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Nov 01, 2024

11 Best Red Light Therapy Devices of 2024, According to Experts

Our current top pick is relatively affordable — for a product category that can have prices soaring into the thousands. If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why

Our current top pick is relatively affordable — for a product category that can have prices soaring into the thousands.

If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

True life: I’m obsessed with red light therapy devices. I’ve been using them since 2018 after my go-to esthetician, Alessandra Cavallero, put me onto the skin-clearing power of LED therapy, a pro-grade treatment I often indulged in at her San Francisco spa. While a professional investment in my skin was worth it, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend a staggering $1,900 on the same red light therapy device she uses at Spa Bem-Ti-Vi, no matter how visible the results were. So naturally, as the Best Products beauty editor, I had to investigate the best red light therapy devices on the market and what makes them so effective.

I interviewed board-certified dermatologist Dr. Erum Ilyas, M.D., and got her guidance on how to shop for these tools. Ilyas, who practices at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Pennsylvania, says red light therapy can penetrate the skin up to 6 millimeters deep. Red light therapy treats acne, spurs wound healing, promotes hair regrowth, and helps in anti-aging, like plumping up fine lines and wrinkles. “It is believed to work by activating signaling pathways between cells,” says Ilyas. “It has not been shown to damage the DNA of cells the way UV light does.”

Scroll to the bottom of this story for advice from Ilyas, who touches on the science behind, benefits of, and types of red light therapy devices, plus how often to safely use them at home.

Red light therapy devices are a great investment for your own beauty routine or to gift to a loved one, which I kept in mind while I personally tested a majority of the ones that made it on our list. I spent several weeks testing and researching all aspects of these red light therapy devices, including:

Sure, some of these devices can be used in as little as 3 minutes per session, but wearing an LED face mask or gliding these red light therapy wands across your face should be comfy. Throughout my testing, I realized I prefer silicone over hard plastic LED face masks because it’s easier to clean. Plus, silicone is flexible, meaning it’s more likely to accommodate a diverse array of facial features. I also advise using red light therapy devices with adjustable straps so they can accommodate all head, neck, and wrist sizes.

For handheld devices like wands, I considered how labor-intensive the application was. For example, the SolaWave wand requires a serum to help it glide across the skin and the active ingredients to deeply penetrate the face. Other treatments, like the featured face masks are simply plug and play, which I appreciated because it provided me with private time to clear my head or plan how I wanted to apply my makeup before going out.

I considered how many LED lights were on each mask because you’ll want to ensure there’s enough to make contact with the skin for most anti-aging effects. I also preferred red light therapy devices that also provided additional functionalities like vibrations (Theraface) and multiple LED colors so I can target any concern in the short- and long-term. For example, anyone dealing with hormonal acne knows it’s a pain, and the blue light emitted from some of these LED face masks can help zap away your pimples.

And of course, the biggest consideration was if I noticed visible results like brighter, more even-toned skin within a few weeks. I also took into account if any facial lines looked less pronounced and if anyone I saw frequently noticed any difference.

Beyond focusing on products that meet the above criteria, I also kept the following factors in mind:

I’ve personally tested the vast majority of these products. Some of these winners earned snaps from my trusted skincare experts, while others caught my eye because they blend functionality with form by meeting the expert guidance and the above criteria. I also enlisted the help of one of my skincare-obsessed colleagues to get her feedback.

Red and blue LED lights are the most studied, and to a lesser extent amber light emitting diodes. However, all of the other color lights like green and yellow aren’t as well-researched, so I left the Foreo UFO2, Skin Gym Wrinklet Mask, Ora LED Light Energy Mask, and MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device out of my recommendations. They’re not bad products, and I have seen some skin-enhancing benefits while testing. However, I think the other featured winners are more effective and aligned with helping you achieve more youthful-looking, acne-free skin and are way more cost-effective.

I also considered the price of each red light therapy device and eliminated the nearly $1,000 MZ Skin LightMax Supercharged LED Mask 2.0. I think it’s a good product, but I personally wouldn’t spend that much money on the device because I like other options on this list more, and they mainly cost $500 or less. Plus, during my testing experience, I found others on this list performed equally as well is the top-of-the-line MZ Skin model. (But hey, if you’ve got the money to splurge and want a pink LED face mask, go for it.)

That being said, there is one pricey outlier called the Lyma Laser. Though the $2,700 price tag is definitely a jump scare (and frankly more than some people’s rent), I featured it in this story because one tester has used this device for a year and found it outperformed other cheaper options she previously tried. So if you’ve got a decent budget, Lyma could become your new favorite device.

Regardless of what your income looks like, there are red light therapy devices out there for you. Some are relatively affordable, making them the ideal gift for your favorite loved one, such as a recent graduate or hard-working mom who could use a reminder to prioritize self-care. Your favorite pop culture-obsessed friends will also pleased to know that many celebrities, including Pedro Pascal, Halle Berry, and Cillian Murphy, are all major fans of some of these featured red light therapy devices.

