Red and near-infrared light around the eyes

How the study worked

Thirty-one adults had nine clinic treatments using 633 nm and 830 nm light. The reported doses were 126 J/cm² of red and 66 J/cm² of near-infrared.

Researchers scanned moulds of skin around the eyes at weeks 9 and 12. They also assessed photos and asked participants about the results.

The results

Surface scans found changes by week 12. Photoageing scores improved by 25–50% in 52% of participants. In self-reports, 81% noticed an improvement around the eyes.

What is still unclear

There was no untreated or sham group. Expectations or other changes could have affected the results. The clinic doses cannot be assumed to match a home mask.

What to take from this

The results were encouraging, but the study cannot show how much change was caused by the light.

Devices that list similar light

Four of the 5 masks in the comparison list a wavelength in every band used here (red near 633 nm and near-infrared near 830 nm). They are examples, listed alphabetically, each with our specification page and the manufacturer’s own product page. Related devices are examples, not evidence that a study tested that retail model.

• CurrentBody Skin LED Face Mask Series 3415 · 532 · 590 · 633 · 830 · 1072 nm · CurrentBody product page
• Dr. Renú SpectraLift Advanced465 · 530 · 630–660 · 850 nm · Dr. Renú product page
• Omnilux Contour Face633 · 830 nm · Omnilux product page
• Shark CryoGlow FW312415 · 630 · 830 nm · Shark product page

These masks list one of the bands, but not all:

• Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro415 · 630; page also lists 605 · 880 (unresolved) nm · Dr. Dennis Gross product page

Matching a wavelength is not the same as matching the study. Dose, irradiance, session length and schedule also differ, and a mask’s reported output is not independently measured. See how dose works and home vs clinic doses.