12 best LED face masks to brighten, prevent acne and fade wrinkles – tried and tested

We've tested many LED face masks over the years, but Shark's CryoGlow is certainly showing off. Not only does it offer both blue and red light technology to reduce blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles, but it also harnesses cold technology to cool the under-eye area. Yep, the wheel has been reinvented in the quest to reduce puffiness.

It's also designed with your eyes in mind, featuring shields and dimming features, so you can carry on your TikTok scrolling or MAFS marathon during the treatment. Or you could put all screens away and enjoy some much-needed R&R – we know, crazy idea right!

This is one high-tech gizmo that combines both LED and EMS technology to brighten and even skin tone, while also firming and sculpting facial muscles. Wrapped around the entire mask features 243 LED bulbs which deliver 40,000 pulsed light emissions per second – no wonder you can get an entire treatment done in 10 minutes.

There are four light modes to pick from, including red, dark red, amber and blue, so this one tool can be used to treat everything from acne and acne-scaring to pigmentation. Then dotted around the mask are 16 EMS electrodes which work the facial muscles to tighten and tone. There are three different intensity settings, so the higher the mode, the more you can feel the EMS getting to work on your muscles.

It’s a very easy mask to navigate and it comes with two head straps so it doesn’t slide off your face throughout the treatment.

Hands down this is the most aesthetically pleasing gadget on the market – and while it may look small, I promise this is a very advanced piece of kit! It comes with almost every light you can imagine and is ideal if you find the full-face options claustrophobic, as you can treat one patch of skin at a time (avoiding your eyes, of course).

It's not just light therapy you're getting here, either: the UFO also employs hyper-infusion technology, which essentially pushes your skincare ingredients deeper into your skin, meaning you’ll stay more hydrated. It also uses near-infrared LED therapy, helping to boost moisture in dull, thirsty skin. Then, you’ve got the T-Sonic massage which relaxes muscle tension and boosts circulation, resulting in a plump and fresh-faced glow.

Plus, it’s not only for your face: you can use it on your neck and chest, too. While the lights aren't quite as powerful as some of the bigger (and spendier) masks, this is a solid investment that's a joy to use.

If you’re starting out in the world of LED, this is an excellent introduction mask. For £160 (on sale for £99.99), it’s a pretty affordable choice – well, affordable for LED at-home therapy. The flexible mask is fitted with 100 LEDs which can emit four different colours of light, including red, purple, yellow and blue. Whether your main skin concern is acne or pigmentation, redness or fine lines, this singular mask can be used to treat it all!

It’s also a super easy and comfortable mask to use. With two secure head straps, it sits snug around your face so you can continue your day-to-day activities, and a treatment is complete in only 15 minutes.

This mini, portable and much cheaper alternative to the Déesse Pro LED Phototherapy Mask is a great one to get your hands on as it delivers brilliant results, without any downtime.

The flexible mask is looped over your ears and strapped in place so you can still move about with ease – it’s great for those busy bodies – and is easily packable into your suitcase or overnight bag.

It uses red and near-infrared lights to encourage elastin and collagen production, so consider it if you’re looking for a smoother, plump and youthful-looking complexion.

If you don’t want to invest in an LED mask but need something to target acne directly, the Face Gym Acne Light Shot is the perfect gizmo to buy. Priced at a reasonable £63 (well, reasonable for a light therapy tool), the hands-free gadget emits blue light to reduce the size and swelling of existing acne, as well as to prevent future breakouts from forming.

To use, attach two of the adhesive strips onto the device and place it over the area you want to treat. The lights last for 20 minutes but luckily the gadget has good staying power so you can get on with the rest of your day while your acne gets the treatments it needs.

If you’re wanting to target your eye area, drop the full face mask and opt for these funky glasses instead. They sit very snugly, without prodding or poking around your delicate eye region, and the adjustable strap means it stays firmly in place.

The mask is lined with 72 red and amber LED lights which penetrate the middle layer of your skin to stimulate collagen production, and in turn, plump out fine lines and crow's feet.

Take three minutes out of your day, shut your eyes and soak in the lights.

Member price: £120

Beauty Pie has answered our LED-related prayers (yes, that's a thing) with its dual-wave treatment mask. Coming in at £120, in no means is its efficacy indicative of its price tag as, easily, the mask holds its own compared to many four-figure gadgets.

The flexible mask features both red and near-infrared light therapy, meaning this is a powerhouse if you're looking to smooth fine lines and boost collagen. And in case you need a reminder, the more collagen you have present in your skin (which naturally starts to decrease in your mid-to-late 20s) the more plump and youthful your complexion will appear. Not to mention the radiant glow... oh the glow.

LED masks are known for being spenny, but there just so happens to be some brilliant budget-friendly alternatives out there, too. Magnitone's Tri Color LED mask is under £100 and features red, blue and yellow lights to treat acne and boost a brighter complexion (and, for anyone interested, it helps to reduce signs of ageing).

The mask slides on like a pair of sunglasses so you can comfortably get about your day-to-day whilst wearing it. We also appreciate that it has a need for speed too; you only need to wear it for 15 minutes before seeing results. Bingo.

Omnilux’s Contour Face LED mask is specifically designed to reduce visible signs of early ageing, and to that we say we’re on board! The silicone, flexible mask contains 66 LED bulbs, each containing two LED lights, so in total you have 132 LEDs working to improve the tone and appearance of your skin.

There are two forms of light wavelengths available, red and near-infrared. Red light works at the dermis and epidermis – the upper layers of the skin – to promote collagen production and therefore improve the overall elasticity of the skin, while near infrared light works at a deeper level to further improve the appearance of the skin.

See this as a does-all device that combines all the spenny results of in-clinic treatments and expensive skincare into one, easy-to-use gizmo – and it produces results in 10 minutes, may we add.

Sculpta by Déesse PRO's unique, dual-ended device combines three energy therapies to restore facial definition, tighten, sculpt, improve lymphatic drainage and revitalise the appearance of the skin. Honestly, there's nothing this gizmo can't do.

One side of the tool harnesses red light therapy to boost collagen levels and plump out the depth of fine lines, while radio-frequency heats the skin to promote tightening.

On the other, EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) technology stimulates muscle contractions – quite literally! – to tighten and sculpt facial contours. Stronger than microcurrent, with the tingling sensations to prove it, this is essentially an at-home workout for your face.