Dr. Dennis Gross LED Mask Review: Does It Work?

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve fallen for a TikTok trend or two, so when I got the chance to write a Dr. Dennis Gross LED mask review, I accepted—for the sake of science, of course. Of all the masks on the market, Dr. Dennis Gross’ SpectraLite FaceWare Pro mask stood out to me because it looked like something Beyoncé would’ve worn on her Renaissance tour—and it’s FDA-approved to treat acne and wrinkles in daily, three-minute doses.

At the time I’m writing this, the SpectraLite FaceWare Pro has been a staple in my nighttime skin care routine for roughly a year and a half (17 months, to be exact). I’ve used the mask consistently and sporadically—and then consistently again. Here’s a reflection of my time using an LED face mask, bathing in soothing red light, and accidentally scaring my cat in pursuit of smooth, supple skin.

How Does It Work?

After unboxing the Dr. Dennis Gross LED mask, you’ll see that there are three light options: red, blue, and purple (a combo of the first two). Red light boosts the energy production in your cells’ mitochondria, which in turn allows your cells to repair themselves and stimulates collagen production in your skin, reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. Blue light, on the other hand, kills acne-causing bacteria on the surface of your skin. The purple setting combines the benefits of red and blue light therapy.

As for using the actual mask, it’s easy: After your daily or nightly skin care routine—for me, that’s face wash and serum—wipe the interior of the mask down with alcohol, let it dry, and then place the mask over your head and onto your face. Using the silicon straps to ensure a snug fit, just click the button on the middle part of the mask’s “forehead” (and keep clicking) until you get to your desired setting. From there, just kick back, relax, and blast off.

First Impressions

Incorporating an LED face mask into your regimen isn’t as intuitive as using a face wash or serum, for example, but after about 12 days of consistent use, I built up the habit. A week in, I noticed that my skin actually had a brighter glow and that it was more firm in areas like my cheek and forehead. I left it on a lot longer than the advised three minutes because it was honestly very relaxing to lay down with it on, and it forced me to get off my phone and just be still. (You should follow the guidelines, though—keeping it on for so long led to temporary ident lines that lasted for a couple of minutes after use.) I’ve found the best time to use the mask is during the day as opposed to the night for two reasons: I’m often too exhausted to complete a full routine at night and the red light (anecdotally) makes it easier for me to wake up in the morning.

One Thing to Note

When I used the blue light setting, which targets bacteria that form acne, I noticed that dark spots formed in places I’d never had them pop up before. I was perplexed: I hadn’t popped any pimples—in fact, I rarely had pimples while using this mask—so I didn’t know what was going on. Luckily, after some research, I came across Dr. Chisom Ikeji, who explains that shorter wavelengths of light (blue light, for example), are not suitable for people with more melanated skin tones. So, I’ve decided to stick with longer wavelengths (a.k.a. the red light setting) for now.

Dr. Dennis Gross LED Mask Review: Worth It?

TL; DR: Yes. After learning that your early twenties are the best time to incorporate anti-aging regimens into your daily routine, my bathroom began to resemble a chemistry lab—and it became difficult to tell what was junk and what was worth it. Time will tell if this mask prevents wrinkles and noticeable signs of aging (since I just entered my late twenties), but I’ve definitely noticed improvements in my skin after using the mask, both in brightness and texture. The price point is steep, for sure, but if you’re looking for a cheaper at-home alternative to in-person treatments, this is totally worth the splurge.