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Plato said it best: “Necessity is the mother of invention.” LED light therapy, initially developed in the 60’s for wound healing, may have appeared prominently in doctors’ offices after the FDA approved a low-level therapy device in 2002, but our national obsession with wellness and beauty led to even greater technological advances. Most recently, the pandemic created the need – and over $11M in sales last year – for at home LED light-therapy. At the forefront of this charge is Omnilux.
Credit: @omniluxled
About FACE
Omnilux Contour™ FACE (the brand also sells neck & décolleté and glove versions) is a silicone flexible mask that utilizes two wavelengths of light: Red light to reduce inflammation, pigmentation and redness, and near-infrared light to target deeper fibroblast cells (the connective tissue cells that play a role in wound healing). Together, the lights stimulate collagen and elastin production while improving blood flow and tissue oxygenation. The more oxygen to the cells, the more moisture in the skin.
LEDs (aka light-emitting diodes) are microchips that convert electrical energy into lights of various wavelengths, so the surface of the Omnilux mask is smooth and remains cool. And make no mistake, the mask’s visible lights that penetrate skin and are absorbed by cells are unrelated to the skin-damaging wavelengths that come from invisible UVA and UVB rays. This is one time you don’t need an SPF.
Credit: @ksmithskin
The Beauty Of Science
While LED light therapy has become eminent, and the Omnilux renown thanks to model Bella Hadid wearing the mask on social media and celebrity facialist Kristyn Smith touting the benefits in the press, this is no fad. The concept, stemming from science, is backed by decades of clinical trials and research -- including with NASA scientists, who while exploring light therapy for food growth found merit for astronauts’ health and skin healing benefits.
Credit: @omniluxled
Results To Light Up About
As a skincare enthusiast, I was eager to see what Omnilux could do for me. At 52, I welcome anything that energizes my skin cells. Kristyn Smith recommends the mask for anyone over 30 as inflammation is commonplace and we all have scarring from the occasional overindulge in the sun.
Other than cleansing and drying skin, there is no skin prep needed before using the mask. The $395 Omnilux Contour™ FACE comes with three hydrogel face masks to layer underneath the LED mask. These hyaluronic acid, nutrient-rich masks are specifically designed to maximize light penetration while also hydrating and nourishing skin. My skin was noticeably more hydrated after, but I don’t feel the Omnilux requires the masks for efficacy. I am eager, however, to buy them a la carte ($29 three-pack of masks) to use separately as these skin nurturers, laden with seaweed and green tea extract, will compensate for my insufficient water drinking and are just the boost my aging skin needs on occasion.
Credit: @omniluxled
The Omnilux Contour™ FACE fits comfortably snug, so the light delivers maximum impact directly onto the skin, but wearing it is relaxing. I followed the brand’s usage recommendation – three to five 10-minute treatments each week, for 4-6 weeks. After four weeks, I saw more even skin tone appear, less hyperpigmentation, and smoother, more hydrated skin. My own aesthetician commented that my skin looked clear and healthy, a welcome change from the “maskne” I had been privy to this past year.
After four weeks, I saw more even skin tone appear, less hyperpigmentation, and smoother, more hydrated skin. My own aesthetician commented that my skin looked clear and healthy, a welcome change from the “maskne” I had been privy to this past year.
Doctors have noted that people often give up when they don’t wake up to clearer, younger-looking skin the next morning following use. I knew results are cumulative and – like anything worthwhile - take time. I look forward to continuing to see skin benefits, using the mask for maintenance, but also for my well-being as light therapy has a mental health benefit. Research has shown that LED lights can boost serotonin, which lifts mood and reduces stress. I found sitting still wearing the Omnilux incredibly meditative and calming, an added benefit I welcome into my skincare routine.
Five More Reasons to Love OmniLux:
- Omnilux features optimized doses of red and infrared light that “supercharge the body's own natural cellular healing response and reverse the visible signs of aging.”
- Omnilux is a world leader in medical-grade LED light therapy devices. FACE is proven, professional-grade technology.
- Omnilux just launched a dedicated acne version – Omnilux® CLEAR™. In addition to using red and blue light technologies to kill the bacteria that causes acne, it is designed to decrease inflammation, oil production and pore size for those who experience mild to moderate acne.
- Omnilux is the most recommended at-home LED Mask by Dermatologists and Skincare Professionals.
- Red and near-infrared red wavelengths have been the most widely studied and have the best effects on skin.
Editor’s Note: In late 2022, Omnilux announced the addition of a Men’s LED Light Therapy Mask to their suite of products. With a similar, yet noticeably simpler look to the previously reviewed Contour FACE mask, the Men’s Mask is engineered for “men’s thicker skin.” It primarily seeks to help users reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and irritation caused by shaving.
