The Science Behind the Mask

If you keep an eye on what’s new in the skincare and beauty world, you’ve probably seen the launch of our new Shark CryoGlow LED skincare mask with under-eye cooling technology.

Developed with dermatologists, the mask’s Better Ageing and Blemish Repair LED + Infrared routines are designed to be used for once a day for 8 weeks, to give you noticeable skin results. And those results speak for themselves: Better Ageing mode users saw an improvement in fine lines, a reduction in wrinkles, and firmer, brighter, smoother skin in 4 weeks*, while Blemish Repair mode users saw an improvement in blemishes and skin roughness in 4 weeks**.

But how does Shark CryoGlow work?

What’s the science behind the mask, and exactly how does LED light help to improve your skin’s appearance? Let’s take a deep dive into the science of LED skincare:

What are LEDs?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. In very simple terms, LEDs are very small light source– an electrical current is passed through a microchip, which then emits light.

Light with different wavelengths appear as different colours. The wavelength of the light is measured in nanometres (nm).

Shark CryoGlow has 160 tri-wick LEDs (480 light sources) inside the mask which ensure even coverage.

What does LED and Infrared light do when it interacts with skin?

Utilising LED light to tackle skin concerns is sometimes referred to as ‘photobiomodulation’.

When LED light shines on skin, each colour wavelength is absorbed into the skin at a different depths. Blue light is generally absorbed near the surface of your skin (the epidermis), while Red and Infrared light generally travels deeper into the dermis, where collagen is produced.

Shark CryoGlow’s 415nm Blue light helps to improve skin clarity and skin texture evenness, while the Red (630nm) & Infrared (830 nm) light helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How? Blue light can help with the appearance of blemishes. Red and infrared light are thought to increase collagen production.

Can you see LED light?

Red and Blue LED light are visible, but Infrared wavelengths are invisible to the human eye. There is no UV light emitted by Shark CryoGlow.

Does Shark CryoGlow use light differently to other masks on the market?

Shark CryoGlow’s LED routines combine Red, Blue and Infrared together in 3 different modes, so you can benefit from multiple wavelengths of light at once.

  • Blemish Repair Mode: An automated 3-phase routine – Blue + Infrared, then Blue + Red, then Red + Infrared. Helps reduce the appearance of textured, uneven skin and blemishes for smooth, glowing skin.
  • Better Ageing Mode: Red + Infrared. Helps plump skin and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.
  • Skin Sustain Mode: Blue, Red + Infrared. Helps boost brightness and maintain results after an 8-week cycle of Better Ageing or Blemish Repair mode

What is the mask’s irradiance?

Unlike some other LED masks that may use single-wick or bi-wick LED sources, Shark CryoGlow uses tri-wick LEDs and is engineered for enhanced light effectiveness so that every wavelength is emitted from every LED. The design maximises irradiance on skin, ensuring even coverage across the entire face with a maximum radiance of 128mW/cm² from the LEDs.

This is a measurement of power density of the light at the source of the LED.

Has light therapy been proven to improve skin concerns such as blemishes, redness or wrinkles?

Studies have connected LED light to anti-ageing results – our own independently-conducted studies on Shark CryoGlow have seen positive anecdotal correlation, with users reporting improvements in fine lines*, blemishes** and other skin concerns after using a Shark CryoGlow LED routine once a day for 4 weeks.

How do I know that Shark CryoGlow works?

In our 4-week clinical study, Better Ageing Mode (Red LEDs + Infrared combined) delivers 16% more radiant skin in 4 weeks*, with users seeing an improvement in fine lines, skin firmness and the appearance of pores; a reduction in wrinkles; and firmer, brighter, smoother skin in 4 weeks*.

Users of Blemish Repair Mode (an automated 3-phase routine cycling through Blue LEDs + Infrared, then Blue + Red LEDs, finishing with Red LEDs + Infrared) saw an improvement in blemishes and skin roughness in 4 weeks** (with a 21% improvement in blemishes**). Users also reported more even skin, and an improvement in the appearance of pores, in 4 weeks**.

The mask is not recommended for use if you have some medical conditions – if you’re not sure whether you should use the mask, please check the full list of Contraindications, Warnings and Instructions here.

Take a look at the mask’s reviews to see what other customers are saying.

How does InstaChill Cold Technology under-eye cooling work?

Shark CryoGlow’s under-eye chill pads help soothe and depuff using the Peltier effect. Electricity moves through the Peltier module, applying cooling to the face. Our custom cooling design manages the heat, moving it away from the face so your under eye skin experiences rapid cooling.

Fan technology expels excess heat outward, so the metal portion of the mask feels cool to the touch, and your under-eye skin experiences rapid cooling.