Aleesha Badkar
The best red light therapy devices have been promising a clearer and brighter complexion, with many studies supporting the skin-boosting benefits of these tools.
When used alongside skincare staples such as the best hyaluronic acid serums or best vitamin C serums, they can see impressive benefits, as, "red light stimulates the production of collagen and elastin to refine and strengthen the skin,” says Dr Maryam Zamani, facial aesthetics doctor and founder of MZ Skin. “It boosts luminosity through improved circulation, calms redness, evens skin tone and plumps up the complexion.”
Within these devices, red LED can even be combined with other light therapies, such as blue and infrared, to supercharge the results. Alongside in-depth insight into our top pick, the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Skincare Spectralite Faceware Pro, our tried and tested guide features tools that cover a wide range of light options, price points and skin concerns. We've also consulted with skin experts to answer the most common red-light therapy FAQs – in particular, how to choose the right device for your needs and whether it's possible to overdo these treatments.
The quick list: our top 3 red light therapy devices
RRP: £465
This is our top-rated model thanks to its perfect patented design, suitability for all skin types and three-minute-long procedures. The results our tester saw were noticeable and it's an effective buy for addressing acne concerns, too.
RRP: £175
This wand is portable, rechargable, affordable and perfect for reducing the appearance of fine lines and sun damage. And the best bit is, using it should take less than five minutes a day.
RRP: £750
The quality of this unbelievably soft silicone mask justifies its price tag; it moulds to fit the exact countours of your face and is portable, so you can enjoy LED sessions on the go. We think it's just like a trip to your favourite skin clinic at home.
The best red light therapy devices, reviewed by our experts
Best red light therapy device overall
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire and Emma Stoddart
Emma: I found this tool was the top performer of any red light therapy device I tried and, to that end, feel it justifies its price tag. The three-minute-long LED procedure targets a broad range of skincare concerns: wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes and dark circles, to name but a few. Dr. Dennis Gross's mask also boasts a patented design that contours to the face and specifically focuses on those areas in need. With red light to support natural collagen and elastin production, alongside blue light to target acne and redness, it truly packs a punch.
From my own testing experience, I would recommend starting with a dry and freshly cleansed face before using this tool. Use the adjustable strap to secure the mask on your face (side note: we did find it slipped a little during treatment). Then, let the red and blue light combination therapy do its thing until the timer goes off. Afterwards, I followed up with one of the best vitamin C serums to further boost brightness. Expect an improvement in circulation and brightness within 12 weeks.
Read Rhiannon's full Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Skincare SpectraLite FaceWare Pro review
Best value red light therapy device
Reviewed by: Stephanie Maylor and Emma Stoddart
Emma: Although this device looks like a bit like a razor, it's actually a four-in-one skincare tool that combines red light therapy with therapeutic warmth, facial massage and microcurrent to brighten and smooth skin. Intrigued? Me too! Let us break it down for you – the four technologies work together to tackle myriad skincare concerns in as little as five minutes per day, three times a week.
All I had to do was move the device around my face in upward and outward motions. The microcurrent stimulates the muscles to boost firmness, while red light therapy reduces the appearance of fine lines and sun damage by boosting collagen production. Low vibrations provide a very pleasant, gentle massage to help take down puffiness. I particularly loved the warming head, which helped reduce redness and gave the device the ultimate feel-good factor. It's super lightweight and a total joy to use and would be a worthy investment for anyone who likes to do a facial at home. As for results, expect brighter, plumper and smoother skin after a few weeks of use.
Read Steph's full Solwave Skincare Wand review
Best high-tech red light therapy device
Reviewed by: Charley Williams-Howitt and Emma Stoddart
Emma: Dr. Maryam Zamani's newest LED mask certainly looks the part. Crafted from patented, medical-grade soft silicone in a millennial pink shade, it moulds to the contours of your face – not unlike one of the best face masks – for a comfortable, sleek aesthetic. Looks aside, it’s also portable, so I found it easy to pop on and get on with my day uninterrupted. As for technology, it boasts two LED light modes: Anti-Ageing (using infrared and red light therapy) and Acne (combining red light and blue light therapy).
Simply slip the mask on, adjust the strap at the back and select your chosen mode to begin your 10–30-minute treatment. Designed to rival the power of clinic tools, this mask delivers impressive results. Clinical trials found that wrinkle depth was reduced by 36% in just four weeks, while collagen fibres increased in just two weeks. Impressive, no? I noticed a brighter, healthier-looking complexion almost immediately after using it.
