The best LED face masks have long been seen as a luxury reserved for women, especially when covered in pink and purple branding. However, that's starting to change, with several brands now stepping up to create skincare gadgets designed specifically for men. Honestly, it makes sense – men's skin is different, so tailored solutions are a smart move.
One brand leading the charge is Buff, who recently launched an LED face mask designed for men or those with an active lifestyle. As someone who’s tested plenty of skincare gadgets and different kinds of beauty tech, I can confidently say I know my stuff – but men's products? Not so much. This called for recruiting my partner to help out. He wasn’t exactly eager at first, but eventually gave in with minimal grumbling.
Take a look below to see if this could be your next skincare must-have – you might be surprised!
Buff LED Face Mask review: price and availability
The Buff LED Face Mask is a fairly new addition to the LED face mask scene, meaning it's exclusively available on Buff's online store. It's priced at £199.99, which is fairly mid-range for this type of product.
Buff also offers a variety of bundles which are great if you're looking to build a skincare routine from scratch. For example, the Everything Bundle includes the mask and seven different skincare products, priced at £256 instead of £450.
Buff LED Face Mask review: unboxing and set up
There are quite a few parts that come with the Buff LED Face Mask, so let’s go over them to help you get started. When unboxing, the mask itself was the first thing I found, soon followed by the straps. There were two smaller ones, each with a circular design for either side of the mask, plus an extra long strap for added support.
I easily attached them, and after a quick try-on, my partner decided he didn’t need the extra one.
Next, I found the plug, remote control, and USB-C charging cable. The remote control felt solid in hand, and I liked that it came with a digital screen.
Finally, there was the instruction manual, a satin protective bag, and two extra eye protectors. Whilst these aren't essential to using the mask, they're definitely recommended, especially if you’re sensitive to bright lights.
I then fully charged the mask – which took about an hour – and plugged in the remote control. Once that was done, it was good to go.
Buff LED Face Mask review: design and features
In terms of LED functionality, the Buff mask features 122 LED lights and four different modes that target specific skin concerns. These include blue light for blemish-causing bacteria, and standard red light to boost collagen production. There's also near-infrared light to reduce inflammation, and yellow light for a brighter, more radiant complexion.
Whilst most budget LED masks come with two settings, the Buff mask’s four light choices offer a nice middle ground, especially as higher-end models tend to have 5-7 settings.
The mask has a silicone feel, making it soft to the touch, easy to clean, and comfortable on the skin. The straps are wide for better head support, and although there’s no major way to adjust them, my partner found it incredibly comfortable to wear.
The remote control needs to be plugged into the mask to work, and it has three buttons – one to turn the mask on, one to control the light modes, and one to adjust the brightness. Now, this brightness feature is a bit unusual for LED masks, as the light’s depth of penetration is what matters most, not how bright it is. Given the science behind LED face masks, I wasn’t sure about this choice, but we’ll discuss that later.
Buff LED Face Mask review: performance
As someone who regularly tests LED face masks, my partner isn’t always thrilled when I convince him to try each one. However, the Buff LED Face Mask changed his mind – he found it incredibly comfortable to wear, which made all the difference.
To follow the recommended usage, my partner started by wearing the mask three times a week. He focused mostly on the red and yellow lights but occasionally added a near infrared session. Since he doesn’t suffer from acne or blemishes, the blue light wasn’t part of his regular routine.
We noticed a difference in his skin after about two weeks. He’d wake up to see his skin looking more refreshed, less inflamed and with a natural glow – he’ll probably hate me for saying that. By week four, the small lines around his eyes had started to fade, which probably pleased him the most. His skin appeared fresher, and for someone who usually sticks to a simple 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and face wash, that’s a pretty good compliment.
Throughout the testing, my partner found the two brighter settings a bit too intense, even with the eye shields. I agreed after trying it myself, and I also felt that the brightness adjustment wasn’t really necessary. Ultimately, it’s about the type of light and its effect, not how bright it is. In my opinion, the mask would’ve been better off without this feature.
My partner wasn’t too bothered by this, but I did think the remote control could’ve been a bit more premium. It does have a digital screen that shows the remaining treatment time, but I was a little disappointed to find that it didn’t have a clip on the back. This means if you wanted to move around during your session, you had to either hold the remote or stick it in your pocket. On the plus side, the included storage bag was a nice touch, something that other models often don’t come with.
Buff LED Face Mask review: verdict
The Buff LED Face Mask offers a solid mid-range option with four light settings to target various skin concerns. It's comfortable, easy to use, and comes with a number of thoughtful extras. Whilst the brightness adjustment feels unnecessary, and the remote could be more user-friendly, the mask still delivers noticeable skin improvements after a few weeks. Overall, it's a worthwhile choice for those seeking effective LED skincare without splurging on high-end models.
Buff LED Face Mask review: alternatives to consider
If you're looking to take things up a notch, I’d highly recommend the Shark CryoGlow. Designed for all skin tones, textures, and genders, it’s also the UK’s first LED face mask to incorporate cold therapy technology. Whilst it does come with a slightly higher price tag than some other models, it's easily my favourite of all time.
Another option to consider is the Omnilux Men. Although it's specifically designed for men, it only offers two light modes despite being more expensive than the Buff mask. For that reason, I'd still recommend the Buff mask as the better choice.
