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

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.

In our evaluations, testers loved the structure of the mask, which sits squarely on the face so it won't need to be constantly readjusted (an annoying feature of some of the others we tried). That being said, our testers told us it isn't heavy or cumbersome. "This mask is lightweight, and fit my face perfectly, making me feel like I was reaping the most benefits," says Earley.

One testers also loved the fact that they could multitask during the quick three-minute sessions, tidying the house, making lunch for the kids, and even responding to email. This is largely made possible thanks to the removable eye protection—essentially a liner for the eye area that allows you to see what you're doing but blocks any of the red light from filtering through the eye holes.

It is a little tricky to get the eye protection into the mask at first (even after reading the directions, our tester inserted the removable eye protection in the wrong way), but a quick tutorial video solved the problem.

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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.)

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.

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.

During more than a year of evaluations, we saw noticeable results, too. One of our testers, a regular user for an entire year, says her rosacea, acne, and wrinkles have all reduced. Plus, she told us her skin just feels better overall.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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