Read Charley's full MZ Skin LED 2.0 LightMAX Supercharged LED Mask review
Best red light therapy device for the eyes
Reviewed by: Rhiannon Derbyshire and Emma Stoddart
Emma: This hands-free light therapy device is specifically built to target the eye area – including crow’s feet, "eleven" lines and general loss of elasticity in the skin around the eyes – all of which come with age. It's ideal for those with general skin texture and laxity concerns as well as anyone dealing with dark circles, dullness or fine lines in general. If your goal is to supplement the results of the best eye cream with a bit of tech, commit to daily use of this device and we're sure you'll see a noticeable difference within a matter weeks.
In a 10-week clinical study of daily use, 97% of subjects saw a visible improvement. I can get on board with those odds! The adjustable strap that stretches around the back of the head ensures this device is comfortable for a head of any size. As with all beauty routines and products, the more consistent you are with use, the better your results will be. With just two weeks of daily use, I noticed the eye area looked brighter, smoother and somewhat firmer – leaving me impressed.
Read Rhiannon's full Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Spectralite Eyecare Max Pro review
Best red light therapy device for dryness
The FOREO UFO 2
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
Using ultra-fast heating, cooling, pulsations and full-spectrum LED lights, the famous Foreo UFO 2 Smart Mask is a multi-tasking wonder. It starts by warming and prepping the skin, then cools and lifts to add firmness and reduce puffiness. I found this combination of temperatures felt both relaxing and refreshing and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I had throughout the testing process.
Using the FOREO For You app, I synced the mask to my phone using a unique barcode to activate the red light therapy. Talk about futuristic skincare. The best part? This device means that every last drop of essence was applied directly to my face rather than ending up on my hands. Skincare fans of all ages have taken the leap and purchased this more expensive red light therapy mask because it actually delivers on its promises. Great for those of us who seek skincare for dry skin, my skin felt plumper after just four weeks of use.
Best handheld red light therapy device
The Skin Gym Revilit LED Therapy Tool
Reviewed by: Emma Stoddart
While this red light therapy device is one of the more affordable options on the market, it doesn't scrimp on results and still truly delivers. Simple and chic, this millennial pink tool features three different colour modes to tackle various skincare concerns. Blue is ideal for targeting blemishes, while green can calm inflammation and improve the appearance of pigmentation. Then there’s red, the ultimate collagen-boosting light to soften fine lines. To select or change the colour mode, you simply press the pink button positioned on the handle.
As with many of the other devices listed here, this tool allows you to customise your experience for a more bespoke treatment. For example, if you want to soften fine lines on your forehead, apply the red light for three minutes. Chin breaking out? Opt for the blue light and, again, hold it there for three minutes. I found that this device does require a little more arm work than a face mask design (there’s no sitting back and relaxing here), but the results speak for themselves. I noticed a big improvement in the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation in just three weeks.
Read our full Skin Gym Revilit LED Therapy Tool review
The best red light therapy device with comfortable wear
Reviewed by: Lucy Partington and Emma Stoddart
Emma: The Omnilux Contour Face is another very convenient LED mask. Its wireless design and 10-minute timer meant that I could go about working from home or doing chores while wearing it. It utilises two types of light – red and near-infrared – to target fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and redness in the skin.
Lucy: It's comfortable, lightweight and on the affordable side, as LED masks go. I like that it’s wireless, completely hands-free to use and that the head straps are adjustable meaning it feels secure when it’s on. Throughout the time I used the mask, I didn’t notice any immediate results (it’s important to note that, as with most skincare, it can take a while to notice any improvement so it’s important to be patient) but over time, I noticed an improvement in overall brightness and how healthy my skin looked and felt.
Read Lucy's full Omnilux Contour Face review
🚨 Also consider
While these were our experts' top eight picks, the team as a whole tested over 20 different devices and there are a few more that we just had to mention...
- Currentbody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask: A flexible mask just like the Omnilux Contour Face, it hugs the face and delivers a treatment of red and near-infrared LED lights in just 10 minutes. However, as a top LED mask, we thought it was more suitable to sit in our best LED masks guide instead.
- Therabody Theraface Pro: A clever device that allows you to use percussive therapy while performing a red light treatment, this handheld tool lets you deliver a targeted treatment. However, it just missed the cut as it's a bit on the expensive side - especially compared to our best handheld Skingym pick.
- Talika Time Control+: A nifty undereye red light therapy device that's easy to use and not too expensive, while this delivers surprisingly instant results, it can often be quite hard to get hold of the in UK. However, we're keeping an eye on its availability, as we'd love to feature in our list.
