Quick answer: For most UK buyers the Shark CryoGlow is a well-liked, mid-to-upper-priced mask. John Lewis displays a 4.5 out of 5 average, and the original model is listed at £269.99 to £299.99 depending on colour. What I couldn't verify is how powerful it is: I couldn't find its wavelengths in nanometres or its irradiance on the pages I read, and its results claims come from Shark's own studies. The 15 one-star reviews I read split between hardware, delivery and service problems and people who saw no improvement. That is a small sample of unhappy customers, so it can't tell us how common any of it is.
When people search for a "Shark LED face mask", they almost always mean the CryoGlow. But Shark now sells four UK versions, which makes "is it worth it?" harder to answer than it looks, so I start with which one you'd actually be buying.
How I Looked Into This
I compared the UK product pages for the CryoGlow range, Shark's own published study document, and independent coverage from Which? and TechRadar. I also read 29 customer reviews: 14 five-star and 15 one-star, all labelled as written on Shark's own website. I have not tested the mask myself, so nothing here is a hands-on verdict. I'll say which claims come from Shark, which come from independent sources, which come from customers, and which are my own reading.
The Shark LED Face Mask Range in the UK
| Model | UK price (John Lewis listing, 17 October 2026) | What's different | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CryoGlow (FW312UK) | £269.99 to £299.99 depending on colour | The original. Red, blue and deep infrared LEDs, plus under-eye cooling. Four routines, one of them cooling only | John Lewis product page |
| CryoGlow Plus | £339.99 | Launched on 29 July 2026. Wider LED coverage, including around the crow's feet area, and better battery life, according to TechRadar | John Lewis listing; TechRadar |
| CryoGlow Clinic mask (FW425) | £379.99 | Shark claims twice the anti-ageing energy of the original (a manufacturer claim) and adds hot and cold under-eye therapy | John Lewis listing; Shark UK |
| CryoGlow Clinic Face + Body System (FW575) | £549.99 | The Clinic mask plus a body panel for the neck, chest, back and hands | John Lewis listing; Shark UK |
Prices change, and colours can differ in price, so check the retailer before you buy. If you're comparing reviews, make sure they're for the model you're considering. Several reviews I read don't say which version they're about, and one mentions the Plus.
What Shark Says the Original CryoGlow Does
This section is manufacturer information. According to the John Lewis listing, the original has four routines: Better Ageing (6 minutes, red and infrared), Blemish Repair (8 minutes, blue and infrared, finishing with red), Skin Sustain (4 minutes) and Under-Eye Revive (5 to 15 minutes of cooling only). It's designed to be used once a day, and the listing reports results from Shark's own studies: 119 people over 4 weeks overall, 59 over 8 weeks for the ageing routine, and 60 over 4 weeks for the blemish routine. Shark's own study document describes a 119-person clinical study, which Shark calls independent, with results at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.
I haven't seen full methods for these studies, including whether they had a control group, so I treat them as brand-reported results. The listing itself adds that individual results may vary. You can read the figures in the John Lewis listing and Shark's study document.
What Isn't Stated
I couldn't find wavelengths in nanometres or an irradiance figure on the pages I read. Shark's study document does say the original has 160 tri-wick LEDs, which it counts as 480 light sources emitting red, blue and infrared. Which? makes a useful point here: there's no agreed standard for LED masks on optical outputs or the number of LEDs, so it's hard to know exactly what you're getting.
There is one more design detail worth knowing. Shark describes its Clinic mask as leaving a small gap between the mask and your face, and an Expert Reviews article on the original describes it as held a few centimetres from the skin. Many flexible silicone masks sit directly against the skin instead. Whether that gap changes how much light reaches you depends on the irradiance at the skin, which the pages I read don't state. If it matters to you, ask Shark for that figure.
If blue light for acne is your main reason for buying, the listing says the Blemish Repair routine combines blue and infrared and finishes with red. I couldn't find how long the blue is on. One one-star reviewer says it's about a minute, but I can't verify that. I explain why the wavelength matters in my guide to the best LED face masks for acne, and in the wavelength section of my evidence article.
What Customers Report
Customer feedback, not independent evidence. John Lewis shows the original CryoGlow at 4.5 out of 5. That's 758 five-star, 125 four-star, 46 three-star, 26 two-star and 45 one-star reviews, so about 76% five-star and about 7% one or two stars.
I read two small samples from that kind of listing: 14 five-star reviews and 15 one-star reviews, all labelled as written on Shark's own site. Those samples can't be compared with each other. The five-star reviews are very recent, while the one-star reviews run from January to October 2026. Two five-star reviews and one one-star review are marked "Received an incentive", and I treated those with extra caution. One five-star review appeared twice, so I counted it once.
