I Tried the CurrentBody Series 3 LED Mask—It's Like Having a Dermatologist In Your Back Pocket
It makes an excellent holiday gift, FYI.
I’m a sucker for a good beauty tool, but I won’t lie, I typically find it very hard to keep them incorporated into my routine. As such, my testing criteria have become very strict; everything from product efficacy to ease of use must meet my standards, because I believe products should be easy to incorporate into my routine, not something I have to force into synergy. One of my favorite beauty technology brands, CurrentBody, has a new addition to its LED mask lineup, and it checks every box.
The brand’s LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 3 is undoubtedly moving the needle in at-home beauty treatments. It has all of the same capabilities that everyone already loved about the Series 2: the fuller coverage mask to treat a larger surface area, including the chin, the hands-free capabilities that allow you to move around while still using the mask, and the super short 10-minute sessions, but this version is ultra-customizable, thanks to a technology that the brand calls MyDose.
I'll get into all of this and more ahead, so if you’re looking for anti-aging beauty tools, ready to start your own LED journey, or shopping for a wellness-obsessed loved one, keep reading to learn what is likely to become your newest skincare obsession.
What Makes the Series 3 Mask Different?
In general, LED light therapy is a great noninvasive option for anyone looking to address multiple skin concerns, but what makes the Series 3 so different? Well, it's mainly the fact that there are six light options as opposed to the three that the Series 2 has, and each of them serves a different purpose.
"What makes this mask particularly interesting is that it incorporates multiple different wavelengths of light, each targeting the skin in a slightly different way," board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, tells me. "By combining these wavelengths, it offers a more comprehensive approach to improving the overall appearance of the skin." Here's how Dr. Garshick explained the purpose of each of the light colors that this mask is programmed with.
- Red Light: Helps with collagen production, as well as improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while supporting smoother, firmer, and more radiant-looking skin.
- Near-Infrared Light: Penetrates more deeply into the skin than visible red light, helping to support cellular repair and collagen production. It may also help improve skin elasticity, firmness, and overall texture over time, making it especially appealing for those looking to address early signs of skin aging.
- Deep Near-Infrared Light: A longer-wavelength light that is designed to penetrate more deeply into the tissue, but more research is needed.
- Blue Light: Particularly beneficial for acne-prone skin as it is both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
- Green Light: Promoted for its ability to improve uneven skin tone and the appearance of discoloration.
- Yellow Light: May help calm the appearance of redness and support a more even-looking complexion, making it an appealing option for those dealing with visible irritation or sensitive-looking skin.
How Do I Use the CurrentBody LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 3?
As with the previous iteration of the mask, the product includes straps to keep it secured to your face so you don’t have to constantly adjust it while you use it. It also comes with eye protectors, in case your eyes get sensitive to the light, and I always recommend wearing them. The controller attached to the device clips onto your clothing for hands-free use, like the Series 2, but this version is touchscreen and pairs with the CurrentBody app for easier light customization.
The mask comes with four preset treatments that feature red, blue, green, and yellow lights. Each color is meant to help with fine lines, blemishes, evening out the skin tone, and brightening the complexion, respectively. Each preset color typically also includes near- or deep-near infrared, which helps each light penetrate deeper into the skin and boost cellular response.
How Do I Customize the CurrentBody LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 3?
For the full customization experience, download the CurrentBody app and connect it to your device via Bluetooth. As you can see in the video above, you cannot only create your own light therapy experience, but also save it to come back to if you ever want a repeat session. Even more fun, in my opinion, is that you can have a customized LED light session prescribed to you by a dermatologist.
When you scroll to the bottom of your customized treatment page, you’ll see a section that says “share treatment” with a code underneath it. You can share this code with others, and if you want to use it, just paste it into the “add treatment” section. In theory, your dermatologist can prescribe a specific LED light treatment session, curated exactly for your skin’s needs. This device is prescriptive rather than reactive, and that’s exactly why I feel like it’s a game changer in the LED Light therapy space. It almost feels like having a mini doctor in your pocket.
Is the CurrentBody LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 3 Worth It?
It's important to remember that LED therapy is not an overnight fix, and results are typically gradual, often requiring several weeks of consistent use. With that being said, I completely believe the CurrentBody LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask is worth the money. It’s pricey at 569 dollars, but I’ve personally never come across an LED mask with this level of customization, ease of use, and clinicals to back up their claims, and to be frank, I have tested quite a few. If you already have the Series 2, I don’t think you necessarily have to upgrade to this new model, but if you have the Series 1 or are newer to LED masks in general, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Keep reading for a few more of my favorite CurrentBody products.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.
Ariel Wilson is the Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. Previously the associate beauty editor at PS, she also has bylines in InStyle, Forbes Vetted, Women's Health, and more.
Shaped by her experience in research, social sciences, and the non-profit sector, Ariel enjoys looking at beauty from a sociocultural lens, looking to avenues like politics, culture, and the arts, to inform her views on the space. That being said, as a true beauty-product obsessive, testing the latest items to hit the market, keeping up with trends, and meeting industry icons, will always be her favorite part of working in the beauty space.
When she's not working, Ariel can be found hanging out with her husband and loving on their two cat daughters: Cow and Chicken.