A quirky design meets game-changing technology for your skin’s health and beauty
Over the past month and a half, we tested a popular, premium at-home skincare tool—Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask. This innovative device uses triple-color LED technology, aiming to support fine lines, sagging skin, acne breakouts, and your overall glow. What was my favorite feature? The temperature-controlled under-eye cooling that feels soothing, yet tightens the skin.
Of course, there are a few things worth thinking through before clicking that purchase button—especially the premium price tag and restrictive Shark red light mask build. But, it’s an overall great fit if you’re looking to get that confidence boost only a self-care routine can bring.
Triple wavelengths (red, near-infrared, blue)
Addresses multiple skin concerns
Quick daily sessions
High price tag
Rigid build
Heavier than most competitors
Lately, red light therapy (RLT) and LED-based masks seem to be everywhere. I keep on seeing celebrities posting stories wearing these glowing devices while lounging on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn.
That’s no coincidence. As the wellness and beauty industry leans further into technology-focused skincare, LED masks are slowly taking over the market. One of the more interesting examples I found is Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask from SharkNinja.
You may think it’s a surprising entrant: heavy, restrictive, and a little strange-looking. But what caught my attention was its combination of triple-wavelength technology, cooling effect, and customizable intensity. As someone who loves all things skincare, the Shark red light mask really impressed me.
Several team members tested it for over a month across different skin types and concerns, including acne, smile lines, and skin discoloration. In this Shark CryoGlow mask review, I cover our impressions on design, ease of use, and performance, in hope to bring you the latest information and my best recommendations.
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Fit check: How the Shark red light mask actually feels
Let’s rip the band-aid off and talk about Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask design. I’ll be honest, on my head it felt rigid, a bit claustrophobic, and definitely on the heavier side compared with many other red light therapy masks we’ve tested.
That said, this is very much a person-to-person situation—some of my teammates didn’t share the same sentiment as me, saying the mask’s padding sits on the right spots and feels comfortably snug rather than restrictive.
First touch impressions
Even before you look at the specs, you can tell the Shark red light mask’s exterior is a solid plastic shell. Think more of a LEGO brick than a soft, bendy silicone like most RLT masks.
The device weighs around 1.69lbs, and with all the LEDs and internal structure, that weight feels even more noticeable once it’s strapped to your face.
However, the parts that touch your skin are softer: the interior contact areas use silicone and TPU, making the inside of the Shark CryoGlow mask more flexible and less likely to irritate your skin.
On the materials list there’s also steel, which you don’t really see but is likely used for internal structure reinforcement. So, while it probably contributes to the heavy feeling, it also reassures that the mask is not something that’ll crack if you bump it against a table once.
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What to expect when it’s on your face
The Shark red light therapy mask is designed to leave space inside, so the LEDs bathe your face in red, near-infrared, and blue light from a bit of distance. For that reason, the mask is relatively large at around 8.78 x 7.99 x 5.51 inches.
It secures with velcro straps around and over your head, but in practice I still felt a lot of the weight landing on the bridge of my nose. Though, that may not be the case for you if you have a smaller nose.
Now, the feature that almost makes me forgive the awkward fit is the cooling effect. The mask has clip-on under-eye pads with InstaChill Cold technology, allowing you to adjust the temperature level during a session.
It actually feels like a built-in cold compress under the eyes—way better than holding ice cubes or frozen spoons in the morning. After getting used to this, going back to old-school de-puffing tricks is really inconvenient.
The cooling is also great post-treatment. Red and near-infrared lights tend to run warm, so switching to the cooling effect afterward feels a bit like diving into water on a hot day.
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Worth the splurge or a hard pass?
Red light therapy masks aren’t cheap, and Shark CryoGlow is no exception. At $349.99, it’s a premium device, built to last as your long-term skincare companion.
The mask comes in 6 colors: Blue Frost, Frosted Green, Starlight Dream, Lilac Chill, Ruby Glow, and Rose Glow. Different shades don’t affect the price, but bundle deals are worth checking before you buy. I’d recommend grabbing the mask with a charging stand—while a USB-C cable works fine, the stand is more convenient and keeps the mask face-up (important for safety).
SharkNinja backs the device with a 2-year warranty and a 60-day money-back guarantee, which softens the premium price tag. Plus, US orders over $99 are shipped for free and take around a week to reach you, so you can enjoy the mask as quickly as possible.
How it compares with other red light therapy masks
Shark CryoGlow is quite a unique LED mask compared to competitors we tested. I’d say it’s much more of an all-rounder tool for various skin appearance concerns and its design is distinctly different from more conventional RLT masks.
If I had to compare, its biggest rivals would be the Omnilux mask lineup—especially Contour Face and Omnilux Clear. These masks are more flexible, lightweight, soft, and comfortable to the touch. Personally, I’m leaning more toward this type of RLT tools rather than something like a rigid Shark CryoGlow.
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That said, Shark’s red light therapy mask holds a significant advantage when it comes to its technical feature set of triple-color wavelengths, 4 modes, and cooling effect.
Omnilux Contour Face uses red and near-infrared wavelengths aimed at improving signs of aging, but that’s its limit. Similarly, Omnilux Clear with its blue and red lights mainly targets acne breakouts and subtle skin texture improvements.
By no means are Omnilux masks worse than Shark CryoGlow, but you should keep in mind that they offer different effects for a slightly bigger price of $395.00.
