After 3 months and visual outcomes, the Shark LED masks is a staple in my skincare routine

Desk of Contents

I’ve had a Solawave crimson mild remedy wand in one in every of my toilet organizers for in all probability two years now. I actually wished to like it, but it surely simply did not present noticeable sufficient outcomes for me to recollect to make use of it. So it ought to say one thing that I by no means forgot to make use of the Shark CryoGlow crimson mild masks within the few months that I used to be testing it — and past.

The Shark CryoGlow masks’s $349.99 price ticket is not precisely low-cost, but it surely is not costly in comparison with the opposite high crimson mild masks available on the market. The value feels a lot fairer when the CryoGlow has a couple of distinctive flexes that separate it from widespread opponents just like the $395 Omnilux masks and $349 Solawave masks.

Shark hair instruments just like the FlexStyle have cemented themselves as formidable fixtures within the hair care world for years now. However the CryoGlow is Shark’s first try at esthetics — one fastidiously designed over time after enter from dermatologists, proof from medical trials, and buyer suggestions about different crimson mild units available on the market. I discovered all about its lore at SharkBeauty’s launch occasion for the masks in January 2025, then introduced one residence to check for myself.

What does the Shark CryoGlow masks do?

The Shark face masks targets tremendous traces, pimples, darkish circles, and usually uneven pores and skin texture. These are the principle advantages of crimson mild remedy (and blue mild and infrared mild), typically yearned for when even probably the most religious skincare routines aren’t doing sufficient.

The CryoMask is lined with 160 interlocking tri-wick LED bulbs, spanning all corners of the face and even slightly underneath the jaw. Everybody calls it an LED masks, however if you wish to get fancy, it is technically iQLED.

The Shark CryoGlow masks weighs round 1.5 kilos.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The pink glow is achieved when blue and crimson mild are shining concurrently.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

That 160 beats the 132 LEDs of the Omnilux masks or the 14 LEDs of the Solawave wand, in order that’s noteworthy by itself — however the “tri-wick” factor is essential, too. Tri-wick signifies that each single a kind of bulbs can emit every wavelength, so that you’re getting full-face mild protection whatever the setting. Scientifically, this may be clocked when it comes to irradiance: a measurement of energy density on the supply of the LED. The Shark CryoGlow hits a most radiance of 128mW/cm² in comparison with the 30mW/cm² of the Omnilux.

(The bulbs in a number of competing masks cannot all illuminate concurrently as a result of they’re both single-wick or bi-wick, which means half flip off when their designated shade is not getting used.)

The nanometer measurement of every wavelength performs an enormous position in pores and skin penetration. The Shark CryoGlow makes use of a 415nm blue mild concentrating on the pores and skin’s floor layer and 630nm crimson mild with 830nm infrared to journey to the deeper, mobile layer of pores and skin.

So, what is the distinction between crimson mild and blue mild? All you actually need to find out is the skincare concern you would like to focus on, then scroll by means of the CryoGlow distant’s settings to decide on one. Shark designed the 2 essential settings for use for an preliminary eight-week session with each day use.

• Higher Growing old mode: This mode stimulates collagen manufacturing and promotes plumping underneath the pores and skin, making it the perfect setting for concentrating on tremendous traces and wrinkles. Right here, the masks administers a mix of crimson and infrared mild concurrently for six minutes.

• Blemish Restore mode: That is used to kill acne-causing micro organism and enhance pores and skin readability and texture on the highest layer of the pores and skin. Right here, the masks administers a consecutive concoction of blue mild with infrared for a couple of minutes, then blue and crimson mild collectively for a couple of minutes, then crimson mild + infrared for a couple of minutes. It takes eight minutes whole.

• Pores and skin Maintain mode: That is used to take care of your outcomes and get a each day increase of brightness after your preliminary eight-week cycle is over. Pores and skin Maintain administers blue mild, crimson mild, and infrared mild concurrently for a complete of 4 minutes.

