Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (2024)

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If you're starting to notice that your skin is looking a little, well, tired, you're not alone. The visible signs of aging—we're talking fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, even sallow skin—will strike us all sooner or later. Bummer. On the bright side, we're living in an age when there's no shortage of solutions for these issues. From wrinkle smoothing injections like Botox and fillers to anti-aging serums, you've got an arsenal of skin-boosting tools at your disposal.

But what if we were to tell you that there's one such solution that takes roughly ten minutes a day and can be down while you're relaxing in bed scrolling TikTok? Enter red light therapy.

Best Red Light Therapy Tools For Face

Red light therapy has exploded in popularity lately because it's a convenient, non-invasive treatment that uses a specific spectrum of visible light that offers a host of beauty benefits—low-level laser light therapy can effectively treat scars, vitiligo, and psoriasis, research shows. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and can even help to smooth wrinkles, too. So, how does it work? We know that red light penetrates 2 to 3 millimeters into skin's dermis, where it's “absorbed by light-sensitive porphyrins in the mitochondria of skin cells, stimulating energy production in fibroblasts to churn out more collagen,” explains Beverly Hills-based dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, a former assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the UCLA-Geffen School of Medicine.

But the goodness doesn't stop there. Red light can also help to get rid of dark spots and its "anti-inflammatory effects make it an effective solution for hair growth and even eczema," says dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD. These at-home devices can be expensive, but they're an investment you can use for a lifetime: Many red light therapy tools are also equipped with orange, green, and blue lights, which are particularly effective at treating acne (say buh-bye to those period breakouts) and other concerns.

Bottom line: At any age—and for years to come—these tools can be a beneficial addition to your beauty routine.

What to consider

We've got a great list of options for you, but if you find yourself in the market for one of the best red light therapy tools, here are a few things to keep in mind on your shopping journey.

Type

There are many different kinds of red light therapy devices to choose from, including panels, masks, and facial wands, and one may be a better fit for you based on your lifestyle and the area you're seeking to treat.

Masks: This is most common variety you'll find for home use because most are hands-free and contain a lot of diodes (a fancy way of referring to the individual lightbulbs), offering a powerful burst of light to treat the face, neck, or chest.
Panels: Maybe you're claustrophobic and the idea wearing a mask gives you the heebie jeebies—that's where a panel comes in. You lay down under these, and they come in a diverse range of shapes and sizes, each offering different levels of red light exposure. Plus, you can treat other areas besides just the face.
Facial wands: Wands appeal to users who want to target smaller specific areas (the crow's feet or nasolabial folds, for example) and prefer to do their treatments on the go (you can walk around while using these).

Nanometers

You may notice the abbreviation "nm" on the outer packaging of many of these tools. This stands for nanometers, and refers to the wavelength of the light that is emitted from the device—an important metric to consider, says Jody A. Levine, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. "Red light typically falls between 630 and 660 nanometers, and is good for targeting fine lines and mild discoloration," says Dr. Levine. If you're looking for something slightly more powerful—to deal with deeper wrinkles, sagging, or stubborn pigmentary problems—go with a device that you can crank up to the near-infrared range (between 800 and 850 nanometers) to penetrate deeper.

Time commitment

It's tempting to pick a device with the quickest treatment window, especially if you don't have loads of free time to sit back and chill with a red light mask. But remember: To treat more advanced signs of aging, a longer treatment time may be more beneficial. Look at the full picture before you base your purchase on the convenience of a quicker treatment.

How we selected

For the past year, Women’s Health associate fashion and commerce editor Lily Wohlner, assistant love and life editor Addison Aloin, and contributor Brigitt Earley have been consulting with dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and WH beauty director Brian Underwood for their recommendations for the best red light therapy tools, compiling a list of outstanding options for every budget and preference. Then, based upon these recommendations, we got their hands on the devices and tested them in the comfort of our own homes, evaluating attributes like ease of use, treatment time, comfort, any tangible results, and overall value. Of the fourteen devices tested, these eight delivered the best results in our in-depth evaluations.

Light Therapy Mask

If you're on the hunt for a red light therapy tool that checks all of the boxes (who isn't?!), Qure's Light Therapy Mask is your answer—and one that will help you reap a lifetime of benefits. In addition to two types of red light—red and deep red—for anti-aging benefits, the mask also boasts infrared, amber, and blue lights to deal with acne, fine lines, sun spots. Select your skincare concerns, and a compatible smartphone app will customize a treatment plan just for you. The icing on the cake? Treatment time is only three minutes for all plans—among the fastest of all the devices we tested.

