Do Red-Light Therapy Tools *Actually* Work? I Tested Them Out

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If you follow any celebs, skinfluencers, or beauty editors (hi!) on IG, you’ve probably seen them donning a freaky-looking red-light therapy face mask from time to time. But, why, exactly? Well, red-light therapy at home—and in office—can help stimulate your skin’s collagen production (and also potentially minimize inflammation) to lead to softened fine lines and smoother skin with continued use. Which is why tons of red-light therapy masks, wands, and devices have flooded the market in the last year, all claiming to work anti-aging miracles in the name of ~self-care~.

The only issue? Not all devices for doing red-light therapy at home are actually effective. Since there are literally 200+ options to choose from, I spoke with board-certified dermatologists Michelle Henry, MD, and Mona Gohara, MD, to determine the best devices based on your skin goals, including inexpensive Amazon LED masks, light panels for your face and body, and handheld devices that even massage your face at the same time. Get a sneak peek at five of our faves below:

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Keep scrolling for the full list of the best at-home red-light therapy devices below, along with answers from the experts on how to choose the best one for you, the lowdown on wavelengths, and more.

If you follow any celebs, skinfluencers, or beauty editors (hi!) on IG, you’ve probably seen them donning a freaky-looking red-light therapy face mask from time to time. But, why, exactly? Well, red-light therapy at home—and in office—can help stimulate your skin’s collagen production (and also potentially minimize inflammation) to lead to softened fine lines and smoother skin with continued use. Which is why tons of red-light therapy masks, wands, and devices have flooded the market in the last year, all claiming to work anti-aging miracles in the name of ~self-care~.

The only issue? Not all devices for doing red-light therapy at home are actually effective. Since there are literally 200+ options to choose from, I spoke with board-certified dermatologists Michelle Henry, MD, and Mona Gohara, MD, to determine the best devices based on your skin goals, including inexpensive Amazon LED masks, light panels for your face and body, and handheld devices that even massage your face at the same time. Get a sneak peek at five of our faves below:

Keep scrolling for the full list of the best at-home red-light therapy devices below, along with answers from the experts on how to choose the best one for you, the lowdown on wavelengths, and more.

LED Light Therapy Mask

If you saw this flexible mask on Emily in Paris and were trés intrigued, you’ll be excited to hear Emily’s fave is mine too. Why? Because it’s made of flexible silicone that fits snugly to your face to ensure its two red-light wavelengths—infrared to penetrate deeper into your skin and regular red light to treat the surface—hit all the contours of your face. This also makes it really comfortable to wear, whether you’re chilling on the couch or getting some work done.

• Type: Mask

• Target Area(s): Full Face

• Light: Red

THE REVIEWS: “My esthetician recommended this product to start targeting signs of aging,” writes a reviewer. “I’m now 31 and noticed fine lines around my eyes and deeper lines on my forehead. I’ve been using this four to five times a week for eight weeks now and genuinely can see a difference. My skin looks firmer, brighter, smoother and a bit more glowy!”

4-in-1 Facial Wand

I'm an avid ice-roller and gua sha sh-er, so it's no major surprise that this portable massaging device has earned a spot in my daily routine, too. It’s a tiny, do-it-all tool that emits red light, which is thought to help reduce inflammation, making your face a bit less puffy, as well as smooth fine lines over time, while softly vibrating and sending gentle electrical currents into your facial muscles to give them a temporarily tighter appearance (like my fave microcurrent devices).

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face and neck

• Light: Red

THE REVIEWS: “I’ve been reading about this miracle gadget everywhere for months and finally bit the bullet to see what all the hype is about and let me say, I am obsessed,” a tester writes. “Already noticing firmer, more glowy skin with less fine lines. Such an easy and enjoyable nighttime ritual to give myself a little at home spa treatment all while sitting in front of the tv. Definitely recommend!”

DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

Go ahead, give your roommate a scare with this mask, because the mix of red and blue light is great when used consistently for acne. This mask from Dr. Dennis Gross includes 162 LEDs to help stimulate collagen production with red light and help clear acne-causing bacteria with blue light. You can try each mode individually, or, if you’re looking to plump up your skin and help improve skin clarity, try the combined mode that uses both lights.

