I Put an LED Mask to the Test at Home, and These Are My Honest Thoughts

At this point, I don’t think there’s any skincare device or treatment I won’t try, be it at home or in a clinic. Whether I’m getting electrical muscle stimulation during a FaceGym workout or doing my nightly gua sha massage, I’m always up for ramping up my skincare routine with additional support.

That being said, I had never given LED technology much thought. As much as I love a device, the one thing that all of the tools I’ve tried have in common is that you can pretty much see an instant difference after one use. This isn’t the case with LED technology. You will only see the benefits of using an LED device after incorporating it regularly into your routine. But if you keep it up for at least four weeks, the benefits are vast. Regular use of an LED mask can help with oil regulation and treat pigmentation, depending on which wavelength colour you’re using.

Red: Stimulates collagen production and aids in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Blue: Regulates oil production and evens out skin texture. Good for spot-prone skin types.

Purple: Aids in repairing skin hyperpigmentation and blemishes.

Yellow: Helps with skin elasticity and depuffing.

There are loads of LED masks on the market right now. I opted for the Sensse mask because it seemed the most user-friendly and straightforward to set up. After charging it for a couple of hours, I picked a setting and wore the mask for five minutes. I have particularly oily skin, so I opted for the blue light. During the first week, I used it twice for five minutes at a time. I gradually upped my usage to every other day for 10 minutes at a time. Take it from me: you don’t want to go too hard too quickly, even if your skin isn’t sensitive. Like retinol, this is a treatment that everyone needs to ease in to.

For me, the results were pretty obvious. After about two weeks, I noticed that my face was a lot less greasy when I woke up in the morning (a small joy for someone who usually looks like they’ve dipped their face in a fry up). Wearing a protective face mask on my oily/combination skin daily has led to more breakouts than ever. But now that I’ve incorporated this LED mask religiously into my weekly routine, only the odd spot has crept through, mainly during my period.

I'll admit that, even though the LED mask only requires 10 minutes of wear for maximum impact, I’m not sure if I’ll keep it up. Ever since my testing time came to an end, I’ve reached for it no more than once a week, and understandably, it’s not working as well. Remembering to charge it and sticking to a regimen is difficult enough, and with all the other parts of my skincare routine to contend with, I feel like this is going to be the thing that continues to fall by the wayside. Other at-home tools I’ve used can be easily incorporated into my skincare routine, like the cleansing device I use with my face wash, the gua sha I use to massage in my night moisturiser, and the cryo balls I use to de-puff my eyes. The LED mask, however, is a step in and of itself, and if your skincare routine is already maxed out, it can feel like a step too far.

But if you can be strict and stick to a steady routine, I really do believe that the power of LED technology is worth investing in.

Next up, the best haircuts for thin hair.