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LED masks are the holy grail of beauty tools. They’re suitable for most skin types and address several skin-care concerns without any effort. You put on the mask and let it do the work — easy enough. They’re also pricey, which is why I was so intrigued when Shark launched its LED mask. At $350, it’s not the most affordable, but it is slightly more affordable than other masks on the market. It also has the added benefit of cooling the under-eye area. If you’re ready to buy an LED mask finally, here’s everything you need to know and how to use Shark’s.
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How do you use the Shark CryoGlow mask?
There are four modes, ranging from 4 to 15 minutes that you can use daily to target acne, fine lines, and more. Simple enough. What I like most about it is that instead of having to remember that red light stimulates collagen while blue light kills acne-causing bacteria, I can just choose the routine I prefer, with obvious names like Better Aging or Skin Clearing (yes, please), which will choose the right targeted light for your skin at the moment.
My preferred routine for the past few weeks has been Skin Sustain. This routine shifts between red and blue light for four minutes. My skin looked less dull and even a little (dare I say?) glassy after a couple weeks of daily consistent use. I preferred to toggle on the cryo mode as well. It made the attached under-eye pads turn icy cold, which helped with puffiness. The cryo mode does have a fan that makes some noise, but it’s no louder than an overheating laptop, and honestly, it’s worth it.
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What skin types is it best for?
The mask is safe for all skin types. I have combination skin that’s prone to hormonal breakouts and didn’t have any issues with sensitivity or irritation due to using the mask. It’s also FDA-cleared.
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When can you use it?
Since you can use it daily, I had to find ways to work it into my regular skin-care routine. But since I can put it on and still use my hands to do other things like laundry or scroll on TikTok, it made it easier for me to use.
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What do you use it with?
You have to use it on cleansed but not moisturized skin so I’d wash my face with my cleansers (Dieux Baptism foaming cleanser and SKIN1004 Centella Cleansing Oil) and then put the mask on dry skin. The only downside of this is that my skin feels pretty tight and dry during this whole process since I have combination skin.
There’s no specific instruction on what you should use after. I spritzed on some Avene thermal water, layered on the Mediheal Collagen Ampoule Pads or Byoma Phytomucin serum, Dieux’s Instant Angel, and Neuraé’s serum and oil.
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So what exactly does it do to your skin?
In general, infrared light can reduce inflammation and each color has a different focus. Red light is typically used for anti-aging since it can firm skin and stimulate collagen. Blue light on the other hand is usually used for acne because it kills acne-causing bacteria. Like most LED masks, this one only offers the two. Lastly the cryo mode that differentiates this LED mask from most other masks helps to soothe, tighten, and depute the under-eye area.
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What are the results?
Why I kept using it and will continue to use it regularly is what it actually did to my skin. I started using the mask with the eight-minute acne-clearing treatment before a hormonal breakout. While it didn’t prevent the usual oiliness of my hormonal skin, it did keep my breakouts at bay. Again, this isn’t my go-to mode because I don’t always have breakouts, and it’s one of the longer modes. After five sessions of the acne-clearing, I switched to skin sustain, which kept my skin glassy and glowy with a few regular uses. Even after I was sick for a few days and stopped using it, once I went back to the skin sustain to restore the glow, it took just a few sessions to get it back.
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How does it compare to other LED masks?
I have a corner in my cabinet full of devices that promise to lift, firm, exfoliate, or brighten. What it all comes down to is a matter of preference and my preference is products that are easy to use. The Shark mask is one of the bulkier masks but in terms of shape and size, it’s comparable to Therabody’s LED mask but in terms of ease, it’s one of the easiest devices. It doesn’t make direct contact with your face except for the cushion around the eyes and forehead and the cryopads that go on your under-eye.
It’s also lightweight enough to wear while you walk around, finish up your routine, or lie down. You control it with a remote instead of yet another app you have to download and register for on your phone. Through the remote, you can track your progress and the last routine you used and control the mask settings.
Onto the cryo mode, which makes it worth it in comparison to other LED masks. The kind of cooling you get from the mask is something you’d usually need another device or tool for, like a pricier de-puffing wand or the affordable DIY version: ice. Having that technology built in is helpful if you’re a regular user of these kinds of tools. It’s a controlled cold you can adjust up to three settings or cut off when no longer needed. You can also do the cryo routine on its own for up to five minutes.
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How long do you have to use it?
I’ve been using it regularly for about three to four weeks and seeing results. For firmer skin the recommended usage according to the brand’s clinical results is up to eight weeks, and for acne-clearing it recommends four weeks.
