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Unfortunately our neck is the first to go when it comes to showing signs of aging. "Because the skin on your neck is so thin and has less collagen than skin on other parts of your body, it's more prone to wrinkling", according to Dr. Jonith Breadon a dermatologist in private practice at Aesthetic Dermatology of Lincoln Park. So...
How Do We Get Rid Of Saggy Neck Without Surgery Or At Least Delay The Process?
When people talk about "the future of skincare," I don't think any of us predicted something quite so futuristic. Yet here we are with these "killer looks." Whether you're a serial Instagram and tiktok-scroller or just have your thumb on the pulse of the newest, coolest skincare innovations, it's likely that you've heard a little something about LED skin therapy. In the past, these fancy treatments were only available under the practiced hand of your aesthetician for in-office treatments. Now, this luxury is available for you to use at your leisure when your skin is in the mood for something fancy.
LED light therapy is actually a NASA technology that was adopted by the skincare community when its ability to heal wounds and tame inflammation was noticed. Blue light frequencies are typically used to treat acne, while red light is used for anti-aging concerns. If shooting lights at your face and neck sounds scary, you should know that there are no ultraviolet rays in these devices. The only frightening thing about these masks are the look of them.
Most LED face masks have pretty hefty price tags without offering neck coverage, and nearly all of them claim transformative results. So which ones have neck coverage? Do they work?How do they work? Are they worth the money? And, um… What even is light therapy? We’re here to dish the dirt.
What is light therapy?
In short, light therapy is a treatment which has been around for about 30 years. It's the process of exposing skin to red, blue, green, cyan, yellow, purple, white, and near-infrared LED light which each have various skincare benefits.
What does light therapy do?
When used regularly, LED light therapy can be used to reduce saggy neck skin aka turkey neck, breakouts, pigmentation, rosacea symptoms, bags under eyes, psoriasis and other side-effects of inflammation. If you don't suffer from the above complaints, LED light therapy can simply help to improve the appearance of your skin. Of course it can also go a long way in taking a proactive approach to preventing saggy neck.
And the benefits go well beneath the skin’s surface. In fact, LED light treatments have been applauded for their mental health benefits, too. Client feedback suggests that a short period of time spent under in-clinic LED lamps could dramatically improve mood, lifting spirits and reducing stress levels. Need proof? LED light therapy boosts our ATP so that it can fuel other cells with energy and boost our serotonin count. Needed.
Since the results for your skin and mind are cumulative, you need to have regular treatments to see an effect. If you can’t afford regular LED treatments at your local clinic, spa, or salon, at-home light therapy could be the answer. And that’s where the best LED face masks come in.
If you're curious about the LED face masks with neck coverage that will up your skincare game, read on for some of the best on the market that we have tested..
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"Red light stimulates collagen and elastin. Yellow light is used to promote circulation. White light penetrates the deepest and works to tighten and reduce inflammation. Blue light kills bacteria."
- Dendy Engelman, MD. Board-certified dermatologic surgeon.
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"These devices have been around for decades and are generally used by dermatologists or aestheticians in an office setting to treat inflammation after facials, minimize breakouts, and give skin an overall boost"
- Dr. Sheel Desai Solomon, MD. Board-certified dermatologic surgeon.
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"Light therapy helps boost the appearance of collagen and leaves the skin looking much brighter. It has also been found to repair cell damage, kill bacteria, improve facial texture and reduce fine lines."
- Dr. Simon Ourian, MD. Celebrity dermatologist & cosmetic surgeon.
BEST KNOWN: DR. DENNIS GROSS SPECTRALITE FACEWARE PRO
This Dr. Dennis Gross creation mimics the kind of light therapy treatments you can get in your aesthetician's office. It features red and blue light, so you can either choose your area of concern or use both at the same time. Red light diminishes signs of aging, while blue light kills off acne-causing bacteria. It's easy to use, and will make you look like a gorgeous, clear-skinned robot while it's on.
Pros: Easy to use, short treatments, wireless.
Cons: Pricey, doesn't always cover the whole face depending on your face size, feels like it could break easily, the strap is always too loose and their solution for the neck is to flip it upside down like the picture shown. It's a bit ackward.
BEST ALL AROUND: CLEOPATRA LED LIGHT THERAPY MASK
This ironman-looking mask not only treats your face with LED light therapy, but includes neck coverage so you can look forward to no longer having saggy neck wrinkles. It has 192 LEDS and 7 different light modes to treat every ailment from acne, aging, scars, dullness and more. These spa-esque light treatments with 4 different power levels are completely wireless which means it's time to indugle in some me time from anywhere.
Pros: Easy to use, full neck coverage, wireless, 7 colors, 4 power levels, comes with an app.
Cons: Finding where to tap exactly, easy once you know after 1st use, optional adjustable strap could be improved but at least it's sturdy.
BEST IN TECH: ALURALIGHT
This space age Daft Punk looking mask hails from the beauty capital of the world Seoul. It has an incredible array of 1070 high powered LEDS. It's truly a remarkable anti-ager and acne fighter that keeps on giving with each use. It's no wonder why users of this tech have glass skin. It features a smart chip that takes you through 3 different modes for a picture perfect 20 minute session.
Pros: Easy to use, full neck coverage, modular (attach and detach neck piece), wireless, charger base, straps were not an afterthought.
Cons: Pricey
BEST BUDGET OPTION: REGENALIGHT LED MASK
This Jason esque looking mask will spook your skin into better condition. With 7 colors and it's wireless portability it's hard to go wrong with this one especially for those new to light therapy or those testing the waters. That being said, it wasn't meant for the neck but could be used if you held it on your neck area.
Pros: Wallet friendly, easy to use, literal tap here button, wireless, 7 colors.
Cons: The optional adjustable strap could be improved but it is secure at least.
BEST ACCESSORY: SOLAWAVE
These may look like razors but they are actually spot treatment LED wands. You'll want to use the Red light one for your neck if you're looking to use this.
Pros: Easy to use, wireless, lightweight
Cons: Arms can get tired easily in the recommended 5 minute treatment. Built to turn on when it touches your skin but it should really have an on/off switch.
STAY CLEAR OF THESE
Masks with microcurrents can be dangerous and definitely aren't for everyone. They are also uncomfortable and should be avoided when possible. Masks that look like face shields from our tests virtually do nothing and don't protect the eyes. The Zoidberg looking masks that are made from silicone while comfortable often lack full face coverage and if they do have a neck piece, it's sold completely separately. We've also found them to be weak with typically only 66 bulbs and a bit cumbersome with the remotes. Not to mention no eye protection.
WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU?
Like many things in this world, it's situational. In fact it's NONE industry wide if you are sensitive to light or take any medications that increase light sensitivity. That aside, if you can afford the best in class technology then go for the Aluralight. It doesn't dissapoint. If you can't quite justify spluring on the apple of beauty you can opt for the most well rounded Cleopatra Mask. We really do like having the ability to take care of our neck at the same time and both of these two masks do it. Then you have your budget option the Regenalight which works well especially for the price. While we do like the Spectralite, we feel like it's too much of a hit and miss depending on your face size. This is something we don't have to worry about with the other masks mentioned and you're better off making your own strap or simply lying down with it only. It's hard to ignore the reviews on Sephora outside of our own tests. If they ever come out with a second version and with a dedicated neck portion it will surely be a hit.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Outside of my practice, there's nothing more that I enjoy than Yoga and a glass of wine. Sometimes together.
- Kathryn Shaffer