The Omnilux Red Light Therapy Mask: A Skincare Solution?

Aging is a fact of life, but it’s not always a fun fact. When I recently watched the Oscar-nominated horror movie The Substance, in which Demi Moore goes to unholy lengths to turn back the clock on her face, my mind couldn’t help but wander to the small, square package that had recently arrived at my house: an Omnilux red light therapy mask. 

Omnilux creates a line of different wearable red light therapy devices, and I chose the Men’s Mask (which can also work for women — more on that below.) The Men’s mask promises to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, calm inflammation and redness, correct uneven skin tone, and improve dark under eye circles. Considering the eye-popping price tag, I was curious to find out whether it delivered on those lofty promises.

I’ve now been using the mask for the past 5+ months, and I’m ready to share my findings below.

What is an LED Face Mask?

LED face masks are wearable skin care devices. They typically feature built-in light panels which are constructed with colored light bulbs emitting various wavelengths of light. According to a number of clinical studies, certain colors and wavelengths are associated with particular benefits, from anti-aging properties, to acne reduction, and more.

How do light therapy masks help your skin?

According to a number of studies (see here and here,) specific wavelengths of red light and near infrared light can stimulate collagen production, which ultimately can have a positive impact on visible signs of aging like fine lines and uneven skin tone. The most effective wavelengths appear to be between 630-700nm for red light, and between 800-1200nm for near infrared light. Red light at 630-700 nm is thought to reduce inflammation and redness, and help activate cellular repair. Meanwhile, near infrared light between 800-1200nm, is thought to stimulate collagen production, resulting in plumper and more youthful-looking skin.  

Blue light is typically used to treat acne because it can kill bacteria, and it also reduces oil production in your sebaceous glands. Some brands of LED masks also feature additional colors of light, like pink, green, cyan, and others. But when it comes to the benefits that these other colors might provide, scientific research is more scarce.

Why I Chose Omnilux Over Other Brands

When I first started shopping for an LED face mask, I noticed that there were a wide variety of masks available at wildly different price points. You can find face-and-neck combo masks for $80 total — the equivalent products at Omnilux cost a combined $800. So what’s the difference between Omnilux and cheaper brands — or is there a difference?

It turns out, there is a difference. The Omnilux mask I purchased features red and near infrared light at 633nm and 830nm respectively, which are wavelengths with clinical research backing them up. 

In contrast, I didn’t find any cheaper models that featured both of these specific wavelengths of light. Some cheaper light therapy masks featured red light at 630nm for example, which is in the correct range, but no infrared light, which would make it less effective overall. Other cheap models I saw featured both red and infrared light, but the wavelengths were too low to have any proven efficacy. 

I also noticed that a lot of the cheaper models tended to feature a number of additional colors of light, seemingly to promote a wider range of options. But again, there isn’t much research to support the efficacy of most of these other colors.

There were also a few other distinguishing factors between the different masks I browsed: some masks are wireless, allowing you the freedom to walk around while you wear it, (the Omnilux is wireless,) while others are wired, requiring you to be outlet-adjacent during usage.

Different masks are also designed to be worn for different lengths of time for maximum efficacy, all depending on their power and construction. The Omnilux is meant to be used for ten minutes per day (and it automatically shuts off after this timeframe so there’s no confusion.) I find that ten minutes per day is an ideal time frame; it’s short enough that there’s a good chance I’ll actually use it daily.

Ultimately, I felt that if I was going to invest money into buying the mask, and time into wearing it, then it needed to feature the specific wavelengths of light that had the most clinical research backing them up. So I collected gift cards for my birthday, and sprung for the Men’s mask (see why I chose the Men’s version below.)

What Are the Different Types of Masks Omnilux Sells?

Omnilux offers three main facial masks: the “Contour,” the “Clear,” and the “Men’s.” I’ll explain each below.

The Contour

This is Omnilux’s flagship mask, also commonly thought of as the “women’s” mask. It features 633nm (red) and 830nm (near-infrared) light.

The Clear

The Clear mask features 415nm (blue) and 633nm (red) light. The blue light targets acne, so if your main skin concerns are blemish-related, then this is the right mask for you. However, if you’re mainly worried about visible signs of aging, note that this mask does not feature near infrared light like the Contour does, so it will be somewhat less effective in that area.

The Men’s

Just like the Contour, the men’s mask features 633nm (red) light, and 830nm (near-infrared) light. However, it also features something additional: 1072nm (near-infrared) light. This longer beam of light penetrates more deeply into skin, which is considered a benefit for men, who typically have thicker facial skin than women due to their higher levels of testosterone. 

Omnilux says that the Men’s mask is perfectly safe for women to use, though they don’t weigh in on its efficacy for women. However, I found a ton of reviews and anecdotal evidence online to suggest that the additional wavelength does provide benefits for women, too. The prevailing wisdom seems to be that there’s no downside to using the Men’s version as a woman, and there may be a benefit. So ultimately, I chose the Men’s mask. 

The only downside I experienced was that the mask is a little big for my face; presumably because it’s designed with men in mind. While it would be hard to walk around or perform tasks while wearing the mask, it’s reasonably comfortable to wear while laying down. 

Omnilux Men’s Red Light Therapy Mask: Shipping, Delivery, and Unboxing Experience

I purchased the Omnilux Men’s Red Light Therapy Mask after months of careful research. They offer free ground shipping for orders over $100 (within the lower 48 states,) and it arrived without hassle. Included with the mask is the charging cable and a cloth bag for storage.

