***Disclaimer
Many people ask me, what is the best LED red light therapy face mask I can get?
You might be surprised to know that the best facemask isn’t really a facemask.
To begin, let us go over the face masks available at therapylights.com.au
The most popular red light therapy face mask is the seven colour 7 colour LED light face mask. Some features that make this unit so popular are the variety of colours, larger coverage area, and the price point, with this unit coming in at just $189inc. This mask also has an optional microelectronics feature which emulates a microcurrent treatment, making it quite a full package in terms of a beauty routine.
Another popular face mask is the similar variation with no neck component, the 7 Color Red Light Therapy Face Mask. Smaller, more compact, and quite durable, the 7 colour face mask is a great addition to any beauty routine.
For a lighter touch, there are other options that may not seem as powerful, however are just as effective. The battery powered Rechargeable LED face mask is more comfortable than the other two variations. You can also use it whilst watching TV, or reading a book, which is something you definitely cannot do with the previously mentioned 2 models.
The facemask I would use if I had to use one, would be the portable one, but here’s the secret: I have never used a facemask and doubt I ever will.
I am lucky enough to have a dual Black II Infrared light therapy panel 1800w set up, which treats my face, neck, and the entire rest of my body in 20 mins! (10 mins front, 10 mins back, or 5 minutes each left, right, ft & back is our general recommendation for those wanting to know!)
Now this setup is huge, and it’s not what I would call cheap, so I feel like anyone who owns one really does have complete faith in red light therapy.
HOWEVER you do not need the ‘Rolls Royce’ to get a result, and if looking to treat just the face and neck area, there are some really cost price options that are compact, easy to use, and in my opinion better value than any facemask on the market including our own!
I will get into these in just a moment, but first, let me explain why any 200w-400w panel sold at therapylights.com.au is going to outperform any LED face mask on the market.
Here are 10 reasons why you should ditch your LED face mask for a red light therapy panel!
I know what you’re thinking: Here come the red light therapy panel guys, claiming that power is the most important aspect of red light therapy… But seriously, a powerful panel means that you can be further away, and get the same result as a facemask will give you right next to your skin. This leads me to …
Never touching the skin, means panels are non contact and cannot possibly ‘not fit’ The masks are all one size fits all, and though adjustable to a certain level, they will never match the comfort levels of a contact free device.
No contact = no problem sharing this device with friends and family members. Thus your bang for buck is doubled with every added user.
You cannot realistically share a mask with other people, and it is not something we recommend. A mask is a personal device and more to the point, they will eventually get more unsanitary than a panel that is never touched.
Think of it as a computer vs a mobile phone. The computer sits on the desk and is basically never touched. This is the same as a red light therapy panel, it sits where it is put and that is that. A mask, or any wearable device, is eventually going to suffer ware and tare, because you have to interact with it so much more. Red light therapy panels will generally last 5-10 years and longer. Masks and other wearable products will generally last 12-24 months, and if you are rough with them, much less.
It is not uncommon to sell a red light therapy panel for 50-80% of what you paid for it. Especially if it is in perfect condition, which most panels look like they are even years after purchase. Selling a second hand facemask is not something that seems realistic, hence we as a company do not do it. (yet we have plenty of refurbished red light therapy devices that are panels…)
A facemask will only ever be that. A panel you can move around, have on a stand, put on the back of a door, or even hang from the roof. In such a way you can integrate red light therapy into virtually any activity. The same can not be said of a mask, and you are limited to reading a book at best with the portable option.
You cannot realistically use a facemask on a knee, elbow, entire lower back, stomach, feet etc. A 300w panel can be used anywhere.
But the face mask is cheaper right? While this is correct, if we look at all you get out of a panel, vs a facemask, one is clearly a more valuable item. Hands down a panel is better money spent when considering point 1-8 and of course point 10
Our red light therapy panels all contain near infrared light, something that 90% of face masks do not have. In fact, by the time you search the market for a facemask that can do red, yellow, and near infrared light, you have already gone past the price point of one of TLAs best value red light therapy panel, the travel kit II, in most cases!
(BONUS) NO BLUE LIGHT: But blue light is great right? In this writer’s opinion, not really. In fact, I wear blue light blocking glasses (and have been most of the time I have been writing this blog) because I get way too much blue light already.
Why?
– Because I am on a computer for up to 12 hours a day + my phone + netflix at night + even my car bluetooth system produces blue light. It has been shown that excessive blue light is not all that great for you.I am not saying blue light has no place at all, and I certainly do think there are some circumstances it can be handy to have.
My question is: In the modern world, do young people especially, really need to be adding more blue light to their routine?
-My opinion is no.
this Harvard study I accessed 17/01/2023 (Harvard Health Publishing,2020*) seems to support my belief, so this isn’t an uneducated guess.
It would seem that blue light emitted from the devices we use can cause a lot of issues. This study showed that blue light:
–Disrupts our circadian rhythm and sleep cycles
-Inhibits melatonin production and makes it much harder to fall asleep
-Causes weight fluctuation
– A host of other negative side effects
In short, it would seem blue light can cause many issues, so we as a company only have very few devices that contain blue light, and it is more to meet market demand than anything else!
Honestly, I could probably go on 12-50 other reasons, but I think these are the most important things to consider, and indeed this is what I recommend customers contemplate before making a purchase.
So which smaller red light therapy panel should I look at, if I was looking to try red infrared LED light facials at home?
Here are a few of my favourites, starting with the most cost effective:
LTE II 300
After the LTE 300, TLA released the Pro 300 and Black 300 models. Though the LTE 300 had no stand, its cheaper manufacturing cost, and thus end price point, made it one of the most popular red light therapy panels in 2021.
