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During the last about ten yearsL’Oréal introduced beauty technology to the general public CES 2026. This time he has three devices to show off: the “Light Straight + Multi-styler” as well as the LED Face Mask and LED Eye Mask.
Don’t let these unpretentious names mislead you. These three products actually have unique characteristics. The Light Straight (and multi-styler, which I’ll just call the Light Straight from now on), for example, uses infrared light to help generate the heat needed to style your hair. Meanwhile, the LED face mask is different from those made by companies like Dr. Dennis Gross, Omnilux, Therabody and Shark. Instead of fairly hard shells that sit rigidly on your face, L’Oréal’s version feels soft and thin.
I haven’t seen it in person yet, although I plan to do so sooner rather than later, but the photos of the LED eye mask look, and I mean that in the best way, ridiculous Not only do they appear flexible, but they also appear transparent, with bulbs and wires visible inside. In some of the images provided by the company, the masks are completely awash in red when the lights are on. In others, only certain parts are red. One even shows the masks placed in a small carrying case and they almost look like wireless earbuds. I haven’t seen any photos of the LED face mask, but I imagine they would be quite similar to these.
L’Oréal LED Eye Mask in a carrying case (L’Oreal)
According to the press release, this “ultra-thin and flexible silicone mask” is currently “in prototype form” and was developed in collaboration with iSmart LED solutions company. The company said this mask “delivers light directly to the face” in automatically timed 10-minute sessions. It’s not much different from existing red light masks, but L’Oréal said it believes “the key to the mask’s effectiveness lies in its advanced, transparent backing, which incorporates a skin-safe microcircuit to precisely control the emission of two selected wavelengths of light: red light (630 nm) and near-infrared light (830 nm).”
Given that the mask won’t launch until 2027, there are no details on pricing and availability yet, although the company’s global vice president of technology and open innovation, Guive Balooch, told Engadget that it would be a premium product that would sit somewhere below the most expensive offerings currently available.
One of my problems with full LED masks is that my skin always feels too dry under them, since you have to use them on clean, dry skin for 10 minutes at a time. Balooch told me that L’Oreal has developed a serum to use with its mask that would help with this, while also improving the effectiveness of the light treatment.
It’s certainly intriguing, and Balooch indicated that creating formulations designed to work with devices such as LED masks is a future direction for the company.
A pair of hands using the L’Oréal Light Straight and multi-styler on a person’s hair. (L’Oreal)
I’m also interested in the Light Straight, which, like the company’s, AirLightPro uses infrared light to help dry or style hair. According to the company’s press release, hair straighteners equipped with “ordinary heating locations can reach temperatures of 400°F and above, above the threshold at which keratin denatures, leading to cuticle weakening, breakage and reduced shine.” For context, I used to turn my flat iron up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit to tame my hair (although these days I find a more reasonable 330 degrees to be sufficient).
L’Oréal claims that the Light Straight and its “patented infrared light technology” can “help deliver exceptional styling results at lower temperatures, to better protect hair health.” The device’s glass plates never exceed 320 degrees, and the company says its testing found that the Light Straight is three times faster and leaves hair twice as straight as “leading high-end stylers.” I don’t know how you would quantify fluency, but I hope the results pan out in the real world.
The Light Straight uses near-infrared light that L’Oréal says “penetrates deep into hair fibers” to “reshape internal hydrogen bonds.” It also incorporates sensors with “built-in proprietary algorithms and machine learning” to adapt to your gestures “to maximize the individual experience.” I’m not sure what that means, but I hope to find out more this week at CES. Given that the Light Straight won’t launch until 2027, it’s no surprise that pricing and other details aren’t yet available. But for now, I look forward to seeing companies continue to look for new, hopefully healthier, ways to look and feel beautiful.
