9 Best Red Light Therapy Devices, Tested and Reviewed 2024 | Glamour

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Red light therapy products—wands, masks, full-body panels—have gotten a lot of attention this year. But some of the best red light therapy devices cost a pretty penny. So, do they live up to the hype or are they just another pricey device that’ll end up gathering dust in your medicine cabinet?

Our editors have spent the past six months getting to the bottom of it. We spoke to numerous dermatologists to learn all about the proven technology, plus tested dozens of red light therapy devices of all kinds. Some of these devices operate at multiple wavelengths (blue, amber, infrared) for even more skin-care benefits. Our top overall red light therapy tool is the Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand. Sure, it’s a handheld option, but it’s easy to store and start using right away, bundles four skin treatments into a single tool, and is portable enough for your next vacay. Oh, yeah, and we saw some pretty great results during testing too.

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Nordstrom

Original video by Glamour contributor Andrea Navarro

Omniluxed

Original video by Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley

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Nordstrom

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Sephora

Free People

Amazon

CurrentBody

Qure

Original video by Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley

Silk'n

Original video by Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley

Blue Mercury

Original video by Glamour contributor Emily Tannenbaum

First, the basics: Red light therapy is “a noninvasive treatment that uses low level light to do what we call photobiomodulation,” says Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York City. Put more simply, it’s a treatment that uses low-wavelength red light and near-infrared light to penetrate cells, activating a repair process within the cells themselves that can help reduce inflammation, speed up wound healing, and even reverse signs of aging.

Red light therapy isn’t new in clinical settings. This “low-level laser therapy” or “cold laser therapy” has been around for decades, but it’s recently exploded in the world of at-home skin-care devices based on the tantalizing promise that you might be able to rejuvenate your skin cells by literally waving a magic wand (think the Solawave).

According to Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD Skincare in Southern California, all skin types can benefit from red light therapy at home. “However, if you have melasma, then any light therapy can potentially worsen your pigmentation,” she says. Otherwise, red light therapy at home is a great option for mature skin types seeking antiaging benefits, such as increased collagen production and boosting strength and elasticity in the skin. It can also benefit acne-prone and sensitive-skin types due to its ability to reduce inflammation and scarring and improve the complexion overall.

About that caveat. Most evidence for the effectiveness of red light therapy comes from clinical settings and the fact is “at-home red light therapy devices are not as strong as the devices we have in our offices,” says Margarita Lolis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Hackensack, New Jersey.

That doesn’t mean that you won’t see any benefit from using at-home devices, she adds. “At-home devices will take more consistent use as directed by the manufacturer because of the difference in strength,” Dr. Lolis says. “It will take longer to achieve the glow that red light therapy is known for, but if you are patient and follow directions, you can achieve glowing skin on your schedule versus coming in weekly or biweekly for in-office treatments.”

Another way to think about it is the frequency of use over the same period of time, says Dr. Shah. You might see the same results from six in-office treatments over the course of six months that you would in that same time frame if you used an at-home device a few times a week.

There’s a lot of variation in the recommended time and frequency of use for at-home devices, so always follow the manufacturer’s directions. “It depends on the type of unit so it’s important to read the instructions carefully,” says Dr. Shirazi. “Some of the units have conducted research on their own devices with specific instructions and recommendations.” In general, she suggests three to five times a week for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.

When shopping for red light therapy at-home devices, Dr. Shirazi advises looking for “an FDA-cleared device with some peer review clinical data to back it up.” Other factors to consider? How the device fits on the face and whether or not it’s convenient and/or comfortable. “The number and quality of lights on the device too,” she adds. “The proven wavelengths are 415nm blue light, 630–680nm red light, and 830nm near-infrared light.”

The experts we spoke to recommend choosing an FDA-cleared device that emits light between 630 and 850 nanometers. But they’re quick to note that the true key to getting the most effective red light therapy at home is choosing a product that you’ll be most likely to use consistently. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, including treatment frequency and length, to get the full benefits of the device, Dr. Lolis adds.

The most noticeable difference in red light therapy devices is their design. Some are handheld, while others are structured or flexible face masks. Ultimately, you should choose whichever design is most convenient and comfortable for you. Multitaskers tend to like face masks, while those who like to dedicate time to making their skin-care routine a moment of TLC may like the handheld options. Wands are also great for additional treatment areas—like your neck or even arms.

There are also some variations in the wavelengths of light offered by at-home devices (most emit red and near-infrared light between 600 and 850 nanometers) and the concentration of LEDs (i.e., the intensity with which a device can emit light).

Buy the red light therapy device you’ll use most consistently, since that’s key to results, says Dr. Lolis. If you’re a multitasker, opt for a face mask—our testers generally found them to be the most convenient and easy to use. You should also look for an FDA-cleared device that emits light between 630 to 850 nanometers (the proven light energy).

There are many FDA-approved red light therapy devices on the market. In fact, every single product on this list has received that accolade.