A beauty editor's MZ SKIN 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged LED Mask review

As beauty editors go, I am a bit late to at-home light therapy treatment. Once only available in-salon, now treating your skin while sitting on the sofa is becoming mainstream. But could I really be trusted to use something so high-tech without a professional on standby? Surely, nothing can work such wonders on my skin while watching an episode of Saturday Night Takeaway?

However, I love MZ SKIN and its founder, Maryam Zamani implicitly, so if I were to start anywhere, it was here. The LightMax Supercharged LED Device uses scientifically proven wavelengths of light: 633nm red light, 830nm of near infra-red light and 415nm of blue light. These wavelengths have been shown in studies to stimulate collagen and elastin production and help to improve blood flow and tissue oxygenation, which results in plumper, firmer and brighter skin. So, how does it really perform?

MZ Skin 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged Led Mask specifications

• RRP: £750
• Treatment modes: 2
• Power: 18 joules
• Features: Controller, USB-C charger, velcro strap

My first impressions of the MZ Skin 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged Led Mask

This device arrives housed in a neat pink box and, to my delight (I’m a sucker for anything pink), the mask matched the packaging colour, too. It comes with a controller, a USB-C cable and a velcro head strap. The mask is made from flexible silicone so it moulds to your facial features well and feels comfortable, as well as light to wear. It’s definitely far friendlier than other scary space age-looking masks I’ve seen.

There are two treatment modes to choose from: anti-ageing, which uses red light to plump, firm and brighten, alongside near-infrared light to strengthen the skin barrier and support younger-looking skin, and acne mode, which also uses red light along with blue light to help decongest and clarify your skin. As fine lines and a lack of elasticity were my main issues, I chose the anti-ageing mode.

Once fully charged, I selected my treatment mode and the mask illuminated a fierce red colour. "Will this sting?" was my first thought, but once nestled onto my face it did anything but. You can watch TV, read, etc while wearing it, but I took the chance to lie down for 10 minutes and enjoy the comforting warmth on my face. After that time it automatically switches off – which I was actually a little disappointed by as I felt very zen. My face looked flushed, like I’d just gone for a hearty run.  

How does the MZ Skin 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged Led Mask perform?

Honestly, I am a bit obsessed. The LightMax Supercharged LED Device is a complete game-changer for me. It settled in quite nicely into my usual skincare routine and even my six-year-old son is completely used to mummy wearing this funny-looking pink mask while making breakfast.

In regards to the results, to be honest, during the first week of using it I was more in for the whole "10 minutes of chilling out" ritual. However, fast forward to week three and my skin has never looked brighter and I haven’t felt so confident going bare-faced in a long time. Lines have reduced, especially around my eyes and nasolabial folds (the lines from nose to mouth) and pigmentation patches have nearly disappeared. A few hormonal spots also paid my chin a visit, so I switched to acne mode for a few days and they cleared up significantly quicker than before. 

How does the MZ Skin 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged Led Mask compare?

Of course, there are lots of other at-home LED masks available. But when comparing MZ Skin's to other devices, for example Omnilux, the LightMax Supercharged LED Device is 18 joules (units of energy), which is equivalent to the cumulative dose that Omnilux offers.

If you use this MZ Skin tool three times per week for ten minutes, as I did, it is the same as using the Omnilux twice a week for 20 minutes. Another key difference is how close to your face the MZ Skin device can sit. This close proximity means it works quicker and more effectively, as the light energy has less distance to travel to reach the skin cells.

Should you buy the MZ Skin 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged Led Mask?

Let’s be frank: this isn’t like popping to Boots and picking up a new moisturiser. It’s an investment. At an eye-watering £750 you have to be committed to using LightMax Supercharged LED Device regularly, otherwise you’ll be disappointed. Habitual use will give you the results you were hoping for. Promise. And it’s so easy to squeeze ten minutes of wearing it into even the busiest of days.

I was lucky enough to trial this complementarity from MZ Skin’s PR company, but since testing it, I have gone out and purchased it with my own money, because to be honest I think my face would regrettably go back to looking ‘meh’ in no time, if I hadn’t. 

About this review and the reviewer

Charley Williams-Howitt has over 20 years of experience working in the beauty industry. As well as previously writing for lifestyle titles, such as woman&home, Woman and Woman's Weekly, Charley has worked for British institutions like Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, and Superdrug creating visual and editorial content cross-platform.

Starting her career in the fashion cupboard at Cosmopolitan magazine, she eventually escaped the piles of clothes to discover a world of makeup, moisturizers, and models.