Omnilux is an anti-aging LED device that’s worn like a mask. The company claims to use “medical-grade LED light therapy” and uses the catchphrase “Mask On, Wrinkles Gone.”
But is LED light therapy actually proven in medical studies to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, or are these just marketing claims? Is Omnilux superior to other red light therapy devices for skin? How does its price compare? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Omnilux?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the specifications of Omnilux’s devices based on medical studies to give our take on whether they’re likely to be effective, or if they’re a waste of money.
We’ll compare Omnilux to other popular red light cosmetic brands like Solawave, and feature unsponsored Omnilux customer reviews.
Does LED Light Reduce Wrinkles?
Omnilux has been studied in clinical trials for not only wrinkle reduction but other skin conditions like acne.
A clinical trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology documented that after five weeks of Omnilux treatment, 50% of participants achieved “moderate” response according to investigators (suggesting wrinkle reduction), and 91% of subjects reported improved skin tone after 12 weeks.
A 2007 clinical trial reported similarly positive results, with the study authors concluding that the therapy “is an effective approach for skin rejuvenation.”
A 2014 clinical trial found Omnilux to be effective against acne, with over 90% of patients experiencing greater than 90% improvement.
A 2006 clinical trial reported that Omnilux was effective for moderate-to-severe facial acne.
Based on the available research, we consider Omnilux likely to be effective for wrinkles and acne, and this device has the most impressive clinical backing of any LED therapy device we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.
But how does it compare to other LED devices on performance and price? We’ll answer that q question in the next section.
Omnilux vs. The Competition
There are a number of LED cosmetic devices on the market, with Solawave arguably the most popular among them.
As we discussed in our Solawave review article, that brand uses red light therapy at a similar wavelength to the wavelength in medical studies, so we suggested the device is likely to be effective.
However, we cannot identify any clinical trials specifically testing the Solawave device, while we found many on Omnilux, so we would give Omnilux the edge from a clinical backing perspective.
There are other red light facial devices on the market but none seem to have the clinical backing of Omnilux.
We consider Omnilux to be the best-performing LED device for wrinkles and acne.
Here’s a price comparison between the leading LED therapy brands:
Joov Mini 3.0: $1,099
Omnilux: $395
Solawave: $120.99 (link)
Solawave wins out on price, but we’d still recommend that consumers who can afford it go with Omnilux due to the brand’s research backing.
The price discrepancy seems stark, but given that this is a one-time purchase, it amortizes to very small amounts per-use.
But how do real users rate and describe the effects of Omnilux? We’ll feature some unsponsored customer reviews in the next section.
Real People Try Omnilux
A YouTube creator named “HotAndFlashy” has a video reviewing Omnilux that includes before-and-after images and has over 475,000 views:
A YouTube creator named Alex Fergus gives his perspective on the mask after five weeks of use, and also includes before and after images:
Does Omnilux Cause Side Effects?
One of the potential concerns consumers have about Omnilux is the risk of side effects, given that the device emits light so close to the face.
Since the brand has been extensively clinically tested, we can look to the research for evidence of potential side effects.
The only side effects documented in the four clinical trials we cited in the first section of this article were minimal and transitory, such as itching, redness and minimal papules and pustules which faded over time.
Omnilux does not appear to cause any severe or irreversible side effects, and only causes mild side effects in a minority of users according to clinical research.
A medical review on cosmetic light therapy concluded the following: “The treatment modality displays an excellent safety profile.”
Dermatologist Compares LED Facial Devices
A YouTube video from creator and dermatologist Dr. Sam Ellis reviews the science behind red light therapy and features her thoughts on various commercial LED devices:
Our Clean Skincare Picks
There are skincare products containing ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality.
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top anti-aging serum.
It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.
Ritual HyaCera is our top skin supplement.
It contains wheat oil extract which is clinically shown to "improve skin damages induced by aging."
HYDRAGLOW by CLEARSTEM is our top moisturizer pick.
It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects."
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Pros and Cons of Omnilux
Here are the pros and cons of Omnilux in our opinion:
Pros:
- Extensive clinical backing
- Shown to reduce wrinkles
- Shown to reduce acne
- Cheap per-use price
- Brand website offers free shipping
- Positive online customer reviews
- Unlikely to cause side effects
Cons:
- More expensive than some competitors