Simplifying the Science of Getting Red Light Therapy Right

WIRED

01-05-2025

How Shark Beauty's CryoGlow mask found the sweet spot between science and innovation.
When Chris Hedges first saw the clinical results, he knew they had something special.
After years of development with a team of engineers, product developers, and dermatologists, the results from Shark Beauty's CryoGlow LED mask clinical trial were in—and the data was impressive. After testing with two groups (with 59 and 60 participants each), subjects showed a 15% improvement in fine lines and a 37% decrease in acne after eight weeks. The stats demonstrated that with daily use, the mask increased radiance, reduced redness and roughness, and made skin feel firmer for users.
Between these results and getting FDA clearance, Hedges—the VP of Design Engineering at SharkNinja—and the rest of the team felt like the years of development to create the CryoGlow mask's proprietary technology to bring medspa-inspired treatments into people's homes had finally paid off. Now, the Shark™ CryoGlow™ is the only LED anti-aging and acne-reducing mask in the US, with built-in under-eye cooling technology, that is also backed by clinically tested results and FDA clearance.
iQLED Technology™ provides dermatologist-optimized treatments of red, blue, and deep infrared light.
'We use technology to solve real consumer problems; and for Shark Beauty™ that meant bringing a technological and engineering focus to skincare,' says Hedges. 'We aimed to create an at-home device that would have both instant and over-time results. The clinical results validated the hard work our team invested into creating CryoGlow, because nothing is more believable than a before & after photo,' says Hedges.
Photobiomodulation (the technical term for LED therapy) works by kickstarting the body's natural restorative processes by giving mitochondria the energy they need to rejuvenate the body's cells. A key response this process triggers for anti-aging benefits is the production of collagen in the dermis. According to Hedges, the energy from the red light photons is used to produce more collagen in the dermis. More collagen creates more elasticity in the skin, and more elastic skin appears plumper and firmer—therefore, reducing the appearance of fine lines.
But to achieve the benefits of LED therapy—such as those seen in CryoGlow's clinical trials—the dose of energy has to be just right. There can't be too little or too much energy emitted from a mask, or else the treatment won't be effective. LED therapy can only work if the device you're using effectively delivers energy.
TL;DR: Not all LED masks are created equal.
The CryoGlow mask combines technologies to find the sweet spot through three different factors: distance from the light source, wavelength of the light, and position of the mask.
Using a proprietary technology called iQLED, each of the 160 tri-wick LED bulbs supplies three different sources of light, creating a total of 480 light sources that can give more even coverage with the right setback distance from the skin. Think about it like a room lit by three lamps versus a single spotlight. By setting the bulbs 15mm from the skin and 10mm apart, the CryoGlow mask can concentrate more energy into the skin through its tri-wick technology.
'Many LED masks on the market use alternating single color bulbs, but our iQLED technology uses tri-wick LEDs that are able to change between red, blue and infrared light to ensure maximum coverage across the face, without gaps or hotspots,' says Hedges.
Since each light in the mask can produce blue, red, and infrared light, the frequencies are combined to create unique skin treatments—Skin Clearing, Better-Aging, and Skin Sustain—without any change in the arrangement of the light source. That means an anti-acne treatment using blue light has the same coverage and potency as a collagen-stimulating treatment combining red and infrared light.
The final piece of the puzzle was dialing in the right wavelengths of light. The blue light CryoGlow uses for the Skin Clearing treatment is emitted at 415nm—the optimal wavelength to target Cutibacterium acnes, a bacteria proven to be the primary cause of breakouts. The mask's red light is emitted at 630nm, which stimulates cellular activity promoting collagen production in the dermal layer. Lastly, the infrared light (which is invisible to the naked eye) is emitted at 830nm, which can penetrate deeper into the dermis, producing collagen at different layers.
'CryoGlow only uses wavelengths of light that are proven to be clinically effective for the treatment of aging concerns and acne—red, infrared and blue. We partnered with a panel of dermatologists to determine the best sequencing of these colors for each skincare concern and aimed to create the most effective dosage in the shortest amount of time,' explains Hedges.
Under-Eye Revive Projection on the Shark™ CryoGlow™ Mask.
But perhaps the strongest indicator of an effective red light routine is just that: a routine. Like many things, consistency is key when using the CryoGlow mask. That's been considered and integrated into the user experience of the mask by design.
The device keeps track of your use with a personal Progress Tracker, which is easily viewed on the mask's remote screen. Additionally, the under-eye cooling pad feature is built directly into the mask to soothe and visibly tighten under the eyes. Two metal plates shaped like eye masks provide InstaChill technology to all three pre-programmed routines, as well as a standalone treatment option. These cold plates use a combination of the Peltier Effect and fan technology to expel excess heat outward—creating instant cooling under the eyes that is just plain luxurious. Additionally, the fit of the mask is designed to be extra comfortable, with adjustable straps and foam to cushion around the eyes—inspiration for these features were taken from snow goggles and VR headsets to achieve balanced wear.
A lot of thought went into the fit of this device to ensure comfort for all face shapes and sizes,' says Hedges. 'The mask even has a forehead sensor so the lights stay dim until it's fitted on the face to protect your eyes from the bright LED's.'
From fit to light frequencies, the CryoGlow mask was created with innovation top of mind at every decision-making crossroad for the SharkNinja innovation team. And now they, and CryoGlow users, have the results to prove it.