After every session is accomplished, the Shark masks turns off by itself.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The distant retains observe of what number of periods you’ve got accomplished.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Every cycle’s timing was calculated based mostly on the wavelength mixture of that setting — it is a way more exact method than Googling “how long you should use red light therapy for.” In the course of the science a part of the dialogue on the launch occasion, it clicked for me: The momentary swipe of a crimson mild wand with a one-inch floor is a actually small quantity of true LED publicity. This cleared up a variety of my confusion about my lack of Solawave wand outcomes when it labored effectively for different folks.

The Shark masks is not tremendous chill to put on, but it surely’s fast

I doubt there’s anybody on the market researching the perfect crimson mild masks to purchase and anticipating to not appear like Dwight in that episode of The Workplace the place he cuts off the CPR dummy’s face. It is simply a part of the sport.

Nonetheless, the Shark masks undoubtedly is not the chicest or slimmest masks I’ve seen. It is not foldable like another fashions, and can also be slightly clunky in terms of storage. The heavy packer in me couldn’t take this factor in a suitcase, regardless that it comes with a carrying pouch.

I want the distant had been wi-fi, but it surely does have a pants clip.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

My cat is not frightened of the masks. I form of am.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

There’s undoubtedly no answering the door like this, however you recognize what? The horror fanatic in me doesn’t thoughts casually strolling across the house wanting like Jason Voorhees for a couple of minutes (although I’m a proud Michael Myers girlie at coronary heart — argue with your self).

The CryoGlow does not essentially really feel heavy if you happen to’re simply scrolling in your telephone whereas carrying it. Nevertheless it does begin to really feel slightly cumbersome if you happen to’re performing an actual process that requires wanting down. I saved making an attempt to feed my cats throughout morning CryoGlow periods and needed to pressure my neck to precisely scoop the moist meals into the bowls on the counter.

The masks itself is rechargeable and does not should be plugged into the wall whereas getting used; as an alternative, it must be charged about each three days. Although the distant and its twine principally keep out of the way in which, it will be sick if it had been cordless.

The CryoGlow takes a couple of hours to completely recharge.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The factor is, no Shark CryoGlow session lasts longer than eight minutes. You are not likely being inconvenienced for lengthy. The followers are whooshing proper in your ear, but it surely’s not so loud that you may’t hear a dialog or watch TV. Actually, the toughest a part of carrying it’s sitting there with air-dried pores and skin with out one thing moisturizing on it — Shark recommends a clear, dry face for mild to finest penetrate, however the itchy feeling post-cleansing makes me wish to tear my entire face off.

Shark CryoGlow outcomes after three months

I form of stopped giving a shit about how I look with out make-up after my frontal lobe developed. However the CryoGlow marks a time in my life after I genuinely really feel cute bare-faced. I actually really feel like there’s extra of an inherent glow and evenness to my pores and skin after my full CryoGlow session than I’ve ever had earlier than.

However I do know everyone seems to be most within the full transformation, so tremendous, I am going to provide you with a “before” image. However earlier than I expose myself like that, I am entitled to indicate the “after” image first.

My pores and skin after finishing the complete CryoGlow session. (Peep the sticker within the telephone case — I TOLD YOU I used to be a Michael Myers girlie.)
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I promise my pores and skin is easy on this picture — the one leftover “spots” are discoloration from earlier big pimples. I’ve accepted the truth that I must pay for extra microneedling to uproot these.

Does the Shark masks work on pimples?

Each little child goals of rising up, having a psychological breakdown about grownup pimples at age 30, and publishing a close-up picture of it in an internet article for work. However I’ve to showcase the complete transformation to indicate that sure, the Shark CryoGlow masks actually does maintain pimples formation at bay.

Earlier than: No concealer/basis combo was hiding these.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

After: No make-up, simply morning skincare!
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable

For context, I am 30 years previous and by no means actually struggled with pimples… up till about 4 years in the past. It has been a battle to maintain my chin, jawline, and cheeks clear since then. I used to be residing in worry of waking up with a brand new pimple cooking after I had simply gotten the final one to simmer down. Mine had been in areas usually related to fluctuating hormones.