In 2022 the Black II series was released and it seemed as though there was no room left in our range for the LTE 300. Indeed many manufacturers stopped producing the shells and components, and it seemed to be lights out. However, we realised a lot of people on a budget would be cut off from a great product, so we made the decision to custom make LTE II 300 models. The LTE II 300 Near infrared light therapy device is longer and thinner than the original, making it more perfect for the face and neck area. It will also cover over half the spine in most cases, and most people’s legs from feet to kneecap. We also took the internals from our Black 300 series, and made the LTE II 300 with 4 wavelengths of red and near infrared light: Near infrared 850/830nm & red 660nm +630nm. 630nm is commonly referred to as yellow light, and has been adopted on a massive scale throughout the worldwide beauty industry alongside red light.
Simplified controls, 10 minute sessions morning and evening (or one or the other) and weighing just 2.6kg, the LTE II 300 truly is the entry level red light therapy device of choice for most informed customers
Black II 400
I can’t write any blog about red light therapy without mentioning the patented Black II series, after all it is my design.
The Black II 400 Red and near infrared light therapy panel (special edition) was a fun one to design. We took the 30 degree lenses from our LTE Pro series, and the dual chip PCB design from the Black II series and created an ultra powerful compact unit.
This device is the most powerful of any we recommend for the face and neck area, meaning you will be furthest away from it during use. It also has a remote control, it’s easy to adjust the stand, and it has the ability to choose between 6 wavelengths of red and near infrared light.
If you look through the history of the internet, it is pretty clear I commissioned the builds of a lot of the first 4 wavelength designs. This was copied by a lot of up and coming companies, and frankly, I am happy to contribute to the industry as a whole. When it comes to my 6 wavelength design, I patented it because I didn’t want the same thing to happen again! (Everyone gets 1!)
The main innovation I would say, is the 645nm wavelength. Black II series panels have red 660/630/645nm. It seemed to me that in Europe, there was a huge emphasis on red (or yellow light) 630nm. In the USA, red 660 was all they were talking about. The Australian (me) came late to the party and wanted to fuse both. A couple of months later the TLA Black series was born.
When I pushed this idea further, it was again about halving the distance between the two wavelengths, 660nm and 630nm, thus 645nm I concluded, or orange light as I called it, was something we should be investigating.
Needless to say, I believe our Black II and now Pro II panels are the best money can buy, and were definitely the first 6 wavelength design on the worldwide retail red light therapy market.
I am quite proud of this…It was no cheap or easy feat to pull off, and putting TLA years ahead technologically was well worth not getting a salary in 2021… Just don’t ask my wife if it was!
Black 300
Getting back to it, a product that is a very similar shape to the Black II 400 minus a few bells and whistles, is the Black 300 near infrared light therapy device . With an unmatched 4 year warranty, quad wavelength PCB, non flicker drivers, an adjustable stand and easy to use digital timer, the Black 300 is a very safe choice. It is perfectly easy to cover a face and neck sized area with high quality red and near infrared light while sitting at a desk or laying in bed.
Black 200
This little device fits into most handbags, and definitely won’t compromise your luggage space on that next getaway or your bank account at our checkout. We made the Black 200 Red light therapy for face treatments a small but powerful portable device to cater for those who want the Black series experience, within a small and versatile package. Simplified controls make for simplified usage, and by using an external power supply, we were able to slim this model right down to under 900 grams!
A small but powerful take on red light therapy for faces, the Black 200 has been a hit since inception.
Pro 200
A step down from the Black 200, is the Pro 200 near infrared light therapy for targeted areas panel. A small yet formidable panel for its price point it is almost identical to a Black 200. The only thing you miss out on is the quad wavelength PCB as the Pro 200 produces red 660nm and NIR850nm. This is the standard most companies finish at, and is the standard we start at. A great unit for those looking to test the waters of decently powered red light therapy devices, and every bit as multifunctional as any of our more expensive options.
In Conclusion
To me, we have never been a LED facemask company. We do sell LED face masks because at our core, we believe any red light therapy is good red light therapy.
If you’re thinking to yourself, I have bought a facemask and now I want a refund! We get it. Since 2020 we have always offered customers who do not like their face masks, their FULL purchase price back in store credit, so they can upgrade to a high power red light therapy panel.
Just email us and don’t pepper us with bad reviews first! I have personally offered about 200 customers shop credit in this circumstance, and all of the staff know I will approve this if you are polite and leave us positive reviews.
After all, if offering this is not 5 star review worthy, I don’t want to offer it and that is fair enough!
Have a wonderful day, and remember to contact us with any questions, rather than commenting on this blog!
Jonathon
Founding Director
Therapylights.com.au
***Disclaimer
The content discussed in this article is made for enjoyment and referencing purposes. The opinions expressed in this blog are opinions and not statements of fact. Our written blog content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Our products are low-risk LED light products.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
References
Harvard Health Publishing (2020) Blue light has a dark side, What is blue light? The effect blue light has on your sleep and more. The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Available online: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side
I have lost quite a bit of hair recently (I’m 72 female) due to stress of having a pacemaker put in. The skin on my face is also very blotchy. Also am thinking of trying out castor oil packs for the sciatic-type pain in my lower body and would like to add near infra-red to that regime. I already have a TLA mat that I bought years ago and was wondering if I could sit on it to release the tightness in my gluteus maximus?
You’ve been helpful in the past and I would like to stick with TLA if you can provide me with the best and most beneficial product.
TIA