Wrinklit LED Mask

Dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, endorses this mask as one of the more affordable options out there. "I love that it features red, blue, and orange light to target different skin concerns," he says. This makes it as ideal for younger people dealing with acne as it is for older folks concerned about the signs of aging.

This mask is also completely wireless, so you can lay in bed or do laundry without worrying about it coming unplugged. The treatment time is on the long side at up to 30 minutes, but it's a more lightweight option than Qure's mask (less than a pound for this one versus more than two pounds for the Qure) and features built-in eye protection (rimmed glasses built into the mask so you don't have to struggle to get the eye protection to fit). It's worth noting, too: One of our testers, a woman in her late 60s, used this product for only five minutes every day and noticed fewer lines and less dullness.

On the downside, another tester did tell us that if you're accident-prone, the mask felt flimsy, and she worried it could break easily. Our testers also feel like this mask didn't deliver quite as much targeted light as some other options, which made her question its efficacy. (The lights seem to sit further away from the face and don't appear as bright as other devices we tried even though the nanometers listed in the manual are comparable to other masks.)

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (2)

$69.30 at ulta.com

Contour Face

Both Dr. Patel and New York City facial plastic surgeon Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD. recommend this results-driven mask, which features flexible silicone to fit around any and all face shapes and sizes—a huge plus in terms of wearability and comfort. Earley appreciated this flexibility, which she said made it easier to use than the other options she's tried. She did, however, wish there was some built-in eye protection, because the light glowed through the eye holes, which Earley said distorted her vision a bit—especially if she was trying to do something else, like make breakfast.

As per the brand's guidance, noticeable results typically manifest following three to five 10-minute sessions each week over the span of four to six weeks. And associate fashion and commerce editor Lily Wohlner says it's worth the time investment. "I have a lot of discoloration on my skin, and while I do everything I can to prevent accumulating more, I use this flexible mask periodically to undo some of the damage that has built up over the years."

Unfortunately, the mask only has red and near-infrared lights, so if you want something that can also treat the occasional breakout, you'll probably want to go with a device that also contains blue light.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (3)

$395.00 at omniluxled.com

DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

Although this pick is expensive, it has the FDA's stamp of approval and it'll last you years, says Shari Sperling, DO, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, who also points out that it's equipped with both blue (for acne sufferers) and red (for aging skin) lights. You can even use both lights together to treat aging skin and blemishes at the same time, making it one of the most customizable choices on this list. We love this functionality for more mature women who may still struggle with hormonal breakouts around perimenopause and menopause.

Multiple testers with different face shapes tell us the mask sits nice and close to the face, even though it's more structured. It's a bit heavier than the Qure mask, which means it can become cumbersome after multiple wears, and the high price tag was a turnoff for some of our testers. But they did appreciate the quick treatment time of just three minutes—super easy to fit into your routine.

BrightenMD 4-In-1 Portable Microcurrent Facial Device

This microcurrent facial device uses microcurrents (duh) to stimulate and tighten the facial muscles, red light therapy to attack signs of aging, therapeutic warming, and ultrasonic waves to help boost your skin's circulation and cell turnover. Unlike other devices, this one is made to manually glide across the skin to lift, tighten, and treat.

We also love that this device comes equipped with a smart touch sensor, which automatically turns on when in contact with your skin. The brand also claims the BrightenMD helps relax the pores, allowing your skincare products to sink deeper into the skin. And its compact size and wand construction make the BrightenMD easy to use around your eyes, mouth, forehead, neck, and lips, too.

One thing to note, though, is that testers say because it's on the more inexpensive side, it breaks a bit easier than the pricer options on this list (one tester said hers just turned off out of nowhere). You do also have to be hands-on with this device, since it's a wand rather than a mask or a stand-up light.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (5)

$32.09 at walmart.com

Pro

The Theraface Pro offers just about everything: multiple types of light therapy, percussive massage, microcurrent skin-toning, and cleansing. It's all possible thanks to eight different attachments that adhere to the head of the device via powerful magnets.

The highly versatile pick garnered high praise from our testers, but ultimately didn't land a spot as our top pick because it's handheld (most testers told us they'd much rather have a hands-free experience when taking advantage of red light therapy, since that gave them more flexibility to relax or multitask).

If you don't mind manually holding the device to your face, our testers said this tool offered excellent overall value. "I use it whenever I have a pesky breakout or some redness that needs solving. I just snap on the blue or red light rings and it really does help keep my acne at bay," says Wohlner. "I also struggle with jaw pain from grinding my teeth, and the percussive therapy this device offers is a major game-changer when I wake up with a sore jaw."