• Type: Mask

• Target Area(s): Full face

• Light: Red and blue (which potentially helps treat acne)

THE REVIEWS: “This works!” a tester writes. “I bought this about a year ago, and this totally helps my skin not break out or have adult acne. It also helps with wrinkles too. My skin looks amazing and I am always receiving compliments on how beautiful my skin is at age 44. I highly recommend this product!”

For Wrinkles LED Light Therapy Device

This LightStim device subtly smooths fine lines and wrinkles with multiple wavelengths, a characteristic of higher-end devices, per Dr. Gohara. It uses a whopping 72 LEDs: amber light that’s thought to calm skin, along with light red, dark red, and infrared lights for boosting collagen production. So if you’re prone to irritation and dryness in specific areas of your face (like your crow’s feet or around your mouth), you’ll be able to spot-treat zones with this handheld device. All you do is flip the switch on and hold it on the area you want to target for three minutes because the device automatically turns off.

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face and neck

• Light: Red and amber (which is thought to potentially help calm inflammation)

THE REVIEWS: “I was skeptical of all of the five-star reviews, but I have to say I am very impressed so far,” writes a reviewer. “I’ve been using it for about two weeks, and my forehead lines are not as deep, and my skin discoloration has visibly improved.”

Revilit LED Light

While most at-home red-light therapy devices cost well into what I’d spend on an Eras Tour ticket, this one from SkinGym is actually under $100, making it a great option for anyone looking to try out LED light. It comes with three LED light modes (red to boost collagen production, green light to potentially help even hyperpigmentation, and blue light to help reduce acne-causing bacteria. Just hold it over the areas of your face you want to target, choose a light color, and set a timer for five minutes.

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face and neck

• Lights: Red, green (which might potentially help evens skin tone), blue (which helps kills acne-causing bacteria)

THE REVIEWS: “I love this little gadget,” reads one tester’s review. “I have used it every other day for about a month. If I skip a few days, I definitely notice and crave this little machine. I see my sun spots fading and small wrinkles going away. It’s made a HUGE difference.”

UFO 2 Device

Connect to the Foreo app and enter your skin concerns, then smooth on a sheet mask and glide the device over your skin. It’ll emit red light to potentially help boost some collagen, along with chilly cryotherapy to bring down some inflammation, and warm thermotherapy and gentle pulsations to help relax your skin and soothe sore muscles. Your face mask-ing just got a major upgrade.

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face and neck

• Light: Red

THE REVIEWS: “Great device to enhance your masking ritual,” writes a reviewer. “The heat allows the skin to absorb serums faster than a sheet mask alone. Very pampering experience.”

RejuvaliteMD Red Light Therapy

If you’ve ever wished you could do red-light therapy at home over your entire body, you need this device. I legit sit in front of this LED panel for five minutes a day while meditating or listening to a podcast and let the red light do its thing to trigger my body’s collagen production. I also love it because I can use it on my face, neck, and body (like the time I got chin CoolSculpting and wanted to boost collagen so my skin stayed firm). Just make sure to sit four to six inches away from the device so that the red light touches every inch of your face.

• Type: Panel

• Target Area(s): Face, neck, body

• Light: Red

THE REVIEWS: “I've been using Trophy faithfully for almost eight weeks,” a tester writes. “I am 49 and have good skin, but I am noticing a fuller, more youthful appearance. My husband, who is always skeptical of my purchases, says that he thinks my skin looks younger and it has softened lines and wrinkles.”

Blue & Red LED-Light Therapy Acne Treatment

If you just want to quickly order an at-home red-light therapy device on Amazon, try this handheld one that offers both red and blue light to both help stimulate collagen and reduce acne-causing bacteria. Start with the blue-light treatment head to help treat breakouts, then, after three minutes (your device will beep when it's time), snap on the red-light treatment head to potentially help offset some inflammation. IMO, it's a smart option for anyone who is curious to see what the red-light therapy hype is all about without blowing one (or several!) paychecks.

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face

• Light: Red and blue (which helps kills acne-causing bacteria)

THE REVIEWS: “I honestly did not expect any results, but was pleasantly surprised,” writes one tester. “I had a hormonal cyst on my chin right before I had to leave town. I used the blue light to kill bacteria first, then followed up with the red for inflammation. Um...my zit never surfaced. It went away. Mind. Blown.”

