The Dr. Dennis Gross LED Eye Mask Promises To Take Years Off Your Face, but Does It Actually Deliver? We Put It to the Test

It gave me brighter eyes and banished my bags

Author image: An image of Destinee Scott.

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Published Nov 3, 2023

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A design by Paula Boudes featuring before and after photos from Destinee Scott's Dr. Dennis Gross LED Eye Mask review.

Paula Boudes and Destinee Scott for PureWow

Value: 16/20
Functionality: 20/20
Ease of Use: 20/20
Anti-Aging: 17/20
Longevity: 17/20

Total: 90/100

If you've ever wanted to clear your skin (fast!), take years off your face (sans the Botox) and brighten your complexion (because who doesn't want a glow?), chances are you've considered buying an LED facial mask, a type of skincare device that promises to do all of the above. Maybe you haven't taken the plunge yet, or maybe, like me, you've tried one (or a few) of them but the device(s) didn't quite meet your expectations. Trust me, I've been there. So when I set out to test the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro (from ~~$199~~; $159), I must admit I did not have high hopes. Although it promises to treat the entire eye area, so I could say bye-bye to dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, all while helping to improve overall complexion and texture, it sounded almost too good to be true. But after ten weeks and a total of 70 three-minute treatments, I can confirm that it delivered on what really matters to me—banishing these under-eye bags.

Before getting into the nitty-gritty, I'll let you know that the device is currently on sale at the Sephora Savings Event. The sale is now open to all Beauty Insider members when you sign in or sign up for free, so you can get up to 20 percent off almost everything on the site using coupon code TIMETOSAVE, including this LED eye mask (now from $159). But you only have until Nov. 6 to get it for that price, so I'll be quick. Read on for everything you need to know about this game-changing gadget.

What Is the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro?

The Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro is the brand's FDA-cleared, next-generation daily eye treatment that uses 96 red LED lights (30 percent more than the original version, may I add) to target everything from uneven tone and texture to fine lines and wrinkles around the entire eye area. And when the brand says the *entire* eye area, it means business. The mask's sleek design covers everything from the under-eyes to the brow bone, so it's designed to help improve the appearance of crow's feet, elevens (aka the lines between your brows that appear when you furrow), dark circles *and* eye bags.

If you're unfamiliar with red light therapy, here's the 411: Studies have shown that it can offer tons of skincare benefits, including stimulating collagen production, reducing wrinkles and improving skin roughness. It works by penetrating deep into your skin, which has receptors for the light. When the light enters a skin cell, it's purportedly able to strengthen, energize and repair it from the inside out.

So, really, it should come as no shock that in the brand's clinical study, 97 percent of mask users said they saw visible improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, as well as skin tone, in just ten weeks after using the device daily. Of course, that means you'd have to use it on the regular if you're hoping to achieve the same results. Wondering if it's easy enough to do so? You can see it in action in our TikTok or take my word that you'll get the hang of it on your first try.

How to Use the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro

To use the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro, you'll have to go through two (easy) steps. One, you place the device over the eye area (make sure your skin is clean and dry!), adjusting the comfy head strap as needed. Second, you press the left button (the only button) to power up the programmed LED light treatment. And voila! Three minutes later, the device will automatically turn off. From there, you can go on with your normal routine.

So, when will you see the results? Well, while some buyers have said their eyes were visibly firmer and tighter after a week, others say the 3-minute treatment really pays off when used daily for at least three weeks, but here are my thoughts after testing it for a full ten weeks.

Destinee Scott using the Dr. Dennis Gross LED Eye Mask.

Destinee Scott for PureWow

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare

What I Like About the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro

Going into my review of the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro, I had low expectations since I was not totally impressed by the original eye mask. Also, since it's priced at just under $200, I wasn't anticipating that it would "take years off" my face for less than the cost of a single Botox session. I'm 25 years old, though, so its touted anti-aging benefits didn't matter much to me anyway; I just hoped that it would work to keep my under-eyes bag-free. After sticking with it for ten weeks, I can confidently say that it does.

When I tried it for the first time, I had an idea of how to use it, but it's such a no-brainer that even a total newbie should get it on their first try. It's easy to adjust and fit around your head comfortably, which is necessary since you'll have to keep it on for three minutes. You will have to get used to the red LED lights, however, because they may be brighter than you think. Usually, by the time my eyes adjust to them, the treatment is over, and it takes a minute or two after for mine to readjust. So, yes, it's a bit blinding (feel free to close your eyes or not—per the brand, it won't matter!), but at least I know it's working when I feel it slightly warm up and pulsate from the light waves. It also looks cool when it's on, so prepare to take endless #selfcare selfies.

Within a week, I didn't see much of a difference, but by week three, my under-eye area looked tighter and more lifted—my bags were finally starting to minimize. At week six, I could see my complexion improving—my glow was hitting just a bit differently. And finally, at week ten, my dark circles are basically nonexistent and my skin tone looks more even than it ever has, so I've been reaching for my concealer *a lot* less. I know, I can't believe it either. Now that I'm happy with my results, I can even start cutting down treatments to a few times a week rather than every day, because, thankfully, the results don't go away overnight. Um, score.

Bottom line, this LED mask is one of the only ones I've tried that truly lives up the hype (so long as you remember to use it regularly). I'd recommend snagging it at any price, but since it's on sale now, there's no better time to try it for yourself.

Buy It (from ~~$199~~; $159)

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Destinee Scott

Associate Sales and Deals Editor

Stays on top of the best sales and deals across the internet
Over 3 years of experience in commerce (covering tentpole sales, like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Way Day)
Studied Journalism at St. John's University

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