Opening the package
Inside the package you’ll find:
- Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask
- Clip-on Chill Pads
- Controller
- USB-C charging cable
- User manual
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After taking everything out, plug in your mask and fully charge it. This takes a while, so use that time to read the manual, especially all the warnings and contraindications. If anything applies to you, consult with a healthcare professional before use.
Building your skincare routine around the mask
RLT mask isn’t a magic fix—it’s an add-on that may speed-up results when paired with other treatments. Here are some of my suggestions how to combine the Shark CryoGlow mask with your existing skincare routine:
Step 1: Thoroughly cleanse your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry. Skip any serums, oils, or moisturizers, as clean skin means better light penetration.
Step 2: Run your chosen mode for 4–15 minutes: Better Aging, Blemish Repair, Sensitive Skin, Under-Eye Revive.
Step 3: After the session, put the mask aside and let your skin settle for around 10 minutes.
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Step 4: Continue with your usual skincare routine—apply toner, then serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. For morning routine, don’t skip SPF before going out.
Red light therapy may temporarily make your skin more sensitive, so avoid strong exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs right before or after sessions. Though, I can calm you down—there’s no need to renounce them completely. While SharkNinja recommends daily use of the mask, some research suggests 2–3 red light therapy sessions per week can be enough.
What you should keep an eye on
The Shark red light mask’s high price tag is backed up by its impressive feature set. As I mentioned, the mask uses red (630nm), near-infrared (830nm), and blue (415nm) wavelengths, making it a versatile option for various skin health concerns.
With 480 light sources, each bulb emits all three wavelengths for even coverage across your face. InstaChill Cooling technology is already by itself a standout feature, but I can’t forget bringing attention to other modes as well.
- Better Aging. Red and near-infrared wavelengths for 6 minutes, targeting fine lines and sagging skin.
- Blemish Repair. Blue and red light for 4 minutes that supports acne breakouts.
- Sensitive Skin. A 4-minute mode of only red wavelength, may be ideal for dry and sensitive skin.
- Under-Eye Revive. Cooling pads for 5–15 minutes designed to help with puffiness and dark circles.
The automatic shut-off and a countdown timer on the controller are other small touches I really appreciate. I easily lose track of time, so having strict session lengths handled for me is a huge relief.
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Safety considerations
From what I’ve come across—the mask is FDA-cleared, developed with dermatologists input, and backed by a SharkNinja commissioned clinical study. General warnings include avoiding use on injured or irritated skin, not staring at the LEDs during a session, staying within session length limits, and keeping cooling pads away from eyeballs and upper eyelids.
Stricter contraindications apply if you’re taking photosensitizing medications (Accutane, Doxycycline) or have epilepsy, cancer, thyroid disorders, and implanted electronic devices.
To keep yourself safe, I strongly suggest reading the user manual, warnings, and contraindications before use. If you’re worried how these may apply to you, consult a healthcare professional first.
Testing the Shark CryoGlow mask
For the past month and a half (around 6 weeks), a few of us on the Wareable team tested the mask to put together a thorough Shark CryoGlow mask review. We wanted to see how long early results take to show up and whether skin types make a difference.
First results: Weeks 1–6
Results vary significantly person-to-person. What we noticed is that oily, acne-prone, and normal skin types tend to receive modest improvements fastest—around 2–4 weeks of consistent use.
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Blue light is thought to work relatively fast by targeting the bacteria responsible for breakouts, so you may notice active pimples healing quicker, less inflammation, and a more even complexion. That said, don’t expect acne scarring to disappear, as low-level light therapy has limited potential effect on scar tissue.
As someone with dry skin, I needed a few weeks to ease into daily use. Dry skin types may take longer to adapt, but after around 3 weeks we noticed gradual improvements in glow, elasticity, and texture.
What to expect long-term
For any skin type, I’d recommend thinking of the Shark CryoGlow as a long-term investment that may help support skin barrier health and deal with unexpected breakouts.
However, if you have mature skin and want to address signs of aging—patience is key. Improving elasticity requires intensified collagen stimulation, which is a slow biological process that diet and overall skincare also play a role in. At best, you may see a softened appearance, brighter complexion, and smoother texture, but not a full disappearance of wrinkles.
If your fine lines are dehydration-related rather than age-caused, those may improve more noticeably over time with consistent use and good skincare habits.
Verdict: Should you buy the Shark CryoGlow mask?
All things considered, I’d say that Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask is an interesting and worthwhile addition to a skincare routine. With 4 modes targeting fine lines, acne breakouts, sagging skin, puffiness, and more, it may help address different skin concerns throughout the seasons—despite its somewhat awkward build.
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I’d truly recommend this mask if you’re committed to keeping consistent use and are looking for a supportive addition to your skincare routine. That said, don’t expect fast or miraculous results, as it may only support skin’s appearance rather than transforming it completely. It’s also not cheap, so keep your budget in mind before purchasing.
Resources
- Medicine. Comparison of the effects of 2 frequencies of application of photobiomodulation on facial rejuvenation: Controlled, randomized, and double-blind clinical trial.
- Sensors. Effect of blue light on acne vulgaris: A systematic review.
- Journal of Biophotonics. Light emitting diode-red light for reduction of post-surgical scarring: Results from a dose-ranging, split-face, randomized controlled trial.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science. Low-level red plus near infrared lights combination induces expressions of collagen and elastin in human skin in vitro.
