Is this terrifying red light mask secretly the fountain of youth? (2024)

There is nothing quite like donning a glowing murder mask to achieve the promise of eternal youth. I’m talking, of course, about red light therapy masks. They have been reigning supreme as a top search subject on TikTok and are touted by many an influencer as being the cure-all for every skin problem that seems to come with aging. While they look completely horrifying and made my child scream, my husband jump (and spit out a string of expletives), and my dog growl at me (that’s three for three, folks), they claim to improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity, and minimize wrinkles.

I was fortunate enough to test out one of the best-rated LED red light therapy masks on the market—the venerated Omnilux Contour Face Mask—to see if their claims and over 1,000 positive reviews were to be trusted.

What is the Omnilux LED mask?

See Also

Omnilux Review - Must Read This Before BuyingI Spent Over $700 On Omnilux LED Masks: Was It Worth It?Here’s Why the Omnilux LED Face Mask Is an Anti-aging Secret Weapon for Any Skin TypeCurrentbody & Omnilux: Das können die neuen soft LED-Masken -

The Omnilux is a flexible mask that uses medical-grade light-emitting diodes (LED) to penetrate the skin and treat discolorations, fine lines, and wrinkles. Using two clinically proven wavelengths of light (red 633nm and near-infrared 830nm), Omnilux claims the mask can deliver results similar to in-clinic LED facial treatments with no pain, side effects, or downtime.

The Omnilux LED mask is said to “stimulate new collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce sun damage and the visible signs of aging.” Considering I spent my teens through my early 30s living a sunscreen-free boat and body-surfing life, the mask had its work cut out for it.

How we tested the Omnilux LED mask

First, I fought all of the 20-somethings who wanted to try the mask to the (figurative) death. Then I strapped this mask to my freshly-washed 40-year-old skin four nights a week for six weeks. I wore it for 10 minutes each session while zenning out to podcasts and the Britney Spears autobiography. If I know anything it’s how to do self-care. I appreciated telling my husband I was listening to Britney for science.

What we like about the Omnilux LED mask

As a professional product tester, I approached the Omnilux with skepticism. I’ve tried a few other red light therapy products and, truthfully, don’t attribute the improvement in my skin to those devices at all. When you’re massaging your face in an upward motion with a high-quality serum each night, your skin is going to improve—with or without a $200 price tag attached.

The Omnilux LED Mask, however, is different. It doesn’t require any serums and it doesn't ask you to do anything more than hang out for 10 minutes with it strapped to your face.

The Omnilux is easy to use

You charge it, velcro the straps behind your head, push a button, and you’re ready to go. It shuts itself off after 10 minutes. I loved the ease of using this mask and that it was effectively 10 minutes a night of me doing nothing but lying down and listening to podcasts.

It has a higher concentration of LED lights

The number of bulbs on an LED mask will vary. When you’re shopping around, check that number. The Omnilux has 66 red light and 66 near-infrared light bulbs with bulbs along the nose flap too. Among the LED masks I've tested, the Omnilux has the highest concentration of light. A higher concentration means that there won’t be as many gaps between bulbs, so it’ll give more coverage in your treatment.

It’s adjustable

There are an array of choices for LED masks. You may not be sure if you want a hard mask or a soft mask but I personally recommend a soft mask. The velcro straps allow you to pull the mask closer to your skin.

It’s portable

The mask, charger, and remote all come with a carrying bag for easy storage and portability. Since it all lays flat, it takes up almost no space in luggage, so it can come along with you when you travel. You'll never need to stop your treatments when on a trip. The mask also comes with an international adapter for easy charging in any country.

It will scare away intruders

The mask does, hilariously, make the user look like a possessed demon embarking on a murder spree. It’s up to you if you consider this a pro or a con. I considered it a pro.

What we don’t like about the Omnilux LED mask

It’s not great for people with “strong profiles”

I have what is called a “Roman nose.” This isn’t the first red light mask I’ve tried, so this isn’t an issue that’s exclusive to Omnilux, but if your nose has a high bridge, it’s going to be an uncomfortable fit. The mask will dig into your bridge and sit a bit higher so the lights shine directly into your eyes.

It felt like I was going to go blind wearing it

There is nothing like having a dozen red lights shining right into your eyes for 10 minutes.

You’re going to want to invest in some eye protection. I was a bit at a loss since—for me—the fit wasn’t great to begin with. I tried to use tanning bed goggles but, because the fit was already so tight, it made things more uncomfortable. I ended up laying some fabric over my eyes each night before I turned on the mask.

While OmniLux claims that you can wear this mask while you do your chores around the house, I did not find this to be the case. I had to lay down with a thick cloth over my eyes for the 10-minute cycle.

Does the Omnilux LED mask work?

Well, that’s the million-dollar (or, in this case $395) question. From what I can see, my skin is in better condition since I started using the Omnilux LED mask six weeks ago. It’s slightly brighter and I think it’s firmer, but without a specialist taking a deeper look at my skin, it’s hard to say that it’s firmer in this amount of time with any certainty.

I didn’t see the kind of results that some influencers claim, but the mask didn’t hurt my skin in any way and I think I look better overall. I believe this type of skincare treatment requires longevity testing of six months or longer to reply with any sort of accuracy.

Should you buy the Omnilux mask?

Yes.

If you are going to buy a red light mask, the Omnilux seems to have the best science-backed claims, and I did see a difference, however subtle, in the quality of my skin.

While the Omnilux is the first LED mask I’d recommend, you should consult your dermatologist before beginning any sort of red light treatment.

The Omnilux LED mask is FDA-approved but it’s important to make sure red light therapy is the best option for your skin needs. What looks like melasma or acne scaring might be a more serious condition, so a quick chat with a professional is always a good idea.

That disclaimer aside, this is the mask I’m currently recommending to all of my 40-something friends. Is the Fountain of Youth actually a light bath? Time will tell. I plan to keep using this mask and look forward to seeing just how well it slows down the aging process during long-term testing.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.