Do LED masks really work? We tried Shark's CryoGlow for eight weeks to unlock the real results
Over the past few years, beauty technology has evolved from something reserved for expensive clinic appointments to tools we can use from the comfort of our own homes. Professional-grade exfoliation is now packaged in hand-held devices, microcurrent treatments have found a place in bathroom cupboards, and LED technology has arrived in the form of wearable masks that slot seamlessly into a morning or evening routine.
**Related: Win a Shark CryoGlow LED face mask
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The latter, however, remain one of the more debated beauty devices on the market. How can different coloured LED lights affect the skin? Yet a growing body of research suggests they can. Red light therapy (RLT) is associated with boosting skin health and reducing the appearance of fine lines and scarring, while blue light therapy (BLT) is known for targeting acne-causing bacteria and calming inflammation – benefits that certainly piqued my interest.
So when a device promising both landed on my doorstep, I was intrigued. Shark's CryoGlow combines red and blue LED treatments with cooling under-eye technology, all housed within a futuristic-looking hard-shell mask. Much to the amusement of my family – who already find sheet masks eccentric enough – I committed to wearing it every day for the recommended eight weeks to see whether the results would live up to the hype.
Week 1-2
At first, I feel a little silly. Looking somewhat like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Man in the Iron Mask, I startle myself more than once when I catch the mask's glowing red eyes and coy little smile catch reflected in the television screen. It takes a moment to adjust to something so bright and bulky strapped to your face, but if what I'm told is true, the benefits will more than make up for the temporary hit to my dignity.
The mask quickly becomes part of my evening routine. I wear it while my peppermint tea cools to a drinkable temperature, as I tackle the day's Wordle or maintain my Duolingo streak. Alternating between the two light settings, I give each an equal opportunity to work its way into my skincare regimen, hopeful that eight weeks of consistency will reveal whether the technology lives up to the hype.
In the morning, the cooling under-eye therapy is heavenly, offering a quick depuff and subsequent perk as the cold is quite good at waking you up – there is no chance of falling back to sleep when your eyes are being chilled to the max. At first, I can only stand the cold on the second setting, the highest being something akin to being exposed to Svalbard air during the Arctic Winter. But after a few sessions, and adjusting the masks' positioning, this is as welcome as my morning cup of coffee.
Week 3 - 4
By this point, the mask is firmly part of my routine, and it's becoming difficult to remember a time before it. Religious about the process, I use it once a day, alternating between the red light and blue light settings. As for my skin, I can't yet point to any dramatic changes. My complexion looks much the same as it did when I started, though the cooling under-eye feature has become a particular favourite, offering an instant depuffing effect on tired mornings.
Still, visible results aren't really expected within the first few weeks, so I don't let that deter me. What I have noticed, however, is that the CryoGlow's battery lasts for roughly six sessions before needing a recharge, meaning plugging it in during the day has become part of the ritual. Also worth noting: I now frighten myself far less when catching sight of my glowing reflection in a mirror.
Week 5 - 6
It is at this point that notable changes are starting to occur. My breakouts are occurring less and less, my skin has a little more of a glow to it, and my under-eyes are not as puffy upon waking as they once were. When I talk to my mum, over the grim pixelated camera of FaceTime, she notes how nice my skin is looking: though this could be the rose-tinted glasses of parenthood, I like to think it is the mask's magic doing its work.
Week 7 - 8
Although I still get the occasional hormonal breakout, the presence of acne on my face has most certainly decreased. More so, when I do get a cursed spot, its mark disappears far quicker than it ever used to. My skin has more of a glow to it in the mornings; no longer do I feel like the grim face of death, waking up, a little grey from not enough sleep. I now use the final setting on the mask, which is a maintenance therapy, interspersed with the occasional RLT or BLT jolt, just to keep things fresh.
It must be said, also, that there is somewhat of a fight every day to use the CryoGlow. Although sceptical at first, the mask has become a part of my boyfriend's routine. What he once ridiculed is now a daily fixture on his face. When I can pry it off of him, it is now a welcome, well-loved and irreplaceable part of my day.
