though both are more effective than just red light.

There's no one color wavelength that's the most effective, but if you want something that's going to reach deep into the skin, then you're going to want a mask that offers infrared light. Otherwise, check out the above to see what light you might need depending on your skin care concern.

There are a couple important factors when choosing an LED face mask, so here's what to look out for:

Skin Concerns: Whether you're dealing with acne or hoping to preserve your silky smooth skin for as long as possible, the LED face mask you choose will help you get where you need to be. Evaluate the colors that are available from the LED mask you want, and see if it will target the skin care concerns you're hoping to address.

Price: LED face masks are notoriously expensive, though it should be noted that the only other way to get a treatment is by shelling out more money on a facial. We were able to find a range of LED masks at various price points that could address all skin care woes and work for most budgets so that everyone can get glowy skin.

LED light therapy is non-invasive, and it is safe to use. “Unlike other devices, since there is no direct physical trauma and minimal to no direct heat, LED is a very safe treatment,” Maxfield says. And since LED face masks don’t use UV lights, you don’t need to worry about potential sun damage. Make sure to find masks that are FDA-cleared or FDA-approved, all of which will give you extra peace of mind while you’re refreshing your skin.

Some masks will require you to wear eye-protecting goggles just so the light doesn't negatively impact your vision, but otherwise there should be no side effects to using an LED mask.

There aren't any glaring side effects to using LED face masks, but not enough research has been done to show how it might impact your body in the long term. It is important to know that continued exposure to LEDs is not the same as continued exposure to UV rays, which is damaging to the skin. However, close-proximity exposure to LED lights can be harmful to your eyes. Thankfully, most of the face masks listed here also include eye protection to ensure you're not staring directly into hundreds of lights. (The masks that don't have separate eye protection are safe to use without them because they're not focused directly around the eye and surrounding eye area.)

Most of these face masks are pressed directly up against your face, so you'll want to make sure your face mask is clean. You should've started your treatment with a freshly washed face, but still, regular maintenance of your LED face mask will ensure you're not actively ruining your skin when we all know you want to be improving (or maintaining it). To clean your face mask, take a soft cloth and a mild cleanser and wipe the inside. You can also use a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol to help you feel like you're doing a more thorough cleaning. It should go without saying, but don't submerge your face mask in water (i.e. don't wash it in the sink like it's one of your plates) and definitely don't put it in the dishwasher (because, just, why?).

There's no timeline for when you'll see results on your skin, but depending on what skincare concern you're trying to address, you may see some results sooner. For example, if you have an inflamed zit, using an LED mask can help reduce inflammation and redness in as little as one or two uses. If you're trying to treat hyperpigmentation, however, you'll need to be consistent with your face mask usage and you'll (maybe) see results in weeks or months.

Your usage will depend on the mask you use, and each brand will offer directions on how often to use them and for how long. Generally, most are safe to use every day, while some brands will recommend you only use them a handful of times a week for a set number of weeks before giving your skin a break.