How we tested these red light therapy devices
Many brands now offer red light therapy devices and between our panel of experts, we tested around 20 of them for this guide, with only eight making the cut for our very best picks due to their outstanding performance among their competitors and their suitability as red light therapy devices over other LED or mask-like features. If you're looking for LED masks specifically, over red light therapy devices, our best LED masks guide has the top picks that our experts rated. It's worth noting that even the best at-home red light therapy devices won't be as powerful as professional LED treatments that use light therapy for acne or collagen-boosting, for example, but they can still make a difference to your skin.
Each device was tested by one or multiple experts from our team of testers, whose ages range from 32 to 45. Each tool was used everyday (or as close to that as recommended by the brand) over the course of four weeks. The testers used each device at maximum power, in order to test the limits of each tool and ensure consistent assessment. Our testers made their judgments based on the following factors:
- Design: There are so many different types of tool available, so consider whether you want something all-encompassing like a mask, or a device that you're able to spot-treat with.
- Comfort: Particularly with masks, comfort is an aspect to consider. While some of more rigid masks might boast superior technology - like our top Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Skincare Spectralite Faceware Pro pick, they can be a lot less comfortable to wear than something more flexible, like the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask.
- Colours of LED offered: With LED, different colours garner different results, and while here we've tested just red light tools, there are some models, like the Skin Gym Revilit LED Therapy Tool and Omnilux Contour Face, that come with different colour options to target issues like acne, redness or skin sensitivity.
- Variety of treatment options: While most of the tools that we've tested focus on the efficacy of the red light therapy, some of the devices, like the FOREO UFO 2, do come with other functions - so it's worth considering whether these would come in use to your routine, as it can save you on splashing out on other products.
- Ease of use: With different formats and features, some tools will be easier than others to set up and use. If you tend to struggle with tech or want to opt for the most comfortable find, consider what type of format would be best for you.
- Results on skin tone, texture and clarity
- Price and value for money
The testers each assessed their skin after each use for any post-treatment reactions, kept an eye on this throughout the trial for cumulative results and, later, compared how their skin had changed overall once the testing period finished. The devices that we ranked most highly (and that feature in this guide) were the ones that slotted easily into our daily regime without taking up too much time or effort. They were also comfortable and user-friendly and boasted several functions that really delivered results, similar to those used in a professional salon setting.
For more information on our testing process, our how we test page details what our beauty team assesses when reviewing every product.
How do I choose a good red light therapy device?
With so many brilliant tools out there, it can seem hard to select one, but learning what to know before buying a red light therapy tool and considering a few different factors should help you make your decision. "For at-home LED devices, you should look for a device that incorporates red and blue LED and sits flush to the face – this allows the LED to penetrate the skin," says board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon Dr. Dennis Gross. Below are some more key terms and features to look out for when shopping for a red light therapy device.
- Wrinkle-reducing: If one of your main skincare concerns is fine line and wrinkle reduction, be sure to keep an eye out for a device that is designed to target wrinkles in particular.
- Plumping: Seeking a more youthful, glowing appearance overall? Look for a device that addresses ageing skin concerns with red and yellow light specifically.
- Acne or blemish solutions: Blemish-fighting red light therapy devices are often designed to combat acne-causing bacteria and soothe any existing redness and inflammation.
- Pigmentation: Devices with green light are specifically designed to reduce the look of uneven skin tone and pigmentation.
There are also certain factors that we think are essential to assess when choosing a red light therapy device. Consider:
- Product type: Would you prefer a secure mask that you can attach and go about your business or maybe a more comfortable mask for taking out 10 minutes to relax at the end of day? Or perhaps a handheld red light therapy device that will allow you to target different areas?
- Wavelengths: Ensure the mask emits the wavelengths that address your concerns. "The key is to maximise energy, allowing the surface of the skin to be touched by the lights," explains Gross. "415nm is the most effective wavelength for blue light, successfully targeting and killing mild to moderate acne-causing bacteria. For red LED, look for a device that is in the spectral range of 600-1300nm (red and infrared). These wavelengths stimulate collagen production, reduce inflammation and diminish hyperpigmentation."
- Extra Features: Some red light therapy devices come with other features like massage vibrations or percussive attachments, or - like the FOREO UFO 2 - the option to attach a sheet mask for further hydration.
Our expert panel
Emma has worked in the beauty industry for eight years for some of the UK’s top women’s titles, including Net-A-Porter, Stylist and Grazia. During that time she has tested hundreds of beauty products and tools, and kept up-to-date with all the latest innovations in beauty tech.
Emma has contributed to woman&home since 2020, and as the brand's contributing red light therapy expert, she knows everything there is to know about how to choose the best tool for your needs.
Dr Maryam Zamani is a world-renowned Oculoplastic Surgeon and Facial Aesthetics Doctor, who has shared expertise on the benefits of using red light therapy and how to best choose a tool for you.
Dr Dennis Gross is a world-famous Dermatologist, who has shared expertise on the benefits of using red light therapy and how to best choose a tool for you.
As woman&home’s Senior Beauty Editor, Rhiannon has spent years testing beauty products, trialling red light therapy devices since they first started becoming available to the consumer and ensuring that she uses one as part of her skincare routine. She has written several of our red light therapy reviews and is an expert at comparing the different models.
With almost 20 years' experience in the industry, woman&home’s Beauty Editor Stephanie is a pro when it comes to testing beauty products. Covering a range of different beauty topics, she has an extensive knowledge of skincare and is a great judge of red light therapy devices.
Charley has over 20 years of experience working in the beauty industry and has put that knowledge to great use as one of woman&home’s contributing beauty editors. She has covered a range of skincare topics for the brand, from skincare ingredients to new treatments, and has tested several red light therapy devices during her time working with us.
Throughout her decade working in beauty, Lucy has tested everything in beauty from the latest skincare innovations to the most unique fragrance blends. As one of woman&home’s contributing beauty editors, she has reviewed several red light therapy devices, some of which have been voted as the best and landed in our guide.
Your red light therapy device FAQs, answered
What is red light therapy?
Skin professionals have been utilising red light (as well as other wavelengths, including blue and yellow LED) in salons and clinics for years. But what is red light therapy, specifically, how does light therapy work, and what are the actual benefits of red light therapy to your skin?
"LED light therapy encourages wound healing, boosts collagen production and kills P-acne bacteria, addressing a multitude of concerns," explains Genevieve Knodell, aesthetic practitioner at Stratum Dermatology Clinic. "It's great for skin prep, before or after any procedure to accelerate healing by stimulating collagen and elastin, suppressing melanocyte activity and providing anti-inflammatory benefits that will repair and strengthen the skin."
Does red light therapy work at home?
Most experts agree that at-home red light therapy can be an effective skincare treatment, although masks and wands designed to be used away from a clinic setting, understandably, will not be as powerful as in-clinic devices. This is for safety reasons, as very high-strength LED should only be used in the hands of professionals, but there are indicators of an effective and hardworking home device you can look out for and as long as you know how to use an LED face mask, it can work wonders doing it at home.
"To ensure you are using a high-quality [tool], look for a medical-grade device that has clinical studies that clearly show [its] effectiveness," Dr. Gross advises. "There are strict regulations for the strength of red LED at-home devices, however, some are more effective than others. Ultimately, you want the device to lay flat on the skin surface without heat or risk of burning."
Is red light therapy safe?
Experts maintain that red light therapy is generally considered safe for use, aside from those who have reported blistering and burning from faulty units or exceeding the recommended usage time. Eye protection is also recommended when using a facial red light therapy device as an additional precaution.
LŪMMco-founder Ryan McCarthy concurs: "LED light therapy has been around for decades, used for a wide array of cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. At this time, there are no known adverse side effects of the use of LED light therapy. Each product is different; you should always read the instruction manual thoroughly before use. If you have any further questions, contact the brand directly and consult your physician."
"Unlike harmful UV rays used in tanning beds that can burn and damage skin, LED light therapy uses a safe, lower intensity, non-UV infrared light," adds McCarthy. However, he does note that it is not recommended to use red light therapy if you're pregnant.
How many minutes a day should you do red light therapy?
There's no hard and fast recommendation for the frequency of red light therapy use, although most devices recommend once daily, for around 15 minutes, for best results. Several devices will also automatically turn off after a certain amount of time. We strongly encourage checking and following the specific instructions for your chosen device and adhering to the recommended usage. If you see a dermatologist, take your device to them for assessment before trying it and follow their advice on usage.
Can you overdo red light therapy?
Like most beauty treatments, however gentle, it is possible to overdo red light therapy. Side effects of overuse may include inflammation and tissue damage. Dr. Tom Ingegno, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and owner of Charm City Integrative Health in Baltimore, says that, in most cases, 20 minutes of red light therapy (RLT) per day should be sufficient. "Of course, always consult with your primary care doctor before electing to start any new treatment to find what'll work best for you."
However, as Ingegno reminds us, red light "Is a relatively low-risk therapy. It is important to remember that RLT is on the opposite end of the light spectrum and does not have the same issues as heavy amounts of UV light." Thus, the likelihood of any severe side effects is slim, but you'll still want to be careful.