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There are many different skincare products and beauty services on the market that all promise to make you appear younger and slow down the effects of aging; we see countless procedures, such as botox injections or facelifts, being done almost routinely on shows like The Real Housewives, not to mention an entire industry of multivitamins.
While there have been amazing strides in the plastic surgery industry to make these procedures more safe and produce better results, there are safer and more cost-efficient ways to delay time from marching across your face, and improve the overall quality of your skin — one of them is red light therapy. “Red Light Therapy is a clinically studied, FDA-approved treatment that can improve the appearance of skin if you have acne, scars, wrinkles, and other visible signs of aging,” says Shane Miller, a licensed esthetician and the owner of the popular Instagram account @howtohydrate.
AT A GLANCE: The Best Red Light Therapy Devices
- Best Overall: Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Facial Wand
- Easiest to Use: LEDA Red LED Sonic Facial Brush
- Most Versatile: TheraFace Pro
- Best Face Mask: Omnilux Contour Face
- Best Eye Mask:Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro
- Best for Neck and Chest:Solawave Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask
- Best LED Panel: Hooga Red Light Therapy Device
- Best Full-Body:Therapy Wrap The Therapy Mat
Dr. Alexis Curreri, MD is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and says that Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights (which deliver that aforementioned red and near infrared light) are quickly becoming one of her favorite dermatologic devices. “Studies have shown that these devices help stimulate hair follicles and fibroblasts within our skin. This leads to the generation of ATP, which acts as the fuel for our cells.” She says this allows cells to calm down inflammation, which can increase blood circulation and wound-healing, and help with the creation of new collagen. “Together this leads to more vibrant, elastic, younger looking skin.”
If you’re interested in finding out what red light therapy can do for you, here are some picks based on Miller and Curreri’s recommendations, along with devices our editors have tested ourselves that come from trustworthy brands.
In This Article
What Are the Best Red Light Therapy Devices?
What Is Red Light Therapy?
When Should You Use Red Light Therapy Devices?
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
Buying Guide: How We Chose the Best Red Light Therapy Devices
What Are the Best Red Light Therapy Devices?
From full-body red light therapy devices, to face masks that help to soothe and calm skin, we’ve rounded up some of the best red light therapy devices to buy online.
BEST OVERALL
Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Facial Wand
This award-winning red light therapy device just so happens to be coveted by celebrities like Sydney Sweeney, Nicole Kidman, Lil Nas X, Aubrey Plaza and Debbie Ryan, just to name a few. Boasting patented technology and clinically proven results in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes, this wand provides targeted treatment to both your face and neck (especially when paired with the Renew Complex Activating Serum). In addition to red light, this wand can also give your skin a microcurrent facial, massage and even therapeutic warmth. The results? Smoother, tighter and healthier skin.
EASIEST TO USE
Vanity Planet LEDA Red LED Silicone Face Brush
If you’re looking for a more streamlined way to get in some daily red light therapy, this cleansing facial brush is easy to integrate into your existing skincare routine. By helping your skin produce collagen and elastin, the red light can help refresh the skin and combat crow’s feet, dark circles, and acne. Simply scrub the gentle, silicone bristles over your face with your cleanser or serum of choice for a few minutes and let it work its magic. There’s three brush modes and two attachable heads — after you’ve used the brush, gently wash it off with lukewarm water and a towel. A micro USB charger is included for when it’s time to recharge your sonic brush.
MOST VERSATILE
TheraFace Pro
A palm-sized device no larger than an electric shaver, the TheraFace PRO is a unisex tool that’s helped “hack” our skincare routine by being part light therapy device and part recovery tool. While you may know them for their top-notch massage guns, Therabody says its team of product designers found a way to combine Theragun’s proprietary percussive technology with “other modalities” to address the more-than 40 muscles on our face. In addition to firming and tightening the skin, we’ve used their built-in LED light ourselves (switching between red, blue and infrared options) to help with reducing wrinkles and acne, while we’ve also found the deep cleansing mode to be great for removing sweat and grime after a long day or workout at the gym. As someone with TMJ issues, it’s clutch for being able to relieve tension and minor aches around the face with a quick massage while also getting a daily dose of red light treatment.
BEST FACE MASK
Omnilux Contour Face
You’ve probably seen this red light therapy mask on your Instagram or TikTok feeds. This FDA-cleared device allows for a hands-free, full-face treatment, and that’s why it’s one of Dr. Curreri’s favorite devices to recommend to her patients. “I feel they’ve really set themselves apart from other products. With consistent use of their LED red and near infrared light device for 10 minutes a day for 3-5x a week, you’ll notice healthier, more vibrant skin.”
If you’ve got a busy schedule, Dr. Curreri also loves that it’s incredibly user-friendly. “You can wear it as you check your emails, fold some laundry, or just take a few minutes to close your eyes and unwind for the day. It is also portable, making it easy to bring on work trips or vacation.” We’ve tested this ourselves as a treatment for moderate acne scarring, and it also works as a great self-care gift for any occasion.
