The lowdown on LED light facials

By now you’ve probably heard whispers about “LED light therapy” circulating amongst beauty editors, celebrities, and your 52-year-old skin therapist Jane who doesn’t look a day over 30 (damn you, Jane!) But what exactly does this space age facial treatment do? And more importantly, can it help with the pesky skin concerns we actually care about, like acne, wrinkles and pigmentation? To find out, let’s deconstruct the perks of LED — one colourful light at a time.

A note to begin

Just so we’re all on the same page: LED stands for light emitting diode, and is a painless light-based thermal skin treatment used by dermatologists, skin therapists and aestheticians to tackle an array of skin conditions while generally making your skin glow like never before (…just saying). The most common LED light therapy machine uses blue and red light, but I’ll dive into a few of the other colours too for good measure.

Blue — Acne

For those burdened with blemishes, blue light is your go-to treatment for targeting acne-causing bacteria to stop breakouts in their tracks, stabilise overactive oil production, and soothe and reduce inflamed active acne — and all without the need for harsh chemical-laden skin cleansers and topical acne creams.

Red — Anti-ageing

If the signs of ageing are starting to creep in, red light will do a great job of telling your wrinkles where to go (fiery in colour, and temper — it seems!) This no-nonsense LED stimulates the production of collagen to plump out fine lines and wrinkles, as well as elastin to increase skin’s ‘bounce back’ ability and resilience. The result is firmer, smoother and younger looking skin with increased radiance and reduced redness.  

Purple — Dual-action

Purple LED is a combination of blue and red light so you can reap the benefits of both anti-ageing and skin clearing at the same time. Purple is also great for cellular regeneration and oxygenation to keep you looking fresh and flawless.

Yellow — Sun damage

If you’ve had a bit too much fun in the sun lately or suffer from flushing, yellow light can assist in the treatment of UV damage, skin redness and rosacea to promote an overall creamier, clearer and more uniform complexion.

Green — Pigmentation

Green light tackles hyperpigmentation, freckles and sunspots by zoning in on the cells that create melanin. It’s also great for balancing overall skin tone.

What next?

The first step to getting your glow on with LED is to book a consultation with a trusted skin therapist, who can analyse your key skin imbalances and prescribe the correct treatment plan. Utilising beauty equipment like LED is painless, non-invasive, chemical-free and over in 30 minutes or less, so it’s a great way to sneak in a bit of relaxation and rejuvenation on your weekday lunch break.

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