Bendable crimson mild remedy masks walked in order that the onerous shell masks might run. Although I am unable to shut up about how a lot I liked my expertise with the Shark CryoGlow regardless of its cumbersome, not-bendy-at-all building, it felt necessary to return to the roots of crimson mild and check out one of many OGs: The CurrentBody masks. In spite of everything, that one and the OmniLux masks have been making its rounds on my TikTok FYP far earlier than the Shark masks ever did.
As a skincare fanatic whose fundamental concern at 31 isn’t solely high-quality traces, however zits that’s 100 instances worse at 31 than it ever was at 13, it did not take lengthy for me to wonder if crimson mild masks actually work or not. I am down for Botox or microneedling right here and there, however they’re each costly habits to remain on prime of — so I made a decision to see how far I might stretch these in-office classes by relying solely on day by day LED masks utilization. I used the Shark CryoGlow masks and CurrentBody masks in separate intervals of a minimum of eight weeks every.
I had an total smoother day by day expertise with one of many masks, and my pores and skin made it fairly obvious which masks it wanted as a staple in my routine. Listed here are my ideas on whether or not you can purchase the Shark CryoGlow or CurrentBody LED masks, based mostly by myself journey and outcomes.
Be aware: This evaluate particularly options the CurrentBody Pores and skin: Sequence 2 masks.
Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody: Bulbs and nanometer measurement
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
After listening to that the CurrentBody Pores and skin masks is costlier than the Shark CryoGlow masks (by greater than $100), you’d naturally assume that the CurrentBody is extra highly effective. However you would be off.
Whereas the CurrentBody masks does have extra LED bulbs on paper (237 versus the Shark’s 160), not one of the bulbs within the CurrentBody Pores and skin masks are blue mild bulbs. They’re crimson and close to infrared solely, and never each bulb within the CurrentBody masks can emit each crimson and NIR (close to infrared) mild. There are 110 crimson mild bulbs (633nm) and 110 NIR bulbs (830nm), plus 16 deep NIR bulbs (1,072nm) across the eyes and mouth for additional high-quality line consideration. An improve from the unique model of the CurrentBody masks, the Sequence 2 has an added chin strap to increase protection to the jawline and possibly a tiny little bit of the higher neck.
In the meantime, the Shark masks has crimson (630nm), close to infrared (830nm), and blue mild bulbs (415nm), and each single bulb can emit any of these wavelengths on the identical time. That technically totals 480 simultaneous mild sources contained in the Shark masks, making certain that extra of your face is being hit by any of the wavelengths. The nm (nanometer) quantity is a unit of measurement for every wavelength. Each masks hit the usual crimson mild and NIR nanometer measurement usually thought-about “robust” sufficient to provide any sort of at-home outcomes. The Shark CryoGlow masks would not do deep close to infrared in any respect, however keep in mind that the CurrentBody solely has 16 of these.
So as to add blue mild to your current CurrentBody routine, you’d have to purchase the $469.99 Anti-Zits masks individually. That is practically $1,000 in comparison with the CryoGlow’s $349.99 price ticket. So, there’s that.
In additional scientific phrases, crimson mild masks are sometimes given an irradiance measurement, or a measurement of energy density on the supply of the LED. The entire tri-wick bulbs packed into the CryoGlow convey it to a most irradiance of 128mW/cm², whereas the CurrentBody masks maxes out at 30mW/cm² of the Omnilux.
There’s one space of the face the place the CurrentBody’s protection dominates: the underneath eyes. The CryoGlow masks would not have any LEDs underneath the attention holes, as an alternative utilizing the house for cooling pads that mimic a cryotherapy de-puffing impact. They do really feel superb whenever you’re half awake within the morning, however the outcomes solely final for a couple of minutes. The under-eyes are universally one of the vital cussed spots to deal with with over-the-counter skincare, so an at-home crimson mild masks might very properly be somebody’s last-ditch effort earlier than paying for a legit process. So whereas the CurrentBody would possibly converse to you extra in case your fundamental skincare purpose is long-term discount of darkish circles or eye luggage, I believe the Shark’s blue mild possibility and tri-wick bulb state of affairs will get extra in your cash total.
Winner: Shark
Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody: Settings and distant
That is the place Shark actually begins to tug forward of CurrentBody. When you’re dually involved about high-quality traces and texture in addition to zits, the CryoGlow is overwhelmingly the higher masks.
Each masks have remotes which can be connected to the masks through a wire. Nevertheless, I am not precisely positive why CurrentBody did not simply go wi-fi and transfer the distant’s lone “on” button to the masks itself. It isn’t just like the masks can do anything however merely be on — there’s only a single mounted crimson mild and infrared setting. I perceive that that is in all probability within the identify of simplicity, but it surely’s painfully primary to me.
