Whether you’re an avid beauty enthusiast, expert, or casual enjoyer, one thing all of us beauty-adjacent lot can agree upon is the fact that LED light therapy is everywhere right now.
From skincare to haircare and everything in between, red light therapy promises to rejuvenate the skin and stimulate cell production for a healthy, all-over glow.
Launched as a next-gen wearable for tech-savvy skincare junkies, FaceGym’s LightWear mask promises all the pore-refining, skin-rejuvenating benefits of red and blue LED light therapy without the rigid, sweaty plastic of its predecessors. As someone whose relationship with LED facials has historically involved claustrophobic panic and an urge to claw my way out of a glowing dome — I was intrigued, and more than a little sceptical.
So, I gave it a whirl. Here’s what happened.
Before it’s turned on, FaceGym’s LightWear has the same Halloween energy as any LED mask: blank, white, unnerving. The silicone build, though, is what sets it apart. Unlike the stiff stormtrooper-like designs of old, this is a far more malleable bit of kit — floppier, yes, but also easier to mould to the contours of your face.
That said, once illuminated, the vibe shifts from eerie to outright terrifying. Underneath the surface, veins of light trace patterns that look alarmingly anatomical – think neon capillaries and LED synapses. My partner recoiled slightly the first time he caught sight of me in it.
Still, there’s something undeniably clever about how FaceGym has turned a functional device into a design-forward bit of wearable tech. It looks and feels considered, even if it’s not particularly chic.
FaceGym
I usually find app-controlled devices one unnecessary step too far, but FaceGym’s companion app is… actually good. Setup takes less than a minute – no serial number faffing or Bluetooth purgatory. The mask connects immediately, and the interface is intuitive: you can select full-face settings or create your own “zones”, assigning different light wavelengths to target different areas of the face.
I used purple light on my chin (where breakouts like to party) and red around my eyes and forehead (where fine lines have RSVP’d). Everything is adjustable, and the built-in 10-minute timer keeps sessions short and sweet — ideal if you, like me, can’t sit still for long.
Saskia Kemsley
FaceGym claims that LightWear’s red and blue lights are clinically proven to rejuvenate skin and reduce blemishes. I’m no lab technician, but I haven’t had a single breakout since using it. The targeted zoning also feels like a step up from the one-size-fits-all approach of other LED mask models.
However, the mask only works properly when flush against your skin, which is both a strength and a flaw. The silicone helps it cling well, but in order to keep it truly snug, you have to fasten it tightly. This is where the trouble starts: the rechargeable battery pack and Bluetooth port sit squarely on the forehead, and when strapped in, they dig. After my first session, I had marks around my eyes and a small dent where the battery had pressed – not quite the glow-up I was hoping for.
On my second try, I adjusted the straps and managed a comfortable wear – no red marks, just red light. I also appreciated that the mouth and nose holes mean you never feel suffocated; a small design detail that makes a big difference, especially for the claustrophobic among us.
FaceGym
I’m no stranger to discomfort in the name of beauty, but my LED mask bar is low. In the past, I’ve had to abort in-salon treatments because the dome-style lights left me panicked and gasping for air. So was delighted to find FaceGym’s mask genuinely wearable.
With the right adjustments, you can easily read, reply to emails, or watch Bake Off while the mask does its thing. It doesn’t obstruct your vision or block your senses, which makes the experience far more meditative than I expected. That said, getting the fit just right can take a few tries — and if it’s even slightly off, expect retina-singeing brightness levels that rival Abba Voyage.
Cost – is it worth the price?
At £450, this is no casual skincare purchase, but it’s a considered one for LED devotees. The silicone fit is a real innovation, the app actually adds value, and the targeted light zoning gives a bespoke touch that most at-home devices lack.
Is it perfect? No. The placement of the battery pack is an ergonomic oversight, and the aesthetic is best described as “techno-horror”. But if you can get past those quirks and find the sweet spot between snug and circulation-cutting, FaceGym’s LightWear is a clever, effective bit of beauty tech that finally makes LED masking feels practical and enjoyable.
Just maybe don’t answer the door while wearing it.
