All in, I’ve been using light masks for about five months. My first was CurrentBody’s LED Light Therapy Mask, one of the higher-end options on the market, which I used four times a week, for about 15 minutes, over the course of almost two months. Overall, I liked it: My skin “looked brighter,” but I wasn’t too focused on immediate results — I was in it for the long game. I bought into the longevity claims, believing that my skin would hold up better against the natural effects of aging, and thus delayed injectable intervention.
But it wasn’t until I tried the red-light mask from Monastery — a buzzy brand known for its clean botanical products and chic packaging — that I found a mask that not only delivered glowiness fast and targeted my long-term skin goals, but also provided relief for my perioral dermatitis (a notoriously tricky-to-treat skin condition — we’ll get to that later). I know, $700 is a shocking amount to spend on a device like this, but compared to my other mask experiences, Monastery’s combination of quick and visible results and skin-healing effects make it well worth the splurge.
First, the technical aspects that make the mask different from others out there. Generally speaking, red-light therapy uses wavelengths of light between 630 and 940 nanometers to achieve benefits like reduction in fine lines, improvement in circulation, collagen-production stimulation, and soothing inflammation. According to Kristen May Lee, an aesthetician at Onda Beauty in New York, “Red LED can penetrate skin from one to ten millimeters, depending on the quality/thickness of an individual’s skin. This color genuinely will bypass the epidermis and penetrate the dermis (the deeper, newer skin).”
But not all shades of red are created equal. Most red-light masks on the market have an orangey hue and a wavelength around 633nm. Monastery’s mask is closer to a burgundy color, a deeper shade of red with a slightly longer wavelength (660nm), which means it can penetrate the skin one to two millimeters deeper than the average, making it impressive to aestheticians: “I’ve actually worked with these exact lights in my treatment room prior to the release,” says Lee. “I’d have clients with an intense flush to their face, and I would simply hold the lights over them for five minutes (sometimes less), and their skin would be back to normal tone.”
It has 470 LED bulbs per square inch (most are in the 120 to 130 zone, for context) with an irradiance of 35mw/cm². That means there’s a high volume of uniformly arranged, powerful bulbs, delivering a more consistent treatment across the exposed area — in this case, your face.
When I first got my hands on the Deep Red, I couldn’t wait to get started and see if it lived up to the hype. I used it every single day. It became a weird competition with myself to see if I could strategically shove it into my post-shower, pre-skin-care time slot (it’s recommended to use it with only a clean, bare face). And I did.
Right away, I noticed how much more comfortable it is to wear compared to any other mask I’ve tried. Most are prone to slipping down my face or snagging my hair, even when I’m barely moving around. This one fits like a glove. The insertable eye pads keep the mask in place on my face and also block the red light from getting in my eyes. The fit feels natural and completely unobtrusive. In fact, I’ve done plenty of movement-heavy household chores — Swiffering, roasting vegetables, folding laundry — while wearing this mask. Like some other masks on the market, this one has a rechargeable battery pack that makes it much more convenient to use. Instead of plugging the entire mask into an outlet, I just detach the battery pack and leave it to charge overnight.
The novelty hadn’t worn off by the second week, and by that time, I was starting to notice a subtle brightness in my complexion. By the third week, I adopted a more sustainable routine, mostly because I revisited the materials that came with the product, which recommended using it three to five times a week for best results. Oops.
Around the four-week mark, things began to get interesting: I started to slack on my self-imposed ten-minute-per-day protocol. That is, until my gnarliest dermatitis flare-up to date began. I, like many other women, deal with an inflammatory skin condition known as perioral dermatitis. It’s a relative of rosacea, a rash that surrounds the mouth and nose. I can usually avoid an outbreak with the help of a specialty toothpaste and a few topical antibiotics, but after a particularly aggressive facial, my face was flaring up and the lower part was breaking out.
Amid my panic, I remembered the offending aesthetician’s praise for red-light therapy’s anti-inflammatory benefits. I returned to the Deep Red, desperate for something — anything — that would soothe my rash. For the next week of every-other-day use, I watched my skin transform. The red, irritated bumps around my mouth became much calmer and less itchy. Another couple weeks later, paired with my barrier-restoring protocol, the rash was almost nonexistent. To this day, nothing has ever healed my perioral dermatitis quite like this mask.
Aside from rash reduction — which makes it worth every penny, in my book — my skin felt all-around more … shall I say vibrant? My skin was clearer, firmer, and smoother in texture. Actually, my sister (unprompted) even asked me what I was doing differently in my skin care. “You just look so glowy,” she said. I now officially rescind my skepticism toward LED masks.
Some more LED skincare tools we’ve written about
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