The Go 2.0

Red light can potentially help decrease inflammation (evidence is limited, so more studies are required), which is why people swear by this red-light therapy panel to soothe sore muscles and tight joints. Just hold the panel five to eight inches away from your body and it will emit red and near-infrared light, which can help boost collagen and elastin production over time. You can pair the tool via bluetooth with the Joov Light Therapy app to change between different modes—whether you’re looking to help relax sore muscles or smooth skin—plan treatment goals, track your sessions, and set up reminders.

• Type: Handheld/panel

• Target Area(s): Face, neck, and body

• Light: Red

THE REVIEWS: “I notice a difference when I haven't used it after two or more days,” writes a reviewer. “It helps improve my mood and energy, and it also eases stressed muscles. I was concerned it would be too small, but I love the size and portability.”

TheraFace Pro Handheld Facial Massage Device

I love my Theragun for getting kinks out of my neck and massaging sore muscles, but I might be an even bigger fan of the TheraFace device. It has five different attachments, including a red light and infrared treatment that I can pair with the tool’s massage heads for an ultra-relaxing self-care moment. And when I’m not doing red-light therapy at home, I’ll just pop on the cleansing brush or microcurrent head to DIY a spa-esque treatment. Seriously love this thing.

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face

• Light: Red

THE REVIEWS: “I have been using this product for a while and love how many options I have,” writes one reviewer. “There are multiple settings for light therapy, massaging, and microcurrent. I use the microcurrent most often, along with the red light with the massager at the same time, and my skin looks smoother and feels more firm.”

LED Lip Perfector

The coolest thing about doing red-light therapy at home is that certain devices (like this one from CurrentBody) allow you to target ultra-specific areas, like your lips. The lip mask helps target the fine lines and wrinkles around your mouth using 56 LED lights in four colors (amber, red, deep red, and infrared), each at a different wavelength, to potentially plump up your skin via increased collagen production. Just bite down on the tool to keep it pressed to your mouth, let it work for three minutes, then live your life.

• Type: Wearable

• Target Area(s): Lips

• Light: Red and amber (which potentially can help calm inflammation)

THE REVIEWS: “The LED lip perfector is so easy and convenient to use,” writes a reviewer. “It only takes three minutes a day. I started using this in September, and I saw results after eight weeks. My feather lines are no longer obvious, and my lips look fuller and plumper.”

Trinity Wrinkle Reducer Attachment

If you already own a NuFace Trinity device, grab this attachment that snaps on to allow you to treat your fine lines and wrinkles in between your microcurrent facials. It uses red, amber, and infrared light to help penetrate your skin's layers at different depths. But a quick tip: Pair it with a NuFace treatment five times a week for two months to start seeing cumulative results, then incorporate it two to three times a week to maintain firm, plump skin.

• Type: Handheld

• Target Area(s): Face and neck

• Light: Red and amber (which is thought to potentially help calm inflammation)

THE REVIEWS: “I purchased this as a Christmas gift and have used it every day since,” writes one reviewer. “I have noticed a difference in the overall texture of my skin, as well as the appearance, and it has only been a week! It is easy to use and is portable.”

Professional Laser Hair Growth System

If hair-growth supplements and hair-growth oils aren’t helping you grow your hair longer, you may want to try treatments that help create a healthy environment for your scalp, like this red-light therapy helmet. Red LED lights get absorbed into your hair follicle, which helps increase circulation, boosts collagen production, and can potentially prolong the growth phase of your hair. Just know it’ll take time (think: 25 minutes every other day for three to six months) to start seeing results, but luckily, you can wear it while you’re working, watching TV, cooking, chilling—however.

• Type: Mask

• Target Area(s): Scalp

• Light: Red

THE REVEWS: According to one review, “I began using iRestore almost five months ago. I could see a lot of hair growing in after eight weeks, and it has not stopped growing. I still see a lot of new hair. The stylists in my hair salon can’t believe how much my hair has filled in.”

What does red-light therapy do?

Red-light therapy is a treatment that emits visible red lights onto your skin, which is said to help increase collagen production (to slowly smooth fine lines and plump up your skin), and is also thought to potentially calm some inflammation from rosacea and acne. There are also claims that red-light therapy can reduce swelling and boost hair growth, but as with many claims around light therapy, more evidence and research is needed.

