As someone who writes about beauty, it should come as no surprise that I’m constantly testing out the latest and greatest products. That includes skin-care, makeup, and hair products, but also cool gadgets like LED masks and microcurrent devices.
At this point, I thought that I had seen it all, until I heard about the FAQ Swiss 202 LED Mask ($799). The product has one of the most expensive price tags I’ve seen for an at-home LED mask, but it also looks unlike anything else I’ve used in the past. It’s made with a flexi-fit silicone that molds to your face, and although it will leave you looking like a cast member in “Tron,” the results are worth it.
Keep scrolling to read my full review.
About the FAQ 202 LED Mask
- This is a wireless, FDA-approved anti-aging silicone LED mask.
- It’s made with 600 optimized points of light as well as a flexi-fit silicone that will mold to your facial contours.
- It features eight different wavelengths: red, blue, green, orange, purple, cyan, and yellow.
- It works in conjunction with a mobile app.
What I Like About the FAQ 202 LED Mask
The LED mask works in conjunction with an app, and although I did find the need for an app to use it a bit annoying initially, it’s actually been quite useful. You can choose specific treatments, like an “anti-wrinkle” treatment that runs for 15 minutes and cycles through three different LED colors, as well as a five minute “quick refresh” treatment that cycles through three LED colors. There’s also an “oil balancing” treatment, a “repairing” treatment, and a “quick refresh” treatment, but those treatments can only be accessed through a paid subscription (more on that later).
The app also allows you to adjust the intensity of the lights on the mask, with three options: low, medium, and high. On the other hand, you can also cycle through the different LED options without using the app at all.
I’ve tested a lot of LED masks, and this is the only one I’ve found that sits on my face almost like a second skin. You can feel each light touching you, and it really does contour to all of the different parts of your face. I did, however, find the nose portion to be a little off size-wise for my face and it made breathing out of my nostrils somewhat uncomfortable. Despite that, it’s still, hands down, the most comfortable LED mask I’ve ever tested. I could genuinely sleep in it if I wanted to.
I’ve only been using this mask for a week which hasn’t been enough time to see any meanigful results, but as of right now it seems to be helping with a breakout I’m having on my chin.
How to Use the FAQ 202 LED Mask
This LED mask has eight different settings to help with specific skin-care concerns: red helps with signs of aging, blue targets acne, green promotes even skin tone, orange promotes brighter skin, purple targets inflammation, cyan relieves stressed or inflamed skin, yellow reduces redness, and NIR (near infrared) can be used with any of the colors.
The brand notes that you should use the mask five to 15 minutes three to five times per week. It also suggests you avoid using the mask with any skin-care products that contain acids, silicones, or photosensitive ingredients like vitamins A or C, retinol, or AHAs. To start, cleanse and dry your skin, and then place the mask over your face.
When it comes time to clean your mask (which the brand recommends you do after every use), know that it isn’t 100 percent waterproof, so don’t wash it under running water. My LED mask came with a silicone cleaning spray, which was helpful. Since the mask essentially sits directly on your skin, I found that it got a bit dirty after each use just with my skin’s natural oils.
What to Consider Before Trying the FAQ 202 LED Mask
In order to use this LED mask, you have to have the FAQ Swiss mobile app. This is a bit of an annoyance, because every other LED mask I own works by simply turning it on. You don’t have to use the app every single time you use the LED mask, but it is required to download the app and register your mask prior to using it for the first time.
The app also prompts you to purchase a protection plan for your LED mask, with two options at either $25 per month or $10 per month. Both plans offer free replacements, but the more expensive one will send you a device upgrade after two years. I skipped both options, and I did find it marginally frustrating that certain aspects of the app were only available with a paid subscription.
Is the FAQ 202 LED Mask Worth the Splurge?
As mentioned, I’ve only been using it for a week, so I don’t have much to note on results. However, when it comes to comfortability and ease of use, I’d say this mask is 100 percent worth the splurge. It’s more innovative than any other mask I’ve tested in the past, but if you’re looking for a more affordable option, there are plenty to choose from.
Where the FAQ 202 LED Mask Is Available
The FAQ 202 LED mask is available for pre-order and purchase on June 3 on the brand’s website, and it will ship on June 17.
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Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.
