The Cosmetic Review

Beauty tech, without the hype

LED face masks, tested and explained by someone who reads the studies.

At-home light therapy is everywhere, and most "reviews" are reworded brand copy. The Cosmetic Review is different: every device here has been used on real skin, every claim is checked against the research, and the duds are named as clearly as the favourites.

Independent beauty media since 2012 30+ LED masks tested first-hand PhD Skincare expert Evidence-led, not influencer-led

Start here

The two guides that answer most questions about LED light therapy.

Buyer's guide

The best LED face masks in 2026

Six masks tested over years of use, ranked honestly — the brands worth it, and the pricey ones that aren't.

Read the guide →
The science

Do LED face masks actually work?

What photobiomodulation really does to skin, what the clinical evidence supports, and where at-home devices fall short of a clinic.

Read the science →

Reviews & comparisons

Individual devices tested first-hand, plus the head-to-heads.

Head to head

Nooance vs CurrentBody Series 2

The two best brands side by side: moulds, wavelengths, irradiance and the 1072 nm question.

Compare them →
Buyer's guide

Which Nooance mask?

Aurion X252 vs Eye Mask X200 vs Le Professionnel vs Flexidome — which to choose.

Read the guide →
Review

CurrentBody Series 2

The real LED count, the new 1072 nm wavelength, and the "most powerful" claim.

Read the review →
Review

Nooance Elite

600 LEDs and a real 50 mW/cm² — the top of the range, tested.

Read the review →
Review

Nooance Aurion X252

The cordless entry mask built to cover the jawline — honest pros and cons.

Read the review →
Review

CurrentBody Skin (Series 1)

Three years on: what the original does well, and why it now feels dated.

Read the review →
Review

Dermalux Flex MD

A pro-grade panel for face and body — but is it still worth it?

Read the review →

The science, in depth

The technical guides behind the rankings — so you can judge any mask yourself.

The science

Power vs irradiance

Why two masks quote wildly different numbers — and what to actually compare.

Read the guide →
The science

Do more LEDs help?

LED count improves coverage uniformity, not power — here's the nuance.

Read the guide →
The science

Multispectral LEDs

Why one "LED" isn't one wavelength — and how that splits the power.

Read the guide →