CurrentBody Skin’s red light therapy device earned our best overall distinction because Ilyas and I agree it’s the most easy-to-use LED face mask on the market. Most importantly, it provides real results. Not only did it help improve my skin’s tone, texture, and firmness, but celebs use it to firm their skin ahead of major red carpet events like the Oscars and Golden Globes.

This red light therapy device is made from body-safe silicone that fits the curves of my face, and the included adjustable Velcro strap ensures a perfect fit. Even while testing other devices, I was left thinking about CurrentBody because, with regular use, its LED Light Therapy Mask left my face brighter, more luminous, and more youthful-looking than anything else.

I love that this kit includes everything necessary for a positive experience — an easy-to-use control center, a long-lasting battery, four plugs to use the device abroad, and a dust bag for travel.

Although the $380 is an upfront commitment, I do think the short- and long-term benefits pay for themselves, especially when compared to other pricier options we recommend that cost well over $500.

Notably, it won several beauty industry awards and is adored by Oscar nominees like Sterling K. Brown and Carey Mulligan. It’s so fast-acting and effective that Halle Berry prepped her skin for the 2023 Oscars with this tool. So, brides and wedding guests, consider this the skin’s ultimate treat for milestone events.

More: The 3 Best Facial Steamers for an At-Home Spa Day, Tested by Our Beauty Editor

Last year, SolaWave dropped a new wand boasting twice the red light therapy power as the OG version — and it’s already a favorite of Priyanka Chopra, Pedro Pascal, and Vanessa Hudgens. Like the original model, this tool utilizes therapeutic warmth and massage to reduce puffiness. Since our senior digital art director Bridget Clegg used the first version for two years, I knew she was the best person to test this new model, and she noticed a few key upgrades.

“Most visibly, it now has a power button with an automatic 3-minute timer to keep your application on track,” she says. “The timer’s great because it pulses on and off to indicate when to move the red light device to a new section of your face. The updated wand has a subtle ticking noise that makes the current feel slightly more powerful than the first version.”

Notably, SolaWave swapped out microcurrent for galvanic current to aid product absorption. Clegg likes to pair her new red light therapy device with Radha Rosehip Oil or Ole Henriksen HydraBarrier Nourishing Face Oil for easy gliding and maximum hydration.

Given its petite size and the included protective case, Clegg notes it is the perfect addition for beauty lovers on the go. “I packed the new SolaWave on a recent trip and was glad to have the protective case to keep the device clean and prevent it from turning on in my luggage,” she says.

This unique device also offers heating capabilities to enable skincare products like dark circle eye creams, face serums, and night creams to penetrate deeply into the skin. Plus, the pain-free warmth is therapeutic and feels super relaxing on the skin.

HigherDose, the Lady Gaga-approved infrared sauna brand, created a red light therapy device that stimulates collagen production, fades fine lines and wrinkles, and adds a glow factor to my complexion.

This device is made from flexible, medical-grade silicone and can withstand high temperatures. It’s also easy to clean with wipes between each 10-minute treatment.

The eye holes and adjustable head strap are refreshingly comfy and provide a great fit. Beyond tackling signs of aging, such as lines and wrinkles, this red light therapy device also helps calm rosacea.

It’s also cordless, which is fantastic for someone who has limited outlets in their home like myself. I can hangout on my couch or bed, while taking 10 or 20 minutes to elevate my skincare routine with this red light therapy device.

Those who have HigherDose’s popular sauna blanket or PEMF mat for muscle relief can use both modalities while wearing this red light therapy mask. The brand even encourages you to rock this face mask while practicing yoga, and frankly that sounds like a dream winter beauty treatment to me. Just don’t forget to wipe down the face mask. I like to use alcohol wipes, but you can easily just spritz some isopropyl alcohol onto the mask and wipe it down with a soft cloth.

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross, M.D., created this TikTok-viral LED face mask that was sold out for months and was incredibly hard to secure. Now that it’s finally back in stock, I had to put it to the test and see if it lives up to the social media hype.

I love that it has 100 red lights to boost collagen production, while 62 blue lights kill acne-causing P. acnes bacteria. Other LED face masks on this list hover around the 50-60 range of red lights on their masks, so it’s no surprise Dr. Gross’s mask works fast.

It features the same 3-minute modes as the Skincare DRx SpectraLite BodyWare Pro, which is designed for the body, such as the back and chest. Plus, it maintains the same elevated white and copper aesthetic.

As for its efficiency, this red light therapy device is A-1. My skin tone looked more even, my skin felt firmer, and my smile lines were less noticeable. The blue light does a great job tackling hormonal acne like a boss, which is always appreciated during my menstrual cycle.

