• I tried a $109.95 LED face mask, from Beautimate, intermittently for a few months.

• It was enjoyable to use, and it boosted my skin a decent amount.

• But it was kind of a hassle to remember to do it every day.

People from celebrities to writers have tried LED face masks to improve their skin or fight acne.

Research backs up LED light as positive for various skin conditions, at least in a more clinical setting. Sources: The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, The Strategist, PopSugar, AJBC.

An at-home product isn't going to be as effective as light therapies you might receive from a physician, said dermatologist Rebecca Baxt.

Baxt is a board certified dermatologist at Baxt Cosmedical in New Jersey.

Dr. Tina Alster, an LED expert and dermatologist, thinks some at-home masks work pretty well.

Alster is also director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and clinical professor of Dermatology at Georgetown University. She added she recommends them to patients with skin issues like acne and dermatitis between in-office treatments.

There is a lack of research on whether LED masks work the same on all skin types, Baxt said. Alster thought there is a small chance the LED light might not penetrate darker-pigmented skin as well, "but I haven't seen that to be the case," she said.

Discrimination against people with darker skin is pretty prevalent in dermatology, from textbooks to insurance coverage to treatment disparities, according to Stat News.

So, with the information available and non-celebrity budget in hand, I set out to test whether I would see an impact in a relatively short period of time with a lower-cost face mask: this $109.95 model from Beautimate.

You can also get a slightly cheaper version from Walmart's website: Beautimate, Walmart.

Disclaimer: While LED face masks can get FDA clearance, the Beautimate mask I tried does not have it. "Very few" do, because it's time-consuming and can be expensive, Alster said. She thinks the masks are pretty safe.