Shark CryoGlow: is it worth it?
Yes, if you want one mask for both fine lines and acne. FDA cleared the Shark CryoGlow for wrinkles and mild to moderate acne. SharkNinja filed it itself (K242796). It costs $339.99 on Amazon (Oct 26, 2026). The proof that it works is Shark's own studies: FDA did not test results. To spend $170 less, the RENPHO Rejuven ($169.99) is FDA cleared for the same two uses.
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Buy on Amazon $339.99Buy it for lines and acne
Shark CryoGlow $339.99 Amazon, Oct 26, 2026
FDA cleared for wrinkles and acne, filed by SharkNinja. Red, blue and infrared light, plus under-eye cooling. Sold by Amazon. About $2.18 a session if you use it 3 times a week for a year.
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Buy on Amazon $169.99Or, to spend $170 less
RENPHO Rejuven $169.99 Amazon, Oct 26, 2026
FDA cleared for the same two uses. Sold on Amazon by Smartindex. Soft silicone with eye cups and a wired handheld controller, no under-eye cooling. RENPHO says it is not for darker or tanned skin.
Quick answers
- Is the Shark CryoGlow FDA approved?
- It is FDA cleared, which is how FDA handles LED masks (they are cleared, not approved). FDA cleared it on November 27, 2024 under K242796, for fine lines and wrinkles and for mild to moderate acne.
- Is the Shark CryoGlow worth it?
- Yes, if you want help with both lines and acne and will use it every day for at least 8 weeks, as Shark's guide says. Skip it if you only care about lines and want to spend less, or if a hard, heavier shell would stop you wearing it.
- What is the difference between the CryoGlow and the CryoGlow Plus?
- The Plus (FW350) costs $379.99 from Shark, $80 more. Shark says it covers more skin around the crow's feet and the lines around the lips, and has improved battery performance (it gives no hours). Both have the same four programs and under-eye cooling. We did not find the Plus on Amazon.
- Is there a cheaper Shark CryoGlow dupe?
- Yes. The RENPHO Rejuven ($169.99) is FDA cleared for the same two uses, but has no under-eye cooling. RENPHO says it is not for darker or tanned skin. 7 masks pass the same FDA test for less; the cheapest is $53.99.
- Does the Shark CryoGlow help dark spots?
- It is not FDA cleared for dark spots. Shark's own study reports 37% fewer acne marks, which is not the same as sun spots. Shark says not to use it if you have melasma, and to stop if your skin darkens.
- Can I use the Shark CryoGlow for rosacea?
- It is not cleared for rosacea, and Shark does not claim it helps. Shark's guide does not list rosacea as a reason not to use it, but it does list skin inflammation and rashes. Ask your dermatologist first.
- Is the Shark CryoGlow FSA or HSA eligible?
- Maybe. Shark says it "may be eligible for FSA and HSA benefits, subject to the requirements of your health plan administrator." Your plan may ask for a letter of medical necessity, so check before you buy.
- Where is the Shark CryoGlow cheapest?
- On October 26, 2026 it was $339.99 on Amazon (sold by Amazon) and $299.99 at Shark. Shark adds a 60-day money-back guarantee. Its 2-year warranty covers purchases from its authorized sellers; we could not find Shark's list of them, so if the warranty matters most, buy from Shark and keep the receipt.
- Is the Shark CryoGlow safe?
- FDA cleared it, and it has built-in eye shields. FDA has 15 injury or problem reports about the US model and 50 about the UK model, mostly skin irritation or swelling under the eyes. Those counts cannot show how common problems are. Read who should not use it first.
01 / The FDA record
What FDA cleared it for
FDA cleared the mask on November 27, 2024 under K242796. SharkNinja filed it, under the name "CryoGlow (FW3XXXX)." It is SharkNinja's only FDA clearance.
The "Indications for Use" page of the FDA filing, cropped. Tap to open it on fda.gov.
- Lines and wrinkles: the red and infrared program (Shark calls it Better Aging, 6 minutes).
- Mild to moderate inflammatory acne: the red, blue and infrared program (Skin Clearing, 8 minutes).
- Not cleared: dark spots, melasma, rosacea, sagging skin or collagen. The under-eye cooling is "for refreshing/invigorating/soothing the skin only," in the filing's words.
- What "cleared" means: FDA cleared it because it works like a mask already on sale, the Therabody TheraFace. The filing tested light and electrical safety and ease of use, not results on skin (its test section is headed "Non-Clinical Testing").
02 / CryoGlow or Plus
Should you buy the CryoGlow Plus instead?
