The pandemic led to a dramatic increase in at-home beauty treatments. With salons and clinics closed, those wishing to maintain their beauty routines turned to DIY options with manicures, haircuts, facials and hair colourings all carried out with varying degrees of success, as any scroll through social media will attest.
When it comes to skincare, for a long time the sheet mask has been the at-home beauty product of choice for those looking to tighten and even out their complexion between clinic visits. But, as with all things in the fast-moving beauty industry, products that are initially only to be found in clinics soon make their way into the home.
The LED face mask is the latest non-invasive beauty must-have that allows for a weekly complexion boost without booking an appointment.
While wearing one may make you look a little like Michael Myers from Halloween, or, slightly less menacingly, a stormtrooper from Star Wars, facialists and celebrities, including actress January Jones, have been raving about their effects, from smaller pores to less visible acne scars.
Scroll through the gallery above for five LED face masks you can use at home.
What is an LED face mask?
An LED face mask emits different coloured lights on the skin. LED stands for light-emitting diode, and each spectrum of light produces a different colour for various skin issues. Sessions typically last from 20 to 30 minutes, although they can last longer to achieve different effects depending on the treatment.
“LED therapy is a skincare treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light, including red and blue,” says Edwige Gandin, a beautician at Pastels Salon. “It is used to help regenerate the skin and increase the healing process. It is also a popular choice as an acne treatment due to its calming and antibacterial properties.”
Sharin Shafer of London aesthetics clinic, Skinfluencer, explains where it originated. “Nasa developed it for plant growth experiments on shuttle missions and later found it to have promise for wound treatment.
"LED light therapy is now used by aestheticians to help regenerate the skin and improve its appearance. Unlike other types of light therapy, LEDs do not contain ultraviolet rays, therefore they’re safe for regular use.”
From collagen production to anti-scarring: What do the different colours in an LED mask do?
An LED face mask emits different colours to be used on the skin depending on the results you want to achieve. Red is the best colour for anti-ageing, blue for acne control, green for evening out pigmentation and yellow for sun damage.
Red LED light may improve scarring and signs of ageing, such as wrinkles
“Experts believe that blue LED light reduces activity in the sebaceous glands, which are small oil-producing glands in the skin,” says Shafer. “Blue light triggers photochemical oxidation in order to kill bacteria on the skin, which is excellent for people with acne, eczema or rosacea.
"Red LED light may improve scarring and signs of ageing, such as wrinkles," she says. "It does this by stimulating fibroblasts, skin cells that are responsible for collagen production. The body produces less collagen as a person ages, which causes the skin to show signs of ageing. Red light also reduces skin inflammation.
“Near-infrared is the most deeply absorbed wavelength. It has no colour but reduces inflammation and redness in the skin. It also speeds up wound healing and reduces pigmentation.”
How do LED face masks work?
LED light is absorbed by different components of skin cells, which then changes how they function. Light can stimulate cells to produce collagen and can also inhibit cells, such as reducing the appearance of scars. Some colours penetrate deeper into the skin at a molecular level than others, with red light going deeper because of its longer wavelength.
“LED light therapy uses photon energy in order to regenerate cells, reduce inflammation, heal wounds, scatter melanocyte clusters, reduce acne and increase skin rejuvenation,” says Shafer. “Different wavelengths of light penetrate the skin at different depths. This penetration may trigger biological processes that help the skin rejuvenate and heal.”
Gandin says: "All skin types can benefit as it is believed to treat everything from wrinkles, redness and signs of ageing to acne, scarring and dark spots."
Firmer, tighter and plumper skin: What are the benefits of using an LED face mask?
Consistency is key when embarking on an at-home beauty routine with an LED face mask.
"I use the FaceLite device from Omnilux three times a week for 20 minutes at a time," says Sonya Cross, owner of London's The You Clinic. "I've experienced firmer and tighter skin. My skin is plumper and the redness in my complexion has been much reduced."
The main difference between using an at-home device and visiting a clinic for a treatment is you will likely require fewer treatments at a clinic because of the higher intensity of their devices.
“Home devices are usually less effective than professional treatments,” says Shafer. “It is necessary to have several treatment sessions before noticing an improvement in skin appearance. People usually see the best results several weeks after their last treatment.”
Cross adds: “Salon machines may have more LED lights in them and have mains power, but the home devices will have all the same benefits. It may just take a more regular use to achieve the same results as one salon treatment.”
What to look for when choosing an LED face mask: ‘You only really need red and blue colours’
Cross explains exactly what to look for when buying your own LED face mask. "The mask needs to sit directly on top of your face. Having a device that is even one inch away from your skin dramatically reduces its effectiveness.
"You want to have both 633nm red and 830nm near infrared wavelength in the device to have all the benefits. The mask needs to be light and not bulky to ensure it is easy to use, so that you will use it. They work best on clean skin with no products on.
“Some devices sell hydration masks to use underneath, but actually the light will penetrate better when used alone. Use a sheet mask afterwards for skin hydration.”
While there are very few drawbacks to using an LED mask, Gandin advises you don’t use one if you’re using anything on your skin that makes you sensitive to sunlight, or if you have an active rash or condition such as psoriasis.
"Check that it has the correct coloured lights for the condition you want to treat," says Rebecca Treston, a beauty and laser therapist at Dubai London Clinic. "Also that it spans the area that needs to be treated.
"In-house treatments are generally more effective, but home devices are more convenient. They will need more sessions, but will work in the long term if the use is consistent."
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
A common method to transport Iranian oil with stealth is to turn off the Automatic Identification System, an electronic device that pinpoints a ship’s location. Known as going dark, a vessel flicks the switch before berthing and typically reappears days later, masking the location of its load or discharge port.
2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
A first vessel will take its clandestine cargo away from the country in question before transferring it to a waiting ship, all of this happening out of sight. The vessels will then sail in different directions. For about a third of Iranian exports, more than one tanker typically handles a load before it’s delivered to its final destination, analysts say.
3. Fake Destinations
Signaling the wrong destination to load or unload is another technique. Ships that intend to take cargo from Iran may indicate their loading ports in sanction-free places like Iraq. Ships can keep changing their destinations and end up not berthing at any of them.
4. Rebranded Barrels
Iranian barrels can also be rebranded as oil from a nation free from sanctions such as Iraq. The countries share fields along their border and the crude has similar characteristics. Oil from these deposits can be trucked out to another port and documents forged to hide Iran as the origin.
* Bloomberg
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
