This $40 LED Mask Is Just Like Chrissy Teigen's Without The $1,800 Price Tag
Social media is supposed to help connect us with friends, share our most important moments and really document the good times.
But in reality, all it does is show me what other people (particularly celebrities) have that I need. Several months ago, I spotted model and TV host Chrissy Teigen messing around with a magenta-lit white face mask she credited to Shani Darden.
Darden, a famed celebrity facialist, is the woman behind the $1,8000 Deesse LED mask you've probably spotted all over Instagram.
But now, the power of the low-level light mask is accessible to every woman, not just Teigen, Kourtney Kardashian and the rest.
As of October, OG skincare brand Neutrogena is making the power of light available for just under $30.
Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask, $30, Amazon
Instead of working toward anti-aging results, like Darden's creation, the Light Therapy Acne Mask (worn here by spokes-teenager Olivia Holt) combines blue and red light to try to zap the pimples right off your face over a number of daily sessions.
Don't worry, it's not painful. I've tried the mask twice now, and I felt only a slight warming sensation during each 10-minute session. The white mask has a pair of amber-tinted sunglasses attached within, which cut down on glare.
I didn't have much luck accomplishing other tasks while wearing my mask, but I'm also incredibly short-sighted and claustrophobic. Mostly, I tried to lie back and think about perfect skin, just as Teigen does, I imagine.
Doubt the power of a few bright bulbs in your face? In one clinical trial, researchers found self-applied blue light brought down acne inflammation significantly. Plus, it kills propionibacterium acnes, the nasty bacteria that's causing all your problems.
Red light, on the other hand, helps the skin produce collagen to heal damage. As someone with plenty of acne scars, I'll take what I can get.
There is one notable detail, however: Each mask arrives attached to a small, white handle called an “activator” that counts down 30 sessions at a time. After you've reached zero, you'll have to buy a new activator for $13.
Activator Refill, $13, Amazon
Annoying, maybe, but at least not expensive. In any case, it's far less money than a dermatologist visit.
In any case, Teigen is welcome to take me out to dinner with all the cash she'll save on her new mask.