It virtually feels unfair to match it to the Shark CryoGlow distant, which incorporates a small LCD display and a wheel to regulate cooling pad temperature and pan between three modes: Higher Getting older (crimson and infrared mild), Blemish Restore (all three wavelengths in various mixtures), and Pores and skin Maintain (all three wavelengths on the identical time). As soon as you’ve got chosen a setting, the display counts down how a lot time you will have left in your session.
The Shark CryoGlow distant.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
The CurrentBody distant.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
That lineup goes to be way more palatable to anybody who has multiple skincare concern. Personally, I desperately wished to attempt an at-home LED masks for its potential mitigation of the zits that simply randomly began exhibiting up in my late 20s — however my late 20s additionally introduced alongside the onset of high-quality brow and smile traces, and I additionally wished my make-up to cease caking in these. The Shark masks has a solution for each of these, and I like that the distant provides me the liberty to let me select what I need to goal on any given day. The CurrentBody’s lack of customization is genuinely form of stunning for the worth, and felt like a downgrade after such a premium expertise with the Shark for a number of months earlier than it.
Shark’s settings additionally take barely much less time than CurrentBody’s: The three Shark settings take 4, six, or eight minutes, whereas the one CurrentBody setting takes 10 minutes. It isn’t an enormous distinction when it comes to the duties you can get completed throughout Masks Time, however once more, it is nonetheless good to have the ability to gauge what number of minutes are left. And whereas the CryoGlow’s battery life is way shorter, you’ll be able to a minimum of gauge the timing earlier than your subsequent cost with the battery icon on the display. When the CurrentBody masks is lifeless, it merely will not activate.
Winner: Shark
Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody: Design and day by day wearability
From the skin, it is only a given that you’re going to look ridiculous whereas carrying any crimson mild masks. The Shark CryoGlow is giving Jason Voorhees, whereas the CurrentBody Pores and skin is extra so embodying Dwight Schrute when he cuts the face off of a CPR dummy. I do not thoughts wanting humorous both manner so long as a masks is bodily snug to put on. FWIW, neither masks is unbearably heavy in any respect. The Shark CryoGlow is a bit of heavier — a bit over a pound, in comparison with the CurrentBody at lower than a pound.
CurrentBody on the left vs. Shark on the appropriate.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Each masks have adjustable straps, however the Shark masks’s sliding adjusters (much like the again of a baseball cap) are a way more seamless course of. CurrentBody has manner too many intersections of velcro, together with The Massive Strap that must be completed and undone on the again of your head every time you put on it. It is simply begging to get caught in your hair, and it made me miss the simplicity of slipping the CryoGlow on and off.
The presence of a shirt/pants clip on each remotes implies that it’s best to be capable of roam the home whereas carrying the masks hands-free. Proper? Whilst you clearly cannot anticipate to see completely out of any LED masks, I discover the Shark CryoGlow to be a lot simpler to put on than the CurrentBody Pores and skin. When the lights are on, the CurrentBody masks is simply… a lot extra in your face when it is in your face. The lights across the eyes are borderline blinding, a lot in order that something you’ll be able to see outdoors of the crimson glowy haze is tinted blue.
It seems wild, however like, in a enjoyable manner.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
My pupils can’t be critical.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
To be honest, the CryoGlow masks is not unnoticeable whereas it is on, both. The shell is so thick that I’ve to carry my arms out annoyingly far in entrance of me to see what I am doing. However I can nonetheless considerably get stuff completed whereas carrying the CryoGlow, like feed the cats or make my mattress, whereas the CurrentBody Pores and skin feels too trippy to do something however sit on my cellphone. If you do not have a squirrel mind like I do, you might not thoughts having to zone out for a second — a CurrentBody masks proprietor on Reddit truly talked about that they recognize being compelled to lie down for 10 minutes a day.
The inside of the masks are additionally barely completely different supplies. The within of the Shark is your traditional slippery plastic that may be wiped down tremendous simply for sanitation functions. The within of the CurrentBody masks, which touches your face immediately, has a stickier silicone-y materials that weirds me out. A ton of cat hair and fuzzies get caught to it, too.
Winner: Shark
Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody: Outcomes
In my expertise, the Shark CryoGlow masks works a lot better than the CurrentBody masks.
I acquired my pores and skin into fairly superb form after about three months of day by day CryoGlow utilization. Earlier than that, I used to be struggling onerous to get my zits underneath management — it felt like a brand new pimple was popping up each single day. Once I was constantly switching between the Shark masks’s zits setting and “Higher Getting older” setting, I used to be going a minimum of per week with out a new pimple popping up.
