13 Best Light Therapy Devices to Clear Your Skin, According to Experts

Mixing in lightwaves can be a game changer for acne-prone skin.

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If you struggle with acne, you know how hard it can be to find a topical treatment that works to clear your skin. It’s not your fault—stubborn acne is notoriously hard to treat. Even if you’ve tried every pimple patch, spot treatment, and acne face wash, you might be overlooking a crucial part of the acne toolkit: light therapy.

You might be familiar with low-level light therapy as a way to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. When using light therapy to treat fine lines, red light is typically the wavelength being utilized. Red light also helps treat acne, but it’s important to mix in blue light if you're targeting acne specifically. “Blue light has anti-microbial properties, which can be helpful when dealing with acne since it is associated with a particular bacteria (C. acnes),” says Dr. Gloria Lin, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group. “This particular species produces a substance called porphyrin that will absorb the blue light and, through a chemical reaction, can destroy the bacteria. In the era of increasing antibiotic resistance, the blue light can be helpful as a non-antibiotic alternative.” Lin says that blue light might also help curb sebum production that leads to acne.

You can opt for a blue light device for acne, or choose a device that mixes red and blue light. Red light has anti-inflammatory properties that help treat acne as well. Keep reading to find the 13 best light therapy devices for acne, recommended by dermatologists, editors, and rave reviews.

Solawave’s acne wand is essentially a three-minute spot treatment for pimples. It’s a great option because it “combines both blue and red light to provide both anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits to combat the acne,” says Dr. Lin.

Type: Wand

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Entire face

Power: Rechargeable

Amazon rating: 4.1/5

Our expert says: “[This device is] hand-held, contoured so you can get on stubborn areas, [has a] quick treatment time, and the combo of red and blue light helps not only acne but also rejuvenation. It’s also relatively cheap compared to other light treatments.” —Dr. Mona Gohara, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine

If your go-to acne-fighting product is always a pimple patch, you’re in luck. This red and blue light device comes with adhesive strips that stick to your skin, mirroring the effects of a pimple patch. If you have a stubborn pimple, it’s a great spot treatment to try.

Type: Patch

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Rechargeable case

Riki Loves Riki rating: 4.5/5

Our expert says: “It contains both red and blue light to help with acne. The treatments are 6 minutes long and [it] comes with a rechargeable battery. This is also convenient for travel purposes. This may not be as powerful as some other devices like the LED masks but can be used as more of a spot treatment.” —Dr. Lin

Chances are, you’ve seen this LED mask on your TikTok For You page. It’s viral for a reason—this clinically-tested mask is a powerful force against acne. Since it has both red and blue light, this mask also calms inflammation and helps fight fine lines and wrinkles.

Type: Mask

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Entire face

Power: Rechargeable

Dermstore rating: 4.5/5

Our expert says: “This is an FDA cleared device containing 100 red and 62 blue LED lights for a full face light emitting treatment that only requires three minutes. While on the more expensive side, it is closer to a professional-level treatment than many of the other products available on the market. It may help with collagen production, acne, and redness, in addition to its anti-microbial properties since it contains both red and blue light. Some people complain that the mask may not fit all face shapes.” —Dr. Lin

This rechargeable device is easy to take with you anywhere, so it’s perfect for travel. It’s customizable, so you can choose whether or not you want to use blue light for acne or red to infrared light to target fine lines and wrinkles.

Type: Wand

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Rechargeable

Nordstrom rating: 3.7/5

Our expert says: “This contains both blue, red, and infrared lights. There are three settings available to choose from depending on if you are using it for acne or more anti-aging purposes.” —Dr. Lin

This light therapy pimple patch combines red and blue light to target stubborn acne spots. It works in three minutes and turns off automatically once the treatment time is over. It’s also one of the most affordable LED options out there.

Type: Patch

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Battery-powered

Nordstrom rating: 3.7/5

Our expert says: “This is a more budget-friendly option since it’s under $20 and can last for 30 treatments. This is easily portable and similar to the popular pimple patches, so this is easy to take while traveling. Sessions are only three minutes long. This may not be as powerful as some other devices like the LED masks but can be used as more of a spot treatment.” —Dr. Lin

Made specifically for acne, this handheld wand targets stubborn pimples with three-minute treatment times. This wand incorporates red and blue lights and is larger than some other wands, so you’re able to cover larger areas, making it a good choice for anyone who has hormonal breakouts.

Type: Wand

Types of light: Blue light, red light, infrared light

Target treatment areas: Entire face

Power: Plugs into wall

Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5

A Dermstore reviewer says: “I saw immediate results after one week. It eliminated acne and reduced oil on my face.”

Facegym’s Acne Light Shot uses only blue light to target acne-causing bacteria on the skin. It adheres to skin with adhesive strips. Unlike some faster-acting devices on this list, Facegym’s acne patch is meant to be a 20-minute treatment, so be sure to carve out the time to use it.