Snapshots of this red light therapy device popped off in our work chat. Some folks thought it was a tad creepy and the ideal last-minute addition for their Halloween costumes, while others joked it could make for a SAD lamp alternative. But my favorite way to use this Best New Beauty Award winner as an LED face mask that can eliminate lines, wrinkles, acne, and uneven skin tone.

It’s equipped with three LED modes: red light for signs of aging, blue light to kill acne-causing bacteria, and red plus infrared light to eliminate dark spots, like the ones I always get from zits.

Therabody offers the most coverage among all of the featured winners, including full nose coverage (buh-bye zits that pop up on when I least expect it on the center of my nose) and even the mouth. Red light therapy benefits the lips by plumping up the natural fine lips we all experience due to aging. Given the maximum coverage, there’s also no need to purchase a smaller LED device, such as the Omnilux eye patch or Currentbody Skin LED Lip Perfector that are only meant for those two areas.

Thanks to the included vibration therapy, the TheraFace also doubles as a face massager that helps relieve any stress points around my brows, eyes, and scalp. With the stress of the upcoming election, lack of daylight, and general winter blues, this fast-acting skincare tool is ideal for promoting self-care in either a 3-minute or 9-minute treatment.

Is a nearly-$2,700 skincare tool actually worth your money? Well, Clegg has been using her Lyma Laser a few times a week for a year and declares it’s a must-have in her routine. “I’ll continue to use this thing til it dies on me,” she says.

Clegg appreciates how easy the device is to incorporate into her routine because she can apply all of her nighttime skincare products and then use it while watching TV or reading before bed.

She also highlights the travel-friendly design as practical, especially for those with any upcoming long-distance holiday flights. “The TSA has never flagged it in my carry-on, and I like that I can use my own skincare products with it,” she says.

Clegg also began using prescription tretinoin and continues to use the Lyma without any irritation on days she’s not applying the topical retinoid. “My skin feels brighter and tighter, especially around my cheekbones,” she says. “If I had to choose just one beauty device to continue using, it would be the Lyma because I can see that my skin is brighter and has less redness, and because I believe the technology can help prevent new fine lines too.”

The brand advise using it consistently for 12 weeks for the most visible results. The FDA-cleared at-home device minimizes hyperpigmentation, scars, acne, and signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines, with zero downtime.

Bella Hadid’s facialist, Kristyn Smith, put her onto Omnilux’s red light therapy device, so it should come as no surprise this new version caught my eye. Red light therapy calms inflammation in sensitive skin, and Clear combines it with infrared light to boost your cellular healing process while preventing signs of aging.

This red light therapy device is someone’s best bet if they can’t sit still during short 10-minute treatments. Clear sports built-in protective eye shields, meaning the wearer can safely keep their eyes open throughout your treatment. It also has a formfitting yet flexible design that feels comfortable on my face.

With regular use, you’ll swear by Clear since it improves acne and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. After using this red light therapy device for a couple of weeks, I finally woke up pimple-free after trying a few different products. My skin was so clear, even my clueless guy friends noticed an improvement.

This unique duo is designed to target the neck and décolletage, two areas we often forget should be treated with the same TLC as the rest of our face. Why? Well, we have fewer oil glands on our décolleté than we do on our face, and it loses elasticity quickly as we age. The neck is also relatively thin, so it develops signs of aging relatively quickly.

CurrentBody Skin’s red light therapy device is made from soft silicone and feels lightweight on my neck and chest. It’s also equipped with adjustable bands for a comfortable feel during the treatment session. I find it leaves my delicate skin looking healthy and glowing. Since I (thankfully!) don’t have lines and wrinkles on my chest, I can’t fully speak on its ability to treat those signs of aging.

Still, I’m optimistic that it’ll help more mature skin based on my positive experience using other Currentbody Skin red light therapy devices and glowing online reviews. It’ll help improve the crepe-y appearance of your neck in about two months to boost self-confidence so you’re not hiding behind strategically placed shawls.

Wait, you thought red light therapy devices were only those TikTok-famous masks and editor-approved wands? Not quite. Celeb-loved brand CurrentBody Skin is taking the red light therapy game to another level since creating the first FDA-approved at-home LED treatment for the mouth area.

This portable device penetrates deep into the lips to help stimulate collagen production to reduce fine lip lines and improve uneven texture and tone. It also targets fine perioral lines, aka smoker lines, above the lips.

Using this red light therapy device is straightforward and incredibly fast. After cleansing my face and lips, I placed the device into my mouth and keep it stable for 3 minutes when it switches off. (It looks odd, but I got used to holding the red light therapy device in place after the second try.) Lastly, I apply either an organic lip balm, SPF lip balm, or (my personal go-to) PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Lip Booster for some much-needed hydration.