I needed to charge it up a bit before the first use, but once it was charged, getting started was very easy: just strap the mask to your face, and press the button on the attached battery pack.

First Impressions of the Omnilux Men’s Red Light Therapy Mask

My first thought upon pressing the “on” button was disbelief. The lights are BRIGHT red. Surface-of-mars red. 

The lights are so bright, that I initially doubted whether it was safe for my eyes. However, Omnilux states that the mask is completely safe for the eyes. Their guide says, “Our Omnilux Men device is very safe for the eyes and does not require any eye protection. It has been tested and conforms to medical device standards including IEC/EN 62471 Photobiological eye safety standard.”

Regardless, I bought these cheap eye covers on Amazon to use with my mask. (Get it here: LINK) Even if the light isn’t harmful for your eyes, it’s still annoyingly bright, so I found that wearing some type of eye cover while using the mask creates a more relaxing vibe. 

Given that this device is battery-operated, I thought I’d be able to walk around and do other activities while wearing it, but this is really not the case. The lights are much too bright, and the mask also doesn’t fit me well enough to stay on or allow me to see clearly while I’m walking around.

With that said, once I got used to the fit of the mask and the brightness of the lights, using it became very easy, and even relaxing.

Using the Omnilux Men’s Mask

Omnilux recommends starting out with heavy usage 3-5 times per week for the first 4-6 weeks, and then as-needed after that. I followed these guidelines for the first six weeks.

Then life got in the way, and for about six weeks I used the mask very sporadically. After that, I stepped up my usage to 3-5 times per week prior to writing this review. This pattern of on-again, off-again usage is probably fairly typical for most users; it can be harder than you might expect to work a mask session into that daily routine. 

I used the mask primarily on my face, which is what it’s made for. However, I also experimented with using it on my neck/chest area too. Note that the face mask is not designed to be used on the neck/chest; when you place it there, the eye, nose and mouth holes create gaps in coverage. Omnilux recommends using their decollete mask instead, because it’s designed for that area. However, I didn’t want to shell out for a second mask, so I tried the face mask on my neck/chest, and have seen major benefits from using it in this way.

Omnilux Men’s Mask: Does It Work?

It works … but not exactly as I’d hoped. I wish I could say that the mask completely erased all signs of aging, but unfortunately that’s not the case. It does slightly improve the look of fine lines, but the effect is subtle.

However, I saw a really dramatic result when it came to redness reduction: this mask completely calmed down any inflamed or red skin. I noticed that it made my skin a bit brighter and more even, and, to a smaller degree, it did help with lessening the look of dark undereye circles. 

The mask worked best for me when I used it four to five times a week, for multiple weeks in a row. Whenever I decreased my usage, the benefits started to drop off as well. Omnilux also states that using it more than 5 times per week has not been tested for safety or efficacy, so I try not to use it any more than five times per week. Overall, when I use it frequently, the results are noticeable-enough to me — a person who looks at my own face every day. However, the masks’ effects are still subtle enough that they may not be extremely noticeable to a stranger.

Still, I’m happy with the purchase overall, for a few reasons. First, and most importantly, the mask does show some visible results, most notably for reducing rosacea and improving overall skin tone. 

But besides the obvious skincare benefits, I also liked that the mask increased my focus on self care. Since it only works if you use it multiple times a week, I’ve tried to make it a part of my daily routine: I pop in headphones and listen to music or a podcast while laying down for a red light session, and doing so creates a relaxing ritual — one that leaves my skin looking and feeling a little better, and leaves me feeling a little more relaxed. 

The battery lasts for a long time — typically 10 to 12 sessions — which is great. However, once it dies, in my experience it can take over 6 hours to charge back up, which can be frustrating.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Clean the Mask?

According to the website, “To clean the device, wipe gently with a water-based wipe or damp cloth and place on a clean surface to air dry. Stubborn stains can be removed by wiping gently with 70% alcohol.” I typically use facial wipes like these to quickly wipe it off at the end of each session.

Can women use the Omnilux Men’s mask?

According to Omnilux, “Yes, women can use Omnilux Men. There is no harm for women to use the 1072nm wavelength.” I purchased the Men’s mask after reading a number of anecdotal accounts online, which claimed that the men’s mask has a greater efficacy than the Contour for both men and women, due to the fact that it uses an additional, and longer, wavelength of near infrared light: 1072nm.

Do you have to use it consistently to see benefits?

Yes! In my experience, consistent use is the most important factor for seeing results. When I only used it sporadically (once a week or less,) I found that it didn’t seem to do much. However, when I used it 4-5 times a week, for several weeks in a row, my skin became noticeably more even, with less redness and decreased dark under eye circles. Fine lines were also subtly improved with sustained use.

Do you look silly while wearing the Omnilux mask?

Yes! It’s definitely a silly look, something like an alien crossed with a robot. But Halloween’s always been my favorite holiday, so this aspect didn’t bother me. If anything, I consider it a plus! However, if you live with judgey housemates, then you may get laughed at. You’ve been warned. 

In My Expert Opinion

In The Substance, Demi Moore’s character makes herself monstrous in her quest to reclaim her youth. But what I like about the Omnilux Red Light therapy mask is that, although it does look delightfully monstrous while it’s on, when the mask comes off, I feel — if not exactly reborn, then at least somewhat relaxed, with skin a bit smoother and more radiant. And that’s worth the price of admission.