I’m sure you’ve seen a picture of someone wearing one of those futuristic-looking LED face masks on Instagram lately. I’ve actually been seeing these high-tech beauty tools pop up more than ever lately, and a lot of people are talking about how LED can help your skin. But these masks cost a lot. In fact, some of them cost more than £1000, and I get a lot of questions about whether or not they are worth the money.
As a beauty editor, I get to talk to experts in the field every day. So I decided to ask Dr Raj Arora, an NHS doctor and key opinion leader for Foreo, and Dr Maryam Zamani, an oculoplastic surgeon and founder of MZ Skin, to answer your questions once and for all, including how these masks work at home.
What is therapy with LED lights?
What is LED light therapy, first of all? Dr. Arora says that LED stands for “light-emitting diode” and is a non-invasive, pain-free way to treat skin problems with light. “Basically, LED wavelengths go through the skin’s layers and activate the body’s natural healing processes,” she says.
Dr. Zamani says that LED has been used for more than 30 years to heal skin and boost collagen and elastin. “Photobiomodulation is the process by which light from the visible spectrum stimulates the cellular response to regenerate.” Shorter wavelengths only affect the top layers of skin, while longer wavelengths go deeper. The light basically recharges the cells’ energy battery, and then the skin can use that energy as fuel to fix and renew damaged cells, speeding up the skin’s natural healing process.
You can try this treatment in different places, like at an aesthetic clinic or at home with an LED face mask.
Different kinds of LED light therapy
A lot of people ask me what skin problems LED therapy can help with. You can choose from a range of light colours and wavelengths to help with specific problems, like acne or fine lines. This is one of the best things about this treatment. Dr. Zamani says that red and blue light are the most common, but to help you understand better, Dr. Arora has listed each light and its benefits below:
1. Light Red
This light makes collagen and elastin, which can help tighten and lift the skin. Dr. Zamani says that it can also help heal blemishes, reduce inflammation, and make scars look better.
2. Light Blue
Blue light can help get rid of the bacteria that cause acne, which can stop future breakouts and speed up the healing process of the skin. People think that LED masks with blue light in them are great for getting rid of acne.
3. Light Green
Green light isn’t as common as red and blue, but it can help even out skin tone, get rid of dark circles, and make dull skin look brighter.
4. Light Yellow
Yellow light can help with redness and swelling caused by sunburn, rosacea, or inflammation.
5. Light White
White light can get deep into the skin and help skin cells renew themselves naturally.
Who Should Not Use LED Light Therapy?
Before you think about getting an LED facial or buying a mask to use at home, you should make sure that this treatment is safe for you. Dr. Zamani says that light therapy can help everyone, but it is not safe for people who have seizures or epilepsy to do it at home or in a doctor’s office because of the bright lights. She also says that people who get migraines, have eye problems, or take certain medications should not use this treatment. Most devices also say that pregnant or nursing women shouldn’t use them.
Dr. Arora says you don’t have to worry about using your LED mask too much at home. “You can’t really ‘overuse’ an at-home LED mask if you use it the right way and in a smart way. The longer you use LED therapy, the better the results, unless your skin is already sensitive or you’re using active skincare ingredients that could make your skin more sensitive. She says that LED light therapy doesn’t have UV light in it, so it doesn’t have the same risk of burns.
How to Use an LED Face Mask in Your Own Home
If you want to try LED therapy at home, it’s best to buy a mask that has the right light settings for your skin problems. Dr. Zamani says that the best way to get the most out of your investment is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, unless your doctor or dermatologist has told you to use the device in a different way. “I would also suggest gradually increasing [the duration of treatment] with the device to [increase] tolerance and lower the chance of the skin feeling dry or irritated,” she says. She also says that if you’re using medical-grade skincare or active skincare ingredients, you should talk to your doctor or dermatologist to make sure they won’t cause any bad reactions when used with LED therapy.
Is it worth it to buy an LED face mask for home use?
Now that you know everything there is to know about LED therapy, you might be wondering if it’s worth it to buy a mask for use at home. If you want to deal with certain skin problems, I think an LED face mask is a good investment. There are many benefits to the treatment, and if you use it regularly, it can make a big difference in the health of your skin.
It may seem like a lot of money at first, but when you compare the cost of a mask at home to a treatment in a clinic, it’s a lot cheaper. Dr. Zamani said, “I love the skin-boosting effects of LED and think it is the best at-home device that can be done safely.”
Pros and Cons of LED Masks
Pros:
- Can tackle a range of skincare concerns
- An at-home mask can be a lot more cost-effective than regular in-clinic treatments.
Cons:
- Has to be used consistently over time to see results
- Some masks are very expensive.
The Best LED Face Masks
Dual Light Led Treatment Mask
Beauty Pie
C-Wave Light Facial Dual Light LED Treatment Mask
6 Beauty Trends That Will Dominate 2026
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When Who What Wear UK beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden, put the Beauty Pie LED Mask to the test, she was amazed by the results (just look at the before and after pictures). “After two months of use, I can see a visible improvement in my skin’s redness, my acne scarring has improved and my skin looks glowier than before treatment,” she says.
MZ Skin + LED 2.0 Lightmax Supercharged LED Mask
MZ Skin LED 2.0 Lightmax Supercharged LED Mask
MZ Skin’s LED face mask helps to fight everything from fine lines to acne and inflammation, thanks to both red and blue modes. If you want a clinic-worthy treatment in the comfort of your own home, then I highly recommend giving this one a go.
FAQ + 202 Silicone LED Mask
Foreo FAQ Wireless LED Light + NIR Anti-Ageing Face Mask Treatment
New from Foreo, the FAQ LED mask features eight different wavelengths in the form of an ultra-light, hands-free silicone device.
Currentbody Skin + LED Light Therapy Face Mask
Currentbody Skin
LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask
The Currentbody LED mask is a slightly more affordable option for those wanting to try an at-home device. If you think you’ve heard of it before, that might be because you spotted it in the Netflix show Emily in Paris. If it’s good enough for Lily Collins, then it’s good enough for us.
Dr Dennis Gross Skincare + DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Dr Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro £465
Okay, this is easily one of the chicest LED masks around. Not only does it look super high-tech, but it comes with both red and blue LED light to leave your complexion looking better than ever.
The Light Salon + Boost LED Mask
If you want an easy-to-use red-light mask, then this is a great one to invest in due to the flexible silicone shape.
FOREO + UFO 3 Pearl Pink
A full-on face mask not your thing? Foreo also has a handheld device that utilises LED (alongside cryotherapy and thermo therapy) to leave you with a healthy glow.
Shark Beauty Cryoglow Under-Eye Cooling and Led Anti-Ageing and Blemish Repair Mask – Blue Frost
Shark Beauty
Cryoglow Under-Eye Cooling and LED Anti-Ageing and Blemish Repair Mask £300
Alongside settings to treat fine lines, blemishes and brighten skin, Shark’s mask also contains targeted under-eye patches which cool the sensitive area to reduce puffiness.
