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9 hours ago
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Of all the LED masks I’ve tested, the Shark CryoGlow feels like the most heavily marketed. Touted as a one-stop shop for anti-ageing, blemish-busting and undereye cooling, it’s trickled its way into countless influencer morning routines and post-work wind-downs, slowly but surely filling up my social media timeline.
As an acne-prone woman whose work life revolves around beauty tech, the adverts are well placed. But that doesn’t negate the fact that, to the average consumer, LED therapy still reeks of pseudoscience. If my younger self got wind that I was strapping a glowing mask to my face every day, she would die laughing.
Thankfully, I’ve spent months researching LED masks and have found that red-light therapy is backed by scientific research dating to the 1990s. This includes studies on skin rejuvenation, wound healing and anti-ageing.
I’ve had this mask for almost two years and have completed more than 100 light therapy treatments in that time. That makes this the most thoroughly tested product I’ve ever reviewed, and there’s a reason it became such a mainstay in my skincare routine. Here’s my full verdict on the CryoGlow, and why I’ve recently jumped ship in favour of a competitor.
How I tested
I’ve tested 14 other options in my quest to find the best LED mask – which isn’t just about staring at your skin in the mirror and waiting for changes. For each LED mask I test, I consider how comfortable it is to wear for daily treatments, whether the eye guards block light effectively, as well as the number and brightness of the LEDs. I’m also looking for simple controls.
To test the mask’s effectiveness, I noted the appearance, feel and texture of my skin before and after two months of daily treatments. I tried all the settings, including the undereye cooling, for at least four nights each, then chose my favourite setting for the rest of the test.
What you need to know
Many will be familiar with Shark’s vacuum cleaners and hair care tools, but it hasn’t been in the skincare game for long. The 2024 CryoGlow was its first foray, followed by the 2025 FacialPro Glow, a hydro and temperature therapy tool. While the FacialPro Glow came with a laundry list of usage warnings and a high risk of user error, the CryoGlow’s LED therapy is far less likely to go wrong.
In LED therapy, each wavelength of light penetrates different levels of the skin, which can trigger specific natural processes. The CryoGlow has 160 LEDs that shine across three wavelengths: red light to help stimulate skin healing and collagen production; near-infrared light, which penetrates deeper into the skin; and blue light, which reduces acne-causing bacteria on the skin’s surface. It’s worth noting that blue light can cause hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones, so it should be used with caution.
The wavelengths are arranged into three pre-programmed LED settings, starting with a six-minute anti-ageing setting, which combines red and near-infrared light. The Blemish Repair mode takes eight minutes and begins with blue and near-infrared light, followed by red light, which Shark says helps heal breakouts faster. After six to eight treatments, Shark recommends continuing with Skin Sustain, which combines all the light types at once in a four-minute treatment.
The CryoGlow is also the only LED mask to have cooling pads under the eyes, which help to depuff the area. Cooling treatments alone can last from five to 15 minutes or can be used alongside the LED treatments. In each case, there are three temperature levels.
The mask costs £299.99 at full price (from £245.32 at the time of writing), which puts it firmly in the middle of the LED mask market. Cheaper masks, such as the £119 Silk’n 100, offer a range of colours, but no infrared and tend not to be arranged into preset treatments, or have any extras such as undereye cooling. Conversely, more expensive masks can have brighter lights and deeper-penetrating near-infrared lights. The £499.99 CurrentBody Multi Light Therapy mask is a fantastic example of this.
Shark CryoGlow specifications
Price: £299.99
Recommended use: one treatment daily
Settings: Better Ageing, Blemish Repair, Skin Sustain, undereye cooling
Treatment time: four to eight minutes (LED), or five to 15 minutes (cooling)
Suitable for: all skin types (excluding certain skin conditions); darker skin tones should use caution with Blemish Repair mode
Battery life: seven to 17 treatments, depending on cooling pad use
Charging time: three hours
Contents: Shark CryoGlow mask, clip-on undereye adjusters, USB-C charging cable and plug
What we love
As an acne-prone person, I benefited most from the Blemish Repair mode. Unlike cheaper masks, which use blue light alone, the preset treatment combining blue and red light may be more effective at treating acne, and I’ve found that to be true in my tests. The red light offers a gentler treatment because it helps promote wound healing and calm inflammation, reducing the appearance of post-acne red marks. It’s far more convenient to have this as a preset treatment than to keep switching between different colours. After eight weeks of treatments, I noticed far fewer breakouts, and any that did pop up healed far quicker – a few days rather than a week without the treatment.
After eight weeks, as Shark recommends, I switched to using the four-minute Skin Sustain mode. That treatment did exactly what it said: maintain my calm, clear skin until the next hormonal breakout reared its head. Thankfully, it was easy to switch back to the blemish treatment on those occasions.