Unfortunately, the brand doesn't list exact treatment time, which makes the process a little ambiguous. We wish the directions were a bit clearer here.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (6)

$299.00 at amazon.com

Revilit LED

What makes this one stand out? It has red, blue, and green lights that can easily be used all over the body, thanks to the size of the device (it legit fits in the palm of your hand). It is handheld, but the treatment time is just three minutes, so it's not too cumbersome to use manually.

Glide it all over your face to reap the same benefits you'd get from an LED mask or use it on other areas like the neck, chest, or even less commonly-targeted spots like the arms, legs, and stomach. It's great for any fine lines that appear on these areas, but can also help target skincare concerns like bacne, sun spots, or hyperpigmentation due to scarring.

The three lights are meant to be used separately, but Dr. Camp suggests using the green light after the red and blue settings, as it is believed to have a soothing effect on inflamed and irritated skin.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (7)

$79.99 at dermstore.com

LED-Face-Light-Therapy Panel

This tool is unique because it boasts an overhead display of 287 rows of light diodes and a 180-degree light source that provides a nearly 360-degree treatment for your face, neck, hands, and body. It's design is most similar to something you might see in a salon or dermatologist setting and features the most light options on our list: yellow, green, blue, red, cyan, purple, and white. Together, they claim to promote blood circulation, relieve scarring, activate skincare ingredients, improve swelling, calm oil production, promote skin metabolism, brighten, and improve fine lines.

One of the best benefits of a panel like this is that you can use it on different areas of your body—a huge plus for sport enthusiasts who may be using red light for more than just skincare concerns. Red light can be used to benefit athletic performance, and this panel can be adjusted to target sore muscles and swelling to do just that.

According to the brand, you only have to use it two to three times per week to see a difference—a smaller commitment than the three to five times a week many other brands suggest. Testers say this device is much more comfortable than wearing a face-covering LED mask since you simply lay down on your couch or bed and place it over your face. That said, if you're the type to multitask during red light therapy treatments, you'd probably prefer a mask to this panel.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (8)

$89.99 at amazon.com

Meet the experts

Dr. Shari Sperling, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical, cosmetic, laser, and surgical dermatology.
Ava Shamban, MD, is a dermatologist in Beverly Hills, CA and former assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the UCLA-Geffen School of Medicine.
Dr. Purvisha Patel, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare.
Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD, is a double board-certified surgeon and facial plastic surgery specialist in New York City.
Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
Dr. Daniel Gould, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills, CA.
Dr. Jody A. Levine, a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (9)

Are at-home red light therapy tools as effective as in-office options?

In-office LED lights operate at more powerful strengths than at-home devices, which increases efficacy. So, with professional treatments, you may see better results in less time, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss the at-home devices, altogether. They're still helpful for treating common skin conditions like the odd breakout or fine lines, but it could take up to six months to start seeing results, says Dr. Sperling. Our experts also say they're a great way to maintain the results from any in-office treatments you may be receiving.

If you want to get faster and more effective results at home without a trip to your dermatologist's office or a med spa, Dr. Patel recommends using your device more often—ideally daily.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (10)

When should you use your red light therapy tool?

You can use your red light therapy device morning or night, but ideally, it should be done on clean, dry, product-free skin after you cleanse your face. However, Dr. Patel notes that if you use a red light therapy tool after a serum, it'll help the product penetrate more deeply in to the skin—just patch test on some skin before you do it on the whole face.

"The most common instructions say to use red light therapy for either three or 10 minutes," says Silberstein. Our panel of doctors and dermatologists often suggest their clients start at three to five sessions per week, working their way up to daily treatments if their skin reacts positively and if they have the time to do so.

Red Light Therapy Tools Can Smooth Wrinkles And Fight Dark Spots. Derms Say These Are The Best Ones To Buy. (11)

What precautions should you take when doing red light therapy at home?

First, Dr. Patel says to read the instructions carefully, and to not use red light on any infected skin. You'll also want to make sure you're wearing a protective eye mask made to shield your eyes (most tools come with one). And, be sure that you don't fall asleep with the mask or tool on your face, Dr. Camp notes (FYI: Applying a red light for longer than instructed can result in burning or scarring). Most tools have an auto turn-off feature, but make sure of that.

While many red light devices are generally safe (many are even FDA-approved), start out by using yours once or twice a week to make sure your skin doesn't have any reactions. Once you've confirmed that your skin can tolerate it, Dr. Sperling says you can increase the frequently.