Dermabeam Pro Light Therapy Mask reviewIf you’re a skincare lover who wants to take the next step, light therapy might be your next tool to invest in. The Dermabeam Pro light therapy mask is a funky little rechargeable, lightweight LED light mask that’s designed to treat your whole face—and it has cute little ears, too.

What’s in the box of the Dermabeam Pro LED therapy mask? 

What's in the box of the Dermabeam Pro Light Therapy Mask?In the box of the Dermabeam Pro light therapy mask, you’ll find the mask itself, a dust bag, an instruction manual, and a USB-C charging cable. The mask is very lightweight and thin, with a reflective gold eye window, built-in eye-protecting soft “goggles”, and a series of LEDs on the inside.

What is light therapy?

The most popular uses for light therapy that I see in the skincare world are anti-ageing and anti-acne. While still relatively uncommon, light therapy is gaining popularity. You can find it in products like this one, as well as in major launches from drugstore brands, high-end skincare equipment, and dermatological tools used in doctor’s offices and spas.

Light therapy works in two ways. The first is phototherapy, which is a way of exposing a patient to specific light wavelengths to treat conditions like seasonal depression via visual input. I’ve reviewed this type of light therapy device before, with products like the Breuer Daylight Therapy Lamp and iHome Zenergy.

The second method is applied to the skin, not the eyes, and is used as a skincare device. In this type of light therapy, what’s important is that certain wavelengths hit the affected area (for instance, your face, neck, or décolletage) but don’t necessarily enter your eyes. This type of light therapy is very gentle, but has been shown to suggest positive results in clinical trials. Most evidence backing light therapy for skincare use addresses the effectiveness of red light on wrinkles and acne. (Editor note: Dermabeam has links to many studies on their website: dermabeammask.com/studies.)

Dermabeam Pro Light Therapy Mask in use

What is the Dermabeam Pro LED Mask supposed to do?

There are seven different settings on the Dermabeam Pro. Each wavelength of light, which we perceive as different colours, is intended to target a different skin concern.

Hyperpigmentation and redness

The basic blue-white setting on this light therapy mask (400 – 700 nm wavelengths) is designed to fade hyperpigmentation. That makes it ideal for tasks like lifting acne scars and minimizing ageing spots. Another great option for overall skintone evenness is the Dermabeam Pro’s orange setting (500 – 630 nm), which is designed to reduce redness.

I’m just a beauty blogger, not a skincare expert, but for your best results, I’d recommend pairing your white light, hyperpigmentation-fading sessions with gentle skincare ingredients. For hyperpigmentation, I’d use niacinamide to help prevent future hyperpigmentation in your epidermis. For redness or rosacea, I’d… Well, I’d actually also recommend niacinamide, but I might pair it with ceramides or green tea extract as well. (Get some nice antioxidants in there!)

Dermabeam recommends applying skincare products before your 20 minute light therapy sessions for better absorption, but keep in mind that it’s a light-based device. As such (and as per the product manual), it shouldn’t be used in conjunction with harsher ingredients like retinol, AHA, or BHA, which you should wait until after your Dermabeam Pro session to apply.

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Anti-ageing

Anti-ageing is a huge skincare category, so it’s no surprise that Dermabeam has also included two light settings to address it. I really like that all of the different settings are included in the same device. It’s pricey, so having the option to switch settings means multiple people can use it within the same household. Maybe that means Mom gets to use it in the morning to stimulate collagen production, one of the kids squeezes in a session to treat acne after school, and Dad wears it before bed to minimize wrinkles.

The Dermabeam Pro’s red setting (630 nm) stimulates collagen production while its pink setting (415 – 630 nm) “improves wrinkles”—I’d interpret that as reducing fine lines. Both would pair well with ingredients like bakuchiol, vitamin C, and retinol, all applied after your light therapy session.

Most importantly for anti-ageing benefits, make sure to pair this light therapy mask with sunscreen while you’re not using it. Dermatologists and skincare experts agree that the best thing you can do to prevent the signs of ageing from changing your skin is wearing SPF 30 or higher every day, even if you’re just hopping in the car to and from work. Cleanse any leftover sunscreen off of your skin before your light therapy session, but make sure to apply sunscreen afterwards or the next day. (Moisturizers with an SPF of 30 or higher also count!)

