At ELLE, we’re big believers in using devices to sculpt, tighten, and brighten in tandem with our usual skin care routines…as long as they work. At-home tools to make your skin look glowier—all without a dermatologist office or a spa—have never been more popular, and not just on social media. In 2022, the market was valued at nearly $14 million, and by 2030, it’s projected to reach over $35 million (that’s more than 140 percent growth in just eight years).
As the skin care device market balloons and scientific claims get more grandiose, it’s hard to know which tools are worth your money. How do you know which LED mask will actually help boost elasticity and smooth fine lines? Or which microcurrent device will truly help tone and lift? Or if any at-home laser comes close to the in-office version?
We did the heavy lifting for you, testing out dozens of skin care tools and narrowing them down to the 15 best. There’s an LED mask beloved by celebrity facialists and a new makeup tool that mixes your perfect shade of foundation. Keep reading for the full rundown, with commentary from ELLE editors who vigorously tested each one.
Best Masks
Each version of this mask gets better and better. The newest one boasts better coverage and versatility, thanks to the addition of deep infrared lights designed to penetrate further into the skin, and a new form of silicone that clings better to the face. Our tester loved the lightness of this mask, which made it easy to pack in a suitcase. When she used the mask consistently, she noticed that her face overall looked brighter and less gray.
No need to endure the tingling of fiery glosses for fuller-looking lips. The LipWare Pro uses 56 red LED lights to target fine lines and creases around the mouth, leaving them looking plump and smooth. Our tester liked how easy the treatment was, noting that it turned off automatically when the timer was done. She noticed fewer lines after consistent use and liked that the device didn’t have to be plugged into the wall, so that she could use the tool while doing other tasks around the house.
Made of medical-grade silicone, this beginner red light mask is praised for being easy-to-wear and comes with 10- and 20-minute treatment times. More than 50 bulbs are embedded within the mask, which also comes with goggles to protect your eyes and face loops for comfort. Our tester said that it improved her complexion overall, “particularly the redness around my nose, and the fine and dehydration lines around my eyes and forehead.”
The Dr. Dennis Gross eye mask harnesses the power of a red light and focuses it around the eyes, targeting fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles. The mask sits completely flush with the skin while multiple red LED lights (96 to be precise) in 4 different wavelengths (amber, red, deep red, and infrared) help to boost collagen in just three minutes per day. Our tester noted that the mask was comfortable to wear and the design felt lightweight. She noticed a slight reduction in her puffy under eyes after a few weeks of consistent use. She also liked that the mask turned off automatically when the treatment was complete to make the process more user friendly.
The deeper the LED bulb color, the stronger the mask. This one features burgundy colored bulbs, the most saturated color (unlike the many red and orange bulbs seen in the market), to ensure optimal energy absorption. Our tester said: “I really enjoyed using this mask! I’ve used LED face masks before that were hard plastic, and I absolutely loved how this mask was soft and flexible to the face. The light is very strong even on the medium setting, and it almost felt like I was getting professional light therapy done at home. The biggest difference I noticed was with my acne and scarring. If I had a lovely pimple show up on my face, this really helped to reduce the redness and heal the scarring after the pimple was gone. I feel like it also helped to overall brighten my face.”
Shark’s CryoGlow mask is a truly unique experience, serving up four treatments that combine different light types with cryotherapy. While most masks only have red or blue light, Shark’s is dotted with bulbs that emit red, blue, and infrared light. The blue light works on the surface to fight acne, red light penetrates the dermis to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and infrared goes even deeper to stimulate collagen production. The mask also has chilled metal pads under each eye that use cryotherapy to soothe and de-puff your eye area. This technology works like a mini air conditioner to instantly bring an arctic blast to your skin. Our tester liked how easy the mask was to use, and found that her skin looked tighter and firmer after a two week testing period.
