We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
8 best red light therapy eye masks of 2026, according to beauty experts
These targeted LED devices can help tackle fine lines, dark circles and puffiness 👀

Want more tried and tested recommendations from the Editors of Women’s Health? Sign up to our monthly newsletter The Edit. Click here to subscribe.
After hitting a milestone age (woo!) I've noticed that my dark circles and smile lines have become harder to ignore (boo!). Sure, I use an under-eye cream twice daily, but I need something more to help increase collagen production and target visible signs of ageing. Since I'm scared of needles and don't plan on getting Botox or fillers anytime soon, I've been looking for non-invasive ways to help slow down visible ageing.
Enter red light therapy eye masks. I've had positive experiences testing full LED face masks, but red light therapy under-eye patches and glasses are more affordable, making them ideal for my fellow budget-conscious millennials. These suggestions start at just £99, which is drastically lower than full-face LED masks that easily cost £400-£950. After all, our eyes are the first place on our faces to show signs of ageing, so targeting fine lines, wrinkles, darkness, and puffiness early on is a smart preventative beauty move, says dermatologist Dr. Pooja Rambhia, MD.
Best red light therapy eye masks at a glance
Red light therapy and wrinkles: Collagen gives our skin its structure, strength, and elasticity. However, our natural collagen production declines from around the age of 30. Thus, stimulating collagen with these devices helps plump up our wrinkles and fine lines.
For dark circles, effectiveness depends on the underlying cause. 'When dark circles stem from thin skin where blood vessels show through, red light therapy can help by promoting collagen production to thicken the skin,' says Dr. Rambhia. However, she says red light therapy is unlikely to significantly improve dark circles caused by genetics, hyperpigmentation, or volume loss.
And as for inflammation, red light therapy can mildly help your under-eye bags by reducing inflammation. But, it will not address infraorbital fat pad herniation, which is when the fat under your eyes bulges out, says Dr. Rambhia.
What to consider
The dermatologists I consulted recommend three key factors to look out for when shopping, including wavelengths, design, and time commitment.
Wavelengths
Red light wavelengths between 630-680 nanometers (nm) are effective for stimulating collagen production, says dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, MD, who points to a 2024 study on the efficacy of photobiomodulation. These rays target the superficial skin layers, reaching around 8-10 millimetres deep, where they stimulate fibroblast production and help create wrinkle-plumping collagen. This process can also help improve skin texture and tone, says Dr. Rambhia.
Near-infrared wavelengths range between 700-1440 nm, are ideal for stubborn wrinkles in mature skin because they reach several centimetres into the skin, says Dr. Rambhia.
Some devices like the CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Mask combine both red and near-infrared wavelengths to address surface concerns and deeper cellular regeneration for more comprehensive anti-ageing benefits than single-wavelength treatments, says Dr. Rambhia.
Design
Red light therapy devices for our eye area come as either patches or look similar to a pair of goggles. Each type has its respective benefits and limitations.
Patches
Reusable under-eye patches sit directly under your eye, which is excellent for anyone targeting dark circles. So, how do the patches stay on? Sure, you could lay down and hope they stay in place, but that’s not a fail-safe move. You’ll want to use the included hydrocolloid or sticky patches to adhere the rechargeable devices to the skin for a hands-free treatment. You can also angle them to stick over your crow's feet if dark circles aren’t a major concern for you.
They’re just as effective at anti-ageing as goggle designs, but take up less space so they’re more helpful for hyper-targeted treatments. Reach for these compact, cordless, and travel-friendly devices if you’ve got a tighter budget or aren’t concerned with targeting 11 lines between your eyebrows or deep wrinkles. Patches are also generally cheaper than glasses and goggles. For example, the Omnilux patch is £86, while the CurrentBody goggles are £189.99.
Glasses and goggles
These tools, including the Dr Dennis Gross Skincare model, look similar to sunglasses or goggles, and treat the entire eye area. Since they cover a wider space, you’ll pay more than patches, but still less than a traditional red light therapy wand, panel, or face mask. Rather than sticking to your face they have an adjustable band to secure them around your head. If you can afford to spend a little extra upfront, I recommend reaching for glasses since you get more coverage right away.
Time commitment
We all have busy lives, but it's important not to cut corners when using these devices. Reading and actually adhering to the directions for frequency and duration are crucial for achieving visible results. These two factors will vary among the devices, but overall, all featured picks are all quick additions to your routine.
Some of these models, like the MZ Skin patches, require a 10 minute treatment 3-5 times weekly (totally 30-50 minutes per week), while the Solawave should be used for a shorter 3-minute daily session, or 21-minute weekly commitment.
The more frequently you use the device, the more visible are your results. But you'll want to stick to the suggested guidance since it's a range brands have found are safe for their devices – and it'll prevent any accidental damage.
How we test red light therapy eye masks
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Women's Health and has nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like red light therapy for hair growth and LED face masks, into easy-to-understand guides. Saunders takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, such as strengthening shampoos and body washes for dry skin on our site.
Previously, she was the beauty editor at Best Products where she tested quite literally thousands of launches for her quarterly column and the Best New Beauty Awards package. She also launched the beauty and wellness coverage at NBC News and contributed to CNN, Cosmopolitan, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Harper's BAZAAR.
You can follow her on Instagram to stay in the loop on her product testing adventures.
Hattie Parish is the Senior Health and Wellness Ecommerce Editor for Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World, covering the best gym wear, latest fitness tech and wellness launches worth investing in, plus the best deals during Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
As well as clocking up the miles in myriad running socks, pummelling her muscles with massage guns, testing out fitness mirrors and donning dry robes every other weekend, Hattie consults leading experts in the health and fitness industry to help readers make informed decisions when shopping online.
Brought up by two medics, Hattie worked in health clinics before completing a BA in English at King’s College London. She qualified as a journalist in 2015 and has since written for titles such as Healthy magazine, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar and Red, as well as worked commercially with health and wellness clients such as Holland & Barrett, Lloyds Pharmacy and Superdrug.
Hattie is passionate about arming readers with honest, unbiased product reviews and has a particular interest in the role of technology in our wellbeing, as well as gender-based inequalities in healthcare. When she’s not putting gym wear through its paces on the Pilates reformer or kitting out her home gym (garage) with the latest equipment, she’s attempting to make progress on her teetering pile of bedside books, cycling round South East London or sampling wellness retreats for the Women’s Health travel pages.
Dr. Pooja Rambhia, FAAD is a board-certified and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist practicing at UnionDerm in New York City and Greenwich, CT. She provides comprehensive cosmetic and medical dermatologic care, specializing in laser treatments, injectables, and facial and body contouring.
Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.





















