The Clinical Findings Behind TheraFace Mask Glo: The Largest Study of LED Masks on the Market
Authors: Therabody Scientists: Michelle Darian, MS, MPH, RD, LDN; Tim Roberts, MSc; Rachelle Reed, PhD, MS, ACSM-EP
Clinical study partner: Eurofins CRL
Once reserved for dermatologist offices and med spas, LED light therapy masks have made their way into homes worldwide. And the clinical evidence shows they work.
A 12-week study found that the TheraFace® Mask Glo is clinically proven to improve skin health — reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin radiance, firmness, dark spots, tone, texture, evenness, and more.
With 104 participants, Therabody's® TheraFace Mask Glo is now backed by the largest clinical study of any LED mask available on the market today. This is the second study to show that Therabody's dosage of LED light is clinically proven to be effective. Findings from this study replicate those from a 2023 TheraFace Mask study of 31 study participants.
Therabody's TheraFace Mask Glo is a convenient, hands-free way to treat the face for those seeking science-backed solutions for their skincare. It delivers a 12-minute preset treatment of Red, Red + Infrared, and Blue light therapy, spending four minutes at each wavelength.
Here, we'll dive into the study, how and why it was conducted, and the results, including before and after unretouched images of study participants.
Why was the study conducted?
This study was conducted to understand how the therapeutic technology within TheraFace Mask Glo improves beauty outcomes when used consistently over 12 weeks.
Tim Roberts, MSc and VP of Science and Innovation at Therabody explains, "Therabody is committed to creating the best possible products. This means designing clinically proven technology that is effective for outcomes we know consumers want to achieve, like reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin firmness."
To that end, the TheraFace Mask Glo clinical trial aimed to:
- Validate that TheraFace Mask Glo is safe and effective for improving skin health
- Study the TheraFace Masks' technology in the largest clinical trial of any LED mask on the market today
- Further study Therabody's dosage of light, which is consistent across all TheraFace LED devices
- Replicate the research conducted on the TheraFace Mask in 2023, in a larger pool of participants
A note on replication. Replication refers to reproducing scientific findings from a prior study, and it is a core tenet of quality science. If a study is truly replicable, it should produce similar positive results in a larger group of different people. In this case, Therabody’s LED light therapy dose improved skin health in both the 2023 study and the larger 2025 study.
Despite its importance, replication is often overlooked due to factors like cost and time.
“Replication is necessary in scientific research, and really should be commonplace, though not many companies are there yet,” adds Tim.
Read more about Therabody's commitment to scientific research here.
What did the study look at?
Researchers aimed to understand how consistent use of the Therabody’s TheraFace Mask Glo over 12 weeks could improve clinical beauty outcomes like fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and firmness.
This device has 504 LEDs and delivers Red, Red + Infrared, and Blue LED light therapy, allowing the optimal light dose to be delivered to the full face in a convenient 12-minute treatment time. The device’s headstraps also deliver vibration therapy to the scalp.
Who were the participants?
To be eligible to enroll, study participants:
- Self-reported presence of uneven skin texture, dull or saggy skin, and fine lines and wrinkles
- Self-reported having sensitive skin (about half of participants needed to meet this criteria)
- Could not be currently using LED therapy or other drugs or therapies that could impact their skin health throughout the 12-week study period
A total of 115 men and women, 35-65 years old, spanning Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI and ethnicities were enrolled in the study and 104 completed it.
90% of participants were female, and the average age of participants was 51. About 30% of participants identify as Caucasian, 35% as African American, 24% as Asian, and 12% as Hispanic Latino.
How was the study conducted?
All 104 men and women in this study followed the same standardized study protocol.
Participants used the TheraFace Mask Glo’s 12-minute preset treatment Monday through Saturday, 6 days per week, for the 12-week study duration. This 12-minute preset treatment cycles through 4-minute treatments of full-face Red, Red + Infrared, and Blue LED light therapy with vibration therapy on the scalp.
On Sundays, study participants used the 12-minute vibration therapy-only preset and did not use LED light therapy.
