While I’m lucky in the fine line department (thanks, Mom!), my skin certainly feels the pains of being a ‘70s/‘80s kid. During the “anything goes” decades, I never used sunscreen, which resulted in plenty of sunspots today. Coupled with the expected breakdown of my skin’s collagen due to my age, my skin also lacks elasticity, plumpness, and bounce-back.
To help battle this uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation, along with any sagging, I’m always looking for devices that work on my skin to help it achieve a more youthful look. Lately, LED light therapy has been on my radar, and Dr. Ellen Marmur, a board-certified dermatologist, helped to shine some light on how this technology could help my skin.
“LED (light-emitting diode) Light Therapy is a non-invasive skincare treatment that uses visible wavelengths of light to improve the skin,” Marmur explains. "The science has been in development for over 50 years and is the topic of Nobel prizes. LED science works on the mitochondria and other light-absorbing molecules in the cells, creating new collagen and reducing bad inflammation.”
Why I tried the Doset LED Facial Massager
When I heard about the Doset LED Facial Massager, I was all in to give it a go. With its massage-encouraging shape, this vibrating and warming device boasts seven different colors of LED lights that could be the skincare multitasker I’m looking for. It touted skin firmness, smoothness, and elasticity — a trifecta of healthy skin for a woman my age. In fact, it recently won "best value facial massager" during our first-ever Shop TODAY Mature Beauty Awards.
How it works
The device offers three modes of operation, including vibration and heating, so that you can customize your experience. According to the brand, not only does this device boast LED light therapy technology, but it also has warming and massage features. Each of these three technologies provides its own set of skin benefits:
- Light therapy: When used frequently, LED lights have been shown to fade the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and inflammation, and leave your skin glowing. “Different lights have different penetration values and benefits. The most popular are red and blue lights,” notes Dr. Howard Sobel, a New York-based cosmetic dermatologic surgeon. Luckily, this device has seven to choose from.
- Vibration: This device gently vibrates, which the brand touts as a way to help decrease puffiness. And let’s face it — the vibration is definitely soothing, especially when combined with the warming element.
- Warming massage: This was my favorite part of the treatment, and it made me feel like my skin was absorbing the products as they warmed. As it turns out, that’s exactly what they were doing. “Heat opens the pores, which allows the product to penetrate more easily,” says Dr. Sobel, who also warns. “Facial massage increases circulation to the skin, which helps rejuvenate it, but it needs to be done properly.” A gentle hand is a must. If massage is performed improperly or too aggressively, Sobel says it can break down collagen and elastin and/or cause broken capillaries. Luckily, you don’t have to push the device very hard against your skin for a massage and light to begin.
How I tried the Doset LED Facial Massager
After cleaning and toning my face and neck, I applied moisturizing products to both my face and neck. I used the massage head to gently lift and sculpt, starting on the neck area from the bottom to the top of my forehead. I chose a different light for each session. I used the purple for lymphatic drainage to combat morning puffiness while performing a soothing massage. I used the red at night to help with lifting and collagen production. I found the device very easy to use, and I looked forward to the warmth (a constant 113 degrees Fahrenheit) and vibration. Because it’s cordless, I was able to do it while walking around.
What I like about the Doset facial massage
The warmth is relaxing. I could tell it was increasing blood circulation to rejuvenate and smooth my skin, thanks to the slight flush I wore proudly at the end of treatment. The vibration is a calming addition to my skincare routine.
The shape is comfortable with the uniquely curved arc massage head, which they call a “dolphin bionic” design. It glided effortlessly along my face, which made me feel like my serums and creams were really melting in. The 160-degree wraparound fit meant it stayed in contact with my skin as I was moving it about.
Seven lights make it customizable, with the seven different LED light options, you can really tailor it to whatever your skin’s needs are, from fine lines to inflammation.
What to consider
While light therapy certainly should be on your to-do list for your skin, it isn’t a quick fix. To see results, you have to really commit to using the device every day, both short-term and long-term. The brand suggests each session should be between five and 10 minutes, once or twice daily. While using the device fits into my nightly routine, I sometimes have to reapply my products when I am doing a longer session, which means you could run through your products faster.
For the long term, it can take at least a month to see results. “Length of treatment [for light therapy] is three times a week for a month to see results,” says Dr. Sobel. “Every individual is different, and the more damage to the skin, the longer it will take.” I didn’t see any shocking results in the three weeks I used it, but I do believe that when it comes to glowing skin, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to Dr. Sobel, your skin can enjoy different benefits based on which color LED you employ. According to the dermatologist, red light increases blood flow, and, by improving circulation to the skin, you bring oxygen and nutrients to it that boost cell health. Green light reduces pigmentation and hyperpigmentation in order to even out the skin tone (the device also mentions reducing fine lines).
Another option is yellow light, which improves skin elasticity and reduces redness associated with rosacea, while purple helps to heal the skin and reduce acne (the device notes it can promote lymphatic drainage). There's also cyan light that reduces inflammation of sensitive skin. The white relaxes skin and heals skin cells, while blue destroys bacteria and can lessen acne (the device also says that it soothes inflammation and calms sensitive skin).
More LED facial devices to shop
This smaller device utilizes two light colors (red and blue) to target different goals. The red LED light helps reduce inflammation and improve the look of acne scars, while the blue LED light targets acne spots.
Suitable for those with sensitive skin, this face mask combines goals of combating acne, fine lines and boosting collagen to provide you with a "refreshed" feel, according to the brand.
One of our editors got the chance to try this LED device firsthand, coming to appreciate its improved features compared to previous models, including a manual on/off switch and an increased amount of LED lights.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Cheryl Fenton is a freelance writer for Shop TODAY. She's been a writer and editor with 25 years of experience writing on the lifestyle beat.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Ellen Marmur is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare
- Dr. Howard Sobel is the owner of Sobel Skin in Manhattan, N.Y, and a clinic attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital
