L’Oréal’s CES 2026 magnificence units 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 lots 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 mild 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 a substitute of pretty laborious shells that sit rigidly in your face, L’Oréal’s model appears to be pliable and skinny.

I haven’t seen this in individual but, although I do intend to take action as quickly as doable, however the photos of the LED Eye Masks look, and I imply this in one of the simplest ways, ridonkulous. Not solely do they seem supple, however additionally they appear to be clear, with bulbs and wires you possibly can see inside. In a number of the photos that the corporate offered, the masks are fully awash in crimson because the lights are on. In others, solely components of it are crimson. One in every of them even reveals the masks sitting in a little bit 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 just like these.

Based on the press launch, this “ultra-thin, versatile silicone masks” is at present “in prototype kind” and was developed in collaboration with LED solutions company iSmart. The corporate mentioned this masks “delivers mild on to the face” in 10-minute robotically timed classes. That’s not too totally different from current crimson mild masks, however L’Oréal mentioned 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—crimson mild (630 nm) and near-infrared mild (830 nm).”

For the reason that masks is barely 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 might sit someplace under the very best priced choices at present on the market.

One in every of my issues with full-face LED masks is that my pores and skin all the time feels too parched underneath them, as a result of you must 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 might 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 units just like the LED masks is a future route 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 type hair. Based on the corporate’s press launch, hair straighteners with “abnormal 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 way in which as much as 425 levels Fahrenheit to tame my tresses (although today I discover a extra affordable 330 levels is sweet sufficient).

L’Oréal says the Gentle Straight and its “patented infrared mild know-how” can “assist present distinctive styling outcomes at decrease temperatures, to higher shield the well being of the hair.” The gadget’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 easy as “main premium hair stylers.” I’m unsure how you’d quantify smoothness, however I’m hopeful the outcomes do pan out in the actual 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 unsure 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 feel and appear lovely.