All of that was taking place whereas by no means skipping my nighttime skincare routine and attending a couple of microneedling appointments, my final of which was three months earlier than I began testing the Shark masks. Whereas I do consider my non secular Tretinoin use has improved the feel of my pores and skin, it was outnumbered by hellbent pimples. The one true slowdown of pimples I skilled began a month into utilizing the CryoGlow. I went from a brand new painful crater popping up virtually daily to possibly one or two each two weeks.

(The one different modifications I just lately made had been spritzes of hypochlorous acid after waking up or going exterior, and taking a Zinc complement after TikTok steered that would assist with pimples.)

The CryoGlow is superb at preventing micro organism that causes pimples and lowering redness of those that do exist, it does not actually scale back pimples scars or deep leftover crimson spots — and does not declare to. These simply appear to be cussed little marks that in all probability require an in-office facial remedy.

Does the Shark masks work on tremendous traces?

Sure, the Shark masks made the tremendous traces in some areas of my face much less noticeable.

The needlelike presence of my brow wrinkles had develop into more and more distinguished in the previous few years of my 20s. Make-up was making the feel much more noticeable, particularly when it started creasing after a couple of hours. I lastly began getting occasional brow Botox about two years in the past, and let me inform you: Botox is that woman. However the child wrinkles quickly creep again in, and maintaining with it will get costly.

I am totally satisfied that the Shark CryoGlow masks was key in mellowing out my brow traces sufficient to maintain me out of the Botox chair for months longer than I am “supposed” to. (For context: My final Botox appointment was 5 months earlier than testing the Shark CryoGlow, and I didn’t get any Botox remedies whereas testing the masks.)

Concealer and powder had been mixing a lot extra seamlessly than they beforehand did after I was overdue. There’s nothing like that post-Botox brow plumpness, however the CryoGlow offered the following smartest thing for me — a smoothness that no serums in focused Instagram advertisements are going to attain.

Sadly, the CryoGlow did not have the identical blurring impact round my crow’s toes. God forbid you are somebody who LAUGHS.

Does the Shark masks work on underneath eyes?

I undoubtedly assume I look much less like a corpse on the times after I use the CryoGlow’s under-eye chill pads. That is the place the “Cryo” a part of the title is available in: the masks is mimics cryotherapy, which may decrease irritation of the tissue utilizing focused low temperatures. The coolness pads can cool at three completely different ranges of chilly throughout an LED session, or can be utilized with out lights.

The CryoGlow’s de-puffing results do not feel tremendous long-lasting — take into account that that is extra of an elevated ice curler routine every morning than a heavy-duty under-eye remedy. You possibly can’t anticipate hollowness to completely fill out, however I can vouch for the brightening impact. At any fee, the cool steel plates really feel wonderful once you’re a zombie within the morning.

Is the Shark CryoGlow Masks value it?

Shark’s face masks visibly proved its value in my skincare routine, and I might suggest it to simply about anybody.

The way in which my pimples cleared up through the eight-week interval was simply probably the most palpable outcome. I am not saying you may by no means get a pimple whereas utilizing the masks, however I do assume the CryoGlow’s crimson, blue, and infrared concoction is extraordinarily efficient at mitigating the quantity of pimples popping up. Equally, as a result of its wavelengths can dig additional into the pores and skin than topical skincare, it is a extra highly effective instrument for dulling tremendous traces than any retinols or retinoids I’ve tried. With less-dead underneath eyes because the cherry on high, I’m glowier and extra snug bare-faced now than I used to be pre-mask.

The Shark CryoGlow masks could or could not be capable of accomplish these actual outcomes for everybody from scratch. It in all probability relies on the pores and skin you are working with to begin, and the consistency of the remainder of your skincare routine. The CryoGlow is certainly a slight monetary funding up entrance, however most individuals deep in skincare mode know that no path to glass pores and skin is reasonable. Plus, common CryoGlow use may find yourself saving you cash over time.