Participants came into the lab at four different study timepoints: baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Outcomes were measured at three timepoints (baseline, week 8, and week 12), and the week 4 check-in was for compliance purposes only.
What was measured?
Objective clinical testing and subjective perceptual data was collected from participants through several methods:
- Digital imaging: Data collection method that experts use to “grade” appearance.
- Expert grading: The grading system that is used to quantify and assess facial features like fine lines, deep wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, skin tone, overall appearance, and more.
- Clarity 3D imaging: This camera system performs a 3D reconstruction of the skin to measure wrinkle depth.
- Professional photography: These are the “before and after” images you see on product sites.
- VISIA®-CR imaging: VISIA®-CR imaging is a quantitative skin complexion analysis and visual assessment of facial features like undereye wrinkles and fine lines. [1]
- Cutometer® MPA 580: This instrumental device measures skin elasticity and skin extensibility. [2]
- Self-assessment: Surveys were administered at three time points: baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. The 28 questions aimed to understand how participants felt their skin appearance, changes in fine lines and wrinkles, skin elasticity, skin tone, and more changed over the study period.
Here's what the study found
The study found that the TheraFace Mask Glo is clinically proven to improve the following outcomes after 12 weeks of daily use:
- Radiance and luminosity
- Skin tone evenness
- Dark spots
- Wrinkle width
- Undereye wrinkles
- Fine lines
- Skin sagging
- Firmness
- Skin texture
This study is the second to show that Therabody’s TheraFace Masks’ dosage of light can significantly impact clinical skin outcomes, and it’s the largest LED clinical study to date.
Let’s walk through the clinical and perceptual study findings.
Improves appearance of radiance & luminosity, skin tone evenness, and dark spots
Radiance & luminosity
Skin radiance and luminosity were assessed via expert clinical grading. Radiance and luminosity significantly improved at both 8 and 12 weeks. These measures improved by an average of 14.0% after 8 weeks and by 25.4% after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported perceptual improvements in skin rejuvenation, luminosity, and glow, with 75% reporting notable improvements after 8 weeks and 86% at 12 weeks.
Skin tone evenness
Skin tone evenness was assessed via expert clinical grading. Skin tone evenness significantly improved at both 8 and 12 weeks. After 8 weeks of consistent use, skin tone evenness improved by 6.4% and by 11.0% after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported perceptual improvements in skin tone, with 65% reporting that their skin tone was more even after 8 weeks and 75% at 12 weeks.
Dark spots
Based on expert clinical grading, dark spots significantly improved at both 8 and 12 weeks. The mean improvement in dark and age spots between baseline and 8 weeks was 5.8% and at 12 weeks was 9.2%.
Study participants also reported perceptual improvements in dark spots, age spots, or sunspots with 62% reporting notable improvements after 8 weeks and 81% at 12 weeks.
Improves appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Fine lines
Full-face fine lines were assessed via expert clinical grading. They didn’t significantly improve after 8 weeks of device use but did after 12 weeks. Full-face fine lines improved by an average of 4.0% after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported perceptual improvements in full-face and eye area fine lines, with 72% reporting notable improvements after 8 weeks and 80% at 12 weeks.
Wrinkles
The clinical study found significant improvements in wrinkles through multiple measures of skin health.
Wrinkle width was assessed via expert clinical grading. It didn’t significantly improve after 8 weeks of device use but did after 12 weeks. Wrinkle width improved by an average of 2.8% after 12 weeks.
Wrinkle depth, measured by Clarity 3D Imaging, did not significantly improve at the group level after 12 weeks. That said, over a third of participants experienced improvement: 35% of participants had improvements in wrinkle depth on the front, and 42% had improvements on the left and right sides of their face after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported perceptual improvements in the appearance and depth of full-face and eye area wrinkles, with 68% reporting notable improvements after 8 weeks and 73% at 12 weeks.
Undereye fine lines and wrinkles also improved as assessed by VISIA image analysis after both 8 and 12 weeks. The size of undereye fine lines and wrinkles decreased by 2.5% after 8 weeks and by 3.1% after 12 weeks.
