One of the resolutions I had this year was to take better care of my Skin.  There’s no doubt that endless late nights, young kids and general busy life means that I have to pick and choose what is important – and this year I’ve decide to put self care a bit higher up the list. 

Now one thing I always want to do but never do is sheet Mask.  Many nights I grab one and go to sit in front of the TV with it but then I don’t get round to applying it. Why?

Because I like to do stuff in the evenings when the kids are asleep and I find most sheet masks move around on my if I’m not lying down – they can also be a bit drippy since they have serum or lotion soaked in to them.  They can also be a little cold and with there being so many types, I can never be sure if it will make my sensitive skin react. So I would in a month I might sheet mask once, when really, down got regularly would benefit my skin even more. 

When I was asked if I would like to try the Aduro 7+1 Facial Mask, I said, YES. Yes because I genuinely want to find something which is as easy and effective as this product sounds. 

The product was delivered by courier from China within a few days, and comes sealed in a large box. 

So what is the Aduro mask, why is it different?

The Aduro 7+1 is a LED facial mask, which has seven ‘colours’ with added Infra-Red Skin Boosting technology which penetrates deeply in to the skin. How it works:

When the selected light penetrates into the skin, photons energy is transferred to the cells. Cells convert this energy into ATP (cellular fuel) – boosting cellular activity. The boosted cells will work at an enhanced rate and stimulate the body’s natural rejuvenation responses.  Repeated use of the Aduro LED mask will increase the desired effect, with an increase collagen production and the body’s natural rejuvenation processes – resulting in youthful looking skin and overall improvement of skin complexion.

A few key points about this product are:

1. It is completely pain free and non invasive – unlike laser there is no downtime. 

2. All skin types can use it

3. The light does not emit harmful UVA or UVB rays

4. This mask will not darken or tan the skin. 

Here is everything as it comes in the box. There is the mask, instructions and a charger too. 

Here is the mask! It is a thick rubbery feeling mask which moulds well around the face. The edges are quite soft so fit around all face shapes. The back of the mask is joined by velcro and I tried it on a few people and it seemed to fit comfortably for everyone. It holds up well with no slipping which is important if you want to get on with doing things whilst the mask is on.

The mask is connected to a controller and the entire unit is portable – so once it is charged up, you can simply wear the mask, clip the controller on to say your jeans to top, and get on with things – you don’t have to stay permanently plugged in. 

This was a big sell for me because as I mentioned in my first point – one reason I fail at regular masking is because I have little spare time. With this mask, it stays on comfortably and I can do most things such as cook, play with the kids (much to their amusement), write, blog, play the piano, hoover etc. If you wanted to you could even take it out with you or on holiday and wear it! (Well you know – you might not want to wear it in Tesco!). 

There are so many settings! I love it! It gave me a chance to try them all out depending on what I felt my skin needed. All you have to do is press the red button to turn the mask on and select the option you want. You can always change your mind, you’re not locked in to a choice, and each cycle runs for 20 minutes and will turn off automatically. 

Let’s have a look at each setting. No. 1 is Wrinkle Reducer (red light): 

No. 2 is Acne Buster (Blue Light): 

No. 3 is Skin Balancer (Green light):

No. 4 is Red Away (Light green): 

No. 5 is Radiant Skin (Light orange): 

No. 6 is Skin Soother (Light blue): 

No. 7 Cell Rejuvenator (Purple):

No. 8 Skin Booster (Light red):

No. 9 Pain Blocker (Purple-Blue):

No. 10 Daily Dose (Turquoise-blue): 

No. 11 is Quick Fix, which cycles through a number of colours.

Then we come to the beginning of my test period! I started my trial in December, when things were hectic.

For this challenge, I used the mask for 5 days per week over 4 weeks.  

Here is a picture of me from that time so you can see what my skin looked like. The first image shows my skin after washing and the other is a picture of me out:

My skin is red usually after I have washed it and I am prone to sensitivity.  I freckle (I forget to use SPF sometimes – whoops) and that has got worse in the last few years. I would like clearer skin and a smoother texture. 

