$350 and Four Weeks Later: How the Shark CyroGlow Face Mask Calms My Acne-Prone Skin

As a first timer for at-home red light therapy masks, I was impressed with how easy it was to set up and use right away. In order for the mask to lay comfortable and snug, your hair must be flat (I’m looking at you thick, curly gals out here). Once I laid my hair as flat as I could, it was simple to adjust the strap in the back for a snug fit. It’s also wireless, so I can walk around or do work without being restricted to a plug. You can even clip the remote right on your shirt so you have a hands-free experience, too.  

As soon as you press down on the remote control, the tiny screen lights up and offers a tutorial on how to use the mask. Once you understand the device, every time you turn it on you’re greeted with a home page featuring routines, your progress and settings. The ‘Routines’ tab shows you all the treatments along with little blurbs to remind you what they each are. Meanwhile, the ‘Your Progress’ tab gives you insight on how many sessions/treatments you’ve completed. I loved having everything laid out for me and kept tabs on how consistent I was.

I primarily used the ‘Skin Clearing’ treatment to focus on my acne and breakouts. This mode runs for eight minutes using blue, infrared and red LED lights. The screen offered a timed countdown as the LED lights began switching from blue, infrared and red. The mask has 480 light sources (160 tri-wick LEDS), “giving face coverage without gaps.” Once the treatment is done, the lights turn off and the remote’s screen tells you to press on the done option and power off—not before suggesting that you continue your skincare routine with a moisturizer. The mask’s fans run for 30 seconds before turning off automatically.

The best way to describe how the experience feels (without talking about the cooling under-eye) is hot air blowing on your face, but not too hot. The lights aren't super bright—plus, the eye/lip openings and the chin area are big enough to not feel like an extra in The Mask. One more thing: Whether it's your first time or you need a breather, the mask comes with a pause feature so you can take a break and come back to resume your treatment.

In four weeks, I did notice a difference. I wouldn’t say it completely resolved all my acne, but it did prevent major breakouts (especially during those rough weeks before and during my period). It did a great job at reducing redness and brightening up my complexion. But the real draw for me was the eye-cooling technology. I used it along with the LED treatment, and it truly felt like an all-around facial. When I first used it, I thought it was a bit overwhelming. Seriously, it does not play around in the cooling department—hence why I started using it in the morning to give myself a boost of energy. But luckily, the face mask lets you adjust the level of intensity, or you can simply turn it off and just focus just on the light therapy. (FYI: The mask already has chill pads, but you can add extra clip-ons to target the area better.) 

The Bottom Line: Shark CyroGlow Face Mask Is a Nice Morning Addition

While some prefer coffee in the morning, I reach for this bad boy to start my day. It’s a great tool for beginners, so you don’t need to be tech savvy to understand how to toggle between treatments. The face mask was very comfortable and being completely hands-free is the icing on the cake. 

The biggest downside is the price. It comes at $350 (or $380 if you want the charging stand included) but compared to other red light therapy devices or even booking a facial appointment, the price is not too bad for what you’re getting. A few (very small) other cons are that the face mask can be a bit loud—almost like a small mini vacuum going off. The under-eye pads can also leave a minor imprint on the skin, but it doesn’t stay long so don’t worry about it leaving a permanent mark on your face. And the battery life only lasts a week, but it does charge quickly so it’s not a complete dealbreaker. 

Overall, I rated it a 96 out of 100. It was comfortable to wear and easy to navigate. It worked in preventing acne, reducing redness and soothing irritation. My favorite feature has to be the under-eye cooling, which woke me up every morning and reduced any puffiness. I don’t mind sparing eight minutes a day to work its magic, and after four weeks, I’m already looking forward to seeing what it does after another four weeks (or at least consider switching over to the other treatments it offers). 

Fast Facts

• Best for: puffiness, acne, fine lines
• Treatments: 4
• Wavelengths: red 630nm, infrared 830nm, blue 630nm
• What’s Included: clip-on chill pads, USB-C charging cable + plug, wall charger, storage bag