Can LED face masks smooth wrinkles (and which colours are best)?

Author

Wellbeing Team

29 March, 2026
Can LED face masks smooth wrinkles (and which colours are best)?

Have you ever wondered how LED face masks actually work? Which colour should you be using? Liz shares her thoughts on light therapy and explains how to match your colour to your skin concern.

Plus: why smear tests can be more painful after menopause, the difference between sachet and pill vitamins and how Liz organises her wellbeing routine.

Stream the episode below, or download the recording via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Can LED face masks smooth wrinkles (and which colours are best)?

LED face masks have most likely made a regular appearance on your Instagram feed recently. The futuristic Iron Man-style facial accessory seems to be the hot new ticket in beauty technology when it comes to treating skin conditions such as acne and rosacea – and it’s even claimed they can reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Dermatologists have long used LED (short for light-emitting diode) therapy to support skin healing and address the signs of ageing. And while many of us will have heard of red-light therapy, you can now choose an LED face mask that offers different colours of light to target specific skin concerns.

But how do you know which wavelength – and therefore colour – to choose for your skin’s needs? One listener asked exactly that on this episode of Age Better, saying: “My face mask has an option to use not only red light, but also blue and orange and purple lights. What are your thoughts on those different colour options and how they support the skin?”

Liz takes us through the different colours of light and how they are thought to help.

Best LED light colours for different skin needs

Red light

“Red and near infrared light therapy is actually one of the best evidenced non-invasive tools that we have for skin health and for ageing well,” says Liz. “It’s not something that I would necessarily do every single day, but I think a few times a week can be really helpful if your skin is responding to it.”

Red light works by penetrating the skin to support our mitochondrial energy, helping to calm inflammation, improve circulation and cellular repair.

“Whether we’re using a panel or infrared sauna or a mask, then this can definitely support skin for texture, glow, firmness and repair.”

Blue light

We’re often warned that single spectrum blue light can be very stimulating and can disrupt your circadian rhythm, especially in regards to screen time. But it’s believed to be beneficial for targeting acne breakouts by emitting safe wavelengths that destroy the bacteria living in the sebaceous glands.

Orange light

Orange or amber light is much more gentle and can have mild benefits when it comes to pigmentation and overall radiance, though Liz advises that the evidence for this is a bit more limited.

Green light

As in nature, green light has been shown to be very calming and restful. It also has the potential to be helpful for those suffering from migraines.

Pink and purple light

Purple or pink light, Liz explains, is usually a combination of red and blue. These colours are also sometimes recommended for their balancing or calming properties.

The great outdoors

Red light therapy is a brilliant evidence-based support for midlife skin, and Liz is interested in the discussion around the benefits of the extra colours. But she also reminds us that red light and near-infrared light is freely available outdoors.

“To really get the benefits of these wavelengths, going outdoors at sunrise and sunset will bathe our skin naturally in these helpful light waves.”

Also in this episode:

  • Why are smear tests sometimes more uncomfortable after menopause?
  • Are sachet vitamins better than pill form?
  • Can HRT help with back pain in later life?
  • Liz’s top tips for organising your wellbeing routine

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