Do Red Light Therapy Masks Work?
Sometimes our skin needs “the works”. This is the term we affectionately use at our family birthday parties when we want both cake and ice cream or multiple desserts. Maybe your skin is in a maintenance season that just requires a good skincare routine or maybe your skin needs all the help it can get!
If you’ve invested in good skincare products, then red light therapy is only going to help you get the most out of your investment. A good skincare routine with quality products plus red light therapy is “the works” that will deliver results. Today, we’re answering the question: do LED face masks really work? You’ve heard me sing the praises of red light therapy but today we are talking specifically about red light therapy masks.
If you decide you do want to invest, don’t miss my discount code below!
*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
Do Red Light Therapy Masks Work
Red light therapy masks can help you reach your skin goals faster. In my experience, results come quicker when red light therapy masks are paired with a great skincare routine. My hope is that by providing you with an understanding of what red light therapy masks are, how they work, and their potential benefits, you can decide if they are right for you.
What Is Red Light Therapy Mask
A red light therapy mask is an LED-powered device designed to deliver specific wavelengths of light directly to the skin for a non-invasive light-based treatment.
Red light therapy masks are lightweight and made of medical-grade silicone or skin-safe plastics.The light-emitting diodes or LEDS are embedded in the mask. These wavelengths of light consist of red light, near-infrared or blue light and sometimes a combination of wavelengths.
Depending on the style of the home LED mask, there are a few different ways it can be attached from straps, ear loops, to flexible, contoured masks that don’t require straps. Most masks provide eye protection in the form of built-in filters or are created with cut-outs for the eyes.
A variety of features are available depending on the mask, they include:
- Multi wavelength settings
- Ability to adjust intensity
- Timer function
- Wireless, rechargeable
- Cooling tech to prevent overheating
- Microcurrent stimulation
- Massage
- Heat therapy
Research has shown that red light therapy masks can boost collagen, improve skin texture, reduce inflammation, and speed up minor wound healing with consistent use (3–5x/week). Blue therapy sometimes by itself or in combination with red light therapy can treat acne as well.
Red light LED masks can also provide a healthy skin glow and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The last part needs to be emphasized because red light therapy masks aren’t miracle cures for deep wrinkles.
Related Content: Red Light Therapy (My Before And After Results)
How Do Red Light Therapy Masks Work
Deliver specific wavelengths of light to the body
- Red light which is in the 630–660 nm spectrum penetrates into the outer layer of skin and dermis affecting skin cells and capillaries.
- Near-infrared light which is in the 810–850 nm penetrates deeper, reaching beneath the skin.
- Blue light is in the 405–470 nm spectrum penetrates the upper layers of skin and can help kill acne-causing bacteria.
Stimulate cellular energy
- Red and near-infrared light stimulate an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria, giving cells more energy to repair and regenerate.
Are Red Light Therapy Masks Worth It?
I think red light therapy masks are worth it. It’s one of those beauty tools that takes time to see a difference but in the long run the benefits start to compound.
Red light therapy masks have a lot of benefits and minimal side effects. The ideal candidate is someone who is willing to be consistent and wants to improve skin texture, firmness, and may have some mild redness or inflammation of the skin. Red light therapy masks require consistent use over a period of 8–12 weeks.
Who they are not for is someone who has deep wrinkles or severe acne and wants quick, dramatic results. Also it’s important to note that those who have darker skin tones, a sensitivity to light or have a skin condition such as melasma should consult their dermatologist before using LED light therapy.
Related Content: Solawave Wand Review
What Do Red Light Therapy Masks Do
1. Boost collagen and elastin production
When the body has more cellular energy to work with, the more fibroblast cells are able to produce collagen and elastin. This can lead to smoother, firmer skin.
2. Reduce inflammation
Supports healthy inflammatory processes in the skin, thereby reducing redness and even promoting faster healing.
3. Promote circulation
Enhances blood flow and delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin tissues while removing waste products.
4. Reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Improves skin smoothness and elasticity.
5. Support Healing
Speeds up recovery from blemishes or minor skin damage.
6. No UV Damage
Red light therapy masks don’t contain UV light so you don’t have to worry about DNA damage or getting a sunburn.
7. Non-Invasive
Delivers results without needles, chemicals, or downtime.
The Red Light Mask I Have
I chose the EMR-TEK Eterno Mask (use discount code SUZI08632) for a couple of reasons. The first is that it not only uses near and infrared light but it also uses multi-wavelength technology so it’s able to target specific areas at once.
It uses red light to help combat texture and stimulate collagen. It uses green light to help calm skin and promote even skin tone. The Amber/yellow light is used to help to calm inflammation, give skin a radiance and glow and promote healing in the skin.
This gives the mask a more dimensional approach to the skin and makes it stand out compared to masks just using near or infrared.
I also love that the mask floats on your skin, instead of sitting on top. This enables me to still use all my skincare products and it doesn’t affect them.
It’s also super light weight! It’s not uncomfortable at all. I really like that it’s made from silicone opposed to plastic since there is some slight warmth that comes from the mask while it’s on. Similar to a red light device you might have used before- you feel a warmth on your skin while it’s on.
It’s also super safe to wear for the eyes, you can read, go about business as usual while wearing it since they made it so there is no eye leakage.
My Red Light Therapy Mask Review
I have loved testing out this mask. It’s so easy to put on and use. I actually thought there would be some resistance while using. Thankfully I’ve found it’s so easy to use and be consistent.
My sessions I typically do at night. I get into bed and it’s right on my nightstand, I just put it on while I read. It really is easy to use because I’m habit stacking while using and it’s right there by my bed. A tip, if you’re not sure when to use, just add it into a habit you already perform. The sessions can range from 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes. I started at 10 minutes and gradually increased the time. I typically just do the red light setting because I want to optimize collagen stimulation! They recommend not doing more than 30 minutes a day.
I like that I can combine different treatments. So do 10 minutes of red and then switch to 10 minutes of amber/yellow depending on what I’m wanting. I use mine about 5 days a week. They recommend starting out with every other day and building up to 3-5 days a week. There are 3 different energy levels you can choose from as well. The higher the level, the brighter the light. They recommend beginning with the lowest level first and gradually increase to higher levels. You also want to have a clean face with no makeup while using for maximum benefit.
I’ve noticed just an overall brightness to my skin and one particular red spot is minimized. It was an acne scar from picking my skin. I really have watched this closely and was surprised how much better it looked! Overall, you really have to be consistent to see results and I know much of what the light is doing is healing but also more in preventing premature lines and wrinkles when it comes to collagen production.
Check out the EMR-TEK Eterno Mask here and use code SUZI08632 to save!
Have you tried a red light therapy mask? Share your thoughts below!
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