The Shark CryoGlow is a face mask that combines LED light with under-eye cooling, while a dedicated red light therapy mask focuses on delivering light to the skin without a cooling feature. If your main interest is light-based skin-appearance support, a red light mask keeps the focus there; if you specifically want cooling for puffiness and a de-puffing routine, the CryoGlow's added feature is the differentiator. This comparison walks through how each approach works so you can match one to what you actually want.
What the Shark CryoGlow mask is
The Shark CryoGlow (also searched as the shark cryo mask, shark cryo glow mask, or shark beauty cryoglow mask) is Shark's entry into the LED face mask category. Its headline feature is cooling under-eye zones paired with LED light modes.
For exact specs, modes, wavelengths, and current pricing on the Shark face mask, check the manufacturer's own product listing. Specifications change between regions and revisions, and a comparison page is not the right place to quote figures that may be out of date. In the USA and elsewhere, confirm the current model before you buy.
The rest of this page treats "CryoGlow" as representative of the cooling-plus-LED approach, and "red light therapy mask" as the light-first approach.
Cooling vs red light: two different jobs
Cooling and red light are not competing versions of the same thing. They target different outcomes.
Cooling constricts surface blood vessels temporarily, which can reduce the look of puffiness and give a brief tightening sensation. The effect is real but short-lived, and it is comfort-and-appearance oriented rather than structural.
Red light therapy works through a different mechanism. Specific wavelengths are absorbed by skin cells, which is associated with increased fibroblast activity. That is the pathway most studies connect to gradual changes in fine lines and skin texture over weeks of consistent use.
So the honest framing is: cooling addresses how skin looks today, and red light aims at how skin looks after a course of sessions. A device can do one, the other, or both.
If you want to understand the light side in more depth, our mask versus panel guide covers how light dose reaches the face across different form factors.
What the evidence supports for red light
The claims worth taking seriously about red light concern wavelength and dose delivered to skin, not any single brand.
A randomised controlled trial found that red and near-infrared light treatment produced significant improvement in skin roughness and complexion, along with a measured increase in intradermal collagen density compared with an untreated control group (Wunsch & Matuschka, 2014). Notably, a broadband source showed no advantage over red-only light.
A mechanism review reports that red and near-infrared light can benefit wrinkles and skin healing, working by stimulating fibroblast collagen production while reducing the enzyme-driven breakdown of existing collagen (Avci et al., 2013).
Two things follow from this. First, the outcomes are cosmetic and gradual, not dramatic or immediate. Second, the response is dose-dependent and biphasic: past an optimal point, more light adds nothing. That is why consistency at a sensible dose matters more than intensity.
There is no comparable body of evidence positioning cooling as a driver of collagen or long-term texture change. Cooling's value is de-puffing and comfort, which is a legitimate but different goal.
How to choose between them
Use criteria you can apply yourself rather than a scoreboard.
Choose a cooling-plus-LED mask like the CryoGlow if: your top priority is morning de-puffing around the eyes, you want a cooling sensation built in, and you are comfortable with the higher price that extra hardware usually carries.
Choose a dedicated red light therapy mask if: your goal is gradual support for fine lines and skin texture, you want to keep the routine simple, and you value fit and full-face coverage over added features.
Either way, weigh fit and coverage. A mask that sits close and covers the whole face delivers light more evenly than one that gaps at the cheeks or jaw. Our notes on how we assess LED masks break down the criteria we use.
You can compare red light therapy masks side by side, including the RAVAYALight Advanced Spectrum Mask, where the current specifications are listed on the product page.
A caution: LED masks and cooling devices are cosmetic tools for skin appearance, not treatments for any medical condition. If you are pregnant, take photosensitising medication, or have a diagnosed skin condition, check with a qualified clinician before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Shark CryoGlow mask a red light therapy mask? It includes LED light modes, but its defining feature is under-eye cooling, which a standard red light mask does not have. If light-based skin support is your only goal, a dedicated red light mask keeps the focus there.
Does the cooling feature help with wrinkles? Cooling temporarily reduces the look of puffiness and can give a brief tightening feel, but the evidence for gradual wrinkle and texture change points to red light wavelengths rather than to cooling. The two features serve different purposes.
How long until red light shows results? Studies describe gradual changes over weeks of consistent sessions, not overnight effects (Wunsch & Matuschka, 2014). Because the response is dose-dependent and biphasic, sticking to a sensible routine matters more than maxing out intensity.
Is the Shark face mask available in the USA? Availability and model revisions vary by region, so confirm the current listing for your country before buying. Check the manufacturer's own page for the version sold where you are.
Which is better value? That depends on your goal. If you want cooling and LED in one device you pay for the extra hardware; if you want light-based support only, a dedicated mask usually keeps the routine and the cost simpler.
Sources
- Wunsch A, Matuschka K. "A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase." *Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.* 2014. PMID 24286286
- Avci P, Gupta A, Sadasivam M, et al. "Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring." *Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.* 2013. PMID 24049929
*Last reviewed 2026-07-30. This article describes cosmetic support for skin appearance and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician about any diagnosed condition, medication, or pregnancy before starting a new skincare device.*