It looks like a Phantom of the Opera mask but is actually one of the most powerful LED masks on the market. Compared to other LED masks, it offers multiple wavelengths of light (red, blue, and even green), which can be used in combo with each other. Our tester found that this mask, while a bit of a splurge, did give her quicker results than others she had tried. The Deesse Pro was particularly helpful in reducing redness and in treating budding acne spots.
Glow Boosters
Droplette might look like a high-tech egg, but it’s actually a skin care secret weapon. The device uses ultrasonic technology to shrink its serum ingredients down into aerosols and infuse them into the skin. These smaller particles can penetrate deeper, giving you better results. Our tester found that the micronized mist makes skin look luminous and absorbs easily, with an almost whisper-like feeling.
Give your face a lymphatic drainage treatment at home with this innovative device. It gently massages your face to depuff and sculpt in minutes. Our tester found that the four different settings (heat, heat and massage, cold, cold and massage) were intuitive, and that the temperatures remained consistent throughout use. She particularly loved that the cold setting under her eyes helped tamp down puffiness.
Our tester was excited to try the tool that’s been seen all over TikTok—and is now new and improved with multiple modes that use a mixture of radiofrequency, LED, and microcurrent to help firm and tone skin. Our tester found that her favorite part of the device was the app that comes with it. “It includes tutorials, tips, and more, making the device super easy and enjoyable to use.” She could adjust the intensity of the treatments or switch between different shades of LED light, such as red, blue, purple, and green. You can even win certain skin care prizes from the brand if you do “check-ins” with the app. After using the tool three times a week, she reports, “My skin is looking good.”
Laser treatments are second to none when it comes to brightening, resurfacing, and tightening skin, but they’re often painful and require downtime. The NIRA Pro is a painless at-home version that’s clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It’s large enough to be used on the face, neck, chest, and back of hands to stimulate collagen production with non-fractional, non-ablative laser technology that gently heats skin. Our tester noted that the NIRA Pro helped reduce fine lines on the forehead and around the eyes with consistent use.
The old trick of using a cold spoon to depuff eye bags and constrict blood vessels goes high-tech with this wand—and the heat setting makes it a dual-use device, helping boost circulation and enhance lymphatic drainage. Our tester said that the cold setting helped mitigate puffy eyes but also felt relaxing. She also felt like it subtly firmed her face as well.
What if your foundation could be bespoke, like a custom gown? This at-home device delivers custom foundation with each use and starts by analyzing your skin tone using a light-blocking wand (which ensures that you get an accurate reading no matter what light you’re in) that you hold to three different areas of your face. After you take your “measurements,” BoldHue combines the three to find your perfect shade. Then, the machine mixes red, yellow, blue, and black pigments with an antioxidant blend containing tremella mushrooms and rice bran, to create a small jar of foundation that lasts for about a week. (You can save your shade as a “default” too, to make replicating the process easier). Our tester normally finds it hard to find an exact foundation match, as her skin is somewhere between cool and neutral-toned. But she found BoldHue’s system to be intuitive, and created a foundation shade that melted into her skin and looked completely natural.
The original LYMA laser made headlines in 2022 for being the first FDA-approved face tool that uses cold laser technology or low-level laser therapy to boost collagen and reduce inflammation and the appearance of wrinkles (according to the brand, it is more powerful than LED). The newest version is three times as big, making it easy to cover more ground, so it can be used on the body too. Our tester noted that with consistent use, this tool helped even out her skin tone, made her face and neck appear slightly tighter, and gave her a glow. One con that she noted is that the device is heavy.
This at-home treatment uses wavelength and microcurrent technology to deliver electro currents that target specific facial muscles to tone and contour. With a screen monitor that allows you to adjust the intensity of the currents, the device makes for an easy and customizable experience. Our tester initially found the device a bit intimidating, but after reviewing the directions, she was able to use the probe tools comfortably. She reported that it gave her a glowy glass skin look, a sculpted finish (particularly around her cheeks), and less eye puffiness.
