LED SKINCARE MASK, DOES IT WORK?
We tried one of the best light therapy face masks daily for 10 weeks to see if it would help reduce acne, wrinkles, and more. Here’s our full at-home LED light therapy review.
Admittedly, I’m a bit of a Luddite when it comes to new forms of “disruptive” technology. But when it comes to skincare, I’d like all of the advancements and I’d like them now, thank you very much.
I’d seen facial LED masks at beauty retailers and heard about the benefits of light therapy for skin before. But could this treatment really work wonders.
to address my biggest skin concerns?
Here’s a deeper dive into the science behind the trend, my own experience with it, and my final LED light therapy review.
WHAT IS LED LIGHT THERAPY?
While you can get an LED light therapy treatment at a derm’s office or med spa, at-home LED masks have been cropping up left and right on the market. Though less potent than professional treatments, LED masks still use the same technology to fight breakouts and signs of aging.
Always game to try the latest skincare treatments and trends, I had to get my hands on one— especially after learning more about their benefits.
BENEFITS OF BLUE LIGHT THERAPY
In terms of skin health, blue LED light can help reduce breakouts.
Following eight weeks of treatment with blue light, skincare acids, and
niacinamide, over 90 percent of participants in a 2011 study benefited from improvements in:
- skin clarity
- radiance
- tone + texture
But how does blue light therapy work, exactly?
“Blue light kills P. acnes bacteria, which causes acne and sits in the base of the
pore,” explains Courtney Brooks, Medical Aesthetician and Director of Aesthetics at Dr. Dennis Gross in NYC. Essentially, by zapping this bacteria at the root, there’s less of a chance for it to manifest in the form of a pesky breakout on the skin’s surface.
For the record, the American Academy of Dermatology notes that blue light therapy for acne is effective to combat inflammatory breakouts, rather than blackheads and cysts.
BENEFITS OF RED LIGHT THERAPY
As for red light therapy? A 2013 review outlined its benefits to rejuvenate skin by:
- increasing collagen production
- staving off cell damage
- limiting sebum production
Even further, a 2014 clinical trial demonstrated “significantly improved skin complexion and skin feeling, profilometrically assessed skin roughness, and ultrasonographically measured collagen density” in participants following 30 sessions of red light therapy.
Courtney adds that red light therapy is great for acne patients since it reduces inflammation. As a result, your breakouts have a fighting chance to heal faster.
MY LED LIGHT THERAPY REVIEW + RESULTS
Here’s my step-by-step journey of finding the best LED mask for my needs, how I used it, and how I measured my final results.
WHY I CHOSE TOMILEE COSMETICS LED MASK
I’d read that the SKINCARE MASK by TOMILEE COSMETICS was one of the best LED masks on the market. I’d also been a fan of the brand since high school, and I typically have good faith in derm-developed skincare lines.