The state of my chin and jaw earlier than beginning my CryoGlow routine.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
The state of my chin and jaw after three months of CryoGlow utilization.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
Once I switched to testing the CurrentBody Pores and skin masks, I clearly needed to put the CryoGlow on pause to isolate the CurrentBody outcomes. The CryoGlow masks works so properly on zits that I used to be terrified to surrender that blue mild setting — and my worry got here true.
Throughout my CurrentBody Pores and skin testing interval, it felt like I misplaced lots of the skin-clearing progress I made. Take my CryoGlow “after” photograph from the appropriate above and use it as my CurrentBody “earlier than” photograph. Beneath is the present standing of my chin after two months of strict CurrentBody masks utilization. I’ve one whitehead that is determined to pop, plus crimson spots from recently-healed zits.
The state of my chin and jaw after two months of CurrentBody utilization.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
My pores and skin was significantly extra unpredictable after I was utilizing the CurrentBody than it was with the Shark masks, with contemporary pimples constantly establishing camp on my chin and cheeks just a few instances per week. Granted, that is nonetheless much less erratic than my zits cycle earlier than testing both of the masks.
Because the CurrentBody Pores and skin would not have blue mild, I knew it wasn’t going to kill pore-clogging micro organism just like the CryoGlow can. However crimson mild can nonetheless be on the protection towards zits — it is mentioned to advertise the regeneration of pores and skin cells, assist with irritation, and possibly even assist to forestall scarring from present zits. I am tremendous susceptible to post-inflammatory erythema (crimson spots that keep behind the place a pimple was) that lasts for months, and I do not even really feel just like the CurrentBody did a lot to fade or forestall that.
It isn’t that I believe the CurrentBody Pores and skin masks did completely nothing. My pores and skin held up a constant glow and smooth-enough texture to exit bare-faced throughout my time with the CurrentBody, although the high-quality traces on my brow and round my eyes are positively nonetheless current. I have never gotten Botox in my brow for months, and I hoped the CurrentBody would make me need to maintain off on making a touch-up appointment (it did not). And given how stark different folks’s CurrentBody outcomes appear to be on social media, I anticipated my pores and skin to even out way more than it did.
Winner: Shark
Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody: Portability and packability
I am terrified to go per week with out the CryoGlow’s zits setting. That is a testomony to how reliably it prevents deep pimples from popping up on my face, but in addition a reminder of how deeply unlucky it’s that the CryoGlow could be ridiculously inconvenient to journey with.
The CurrentBody masks is barely extra travel-friendly than the cumbersome Shark masks.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
The inflexible design makes the Shark much less very best for journey.
Credit score: Leah Stodart / Mashable
It isn’t that the Shark masks weighs that a lot, but it surely’s a giant, cumbersome hunk of plastic that does not bend in any respect. It’d simply take up an ungainly quantity of house in a suitcase, particularly for those who’re a heavy packer and actually need to consolidate for a airplane journey. The Currentbody’s construct is not practically as unforgiving. It is bodily thinner and versatile sufficient to be packed in with garments with out hogging a ton of cargo house. At any fee, each do include a drawstring journey or storage pouch.
The CryoGlow’s brief battery life would additionally make it annoying to tackle a visit. It must be charged each few days for those who use it day by day, whereas the CurrentBody masks’s battery life barely even must be charged as soon as per week.
Winner: CurrentBody
Shark CryoGlow vs. CurrentBody: Our winner
The Shark CryoGlow masks is irrefutably a extra well-rounded LED masks than the CurrentBody masks, in addition to a greater worth price-wise. Based mostly on how straightforward it has been to include the masks into my day by day routine and the outcomes I’ve grown to anticipate from every, I genuinely stay up for carrying the Shark — whereas carrying the CurrentBody typically appears like a chore.
Regardless of being the extra compact masks, the CurrentBody Pores and skin is extra cumbersome to put on. The crimson lights glow so uncomfortably vibrant close to your eyes that it is onerous to see a lot of something whereas carrying it.
The CurrentBody Pores and skin’s lack of adjustable settings simply feels so primary in comparison with the customization made potential by the CryoGlow distant’s intuitive LCD display. I am positive I am not the one 30-something individual on the market who’s coping with age-related high-quality traces and grownup zits — and between these two masks, the Shark CryoGlow is the one one with devoted crimson mild, blue mild, and close to infrared mixtures to focus on a number of pores and skin considerations. The CurrentBody might attraction to you extra in case your sole purpose is anti-aging across the eyes, however once more, my underneath eye and crows toes outcomes have been barely noticeable. I am telling somebody to decide on the Shark CryoGlow masks each time.
