Red Light Mask Reality Check: Are Your Skincare Devices Underperforming?

New research reveals that many popular red light therapy masks on the market deliver significantly less light than advertised, potentially rendering them ineffective for their intended skincare benefits. An MD/PhD candidate, Eviba Carter, recently released a video demonstrating his findings after conducting independent tests on several well-known brands. According to Carter's measurements, masks claiming to provide 30 mW/cm² of light often deliver only 14 mW/cm² directly over the LEDs, and less than 1 mW/cm² in areas between the LEDs. This stark contrast means that users would need to wear these masks for an impractical duration, such as 17.5 hours, to achieve the same therapeutic light dose as a brief session with a professional-grade panel. Carter explains that the issue lies in the design, as bright LEDs become too hot for close facial contact, leading manufacturers to use underpowered LEDs. Furthermore, the light distribution is often uneven, meaning large areas of the face receive minimal benefit. He asserts that the marketing claims are misleading, calculating dosages based on a false premise that light is evenly distributed across the entire mask surface. In contrast, professional light therapy panels utilize adequately powered LEDs, are designed with proper cooling, and use lenses to focus light effectively, ensuring consistent and sufficient dosage across the treated area. Carter emphasizes that these panels, often more affordable than high-end masks, provide significantly higher light output and cover larger areas, making them a more viable and evidence-based option for red light therapy.

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The science of red light masks | Lab Muffin Beauty Science

Red light is everywhere – you'll see it used by celebrities, skincare influencers, and biohackers (not sure why male wellness influencers get their o…