For context another photo of my pre-testing (excuse greasy hair) – I just looked very very very tired which I was, trust me! 

Here are my kids, completely intrigued and yes, they both asked me if they could wear the mask! 

The mask leaves the skin feeling slightly warm, so some people may notice that their pores seem more open (I didn’t notice this myself but it can happen).  Presuming you use this in the evening, it prepares the skin for serums and moisturiser – it will improve product absorption. Use it on fresh clean skin! Also the mask is easily cleaned by wiping with a cloth (I got some make up on mine and it was easy to clean, obviously don’t submerge it in to water!). 

The best way for me to remember to use it is to have it on the sofa, and when I’m watching TV or doing some work, just to pop it on for the duration.  Because there’s a timer and it is securely on my head it wasn’t too much effort – also there’s nothing to wash off afterwards so I know I don’t have go back to the bathroom to sort my face out. From one charge, the unit is still working fine, it hasn’t needed a recharge yet. 

I found the mask comfortable to wear (make sure it really fits well but also isn’t too tight). I wore it a little tight at first and it wasn’t uncomfortable but I preferred the feeling when it when I had a little more room. Afterwards, it isn’t like a clay mask or sheet mask where you feel like your skin is smoother or more hydrated (you should use your regular products afterwards) although for me, my skin look brighter each time. Also where I noticed a result was the day after using the treatment, where I felt my skin looked like I had had a good rest. 

Here is my skin this week, after 4 weeks of using the device. 

I did only use the device for a month, so no one expecting overnight miracles but overall my skin looks more glowy, slightly firmer and I notice I didn’t have my usually horrible hormonal breakout on my cheeks. My redness was also less pronounced on my cheeks and I found an improvement in texture (pores). 

So were there any negatives for me? Not really, but I acknowledge that the price is quite high so it is an investment.  If you have the money to spend on a beauty gadget though, this is one of the few I have actually stuck to using because of how easy it is and it’s like a good sleep in a 20 minute treatment. I suppose if you looked at the $349 price of the mask (£253 at the time of writing) it is about the same as 6 facials at £43 a time except you can have many more uses with this product. 

The other possible negative thing is that the lights can feel bright when you first use them. There was one incident where I had a migraine and tried to use the mask but then gave up as a bright light of course, isn’t good for headaches! However I have light sensitive eyes (they water none stop when it is sunny) and I DIDN’T have that problem with this mask so I am sure most people will be fine with the brightness. It didn’t stop me from watching TV, reading, or even playing the piano when I had it on! 

The other thing is I guess the mask looks crazy when you first see it BUT unlike a cream/clay/sheet mask, if the post man comes, you can just quickly remove it, which you can’t do with a normal mask. 

I personally had a few questions for the manufacturer which I am sure you would to, so I am sharing the Q&A with you guys:

Q: Why doesn’t this kind of light cause pigmentation?

LED light therapy helps to boost’s your skin’s cellular activity and it creates a conducive environment for your skin’s development. Not only is there an increase in the production of fibroblasts, but also, your skin will be encouraged to repair and rejuvenate itself. Hyperpigmentation is normally caused by sun damage, skin inflammation and other factors. Instead of causing hyperpigmentation, our masks can actually reverse the effects of hyperpigmentation. There is a “skin balancer” mode which will leave your skin’s tone to be well balanced and even. 

Q: Do the lights on the mask need to be replaced

The mask is meant to last for more than 10,000 treatments, therefore it is made to last However if a mechanic error doesn’t happen within the buyer’s 1 year warranty period their mask will be replaced.

Q: Is there a minimum age limit?

There is no strict age limit, however if a teenager is experiencing severe acne they may try the device. 

Purchase Info:

Aduro also make single light masks in Red (Anti-Ageing) and Blue (Acne) for $249 respectively, which is great if you have ONLY one single skincare concern, but to be honest for the extra $100, I would purchase this model as you cover many other skincare issues and you can also loan it to friends and family if you wish. 

Shipping is free and you will get a discount if you use my code: COSMETICCANDY

Follow this link to access the code and the discount is applicable for the Aduro 7+1 only. 

*Sponsored post. All views are my own.