Only if you want more light around your eyes and mouth and do not mind paying $80 more at Shark. For most people, the original is the better buy.
| Spec | CryoGlow (FW312) | CryoGlow Plus (FW350) |
|---|---|---|
| PriceShark's store, October 18, 2026; Amazon | $299.99 at Shark; $339.99 on Amazon | $379.99 at Shark; not found on Amazon |
| CoverageShark's compare table | Face only | Face only. Shark says 120% more coverage at the crow's feet, plus lights aimed at the lines around the lips* |
| ProgramsShark's compare table | Same 4: lines, acne, upkeep, under-eye cooling | Same 4 |
| BatteryShark spec pages | Not removable or replaceable | "Optimized battery performance"; Shark gives no hours. 4 hours to charge |
| WeightShark spec pages | 1.5 lb | 1.7 lb |
| FDAFDA's 510(k) database, October 18, 2026 | K242796, which names "CryoGlow (FW3XXXX)" | Shark says it is FDA cleared. FDA's records do not say whether K242796 covers the Plus; ask Shark |
* Shark's footnote: coverage is "the surface area which meets a 3mW.cm2 power density threshold as defined by SharkNinja, compared to Shark FW300," an earlier CryoGlow model number.
03 / Cheaper masks
7 cheaper masks FDA cleared for the same two uses
Each one has an FDA record tied to that exact mask for wrinkles and acne. That is the same test our LED mask guide uses for its picks. None has the Shark's under-eye cooling, and we found no independent test of how much light any of them gives. Prices on Amazon, October 26, 2026.
| Mask | Price | FDA record | Sold by | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weltallina Red Light Therapy Mask for Face | $53.99 | K243978, a factory's filing names this brand's model | Weltallina (the brand's own store on Amazon) | View on Amazon |
| BONLIBRO Red Light Therapy Mask for Face | $62.99 | K253054, a factory's filing names this brand's model | BONLIBRO Health (the brand's own store on Amazon) | View on Amazon |
| Ulike ReGlow Lite | $149 | K243555, FDA lists this brand by name | Ulike Official US (the brand's own store on Amazon) | View on Amazon |
| RENPHO RejuvenOur pick under $200 | $169.99 | K243555, FDA lists this brand by name | Smartindex (a seller of RENPHO products) | View on Amazon |
| LifePro RevitaGlow | $199.99 | K233114, a factory's filing names this brand's model | Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Ulike ReGlow | $259 | K243492, FDA lists this brand by name | Ulike Official US (the brand's own store on Amazon) | View on Amazon |
| dreame Chrona Photon | $269.99 | K253712, FDA lists this brand by name | Dreame Technology HK Limited (the brand's own store on Amazon) | View on Amazon |
Many masks are cleared through the factory that makes them. Then FDA's records name the brand's model, not the brand itself. Every mask and every K number: Which LED face masks are FDA cleared? 2 of these listings say the mask builds collagen; none of the LED mask clearances we read lists collagen.
The Shark next to the RENPHO Rejuven
| Spec | Shark CryoGlow | RENPHO Rejuven |
|---|---|---|
| PriceAmazon, October 26, 2026 | $339.99 on Amazon, sold by Amazon | $169.99 on Amazon, sold on Amazon by Smartindex |
| Cost per sessionprice ÷ 156 sessions (3 a week for a year) | $2.18 | $1.09 |
| FDA clearanceFDA 510(k) database | Wrinkles and acne. K242796, November 27, 2024, filed by SharkNinja | Wrinkles and acne. K243555, February 5, 2025, filed by a factory; FDA lists the RENPHO Rejuven under it |
| LightShark spec page; Amazon listing | Red, blue and infrared (415, 630 and 830 nm) | Red, blue and infrared (415, 630 and 850 nm) |
| Light strength in the FDA filingmW/cm² is how strong the light is on the skin; from each filing, not an independent test | 64 mW/cm² red plus 64 infrared in the lines program (128 total) | Not in the records we read |
| SessionShark user guide; Amazon listing | Lines 6 min, acne 8 min, upkeep 4 min; daily | 10, 20 or 30 min; RENPHO does not say how often |
| Under-eye coolingShark spec page | Yes, 5 to 15 minutes, with or without the lights | No |
| BuildShark spec page; Amazon listing | Hard shell, 1.5 lb, handheld remote, USB-C | Soft silicone with eye cups and a wired handheld controller |
| WarrantyShark user guide; Amazon listing | 2 years, from Shark's authorized sellers | 1.5 years |
What you give up for $170: the cooling under the eyes and Shark's 2-year warranty (the RENPHO has 1.5 years). The Shark's filing also lists far more light than the mask FDA compared it with: 128 mW/cm², against 29 for wrinkles and 44 for acne on the TheraFace. FDA still found them alike. No one has shown that more light works better.
