I Tried Omnilux’s Contour Face Mask: What I Wish I’d Known First
By Allison Lax
When I finally pulled the trigger on Instagram’s viral Omnilux Contour LED Mask, my excitement and expectations (unlike my bank account) were sky high. But my actual experience was…complicated.
It was Black Friday weekend of 2023 when the Omnilux Contour Face mask first entered my social media algorithm, and therefore my radar. Though I had heard of LED therapy and its laundry list of benefits for skin health (hello, increased collagen production and wrinkle prevention!), I’d assumed these previously in-office treatments were reserved for A-listers and socialites—aka, girlies making more than entry-level salaries. Even though the normally $395 mask had undergone a significant price drop for the holiday, it still wasn’t within my budget. So I closed Insta, wiped away a single help-me-I’m-poor tear (sniff, sniff), and carried on with life.
Skin Is The Best Investment
Fast forward to 2024, and I couldn’t resist the pull of the Omnilux Contour any longer. At 26, a mix of undergrad all-nighters and general debauchery had produced an impressive start-up collection of crows’ feet and fine lines. Add that to the fact that after age 20, we lose as much as 1 to 2% in skin elasticity per year, and I needed that sh*t fixed yesterday. With its FDA-cleared mix of clinically proven red and infrared light promising to reduce these visible signs of aging, I decided to bite the Omnilux bullet. After all, true skin health is an investment!
First Impressions
At first, my experience with the viral LED mask was nothing short of magic. Though Omnilux recommends using the medical-grade device 3-5 times a week in 10-minute increments for 4-6 weeks to see optimal results, I swore I could see changes about a week in. My dull, stayed-up-too-late-watching-Succession mug took on an unexpected glow, similar to the effect of a facial. While it was too soon to tell if I could see a a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles—let alone sun damage—I was confident that with continued use, I would be on my way to younger, healthier-looking skin in no time.
Not The Right Mix…
Enter contraindications! (dun-dun-dunnn). Though Omnilux clearly states in its FAQs that they do not recommend using the device in conjunction with Retin-A products (and recommend retinol users carefully check product instructions for warnings concerning light exposure), I *stupidly* decided to ignore this advice. For over a year, I had been using prescribed Retin-A Micro on my forehead for closed comedones—a treatment that had made my previously bumpy forehead smooth and clear. Unwilling to give that up, I took a risk—using both the Omnilux Contour and Retin-A Micro at the same time.
Perhaps unsurprisingly (okay, super unsurprisingly), my skin paid the price. The photosensitive nature of the Retin-A Micro did NOT mix with the Contour mask. Like, at all. Soon enough, my forehead broke out in more closed comedones than I could count, with a dry, angry texture to boot. In a state of skin-ial, I continued using both for longer than I would care to admit, hoping the comedones would somehow go away on their own. When they didn’t, I realized I would have to choose between the two. Knowing that Retin-A products are good for acne AND anti-aging, I packed up my Omnilux Contour and sent it back with the vibes of someone who just broke up with their partner—sad and with longing, but ultimately knowing they just weren’t right for me.
Shop At-Home Facial Must Haves
Moisturizing Lip Masks, $8
Ice Globes, $12.50
Swap For LightStim
Thankfully, I found a solution that has allowed me to continue using Retin-A Micro on my forehead AND enjoy the benefits of LED therapy. LightStim for Wrinkles—a handheld device that looks like a showerhead—has been a godsend when it comes to keeping the rest of my face (aka NOT my forehead) glowy and just-had-a-facial-esque. Used by lightly pressing the device to an area of skin for three minutes at a time, its handheld nature allows the user to target specific areas of concern: for me, my crows’ feet and nasolabial folds. It truly is the best of both worlds, Hannah Montana.
Moral of the story is, LISTEN TO PRODUCT WARNINGS/CONTRAINDICATIONS. Overall, I think the Omnilux Contour Face mask is a fantastic LED device—if used as directed. It will help you achieve a radiant glow in half the time of a handheld product, treating your whole face while still allowing you to be productive (or scroll TikTok) for the 10 minutes it needs to be used. If you’re looking for maximum efficacy—and are NOT using Retin-A—go ahead and treat yourself. Your face (if not your wallet) will thank you.