L’Oréal’s CES 2026 magnificence gadgets embody a skin-like versatile LED masks

Over the last ten or so years, L’Oréal has introduced a style of magnificence tech to the plenty at CES 2026. This time, it has three gadgets to indicate 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 truly 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 mild to assist generate the warmth required to fashion your hair. In the meantime, the LED Face Masks is completely different from these made by firms like Dr. Dennis Gross, Omnilux, Therabody and Shark. As a substitute of pretty onerous 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 attainable, however the footage of the LED Eye Masks look, and I imply this in the easiest way, 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 a few of the pictures that the corporate supplied, the masks are utterly awash in purple because the lights are on. In others, solely components of it are purple. Considered one of them even reveals the masks sitting in somewhat carrying case and so they virtually appear like wi-fi earbuds. I haven’t seen any images of the LED Face Masks however I can think about they’d be pretty just like these.

In accordance with the press launch, this “ultra-thin, versatile silicone masks” is presently “in prototype type” and was developed in collaboration with LED solutions company iSmart. The corporate stated this masks “delivers mild on to the face” in 10-minute robotically timed periods. That’s not too completely different from present purple mild masks, however L’Oréal stated it believes “the important thing to the masks’s effectiveness is its superior, clear assist, which integrates a skin-safe microcircuit to exactly management the emission of two chosen wavelengths of sunshine—purple mild (630 nm) and near-infrared mild (830 nm).”

For the reason that masks is just launching in 2027, there aren’t particulars but on pricing and availability, although the corporate’s world vice chairman of tech and open innovation Guive Balooch advised Engadget that it might be a premium product that will sit someplace under the very best priced choices presently on the market.

Considered one of my issues with full-face LED masks is that my pores and skin all the time feels too parched beneath them, as a result of you need to use them on clear, dry pores and skin for 10 minutes at a time. Balooch advised me that L’Oréal would have a serum developed for use with its masks that will assist with that, whereas additionally bettering the effectiveness of the sunshine remedy.

That definitely is intriguing, and Balooch indicated that creating formulations which are designed to work with gadgets just like the LED masks is a future path for the corporate.

I’m additionally within the Gentle Straight, which like the corporate’s AirLight Pro makes use of infrared mild to assist dry or fashion hair. In accordance with the corporate’s press launch, hair straighteners with “unusual heating locations can attain temperatures of 400°F and better—above the brink at which keratin denatures, resulting in weakened cuticles, breakage and lowered shine.” For context, I used to show my flatiron all the best way as much as 425 levels Fahrenheit to tame my tresses (although today I discover a extra cheap 330 levels is nice sufficient).

L’Oréal says the Gentle Straight and its “patented infrared mild expertise” can “assist present distinctive styling outcomes at decrease temperatures, to raised 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 quicker 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 true world.

The Gentle Straight makes use of near-infrared mild 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 seek 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 out there. However for now, I’m eager to see firms proceed to research novel, hopefully more healthy methods for us to feel and appear stunning.