I have to admit – I used to be very skeptical about LED devices that were supposedly good for the skin. When they first started being sold for home use, I felt they were mostly expensive, inefficient appliances that were clearly money makers. Nowadays, however, as is usually the case with any evolving product category, the technology has improved. We're seeing more sophisticated offerings that not only use better components, but are also more comfortable to wear. Full face masks from manufacturers such as TerabodyDr. Dennis Gross and Omnilux have gained immense popularity, taking over social media and constantly selling out. After hearing rave reviews from friends and family, as well as undergoing more light treatments in salons, I became even more convinced that there was a place for devices like this.
Shark, maker of vacuum cleaners, deep fryers and a variety of kitchen tools, has unveiled its take on the LED face mask here at CES 2025. Launched under its three-year-old Shark Beauty division, the new CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling System + LED Anti-Aging & Skin-Clarifying Face Mask” has a rather long name. From now on I will call it the CryoGlow mask. At a meeting here in Las Vegas, Shark's senior vice president of global product development, Danielle Lessing, described a number of ways CryoGlow differs from what currently exists.
First of all, as the name suggests, this device has a cooling component. In addition to the 160 “intertwined three-wick LEDs” on the mask, there are two metal plates on the cheeks shaped like an eye mask. This is the conduit for what Shark calls its “InstaChill” technology, and is essentially a pair of cooling plates that had a calming effect in my short time using the CryoGlow. In fact, this is probably my favorite part of the device (and, frankly, its defining feature).
After putting the CryoGlow on for about a minute and taking some fun photos and selfies with it, I really appreciated how cold it was in my under-eye area. To be clear, the plates felt cold immediately after I put the mask on, but I liked the long-lasting coolness. And after removing the device, I still enjoyed the remaining sensation, even after a few minutes. I don't feel like I wore the mask long enough to know if it would start to feel clunky after wearing it for a long time, but at least I didn't feel strained during the demo and the wired remote control didn't turn on. my way.
I also want to note that unlike the Therabody option, Shark's CryoGlow does not vibrate. Lessing said, “This is a skin care system, and vibration does not affect the skin.”
Lessing emphasized the importance of triple-wick LED lamps, each capable of emitting red, blue and deep infrared light, as they differ from some other products on the market which can instead only use single- or double-wick lamps. In these cases, manufacturers may choose to install red-only or blue-only bulbs in alternating patterns or different arrangements that allow them to claim to provide both types of light while effectively covering a smaller area per bulb.
It's this kind of math that Lessing enthusiastically emphasized during our quick meeting, telling me that the company worked hard to calculate the ideal combination of factors such as the distance of the bulbs from the user's face and from each other. To achieve this, CryoGlow will be positioned so that the LEDs are about 15mm away from your skin – a good balance between efficiency and coverage. The bulbs themselves are spaced 10mm apart, and the four programs Shark offers also take into account how long your face is illuminated.
Lessing said the company wanted to create something more inclusive, addressing not only different head sizes and types, but also skin concerns. Most of the products available today are aimed at combating the signs of aging in women, she said. Shark wants to buck this trend, and part of that effort includes creating a mask that fits all types of people, from women with smaller faces to men with larger heads.
When I first saw CryoGlow in person, I couldn't help but smile. Unlike Theraface or Dr. Dennis Gross masks, which look a little robotic or cyborg-like, the Shark device is oddly cute? The shape of its mouth is slightly upside down, making it look like it's smiling at you. I also instinctively reached out to stroke the textured sides of the mask, which look like lines scratched in sand. I could make this my pet.
CryoGlow not only looks adorable, but is also comfortable to wear. It was large enough for my larger-than-average head, but didn't feel too heavy. Perhaps it's the adjustable T-strap on the head that reminds me Apple Vision Pro. Lessing said the team also took inspiration from ski goggles when developing the design, especially regarding the guards around the eye cutouts.
Another thing to consider is the fact that the CryoGlow is quite lightweight, likely due to the fact that it is powered by the battery in the included remote control. This handheld controller connects via a cord, which is a slightly less elegant approach than competing products that have buttons on the mask. But I appreciate that it looks and feels like a Nokia 3310 with a much nicer screen, dial and two buttons underneath.
You can spin the wheel to scroll through menus, and I also liked Shark's aesthetic interface. The system offers four treatment modes: an under-eye revitalization that provides “cryo-based lifting and soothing,” a 6-minute “Aging Better” option, an 8-minute “skin purifying” option that targets acne, and a 4-minute minute mode “Skin Cleansing” aimed at fighting acne. One-minute Skin Sustain treatment regimen designed for daily use. There are also three cooling levels available that you can control with this system. Shark says its tests have shown that clearer skin can be seen after four weeks of use, while two months of consistent use can result in firmer skin.
Shark claims that all of its programs are backed by clinical trials, and best of all, it has actually tested its CryoGlow device against the competition. According to Shark, the image “captures a demonstration of light-absorbing photochromic paint to demonstrate the uniform coverage of CryoGlow's iQLED technology compared to the uneven coverage of competitors.” I will note that while Shark's device appears to have had a more uniform and overall larger spread, it leaves two areas under the eye exposed.
It's unclear what the competing device is or how much it might cost, but considering the CryoGlow is priced at $349 and Theraface mask And Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro starting at $599 and $455 respectively, I'm already intrigued. It looks like a sophisticated device that is at least within the range I can afford. And I also liked my short experience with him. I'll probably have to test other competing products before I can definitively assess how well CryoGlow performs compared to what's on the market, but for now and for the price, I'm very impressed with the debut of the Shark LED Mask.