The 7 Best Light Therapy Masks for Combatting Acne, Wrinkles, and More

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, blue, infrared | Skin Concerns: Wrinkles, laxity, acne, dark spots | Duration: 4 or 12 minutes

For anyone looking for a mask that offers a variety of benefits (and then some), this is truly a foolproof pick. It features red, blue, and infrared lights; the pre-set, 12-minute treatment cycles through each of these, although you can also use them individually for four minutes at a time. It helps combat fine lines, acne, and dark spots, and our tester noticed a particular improvement in skin tone and overall brightness. It’s comfortable and easy to use, and also boasts built-in eye protection, one of our tester’s favorite attributes. Dr. Weiser raves about this mask too, calling out the full face coverage, high bulb count, and different wavelengths used. FYI, there’s also a vibrating/massage feature, although it can easily be turned off (which our tester chose to do).

Rachel, tester with normal skin and fine lines: “This is the best mask I’ve used. I’m loving the results—I noticed an improvement in overall skin tone—and I love the eye protection.”

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, infrared, deep-near infrared | Skin Concerns: Wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dark spots, redness| Duration: 10 minutes

Unlike the hard plastic most other LED masks are made of, this one is made of a flexible silicone, ensuring it works with the contours of your face. “This offers good face coverage, including the periorbital and perioral areas,” says Dr. Weiser.  (Our tester noted that it did fit and stayed on quite well, so much so that she could even walk around during the 10-minute treatment period. However, she did call out that a slightly larger opening around the mouth would have made it more comfortable for this area.) With red and two different infrared wavelengths, this offers a variety of anti-aging benefits, from combatting inflammation and dullness to improving skin tone. We did in fact see improved clarity and texture; our tester also called out that she felt like her skincare products worked better on the days she used this mask. 

Cher Checchio, senior copy editor with dry/sensitive skin and fine lines, dullness, and uneven skin tone: “The design covers your full face, so it supports key areas from your forehead and cheeks to your nose and chin. And it’s really hard to beat the collagen boosting, fine line-reducing, skin-tightening benefits.”

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, infrared, near infrared, deep red, amber| Skin Concerns: Wrinkles, dullness, redness| Duration: 3 minutes

This winner is a true standout for those concerned about signs of aging: wrinkles, dullness, redness, and more. First and foremost, our tester raved about the comfy design; it’s another silicone option that both fits perfectly across the face and is also super lightweight and non-bulky. Hit the (one) power button and let the four different youth-boosting wavelengths—including amber, which isn’t super common in many LED masks—do their thing in just three minutes. Despite the speedy session, the results are still legit. Our tester said her skin looked overall better after just a few weeks of consistent use. 

Lauren, tester with combination skin and fine lines, dullness, and laxity: “Around three weeks in, I noticed my skin—especially around my cheekbones looked brighter and bouncier. Light reflected better, makeup went on smoother, and my skin overall looked brighter. It’s a great value for something that most people will be able to use without drama since it’s easy to wear, turn on, etc. And three minutes is nothing. I am a busy working mom, and I made time for it.”

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, blue, infrared | Skin Concerns: Acne, fine lines | Duration: 4-15 minutes

This crowd-favorite mask offers the best of all the LED light therapy worlds, utilizing red, blue, and infrared wavelengths. There are a variety of pre-programmed treatments to choose from, which use these different lights for different amounts of time. (It sounds a little confusing, but we found it very easy to use, particularly thanks to the included remote control.) Our tester chose the anti-aging treatment and saw fewer, softer fine lines after about six weeks. But perhaps most unique is the inclusion of an under-eye cooling feature, a huge win in our book. The only drawback? A slightly bulkier, heavier design makes it a little tricky to multitask while wearing this. 

Anna Traver, writer with oily skin and fine lines: “I started noticing changes about six weeks into testing, when the fine lines on my forehead started to look softer. Results improved with continued use. I will definitely continue using this long-term because I’m very curious to see how much of a difference it can make in a year from now. I do think it’s worth the price because of the cooling, under-eye feature and its super easy-to-use remote control.”

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, blue, amber | Skin Concerns: Wrinkles, acne, redness | Duration: 15 minutes

Even though this has red and amber wavelengths (for treating wrinkles and redness, respectively), it was the acne-fighting blue light that really impressed us with this mask. Our tester called out an improvement in blemishes and even cystic acne after the testing period.  Also noteworthy: The mask stays on the face via built-in glasses, which our tester found made this super comfortable to wear for the duration of the 15-minute treatment. It covers the forehead and upper cheeks well, although it doesn’t extend to the super far side of the cheeks, however. 

Surfina, tester with oily skin and cystic acne: “My blemishes vanished. It helped slightly with cystic acne as well; some of the bumps were less noticeable and smaller.”

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, blue | Skin Concerns: Wrinkles, acne, dullness| Duration: 3 minutes

Choose from red, blue, or a combination of red and blue lights with this mask. Either way, the treatment takes only three minutes, a boon for those who like their skincare speedy. Our tester noted that it helped make her complexion look more even and improved texture, although she did lament that it didn’t help a ton with hormonal acne. While it is on the pricier side, it’s worth mentioning that it does come with a one-year warranty and is HSA/FSA covered.

Samantha, tester with combo skin and fine lines: “It eliminates the need for serums and other types of products. My wrinkles, which are really fine lines, are practically gone. I love this device.”

Target Areas: Full face | Wavelengths: Red, infrared | Skin Concerns: Redness, dullness | Duration: 10 minutes

With a totally hands-free device (there’s not even a cord), you can easily pop this on and watch TV, do yoga, vacuum, take your choice. Our tester loved that the red light left her complexion more luminous and radiant—even after just one use. It didn’t necessarily improve dark spots, but the combination of red and infrared wavelengths is still effective. 

Cindy, tester with dry skin: “I saw immediate results after use, my skin looks more luminous and radiant when following the directions.”