Over the past ten or so years, L’Oréal has introduced a style of magnificence tech to the plenty at CES 2026. This time, it has three units to point out off: the “Gentle Straight + Multi-styler” in addition to the helpfully named LED Face Masks and LED Eye Masks.
Don’t let the unassuming names mislead you. These three merchandise really harbor some distinctive traits. The Gentle Straight (and multi-styler, which I’m going to simply name the Gentle Straight from right here on), as an illustration, makes use of infrared gentle to assist generate the warmth required to type your hair. In the meantime, the LED Face Masks is totally different from these made by corporations like Dr. Dennis Gross, Omnilux, Therabody and Shark. As an alternative of pretty arduous shells that sit rigidly in your face, L’Oréal’s model appears to be like to be pliable and skinny.
I haven’t seen this in individual but, although I do intend to take action as quickly as potential, however the photos of the LED Eye Masks look, and I imply this in one of the best ways, ridonkulous. Not solely do they seem supple, however in addition they appear to be clear, with bulbs and wires you’ll be able to see inside. In among the photos that the corporate offered, the masks are utterly awash in purple because the lights are on. In others, solely elements of it are purple. Certainly one of them even exhibits the masks sitting in slightly carrying case and so they virtually appear to be wi-fi earbuds. I haven’t seen any pictures of the LED Face Masks however I can think about they’d be pretty much like these.
The L’Oréal LED Eye Masks in a carrying case (L’Oréal)
In line with the press launch, this “ultra-thin, versatile silicone masks” is at present “in prototype kind” and was developed in collaboration with LED options firm iSmart. The corporate stated this masks “delivers gentle on to the face” in 10-minute robotically timed classes. That’s not too totally different from present purple gentle masks, however L’Oréal stated it believes “the important thing to the masks’s effectiveness is its superior, clear help, which integrates a skin-safe microcircuit to exactly management the emission of two chosen wavelengths of sunshine—purple gentle (630 nm) and near-infrared gentle (830 nm).”
Because the masks is just launching in 2027, there aren’t particulars but on pricing and availability, although the corporate’s international vp of tech and open innovation Guive Balooch informed Engadget that it might be a premium product that may sit someplace under the very best priced choices at present on the market.
Certainly one of my issues with full-face LED masks is that my pores and skin at all times feels too parched below them, as a result of you need to use them on clear, dry pores and skin for 10 minutes at a time. Balooch informed me that L’Oréal would have a serum developed for use with its masks that may assist with that, whereas additionally bettering the effectiveness of the sunshine remedy.
That definitely is intriguing, and Balooch indicated that creating formulations which might be designed to work with units just like the LED masks is a future course for the corporate.
A pair of arms utilizing the L’Oréal Gentle Straight and multi-styler on an individual’s hair. (L’Oréal)
I’m additionally within the Gentle Straight, which like the corporate’s AirLight Professional makes use of infrared gentle to assist dry or type hair. In line with the corporate’s press launch, hair straighteners with “atypical heating locations can attain temperatures of 400°F and better—above the brink at which keratin denatures, resulting in weakened cuticles, breakage and decreased shine.” For context, I used to show my flatiron all the best way as much as 425 levels Fahrenheit to tame my tresses (although lately I discover a extra cheap 330 levels is nice sufficient).
L’Oréal says the Gentle Straight and its “patented infrared gentle know-how” can “assist present distinctive styling outcomes at decrease temperatures, to higher defend the well being of the hair.” The system’s glass plates by no means exceed 320 levels, and the corporate says its testing discovered that the Gentle Straight is 3 times sooner and leaves hair twice as clean as “main premium hair stylers.” I’m undecided how you’ll quantify smoothness, however I’m hopeful the outcomes do pan out in the actual world.
The Gentle Straight makes use of near-infrared gentle that L’Oréal says “penetrates deeply into hair fibers” to “reshape inner hydrogen bonds.” It additionally has sensors onboard with “built-in proprietary algorithms and machine studying” to adapt to your gestures “to maximise particular person expertise.” I’m undecided what which means, however I hope to search out out extra this week at CES. Given the Gentle Straight doesn’t launch until 2027, it’s not shocking that pricing and different particulars aren’t but obtainable. However for now, I’m eager to see corporations proceed to analyze novel, hopefully more healthy methods for us to appear and feel lovely.