In my week testing the Better Ageing setting, I noticed my skin was more even, with less pigmentation. And while I don’t always get puffy undereyes, I enjoyed using the cooling pads during hay fever season. It’s not a cure for hay fever, but a quick cooling session soothed the area and left it feeling far more comfortable. While I could get similar results from a cold compress stored in the fridge, the electric Peltier coolers meant the pads stayed cold for the duration, rather than warming up on contact with the skin.
That said, using the cooling pads drained the battery far faster than when they weren’t being used. When I tested the battery life using LED therapy alone, I was able to complete 17 treatments before the mask needed recharging. But when I switched the cooling on to full whack, the mask conked out after seven. That’s a dramatic drop-off. Most LED masks I’ve tested have run out of charge after about 10 days, though, so I think weekly charging is reasonable considering the cooling power on offer.
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For safety, the mask dims when removed from the face, and proximity sensors brighten the lights as soon as the mask is on your face. When the mask is fitted correctly, the eyes are well shielded from the light.
Thanks to its sturdy plastic build, the mask weighs 537g, which means it’s heavier than flexible silicone masks. To combat this, there is comfortable padding at the forehead, nose and brow bone, which is where most of the weight sits. The straps can also be adjusted around and over the head, so there’s enough flexibility to get a good fit if you’re sitting upright.
What we don’t love
Sadly, the main gripe I have with the Shark CryoGlow is one of its key selling points. Although I enjoy the calming effect of the undereye coolers, I found the weight of the mask made them dig into the delicate skin in that area. Whether I used the clip-on adjusters or not, I couldn’t bear lying down in the mask, as it was too heavy. The cooling pad positioning also meant the undereyes didn’t get any LED treatment.
Another frustration was that the cooling pads have fans that create a constant whirring sound, which is noisy and distracting during treatment. The coolers can be deactivated by turning the dial on the controller, but reactivating them is just as easy. I’ve accidentally knocked the dial countless times, causing the cooling fans to roar into action. Even when switched off immediately, they take a minute or so to quieten down again.
That’s a shame, since the controller is generally well designed; the scroll wheel and buttons make it easy to browse the settings, and the clip is helpful, if a little insecure. If Shark could change the cooling controls to a button, that would improve the design.
While the CryoGlow’s Better Ageing mode is great for early signs of ageing, it doesn’t have the most deeply penetrating wavelength – deep near-infrared – for more powerful anti-ageing. Deep near-infrared is becoming more common among new releases, although they tend to cost more. However, the Silk’n LED face mask Pro I tested has deep near-infrared and costs just £265 at full price. Of course, the LED industry is growing at a rate of knots, so it’s hard for Shark to keep up with all the latest features, but I’m surprised that its newest release, the Shark CryoGlow Plus, hasn’t added this (although battery life and LED coverage have improved).
Warranty and repairs
The device is guaranteed for two years if you register your device online within 28 days. This covers the cost of a repair or replacement mask if you have any problems during that time. Shark also offers troubleshooting advice online, or you can contact its customer service helpline (0800 862 0453).
Coincidentally, I tested this repairs service earlier this year when my sister bought a faulty CryoGlow mask at Christmas. After complaining, she had a new mask sent to her within a week (albeit in a different colour due to stock levels).
Should I buy the Shark CryoGlow LED mask?
If you want an effective LED mask that can treat multiple skin concerns at once, without adding extra light settings that aren’t as well-researched, then yes. And if puffy undereyes are a concern, you’ll be able to treat those as well.
The mask has given me good results, with daily breakouts minimised and unavoidable hormonal breakouts lasting less time than before. I found that the red light settings helped maintain a more even skin tone and a brighter complexion overall. And, notwithstanding its weight, its plastic build feels much sturdier than many silicone options.
I hate that the cooling patches cover the undereye, though. If you want an LED mask you can lie down in like a lizard in the sun, this weighty mask isn’t for you. Equally, if loud whirring noises in your ears are likely to annoy you, I’d steer clear. You’d be better off investing in a soft silicone mask such as the CurrentBody Multi Light Therapy mask – my new favourite overall. It may cost more, but it’s lighter, more comfortable and has more penetrating deep near-infrared light.
For more, read the best LED face masks that are worth the hype and our CurrentBody Multi Light Therapy LED mask review
Sarah Matthews is a consumer journalist who specialises in health and beauty reviews. In her four years of product testing, she’s worked her way through countless hair styling tools, hair removal, light therapy and skincare innovations. She’s seen beauty trends come and go, and can sniff out a fad from a gamechanger (that doesn’t mean she’s disciplined enough to always follow her own advice, though)
