While LED is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in beauty routines around the globe, I like to think that I was an early adopter. I say that because while everyone else was still getting to grips with their LED face masks, I was getting stuck into a full body LED routine using the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device, AKA the world’s most powerful portable LED system for home use.
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If you’re only familiar with LED for the face, you may be confused but let me set you straight; not only is LED excellent for all manner of facial issues like hyperpigmentation and lines and wrinkles, it’s also a proven and very effective therapy for the whole body using the same specific, low-level wavelengths of light to stimulate natural cellular processes. There are even specific LED masks for eyes, neck and hands.
As well as rejuvenating the surface of the skin on the body, LED can promote deep down cellular repair in the body, which is ideal for reducing inflammation and pain, promoting wound healing and improving circulation. It’s non-invasive, targeted, portable and, fun fact, was first developed by NASA for healing its astronauts in space.
To enable the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device to work as an all over LED therapy tool, it naturally looks very different from a standard LED mask. Instead of a moulded device that you wear next to your skin, the Dermalux Flex comes as two separate pieces, which you assemble together. The base layer, which you plug into a power outlet, provides a sturdy foundation for the flexible LED canopy, which simply slots in. Once both pieces are connected, all you need to do is position yourself underneath, with whichever body part you want treated directly underneath the LED lights. That can be anything from your face and neck to your knees and ankles.
About the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
- What it is: An all-body red light therapy device that uses three of the most clinically proven and precise wavelengths to reduce inflammation and promote cellular repair and rejuvenation.
- Device type: Flexible LED canopy and stand
- Target treatment area: Face and body
- Treatment time: 30 minutes
- Light modes: Blue (415nm), red (633nm), near-infrared (830nm)
- Wireless: No
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: The most exciting thing about this clever piece of kit is that it’s FDA-approved and medically cleared for use in a clinical setting. In other words, you can be privy to the same kind of high-spec, results-driven tech that you’d find in a professional setting. Yes, it’s expensive, but if you’re serious about your wellness routine and spend money on similar in-clinic treatments, that’s a huge plus point. While there are three light settings, blue, red and near infra-red, the combinations of wavelengths are much bigger, meaning you can combine blue and red to help fade scarring or red and infra-red to improve elasticity. Although it is a heavy piece of kit, it comes in a neat travel bag and contains goggles to wear during treatment as well as a little cushion to ensure your sessions are comfortable. That said, I tend to use mine mostly on my bed, so I find it a properly relaxing treatment anyway.
- Key specs:
- Light modes: Blue (415nm), red (633nm), near-infrared (830nm)
- Device type: Flexible LED canopy and base stand
- Target area: Face and body
- Treatment Time: 30 minutes
- Best for: Everything from improved skin texture and firmness to wound healing, inflammation due to injury and reducing redness
- Wireless: No
- Good to know: 360 evenly dispersed LED bulbs for maximum light coverage and results
How does it work?
The premise behind the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device is the same as any LED device in that it uses specific wavelengths of light to target different cellular processes in the skin. The difference here is that thanks to its medical grade status, the Dermalux uses significantly stronger, medically certified LEDs than other at-home devices, making it up to three times as powerful and effective. That means you get faster, more significant – and measurable – results, and you can choose single light treatments or multi-wavelength treatments depending on your goal. In case you need any extra convincing of its credentials, Vogue cover girl Kate Moss is a big fan.
- Blue (415nm): Fights bacteria and brightens skin
Red (633nm): Promotes collagen and elastin production to boost healing and improve skin elasticity - Near-infrared (830nm): Kickstarts cellular repair to strengthen and rejuvenate skin
How to use it
Using the device is simple. Find a flat, stable surface to assemble the base and canopy on, plug in the power adaptor and connect the controller cable between the base and canopy. Choose your preferred treatment from the comprehensive instruction booklet, put your goggles on and position yourself accordingly for your treatment. Once done, disconnect everything and simply store it back in its case.
How I tested it
Although it initially seemed hard to find 30-minutes for the suggested usage time, I found that once I started, I couldn’t wait to schedule in my time under the LED. As well as being a relaxing experience on its own, the fact that it was half an hour of time spent doing nothing, and with no distractions, was heaven. The fact that red and blue wavelengths are also said to stimulate serotonin production meant that I was reaping the benefits of improved mood, energy and sleep by as well as my skin looking brighter and clearer. My husband also used the Dermalux for a niggling knee injury he picked up, and after lying under it consistently for a couple of months, he swears his expedited recovery time was down to using it.
How often should you use it
Depending on what you want to achieve, the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device can be used every day for anywhere from one minute to 30 minutes.
How to charge it
The device needs to be plugged into a mains power socket to use it, so there’s no charging required.
How to store it
Although it is a large piece of kit, all the components fit neatly and easily inside the storage bag, which also has handles for portability.
Why it’s Vogue-approved:
Many LED devices are marketed as “bringing the clinic home”, but this one actually lives up to those claims. A powerful, medical-grade brand favoured by top facialists, the Dermalux Flex has been attenuated for safe home use by non-trained professionals. It still delivers salon results, though, with 360 lights configured to deliver clinically proven wavelengths for targeting acne, ageing and even muscle aches. We love that it can be placed above the face and body for all-over rejuvenation, as does Kate Moss, who’s also a fan of this device. “I use the Dermalux LED device in my clinic and I am a fan of the results it offers,” says Yoo. “It’s worth noting that this home-use device will be weaker than an in-clinic LED device, but it has great specs as far as efficacy is concerned.”
Key specs:
- Light Modes: Blue (415nm), red (633nm) and near infrared (830nm)
- Mask Type: Flexible
- Treatment Time: 30 minutes
- Wireless: No
- Powerful with a high number of clinical strength bulbs
- Can be used all over the body
- It’s an investment, but if you use it enough, it’s worth it
