I Tried The Lustre LED Face Mask For A Month

LED face masks have been gaining popularity for a long time, with the science backing up the hype: red light skin therapy has been proven to improve skin tone, texture and overall appearance. So when a device with a ‘100% approval rating’ landed on my desk, I decided to give the Lustre Renew LED Mask a proper trial. 

The Lustre Renew LED Mask: What’s The Science?

Red light therapy – more formally known as photobiomodulation – works by delivering wavelengths of light (typically 630–660nm) directly into the skin, where they stimulate cellular energy production and promise to trigger collagen synthesis, reduce inflammation and improve circulation. Near-infrared light penetrates more deeply into the dermis, targeting firmness and overall skin quality. The science is well-established: a 2014 controlled trial published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery found that combined red and near-infrared light treatment produced significant improvements in skin complexion, texture and intradermal collagen density. A 2013 review in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery confirmed that low-level light therapy consistently stimulates skin healing and rejuvenation at a cellular level.

Lustre’s technology is rooted in medical-grade LED research, originally developed for treating skin cancer scars. The Renew mask uses red, near-infrared, and blue light to target dullness, uneven tone, puffiness, redness, and loss of firmness, with customisable settings so you can focus on your specific skin concerns each day.

The brand has just published independent clinical trial results from a four-week study of 40 participants. In it, 100% of users reported brighter, more radiant skin. By the end of four weeks, 96.8% saw an overall improvement in skin appearance, 93-94% experienced smoother texture, reduced redness and less puffiness, and 90.3% noticed firmer, plumper skin. Results appeared quickly, too: after just seven days, 85.3% reported brighter skin and 82.4% smoother texture.

How To Use The Lustre Renew LED Mask

This is one of the simpler skincare devices I’ve used. The mask is wireless and charges via USB. You cleanse your skin, put the mask on, press the button, and lie back. The timer runs for five minutes, then the mask switches off automatically. That’s it. The mask can be linked to an app for personalisation but the default settings work great if you’re less tech savvy.

The red light is immediately noticeable: a low glow that I found unexpectedly calming. I built the mask into an end-of-day routine, lying flat in the dark while it ran. It became less a skincare step and more a forced five-minute pause: something I hadn’t realised I needed.

The Results

After three weeks of daily use, my skin looked slightly brighter and smoother. Nothing dramatic, but given this is an at-home device with no professional involvement, that’s a real result. The improvement was gradual and cumulative rather than overnight, which is consistent with how red light therapy works at a cellular level.

The benefit I hadn’t anticipated was the ritual itself. The red light is relaxing in a way that felt almost meditative, and the five minutes of lying still at the end of the day became something I really looked forward to after washing my face. For anyone who struggles to slow down before bed, this is an unexpected bonus.

My only niggle is the five-minute timer; as someone with a perpetually busy schedule, the moment the mask clicks off I snap out of my relaxation mode and think ‘right, that’s done’ and immediately get up. A ten minute default setting would extend the ritual and I suspect I’d see better results for it. 

You Should Also Know

The mask has three light settings: red and near-infrared for anti-ageing, brightening and firming; blue for targeting bacteria, which makes it useful if you’re breakout-prone. You can switch between them depending on what your skin needs on a given day.

Consistency matters with any LED device. The clinical trial results are based on four weeks of daily use, and the science backs this up: sporadic sessions won’t deliver the same outcome. If you’re investing in at-home beauty gadgets, build in the commitment before you buy. For a broader look, see our guide to red light therapy.

C&T Key Notes

• Tweakment: Lustre Renew LED Mask
• Downtime: None
• Best for: Brightening, reducing redness, improving skin tone and texture, firming
• Cost: £249 at Boots.com
• Buy boots.com