L’Oréal Just Dropped Two Major New Beauty Gadgets at CES 2026

If CES has traditionally been the domain of robots, TVs the size of studio apartments and vaguely threatening AI demos, 2026 marked a noticeable pivot: beauty didn’t just show up – it dominated. Leading the charge was L’Oréal, which unveiled two major innovations designed to change how we think about hair damage, skin ageing and the role technology plays in our daily routines.

On 5 January in Las Vegas at CES 2026, L’Oréal introduced the world to its newest devices; the Light Straight + Multi-styler and a new LED Face Mask, both named ‘CES 2026 Innovation Award Honorees’. The common thread? Light – specifically infrared, near-infrared and red light – used not as a gimmick, but as a scientifically grounded alternative to harsher, heat-heavy beauty tools.

“At L’Oréal, we’ve always believed that beauty is deeply connected to scientific discovery,” explained Barbara Lavernos, Deputy CEO in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology at L’Oréal Groupe, “Today, we tirelessly combine the latest scientific and technological  breakthroughs with our creativity to craft innovative beauty experiences that are more effective and tailored to individual needs. This year, our pioneering advancements in light technologies at CES 2026 once again demonstrate our commitment to pushing the boundaries of new beauty solutions.”

 For a generation that has spent years undoing the damage of early-2000s flat-ironing and over-exfoliation (guilty as charged), this is a very welcome unveiling.

Why Heat Damage Is Still a Beauty Emergency:

Hair straighteners have been around for over a century, but their basic operating principle hasn’t changed much: extreme heat, fast results, long-term consequences. Traditional straighteners can reach temperatures of 400°F and higher, which exceeds the point at which keratin – the protein that gives hair its strength – begins to denature.

The result? Weak cuticles, breakage, dullness and that all-too-familiar feeling that your hair is betraying you.

According to a 2024 U.S. consumer study conducted by L’Oréal, 58% of women surveyed said their damaged hair resulted from heat. That statistic alone explains why the brand decided to rethink the category from the inside out.

Light Straight + Multi-styler: Styling Without the Scorch

Developed by L’Oréal Research & Innovation, Light Straight + Multi-styler replaces excessive heat with patented infrared light technology. Instead of frying the outside of the hair shaft, the device uses near-infrared light – a wavelength just beyond the visible spectrum – to penetrate deeper into the hair fibre.

This light reshapes the internal hydrogen bonds that determine hair’s texture and shape, allowing the tool to straighten or curl hair while keeping temperatures below 320°F.

The payoff is measurable. According to instrumental tests conducted by L’Oréal, Light Straight + Multi-styler works three times faster and leaves hair two times smoother than leading premium hair stylers.

“Light Straight + Multi-styler moves hairstyling beyond correction into prevention,” said Guive Balooch, Global Vice President of Augmented Beauty and Open Innovation at L’Oréal Groupe. “Limiting cumulative heat exposure to help preserve the integrity of natural hair from the start, we’re enabling consumers to protect their hair now and for the future,” explained Guive Balooch, Global Vice President of Augmented Beauty and Open Innovation at L’Oréal Groupe. 

In other words: it’s not about fixing damage later. It’s about not causing it in the first place. “We believe this innovation sets a new standard in precision styling, not just upgrading, but redefining the entire hairstyling category,” continued Balooch.

This isn’t just a straightener with good PR. Light Straight + Multi-styler is packed with smart internal sensors, proprietary algorithms and machine learning that adapt to the user’s gestures in real time.

The result is a genuinely personalised styling experience – whether you’re smoothing, straightening or curling. One tool, multiple styles, less damage.

It also completes a broader infrared-based haircare ecosystem that includes Airlight Pro, L’Oréal’s infrared-powered hair dryer first unveiled at CES 2024. Together, they signal a clear strategy: future haircare routines won’t just be gentler – they’ll be better engineered.

Light Straight + Multi-styler is set to launch globally in 2027, with pricing details to be announced on loreal.com soon.

The LED Face Mask: Skincare’s Quiet Tech Moment

If haircare is about prevention, skincare is about consistency – and that’s where L’Oréal’s LED Face Mask enters the conversation.

Currently in prototype form and developed with iSmart, a global leader in LED device innovation, the mask is ultra-thin, flexible and made from silicone. It delivers red light (630 nm) and near-infrared light (830 nm) directly to the skin, targeting visible signs of ageing such as fine lines, sagging and uneven tone.

Unlike bulky at-home LED devices that can be a bit “sci-fi,” this mask is designed to integrate seamlessly into real life. Each session lasts 10 minutes, is automatically timed, and requires zero downtime.

L’Oréal believes the effectiveness lies in the mask’s advanced transparent support, which integrates a skin-safe microcircuit to precisely control light emission – a level of precision rarely seen in consumer skincare tech.

The mask is expected to launch in 2027, pending further testing, with pricing also to be announced.

Why This Matters for the Future of Beauty:

What makes these launches notable isn’t just the impressive hardware – it’s the philosophy behind them. L’Oréal is betting on longevity science, prevention and non-invasive solutions over aggressive fixes. That aligns perfectly with a millennial audience that has learned (often the hard way) that more isn’t always better. 

With 21 research centres across 13 countries, over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 digital talents, L’Oréal isn’t dabbling in tech – it’s building an infrastructure around it. The company generated €43.48 billion in sales in 2024 and was named Europe’s most innovative company by Fortune in 2025.

In an era where beauty routines are becoming smarter, calmer and more evidence-based, L’Oréal’s light-powered CES debut feels less like a trend – and more like a turning point.

The future of beauty, it seems, isn’t about turning up the heat. It’s about switching on the light.