Once reserved to the walls of a professional salon or dermatologists office, LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy has now, much to our skin’s delight, made its way into our personal beauty cabinets.
The beauty benefits of LED light therapy depend on the wavelengths, which translate into various colour, used, and can target skin concerns ranging from ageing and fine lines to uneven skin tone and acne breakouts.
“Light emitting diode (LED) light refers to devices which emit a narrow spectrum of non-coherent, non-collimated energy,” Professor Deshan Sebaratnam of UNSW tells marie claire Australia.
“The energy is usually in the form of visible light including blue (420–440 nm), red (630–680 nm), and yellow (590–595 nm) light or near-infrared (750–1200 nm).”
How exactly does LED light therapy work? Well, Professor Sebaratnam explains the wavelengths of light absorbed by the skin leads to a chemical change (it’s not as scary as it sounds, promise).
“The energy released from the LED is absorbed by structures in the skin such as melanin or mitochondria causing chemical reactions in the skin.
“For example, molecules produced by the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes which contribute to acne, are activated by LED light which may lead to the destruction of the bacteria, and thus an improvement in acne in some patients.”
With so many LED light devices now in the market, it can be difficult to know what to look for and whether the tech is of professional standards. As such, Prof. Sebaratnam advises you do your research before buying.
“A sensible question to ask would be ‘Has this device been proven in a clinical trial? Has there been a study comparing treatment with this particular LED lamp and a placebo in large group of patients to prove it actually works?’”
Who Shouldn’t Use LED Light Therapy?
LED light therapy isn’t for everyone, and in some cases, it may worsen skin conditions.
“It should also be noted that these devices are not without side effects. There are some conditions which may worsen with LED light such as melasma,” Professor Sebaratnam tells us.
Always consult a professional about your specific skin concerns before proceeding
Our Picks Of The Best LED Light Masks in Australia
Best For Texture: Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
$665 at Net-A-Porter
Using a combination of over 150 blue and red LED lights, this mask reduces the appearance of fine lines and improves skin elasticity, permeating the dermis and smoothing out texture. Notice the difference in as little as two weeks.
Best For Acne: LightStim For Acne
$409 at Adore Beauty
Harnessing the power of bacteria blue light, this LED light, which is favourite of Bella Hadid, is perfect for those looking to combat acne and pesky breakouts.
Use the mask anywhere, from the face to the neck to the back and shoulders, due to its handy and adaptable design.
Best For Eyes & Lips: Lonvitalite Pro LED 5 in 1 Facial Wand
$249 at Adore Beauty
Perfect for targeting tricky areas like the under eye, mouth or persistent blemishes, this little wand utilises red and blue light as well as microcurrents, warming and massaging vibrations.
Best Luxury: Omnilux Contour Face Mask
$605 at Omnilux
There’s no doubt you’ve seen this mask all over you social feeds. Dermatologist-recommended and suitable for all skin types, Omnilux’s Contour Mask emits wavelengths of light (both red 633nm and near infared 830nm) to target the visible signs of ageing.
Best Budget: Wrinklit LED Mask
$102 at Sephora
This LED Mask utilises three different light therapies to target three different skin concerns—red light for anti-ageing (620nm to 750nm), blue light for acne and blemish (476nm to 495nm) and orange light for skin tone (590nm to 620nm).
Best Rated: Currentbody LED Light Mask
$585 at Current Body
With over 1000 five-star reviews and an appearance on beloved Netflix series, Emily In Paris, this LED masks has our tick of approval. Equipped with 132 LED bulbs, delivering 66 red (633nm) and 66 near-infrared (830nm) wavelengths, this masks targets skin tone, texture and firmness.
Best All Rounder: Glow Mask
$599 at Trudermal
A favourite in skin clinics, Trudermal’s LED mask harnesses the power of three wavelengths and colour settings—blue light 465nm, red light 633nm and near-infrared 850nm—to target acne, acne repair and rejuvenation for clearer, brighter and plumper looking skin.
Looking to save money on LED masks? Check out our coupon codes for Adore Beauty, CurrentBody and more.