04 / Does it work?
Does the Shark CryoGlow work?
Probably a little, if you use it every day for 2 months or more. The strongest results claimed for it come from Shark's own studies.
- Shark's studies: Shark reports a 12-week study of 60 people using the lines program once a day (24% less visible fine lines, 20% firmer skin), and a 12-week study of 59 people using the acne program (45% less acne, 40% less redness, 37% fewer acne marks). Shark does not say who ran them or publish them.
- The FDA filing: no results trial. FDA cleared it by comparing it with a mask already sold.
- Dermatologists: the American Academy of Dermatology says red light devices "can produce subtle to noticeable results on the face" in "some studies." AAD
- Timing: Shark's guide says results come from "consistent use of the same routine daily for 8 weeks or more," and to run only one light program a day.
More on the research: Does LED light therapy work?
05 / Injury reports
What the FDA injury reports say
FDA's injury database has 15 reports about the US model of the Shark CryoGlow and 50 about the UK model, 69 in all, received from April 2025 to August 2026. It is also the best-selling LED mask we found on Amazon, and more sales usually means more reports.
- Who filed them: SharkNinja filed 68 of the 69. Makers are required to send FDA injury complaints like these, including ones from other countries. 20 say they were sent late.
- What they describe: SharkNinja marked 65 as injuries. About 49 mention skin redness, rash, irritation, swelling or burning, and 14 of those a burn or burn-like mark. About 26 mention the eyes or the skin under them. About 37 say the person saw a doctor or other health worker, who often said to stop using the mask.
- What they cannot tell you: how often this happens. FDA says "the number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems." No sales count is public, so there is no rate to compare.
What to do with this. Read Shark's list of who should not use it (below), start with one program a day, and stop if your skin or eyes react. Shark says to stop and call SharkNinja if your skin darkens. The eye shields are built in, but Shark's guide still warns the light "may be harmful to the eyes" and says not to stare at it.
From FDA's device-report data for "CryoGlow," read October 18, 2026 (FDA updated it October 7, 2026). We counted reports by the words they use, and one report can fall in more than one group. The FDA data we read
06 / Who should skip it
Who should not use the Shark CryoGlow
From Shark's own user guide. Ask your doctor if any of these apply.
- You take a medicine that makes you sensitive to light, such as isotretinoin or doxycycline.
- You are pregnant, nursing, or may be pregnant.
- You have melasma, or brown spots that are new, changing or oddly shaped.
- You have an eye condition that makes you sensitive to light, or get headaches from light.
- You have a pacemaker or another implanted device, or implants in your face.
- You have eczema, psoriasis, broken skin, a rash, a skin infection or a cold sore on your face or neck.
- Your skin has not healed from Botox, filler, microneedling, a laser or a peel.
- You have a light-sensitive disease such as lupus or porphyria.
Darker skin: the American Academy of Dermatology says people with darker skin "are more sensitive to visible light, such as red light," which "can lead to hyperpigmentation," and to talk with a dermatologist before using a red light device. Shark's FDA filing does not name a skin-type limit. Shark user guide (PDF)
07 / What owners say
What owners say
From owners' own posts on Reddit (about 44 owners read). This is not a survey: people with a problem post more.
Complaints The hard shell: 8 owners said it is heavy or leaves pressure marks. 3 said the light is very bright, even with eyes closed. 3 saw little or no change after weeks of use.
Praise About 14 said they saw a change in their skin; about 7 liked the cooling eye pads.
"I don’t love this mask bc I think it’s heavy and uncomfortable to wear, HOWEVER I can see a difference in my skin." Reddit
08 / How we checked
What we read, and what we did not do
On October 18, 2026 we read the FDA filing (K242796), FDA's 510(k) and injury-report databases, Shark's store pages for the CryoGlow and the Plus, and Shark's user guide. We check Amazon prices and sellers every night. The owner comments are the same ones counted for our LED mask guide. We did not test the masks ourselves, and we found no independent measurement of the Shark's light. The Amazon links on this page may earn us a commission. It does not change the pick.
09 / Sources
Sources, and when we checked them
- FDA 510(k) K242796 (Shark CryoGlow) and K243555 (RENPHO Rejuven), read October 18, 2026.
- FDA device reports (MAUDE), via FDA's open data, read October 18, 2026; FDA's notes on what the reports can show.
- Shark store pages, read October 18, 2026: CryoGlow FW312, CryoGlow Plus FW350. Shark CryoGlow user guide (warnings, warranty, directions).
- Amazon prices and sellers: Amazon product data, October 26, 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology: red light therapy, read October 18, 2026.