Red light therapy has become a considered addition to many skincare rituals, valued for the way it is designed to support the skin’s natural collagen production and the appearance of firmer, smoother-looking skin. One question comes up more than any other: should you apply anything to your skin beforehand? Below, we explain how to prepare your skin so each session works as intended.
Preparing your skin for red light therapy
A little preparation goes a long way. Clean, largely product-free skin allows light to reach the surface with as little interference as possible.
Why clean skin matters more than you would think
Here is the simplest way to picture it. A layer of makeup, oil or sunscreen sits on the skin like frosted glass. Light still passes through, but it arrives scattered and dimmed, and less of it reaches the cells you are hoping to reach. Freshly cleansed skin is closer to clear glass.
So before a session, cleanse with something gentle. We would keep exfoliating acids and scrubs for another time of day, since freshly exfoliated skin can be more reactive under light. The aim is not squeaky-clean, just clear.
The one thing worth adding: a lightweight antioxidant serum
This is the optional step, and it is where a little chemistry earns its place. Maysama's Green Rooibos Pressed Serum is built around Aspalathin-enriched Green Rooibos Extract, a patented extraction concentrated to be around 70x more potent than standard rooibos. Applied before your session, it is designed to sit with the skin rather than on it: it absorbs quickly, leaves no occlusive film, and its antioxidants are intended to help buffer everyday oxidative stress while the light does its work.
Think of it as tuning the room before the performance, not adding another instrument. Two simple rules keep this step helpful rather than counterproductive: keep it lightweight, and keep it minimal. A thin veil of a fast-absorbing serum is support. A rich cream is a barrier.
What to leave off, and why
- Skip SPF before your session. Sunscreen is designed to sit on the surface and block light, which is the opposite of what you want here. Keep it for after, as your final morning step.
- Skip rich creams and facial oils. Occlusive layers form a film that light has to fight through. They belong to a different moment in your routine.
- Skip retinol and strong exfoliants beforehand. Freshly resurfaced skin can be more sensitive under light. Use these at another time of day.
- Be cautious with photosensitising ingredients. Some citrus oils and essential oils can make skin more reactive to light. When in doubt, leave them off before a session.
The science: why pulsed light changes the picture
Here is what is happening while you sit under the light. Red and near-infrared wavelengths are designed to reach the skin and support the mitochondria inside your cells, the tiny structures associated with producing cellular energy (ATP). That energy is what fibroblasts draw on to produce collagen and elastin, the proteins associated with firmer, smoother-looking skin and a softer appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Where Maysama does this differently is in how the light is delivered. Rather than a single continuous beam, both the PRANA and AURA masks use Pulsed LED Technology (P-LED): light delivered in precisely timed pulses, with brief recovery moments between them. AURA takes it further with Intelligent Micro-Pulsing Technology™, engineered to align each pulse with the skin's natural response cycle.
There is a neat link back to that serum step here. Pulsed light is designed to create a gentle breathing effect in the skin, which may help a lightweight serum applied beforehand settle in more readily. It is one reason the prep and the device were made to work together.
Choosing your device
If you are weighing up an LED mask as a considered purchase, here is how the two Maysama options compare.
- PRANA LED Light Therapy Mask: 138 LEDs across four light modes (red 630 and 660nm, near-infrared 850nm, and a magenta setting), delivered as pulsed light at 100Hz. A thoughtful entry into at-home LED, from £295.
- AURA LED Light Therapy Face Mask: the refined evolution, with 155 dual LEDs, clinically studied red (630nm) and near-infrared (830nm) wavelengths, three treatment modes and a cordless, comfort-fit design. Powered by Intelligent Micro-Pulsing Technology™, with a six-minute treatment, from £550.
In summary
For the best experience, arrive at each session with clean skin, largely free of the barriers that block light. A lightweight antioxidant serum such as the Green Rooibos Pressed Serum can be a considered addition beforehand, while SPF and rich creams are best saved for afterwards.
Ready to build your ritual? Explore the AURA LED Light Therapy Face Mask, discover the PRANA LED Mask, or browse the full range of LED devices. Pair either with the Green Rooibos Pressed Serum for a complete, science-backed routine.