Improves Firmness and Skin Sagging
Firmness
The clinical study found significant improvements in skin firmness through multiple measures of skin health.
When firmness was assessed via expert clinical grading, improvements were significant at both 8 and 12 weeks. Firmness improved by an average of 4.6% in the total population after 8 weeks, and by 13.5% after 12 weeks.
Skin firmness also improved when assessed by a Cutometer. Firmness improved by 10.4% after 8 weeks and 14.3% after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported that their skin looks and feels firmer, with 77% reporting improvements after 8 weeks and 82% at 12 weeks. They also reported that their skin looked and felt tighter, with 75% noting improvements after 8 weeks and 87% at 12 weeks.
Skin sagging
Skin sagging was assessed via expert clinical grading. Changes in sagging skin were significant at 8 and 12 weeks.
According to expert clinical grading, skin sagging decreased by 5.3% after 8 weeks and by 10.0% after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported that their skin looked and felt less saggy, with 69% noting improvements after 8 weeks and 76% at 12 weeks.
Improves skin texture and roughness
Skin texture
Skin texture significantly improved at both 8 and 12 weeks as assessed by expert clinical grading. After 8 weeks of consistent use, skin texture improved by 14.0% and by 22.9% after 12 weeks.
Study participants also reported that their skin texture was softer and more supple, with 76% reporting improvement at 8 weeks and 84% after 12 weeks. 85% of participants reported that their skin looked and felt smoother after 8 weeks and 87% thought so after 12 weeks.
Skin roughness
Measured via VISIA image analysis, skin roughness significantly improved by 1.3% after consistent use of the device for 8 weeks.
Safe for sensitive skin
The study also aimed to understand if TheraFace Mask Glo is safe for sensitive skin. Half of the study participants self-reported having sensitive skin at baseline. After using the TheraFace Mask Glo daily for 12 weeks, no adverse events were reported. As always, consult with your physician for individualized skin health concerns.
What else did participants notice?
Study participants reported notable improvements in several other outcomes, like the appearance of overall healthier skin, improvements in blemishes, and feeling more relaxed and less tense.
Participants saw improvements in overall skin health
After 12 weeks of consistent use:
- 87% noted that their overall skin looked healthier
- 84% noted that their skin’s overall appearance improved
- 78% reported that their skin looked younger and more youthful
- 72% said their skin looked more plump
- 71% reported that their skin was less oily and shiny
- 71% noted that they looked more defined and sculpted
Participants saw improvements in blemishes and breakouts
After 12 weeks of consistent use:
- 77% thought their skin looked more balanced and clearer
- 75% reported fewer imperfections and blemishes
- 71% noticed their pores appeared smaller and less clogged
- 68% saw a reduction in redness and pigmentation
- 67% noticed a reduced appearance of scars and imperfections
- 66% reported a reduction in acne
Participants felt more relaxed and felt relief from headaches and tension
After 12 weeks of consistent use:
- 70% reported feeling more relaxed
- 65% reported less face and head tension
- 56% reported a reduction in their number of headaches
- And when they did have headaches, 57% reported that they felt less severe
The TheraFace Mask Glo was easy to use
Devices that are simple to use are more likely to be used. So, it’s important to note that 99% of participants found TheraFace Mask Glo easy to use after 8 weeks of daily use, which stayed consistent at 12 weeks, with 98% finding it easy to use daily.
How do these results compare to TheraFace Mask Gen 1?
This study is the second to show that Therabody’s TheraFace Masks’ dosage of light can significantly improve clinical skin outcomes. To read more about the clinical and perceptual findings of TheraFace Masks’ first clinical study, read this analysis.
Key takeaways:
- TheraFace Mask Glo is backed by the largest clinical study of any LED mask available on the market today
- This study showed that TheraFace Mask Glo was clinically proven to:
- Enhance skin radiance and luminosity for a rejuvenated appearance
- Visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without in-office treatments
- Firm skin, enhance facial contour, and help reduce the appearance of sagging, loose skin
- Improve skin tone evenness and texture with visible dark spot lightening
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