Dermabeam Pro Light Therapy Mask - heals acne scars 415-630 nm

Acne and oily skin

There’s less clinical support behind other light therapy colours working to deliver noticeable results, but Dermabeam gives you three options for treating your oily or acne-prone skin. When I was researching light therapy to prepare for this review, I found that most studies focus on red light, followed by blue—but there are also a few on other colours (wavelengths of light) as well.

Dermabeam’s green light therapy (521 nm) is designed to reduce sebum production that causes oily skin. Its blue light therapy (415 nm) eliminates the bacteria that commonly causes acne, penetrating into the pore or hair follicle to do so without irritating the skin. Finally, its violet light (415 – 630 nm) is designed to help heal old acne scars.

The mixed wavelength settings on this device are really interesting to look at on film, because they aren’t consistent. Instead of just one wavelength, this device is actually cycling through a range of wavelengths very, very rapidly in each LED. That’s why under some camera settings, the mask looks solidly coloured, while on others it appears striped. (The side-by-side comparison above is actually two different captures of the same light setting!) This should help give you the benefit of multiple wavelengths within the same session.

How to use the Dermabeam Pro

The Dermabeam Pro LED mask is really easy to use. It has just one button to control its functions, is one size fits all, and contains a lightweight, rechargeable battery. To turn the mask on and off, you hold your finger lightly on the touch button on the right arm of the mask. (It’s tucked away just behind the “PRO” text and is raised so it’s easy to find.) Tapping the button once cycles the mask through its light settings and holding for three seconds controls its power supply.

The Dermabeam Pro has a 600 mAh battery that lasts for about an hour, or three sessions. It recharges via USB-C (cable included) in a port right underneath the touch point and each charge also takes about an hour. While the brand recommends 20 minute light therapy sessions, it notes that you can go for longer if you choose.

To clean the mask, wipe gently with a damp disinfecting cloth. The mask itself is very thin, light, and delicate, so make sure to store it in its dust bag and box if possible.

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My experience with light therapy 

Without extremely rigorous, detailed testing and notes, it’s hard to tell if light therapy works. With tools like this, you have to be patient. Dermabeam itself recommends waiting for three months of daily use before surveying your own results: They’re looking for reviews, feedback, and before & afters from consumers, but they want to get it outside of that 90 day timeframe.

Because of that, I can’t tell you if this mask made a big improvement to my skin. What I can tell you is that it was kind of fun to use, it feels pretty well-made, and I’ve had good experiences with light therapy before while spot-treating acne with red light. I particularly like that this light therapy mask has little ears; similar products that I’ve tried before have an uncanny valley presentation without them, but the soft, round ears are just enough to make this mask feel slightly silly and cute instead of vaguely menacing.

The fit of this mask could be better, especially for the price, but it’s not bad—just loose on some and tight on others, as you’d expect from a one size fits all design. The eye protection helps minimize how much light is getting into your eyes, but it doesn’t offer total coverage—it might do so with a wrap-around headband design, but the goggles sit too loosely on my face to offer total protection. As long as I don’t tip my head down during my light therapy session, however, the device stays on and sits comfortably.

Is the Dermabeam Pro the skincare device for you?

If you have a robust skincare regimen and want to add something extra to your routine to emphasize your results, then the Dermabeam Pro could be a great tool. Its sleek design is easy to use and clean, and I love that it has multiple functions to match your skin’s changing needs. It would also make a great gift for someone who’s enthusiastic about their love for both skincare and gadgets!

Shop the Dermabeam Pro LED light therapy mask online at Best Buy today.

Rae Chen
Rae Chen covers everything from handbags to speakers here on the Best Buy Plug-in Blog. They can also be found at thenotice.net, where they've been writing about beauty & wellness since 2007.

397 COMMENTS

  1. I have recently started a new skin regimen and was told that these are great it seems like the purple and blue would be great for my skin type.

  2. I like that the maker Dermabeam has links to many studies on their website since it’s important to verify the results of science-based studies before using these types of products.

  3. The one thing I like most about this mask is that it can be used for the most evidence backing light therapy for skincare use addresses the effectiveness of red light on wrinkles and acne.

  4. I love that you can use it at home. Going to a spa for treatment like this is inconvenient and expensive. I would love to use the red light therapy to increase collagen production. I’m pushing 50 so I need all the help I can get. My son could use the blue light for teenage acne

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