I can attest that regular use of this device will make anyone’s pout look youthful, plump, and firm sans lip injection. With regular use, my lip lines are less obvious, which gives a fuller effect.

Using a hand cream and sunscreen isn’t enough. If someone is serious about their anti-aging skincare regime, they’ll want to incorporate this red light therapy device into their routine.

It is equipped with the same tech found in other Omnilux red light therapy devices to target sunspots, pigmentation, redness, wrinkles, dry cracking skin, and uneven skin tone.

For me, this is more of a preventive tool, but I did notice my skin looks more radiant with regular use. However, it promises that discoloration like sun spots will quickly fade, and the Contour Glove helps improve the overall tone and texture of the hands.

The design is practical, too. Although it’s called Contour Glove, it’s shaped like a mitten, with one large section for all five fingers instead of separate areas for each. It also sports an adjustable wristband so you (and whoever is lucky enough to borrow this gadget) can customize the fit without worrying about it falling off the hand.

When you have only $100 to spend on a gift, choose this unique solution from fan-favorite Omnilux. The price point makes it a great treat for someone on the younger side who has a little patience and wants to test out the skin-enhancing benefits of red light therapy without using Afterpay or Klarna.

Since each order includes only a single eye patch, your giftee will need to wear the patch for 10 minutes under one eye and another 10 minutes under the other eye. You’ll need to use the single-use Omnilux stickers to ensure the patch stays in place while you’re practicing self-care.

“While they are sticky enough to adhere to your skin and the device, it felt awkward to use because of the contours of that part of my face — like I couldn’t get it to lay flush against my under-eye area,” says Clegg. “I would much rather use a full face mask than have to treat just the under-eye area, one at a time.”

Personally, I consider these concerns minor first world pains for gorgeous, glowing results. With regular use, this pocket-size device uses red LED to calm inflation (bye, puffiness), fade pigmentation (adios, dark circles), and even help calm redness. The near-infrared wavelength also lights boost collagen production so the delicate under-eye area is plump, firm, and youthful.

More: 9 Best Under-Eye Masks for Puffiness, Dark Circles, and Lines

LED Face MaskIlyas suggests buying a practical and user-friendly red light therapy device, such as a well-fitting LED face mask, like the Ora LED Light Energy Mask and Skin Gym Wrinklit LED Mask. If you are concerned that a red light therapy device won’t accommodate your features, look for a face mask with adjustable straps, such as the Higher Dose Red Light Face Mask and MZ Skin LED 2.0 LightMax Supercharged LED Mask.

LED PanelIlyas says LED panel options are simple to use but not ideal if kids run in and out of the room while you’re using it. You can also use a single-panel red light therapy device, including the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite BodyWare Pro for the body. There’s also the Celluma Pro, which provides full coverage on the body face like a three-panel option, just with a different aesthetic. Regardless of which model you choose, panel red light therapy devices take up quite a bit of space, so if your loved one lives in a small first apartment, gift a smaller LED device such as a wand or goggles.

LED WandRed light therapy devices like the TikTok-famous SolaWave have a learning curve and require consistent application to treatment areas, but they are much easier to store. Given their compact size, they’re also cheaper than face masks and panel red light therapy devices. For example, the brand new Currentbody Skin Pen is $79, while the larger and more powerful MZ Skin Light Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device will set you back a casual $670.

Other Niche Red Light Therapy DevicesRed light therapy devices also target often-neglected facial and body areas, including the CurrentBody Skin LED Neck and Dec Perfector for the neck and décolletage. There is even the Omnilux Contour Glove for the hands and CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector to enhance the mouth area over time. I know I’m talking about CurrentBody Skin a lot. The brand has a unique array of products that’s hard to compete with. That being said, it recently introduced a unique red light therapy device to help stimulate hair growth that’s worth checking out if it’s a concern.

Q: How often should you do red light therapy?Red light therapy devices offer a slew of benefits, so it’s tempting to utilize these skincare tools daily, or even multiple times a day, but that’s not necessary. Ilyas says since every red light therapy device is different, it’s hard to give a blanket recommendation on frequency and duration of use. Your best bet is to carefully follow the guidelines your red light therapy device of choice advises.

Q: How safe is at-home red light therapy?Red light therapy is generally safe for at-home use, but Ilyas recommends looking for FDA-cleared devices for added comfort.

“LED red light devices that are intended to produce safe and effective results generally go through the FDA clearance process as likely class II devices,” she says. “If this is not noted on the product you are considering, it is difficult to say if it has been subject to a third party evaluating its safety, and may not have the efficacy you are seeking, as well.”

Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Best New Beauty Awards package. You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventues.

Dr. Erum Ilyas graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts and Science and earned her medical degree from the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society.

Dr. Ilyas has practiced dermatology in the Philadelphia area and Boston for over 15 years and has served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Ilyas focuses on adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, and skin cancer treatment.

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