Still, if you’re just looking to try red-light therapy at home for the anti-aging benefits, it’s definitely worth experimenting with. As Dr. Henry explains, the low-energy red light can help stimulate your cells and activate your fibroblasts (the cells responsible for creating collagen). So with continued use, a red-light mask or device can potentially lead to plumper, firmer skin.

Can I do red-light therapy at home?

Yes, you can do red-light therapy at home with a wand, mask, or panel. At home, red-light therapy devices utilize low energy, compared to the high-energy treatments you’d get in-office. Board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, recommends red-light therapy at home as a convenient and accessible option for people to utilize in between, as an add-on to other treatments, or even in lieu of in-office treatments.

How long should I do red-light therapy at home?

Though every device differs on how long to do red-light therapy at home, most tools recommend 3 to 20 minutes per session, depending on the area you're targeting. You’ll need to consistently use your device to see results, but always research your specific tool first, since some recommend daily use, while others suggest incorporating the tool into your routine two to three times a week, says Dr. Henry.

Is red-light therapy a gimmick?

No, red-light therapy is not a “gimmick,” but it definitely requires more research. A small-scale study in 2014 found that red-light therapy can help increase collagen production, but that isn’t enough evidence to seriously claim that LED treatments can get rid of your wrinkles or fine lines. Similarly, in a small 2021 study, researchers plucked hair follicles from humans and set them under red lights for five minutes every other day and noticed these follicles stayed in the growth phase longer, which led to longer hair. But as of 2023, we have yet to see any studies trying red-light therapy on actual human heads.

It’s also thought that red-light therapy can also possibly decrease inflammation, leading to faster wound healing (including acne), but more research needs to be done to fully confirm how red-light therapy, especially low-wavelength options you can do at home, impacts inflammation.

What are the cons of red light therapy?

The biggest con of at-home red light therapy is that it could potentially hurt your eyes if you don’t wear goggles to protect them, says Dr. Henry. Check to see if your tool covers your eyes (LED masks usually have eye cut-outs), or if it comes with safety glasses. If not, make sure to order a pair of light-therapy goggles to wear during your treatments.

The only other “con” is its time requirements. Depending on the device, you’ll have to incorporate red light into your routine at least two to three days a week for up to six months to potentially notice results. Which is why it’s important to choose a device you’ll enjoy using on the regular.

How to choose the best red-light therapy at-home device:

Consider the different types of devices

At-home red-light therapy is available in a mix of options depending on your ~vibes~. Want to get stuff done around your apartment while you do your red-light therapy? Try an LED light mask. Or perhaps you prefer to take the three minutes out of your day to chill out and massage your face, which means you might like a double-duty handheld red-light device. If you want to get the red-light benefits on your face and body though, definitely check out a panel you can prop up and use on your legs, chest, and stomach.

Take wavelength and color into consideration

Every red-light therapy device features different red and infrared wavelengths. So, you should consider which type of light you want depending on your goals, as well as how strong you want the light to be. The most effective wavelengths, according to Dr. Henry, are in the mid-600 nanometer range (which every tool on this list meets, btw).

Similarly, figure out if you want a device that only features red lights, or one that incorporates a mix of different colors. For example, some masks offer modes for red light, as well as blue light to help kill acne-causing bacteria, green light to reportedly even out your skin tone, and amber light to possibly help reduce some inflammation.

Think about your budget

You don’t have to purchase the most expensive device on the market to reap results. Dr. Gohara compares it to purchasing a car: “If you get the base model, it may not have all the bells and whistles,” she says. So, check in with yourself on the features you actually do prioritize, like multiple wavelengths for a more rounded treatment, or an auto shut-off if you just want to pop on your red-light therapy mask and forget about it.

Meet the experts:

• Michelle Henry, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and Harvard-trained Mohs surgeon in New York, NY. At her practice at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, Dr. Henry believes in using the most state-of-the-art techniques and research-backed methods to provide high-quality and holistic care.

• Mona Gohara, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Hamden, CT. Dr. Gohara is an associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine and president of the Women’s Dermatologic Society. Her areas of expertise include medical and surgical dermatology and treating skin of color.

Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?

Marisa Petrarca is a contributing beauty writer for Cosmopolitan with over five years of experience researching and writing about makeup, skin, and hair, ranging from collagen creams to under-eye wrinkle treatments. She discussed collagen cream with the three dermatologists featured in this story and dove into reviews and research to recommend the best products.

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