Therabody is following up last year’s foray into the beauty realm with a new tool that fights signs of aging, smooths the skin and promotes relaxation: the TheraFace Mask. The new skin care device uses FDA-cleared light-emitting diode (LED) therapy and vibration massage to simultaneously calm the mind and body.
Let’s take a look at the mask’s bevy of benefits — and which features we found most useful after getting a first look and testing the device for a few weeks:
This LED therapy mask is one of the sleekest we've tried — and it comes with special features that others don't have. It offers red, blue and infrared + red light treatments, paired with vibrating massage and a comfortable, hands-free design. Plus, protective eye shields and a stand are included.
LED light therapy
As far as beauty treatments go, LED light therapy is one of the lowest-maintenance options that is proven to deliver results. Using specific wavelengths of light — which correlate to different colors — LED therapy stimulates the skin’s collagen and elastin production, resulting in healthier, more youthful-looking skin.
The TheraFace Mask packs in 648 mechanical-grade LEDs, offering three clinically tested settings — red, blue and red + infrared — to target specific skin concerns. Red light is commonly used to treat fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots; blue light treats breakouts and blemishes by fighting acne-causing bacteria; and infrared light penetrates deepest to tighten and tone the skin.
With the TheraFace Mask, you can choose to cycle through all three LED settings in one nine-minute treatment (three minutes for each color), or stick to just one LED color for the whole time.
Vibration therapy
What really makes the TheraFace Mask stand out from other at-home LED devices, though, is its clever, comfortable design and vibration therapy. Since Therabody is known for its massage guns, it makes sense that the brand would incorporate a version of its percussive massage into its newest launch. This comes by way of 17 QX-micro motors, which deliver gentle vibration. You can feel these at work mostly around the top of the mask, near the temples and around the eye area (where the mask is in contact with the face). The vibration is automatically paired with the LED treatment, but you can choose to turn off the massage setting or even use it separately from the light therapy.
Hands-free, ergonomic design
Unlike other masks that are pressed against the skin, the TheraFace Mask has silicone eye pads that allow it to hover over the face while also keeping the bright lights at a distance from your vision. This, combined with the head strap, allows it to sit comfortably and hands-free without any risk of the mask slipping out of place. It feels like wearing a pair of goggles, if they were attached to a face shield.
However, the fit of the straps was the only obstacle I experienced. They are adjustable, but I found that it was still sized quite large for my head. The top strap, which can be adjusted so the mask sits at the correct eye level, may not be able to be pulled tight enough for some users. In that case, the mask would still be fully functional for treatments where you are lying down, but might not fit correctly if you want to go hands-free.
Bottom line
At $599, the TheraFace Mask is at the high end of at-home LED therapy masks. Comparable options from top-selling brands like Omnilux, CurrentBody and Dr. Dennis Gross average around $400, but the TheraFace Mask also claims it has three times more LEDs than the leading competitor. It also has a completely wireless design, unlike other masks I’ve tried that require a cord connected to a power bank. This, along with its unique vibration therapy, customizable settings and attractive, functional design, set it apart from the others, making it a worthy addition for those who love beauty gadgets and splurging on self-care.
Some beauty devices can be enticing for the first few uses, then after the novelty wears off you realize you haven’t touched it for weeks — but the TheraFace Mask has endured as a new essential step in my routine. I use it every night — after cleansing my face and before applying any skin care — and sometimes I’ll even reach for it during my work-from-home days if I notice some redness or a breakout that I want to treat before going out. I look forward to its treatments not only for the beauty benefits but also the moment of relaxation it promotes. It’s perfect for unwinding at the end of the day or taking a nine-minute break for some deep breathing and mindfulness whenever I need it.