BEST EYE MASK
Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro
If you’re looking to ease into red light therapy, or not looking for a full-face treatment, Miller recommends the SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro.
“This is perfect for those whose main priority is to treat crow’s feet, elevens, fine lines, and wrinkles around the eye area,” Miller says. “This FDA-cleared light therapy eye device has been proven to stimulate the natural production of collagen while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.”
BEST FOR NECK AND CHEST
Solawave Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask
When they’re not helping celebrity faces glow on the red carpet, Solawave is back to business to dropping an entirely new skincare tool — the Solawave Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask. Your neck and chest area actually appear to age faster than your face, leading to crepiness and wrinkles, so it only makes sense that this new tool uses would use powerful microcurrent and red-light therapy to attack that forgotten area of your skincare routine. So far, it’s coming out of the gate hot, with early reviews praising its comfortability while wearing, ease-of-use and early results (some users say their décolleté looks visibly firmer and others are experiencing less chest breakouts) after just a few weeks of consistent treatment.
BEST LED PANEL
Hooga Red Light Therapy Device
One of the easiest ways to get started with red light therapy is with a portable red light therapy device, like this one from Hooga. At just a little over 12 x 8 inches, this box-style light combines 60 5W LEDs that emit both red light and near infrared light to help stimulate collagen, increase energy and help decrease inflammation.
We like to set the device up a feet or so away from us on a table in the morning while we drink our coffee and have breakfast (you can also hang the device up in your bathroom with its included hook). A few minutes a day goes a long way towards improving skin health and overall vitality, but don’t just take our word for it: the Hooga Red Light device boasts a 4.5-star rating (out of five) from more than 500 reviewers online.
BEST FULL-BODY
Therapy Wrap The Therapy Mat
The Therapy Mat’s easy-to-use layout and superior optics make it an attractive option for those looking to get a full-body red light therapy treatment. Whether it’s placed on your bed or laid out on the floor, you’re just inches away for full body exposure. This device is also extremely efficient, designed with a recovery mode, continuous light, and energizing boost mode.
It also couldn’t be easier to use — start off with 10-minute sessions and gradually build up 15-20 minute sessions as you become more accustomed to it. These sessions can help reduce inflammation and pain, improve your skin by helping accelerate collagen production, and even help fortify bone density, according to the brand. But the Therapy Mat is just one of many red light devices Therapy Wrap offers, and you can check out their site to find your perfect match.
(*Price-point too expensive for you? Amazon has a number of well-rated Therapy Mat alternatives on sale starting around the $500 mark. It’s an easier — and cheaper — way to get into red light therapy).
What Is Red Light Therapy?
So how does red light therapy work? “As we age, our cells become larger,” Miller explains, “making it increasingly difficult for them to divide and multiply, ultimately slowing our bodies ability to regenerate. Red Light Therapy technology delivers low-wavelength light to energize our skin cells.” In short, the red light produced by the device is absorbed by our mitochondria and keeps our cells stimulated and working hard, improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and your skin’s texture.
In addition to slowing the effects of aging, regular red light therapy sessions can have a variety of other benefits on our skin and overall body, such as reducing skin inflammation brought on by conditions like psoriasis, eczema and contact dermatitis.
When Should You Use Red Light Therapy Devices?
Like everything in life, red light therapy is best used in moderation; be sure to consult the instructions of your particular device for how long a session should last. Miller recommends using it daily, after you’ve cleansed your face and before the application of any serums or moisturizer. If you are using your device during the day, remember to always end your routine with some sunscreen.
Dr. Curreri says that through promotion of collagen, red light therapy can reduce the visible signs of aging if that’s a concern for you, including fine lines and wrinkles. “It decreases redness and pigmentation brought on by sun damage, and also helps with those occasional acne lesion by decreasing oil production on the skin.”
“After cleansing, use your red light device on dry skin,” Miller also advises. “If your device is a wand or tool, applying a hydrating serum or oil will minimize tugging and allow the device to easily glide across the skin.”
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
“Unlike UVA/UVB rays, red light does not pose a threat to your skin,” Miller says. “Still, any new treatment should be taken with caution as everyone’s skin and body will react differently.“
If you’re unsure of how to integrate red light therapy into your daily routine, Miller recommends consulting with a licensed esthetician or a dermatologist to see if it’s right for you.
And as always, Dr. Curreri says that when looking for a device to use at home, “you want to look for a product that has history of safety, reliable results, and the research to support their claims.”
Buying Guide: How We Chose the Best Red Light Therapy Devices
There are a couple of things we kept in mind while searching for the best red light therapy device for you. Here’s what you should know.
Power: The devices with more power are more effective at energizing your cells, meaning you are getting the most out of a red light therapy session more quickly. You might think the device’s wattage dictates its power, but this is a popular misconception; wattage refers to how much energy is being consumed by the device. To assess a device’s power, check out its irradiance, measured in milliwatts per square centimeter.
Size: This will dictate how much of your skin you’ll be able to treat in a session. If you’re just concerned with your face and the appearance of wrinkles, a smaller device will do.