Type: Patch

Types of light: Blue light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Rechargeable

Sephora rating: 4.2/5

A Sephora reviewer says: “This has been the only thing that has helped clear up my cheek acne. I also use a retinol and low percentage benzoyl peroxide, but adding this has made a huge difference.”

Omnilux is known for its LED masks, and this one is made specifically for acne-prone skin. A combination of red and blue lights helps keep acne at bay on your entire face, making this a game-changer for anyone who gets acne everywhere.

Type: Mask

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Entire face

Power: Rechargeable

Omnilux rating: 4.5/5

An ELLE editor says: “I tend to get hormonal breakouts every once in a while. I like to use this mask in conjunction with my skincare routine to target acne flare-ups. It helps keep my skin clear and is super easy to use.” —Katie Berohn, beauty editor

A cleansing device combined with an LED light is the kind of multitasking that we’re here for. One side of this device has a silicone scrubber that gets deep into pores to lift dirt and impurities, while the other side has a three-minute blue light treatment to target tricky spots.

Type: Cleansing brush

Types of light: Blue light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Rechargeable battery

Amazon rating: 4.2/5

An Amazon reviewer says: “I think the blue LED light feature is the best part of it as it performs very well, and is my new favorite blue LED device. It works well because it keeps the light directed close to the skin, isn’t too bright to be uncomfortable on the eyes, and has a good blue-purple tone on the light. It also covers a larger area in blue light for a quick 3-minute session. Other devices take longer and cover smaller areas or are too bright on the eyes to be comfortable to use.”

The Foreo Espada 2 delivers blue light through a straw-like tube, allowing it to be ultra-concentrated for specific spots. It also has T-sonic pulsations, stimulating skin and speeding up the healing process. Each blue light treatment lasts 30 seconds, making it perfect for quick touch-ups.

Type: Wand

Types of light: Blue light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Rechargeable

Nordstrom rating: 5/5

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “For someone who has mild breakouts and sensitive skin, this device is ideal. Very easy to use and effective. Precise and fast. I follow up with a blemish solution and my skin has improved tremendously.”

CurrentBody’s red and blue light LED mask is meant to be used for ten minutes at a time and was built for mild to moderate cases of acne. With 132 LED lights, this mask can work evenly on your entire face.

Type: Mask

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Entire face

Power: Rechargeable

CurrentBody rating: 4.7/5

A CurrentBody reviewer says: “I’ve been using this mask for a couple of weeks now, and I’m already so impressed with the results! It’s clearing my acne and reducing my redness. I think it even calmed my irritation. I literally just wear it for ten minutes while I relax on my couch after a long day at work.”

If you have occasional bouts of acne but want a facial device that can truly do it all, the Theraface Pro is for you. It comes equipped with three different types of light therapy: red light, blue light, and infrared light. It also has eight different percussive attachments for facial massages and a microcurrent attachment.

Type: Wand

Types of light: Blue light, red light, infrared light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Rechargeable

Amazon rating: 4.2/5

An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve only been using this product for three days and I’ve already noticed a significant difference in the fine lines around my eyes. But even more remarkable is the difference in the hormonal acne from the blue light around my chin.”

This adorable device might look like lipstick, but it’s actually packed with red and blue light to zap zits. Each treatment is meant to last for three minutes, and the device automatically powers off when you’ve completed the treatment. Throw it in your purse to treat acne on the go.

Type: Wand

Types of light: Blue light, red light

Target treatment areas: Spot treatment

Power: Battery-powered

Nordstrom rating: 5/5

An Ulta reviewer says: “I was skeptical at first, but after using it, it’s safe to say it is so worth it! I used mine on a small pimple and it went away in one day.”

Don’t think of light therapy as another step in your skincare routine—it shouldn’t be mixed with any actives. “Use on a clean and dry face,” says Dr. Lin. “Do not use any oils or other occlusive products on the face as this can affect the penetration of the light-emitting therapy.”

Dr. Gohara adds that it’s best to space light therapy devices out from other products so you don’t cause irritation. “I generally tell my patients to choose a night when they are not going to use their retinoids, pop on their favorite TV show, and let the light shine,” she says. “Doing it immediately before or after topicals for acne may cause some redness and irritation.”

Each device is a bit different, so it’s best to follow the instructions for the specific device you have. “Using the device consistently is important to see results,” says Dr. Lin. “Eye protection is key with the light therapy, even with the at-home devices, as improper use can lead to issues with the eyes and skin.”

Dr. Gloria Lin is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.

Dr. Mona Gohara is the Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine.

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE beauty editor Katie Berohn interviewed dermatologists to find the best light therapy devices for acne.

Katie Berohn is ELLE’s beauty editor. Previously, she held the same title at Who What Wear, where she was promoted from associate beauty editor. She’s written for publications like The Cut, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Mashable. Her interests include fragrance, vintage shopping, hot yoga, food, travel, music, books, and attempting to make every NYT Cooking recipe. She’s on the endless hunt to find the perfect shade of red lipstick.

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