Is Revolution’s new £59 budget LED mask too good to be true?

LED face masks are the product the Get The Gloss team are most asked about by friends, with the market exploding in recent years. For so many people now, they’re a key step in a skincare routine, promising everything from a quick glow-up to smoother, wrinkle-free skin, all from the comfort of your home.

Traditionally, those benefits come at a – literal – price. As you can see from our best LED mask round-up, many cost upwards of £500.

But now there seems to be a race to the bottom, with a new wave of masks coming in at under £100 (scroll down for some options). The Revolution Beauty Pro Miracle LED Face Mask is the latest to hit the market and it is the cheapest yet – you can pick one up for less than £60 at Boots. It got an, er, glowing review on ITV’s This Morning thanks to its promise to help eight common skin concerns, including reducing fine lines, diminishing blemishes and boosting radiance.

What is the Revolution LED mask like? My first impressions

The mask is made of rigid white plastic, which makes it feel a bit stuffy when I first put it on. I also look like an extra from The Phantom of the Opera. Premium devices tend to use flexible silicone to ensure maximum contact, comfort, and optimal light penetration. On the plus side, it has an adjustable strap that helps bring the mask closer to your skin, and it benefits from sleek wireless design that is USB-C rechargeable.

The mask has an impressive-sounding seven different LED light settings:

• Red for fine lines
• Blue for blemishes
• Yellow and turquoise to calm skin
• Green to even skin tone
• White to firm skin
• Purple, a combination of red and blue to target both wrinkles and blemishes

LED lights, camera, action! Becki puts the Revolution mask through its paces

Despite my initial reservations, once it’s on, it’s pretty comfortable to wear for the recommended 10-15 minute session. But it does warm up while I’m wearing it which, while isn’t alarming (it’s not that hot), suggests some energy is being lost as heat.

I also immediately clock that you have to manually turn off the device when you finish your treatment (by holding the front sensor down), which means you need to time your session. So no dropping off to sleep while wearing it!

My verdict is below but, first, if you’re considering buying the Revolution mask – or another budget option – here’s what you need to bear in mind.

Are budget LED masks any good?

“Many affordable options can be effective, depending on their features and the specific needs of your skin,” says the GP, aesthetic doctor, and LED expert Dr Raj Arora. Here’s your pre-purchase checklist.

Check the brand

“A green flag for a good LED face mask whatever the cost is that the mask is made by a well-known skincare or tech brand with positive reviews and a strong track record for quality,” says Dr Arora.

Get the right colours and the right wavelengths

For the best value for your money, look for a mask that offers “red for anti-ageing and blue for acne treatment,” says Dr Arora. While the jury is out on the other colour lights, these two are proven to work, as is healing, pain-nixing near-infrared LED light (which is invisible).  If you want to get very nerdy, check the colours are at optimal wavelengths: you’re ideally looking for 415nm (nanometers) for blue light, 630-680nm for red and 830nm for near-infrared. If the device lists wildly different numbers, its benefits are unlikely to be evidence-based.

Scour user reviews, clinical studies and quality assurances

“Look for models with positive user feedback and good feedback from expert doctors and dermatologists,” advises Dr Arora. As with any purchase, check the reviews! And the most reliable way to know if you’ve got one of the most powerful at-home devices is to look for the CE MDR mark or the UKCA mark followed by four digits. Meanwhile, US FDA clearance denotes a mask is safe and somewhat effective – but exactly how effective varies. This can get a bit complicated – see our Best LED mask round-up for more info on official quality assurances.

Go big on bulbs

When it comes to the LED bulbs, consider both quality and quantity. “Cheaper products might not deliver the same results as high-end devices due to lower light intensity, which doesn’t penetrate the skin as effectively, or a they may have a reduced number of LEDs,” says Dr Arora. The Revolution Pro has just 90 bulbs so can’t match leading models such as the CurrentBody Skin LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 which has 236 bulbs (and costs £399.99).

The irradiance value (ie the power of the lights) isn’t stated on the Revolution mask so it’s impossible to tell how well the light penetrates the skin – the higher the irradiance value the better. The power input, however, is listed as 5 V 1A, which means it probably provides about 5 watts of power– a relatively low output. And, as mentioned, the fact that it warms up during use means some of its power is being lost.

The Revolution mask from the front and (right) the bulbs inside

Consider comfort factor

One thing experts universally agree on is that LED light therapy works best if you commit to regular use. That means you want to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. “The mask should be ergonomically designed to fit comfortably on the face, with features like adjustable straps. Some of the best masks on the market are wireless and made from silicone, which is comfortable and easy to use,” says Dr Arora.

Is the Revolution Pro budget LED mask worth buying? My verdict

Given the price, if you’re just dipping your toes into the world of LED face masks, this is a good place to start. It’s easy to use and offers a bit of everything for you to try – all without the risk/guilt that may come with a three or four-figure investment.

This mask is, however, from a brand known for affordable skincare and makeup rather than tech. And, Dr Arora points out, don’t expect miracles: “All LED masks offer gradual improvements and are more about maintaining skin health than providing instant transformations. While they help with mild to moderate skin concerns, don’t expect dramatic changes or fast results from budget-friendly devices.”

In terms of the evidence of efficacy, the Revolution mask is backed by a 28-day user trial with 117 participants, which found that the red light, blue light and purple light modes improved fine lines, breakouts or both after two weeks.

That’s great feedback. But this wasn’t an independent clinical trial, so there’s no peer-reviewed analysis to support the claims. The other light settings weren’t evaluated at all.

In contrast, many leading LED face masks do have this clinical evidence. The CurrentBody Skin LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 is supported by multiple independent trials. And, unsurprisingly given its price tag and its use in clinic, CurrentBody Skin Dermalux Flex has the most, backed by over 1,700 studies. It will set you back £1,999.99 though.

Independent research is incredibly expensive to undertake, and so that cost is often passed onto customers in terms of a higher RRP. At £59.99, Revolution’s LED face mask doesn’t have much margin for that sort of investment!

In short, if you’re after a starter LED mask, this is a decent choice.