What the 14 five-star reviews say
- Visible improvement (11 of 14): people describe glow, texture, firmness or clearer skin
- Under-eye cooling or depuffing (6 of 14): the feature people mention most
- Comfort, ease of cleaning or use (6 of 14): including the remote and automatic cut-off
- Timing: at least 5 report changes within about a week, much sooner than the 8 to 12 weeks the research I discuss elsewhere usually describes. One reviewer also had a facial and started new skincare at the same time, so I can't tell what caused what
- Long-term use: only 2 mention using it for 8 months or more
Two five-star reviews describe eczema or rosacea improving. I haven't treated those as results, because I can't verify personal accounts of medical conditions.
What the 15 one-star reviews say
| Theme | Reviews mentioning it (of 15) | What reviewers described |
|---|---|---|
| No improvement or worse skin | 5 | No visible change after daily use, including one reviewer who completed the 8 weeks and said their skin looked worse |
| Faults or error codes | 4 | Cooling pads that stopped working within a week, an unreliable remote dial, and error codes that switched the mask off |
| Delivery, orders and customer service | 4 | A cancelled out-of-stock order, a delivery not arriving after 14 days, a missing charging dock, and a return that didn't work through the website |
| Fit, comfort or design | 3 | Eye pads blocking light around the eyes, weight, a mask that needed holding up, noise, and cooling pads that were uncomfortable on a small face |
| Skin or eye reactions | 3 | Dry eyes and dry skin, new brown patches, and irritation of existing rosacea at the start |
| Price and value | 2 | Felt expensive for what they got |
A review can appear in more than one row, and the categories are my own reading of each review. Four of the 15 one-star reviewers showed a UK location, three showed a US one, and the rest showed none. One reviewer says the blue light isn't on for long, which I couldn't verify.
Three reviewers described skin or eye reactions, including dry eyes confirmed by an optician. These are individual reports, and I can't tell whether the mask caused any of them. They're a reminder to read Shark's UK safety guidance before buying, which lists medical conditions and medicines the mask shouldn't be used with. The John Lewis listing also says it's not safe for new and expectant mothers. If you notice eye or skin changes with any LED mask, I'd stop using it and speak to a GP, optician or pharmacist. I cover this in more detail in my guide to whether LED face masks are safe.
Who Might Consider It, and Who Should Think Twice
✅ Might suit you if
- You want a pre-programmed daily routine with a timer
- Under-eye cooling appeals to you
- You prefer a UK retailer with a 2-year guarantee
- You're comfortable that brand-reported studies are the main evidence
🚩 Think twice if
- You want published wavelengths and irradiance to compare masks
- You take medicines or have conditions on Shark's safety list, are pregnant, or have had eye problems
- You want a flexible mask that sits against the skin
- You can't risk a sealed-box-only returns policy
Before buying, check the exact model number, the price for your colour, the retailer's returns terms and the length of the guarantee. John Lewis says that, unless an item is faulty, you can only return this one if it's unopened, unused and still sealed, and that this doesn't affect your statutory rights. I cover the UK cancellation rules for opened wearables in my evidence article.
My View: Is It Worth It?
On the evidence I could verify, the Shark CryoGlow is a reasonable choice for someone who wants a convenient, hands-off routine from a UK retailer with a 2-year guarantee. Most customers rate it highly, and the cooling feature is the one people mention most. What I can't tell you is that it outperforms a cheaper mask. Neither Shark nor most of its rivals publish the wavelength and irradiance figures needed to compare them, and the results claims come from Shark's own studies. If you're weighing it up, I'd choose the model first, check the safety guidance, and decide how much the cooling and the Shark name are worth to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Shark CryoGlow in the UK? The original is listed at £269.99 to £299.99 at John Lewis depending on colour. The Plus is £339.99, the Clinic mask £379.99 and the Face + Body System £549.99. Check the retailer for today's price.
How long does it take to see results? Shark's own studies measured the blemish routine at 4 weeks and the ageing routine at 8 weeks. Some customers report changes sooner, but those are self-reports.
Is the Shark CryoGlow safe? Shark's UK pages list medical conditions, medicines and areas where it shouldn't be used, and the John Lewis listing says it's not safe for new and expectant mothers. Read the guidance for your model, and ask a GP or optician if you're unsure.
Where can I buy it in the UK? It's sold through Shark's UK site and retailers including John Lewis, Argos and Currys. Each retailer sets its own returns terms, so check them before opening the packaging.
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Find my mask →Disclosure: We don't currently earn commission from any links in this article. Our analysis is based on published specifications, manufacturer and independent sources, and customer reviews, as cited above. If that changes, we'll say so clearly.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new skincare treatment.
