The 11 Best Red Light Therapy Tools of 2026, Tested By Beauty Experts
Our top picks—from Omnilux, Theraface, and Qure—treat acne, boost collagen, and more.

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If you're starting to notice that your skin is looking a little, well, tired, you're not alone. The visible signs of aging—I’m talking fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, even sallow skin—will strike us all sooner or later. Bummer. On the bright side, we're living in an age when there's no shortage of smart beauty devices and skincare products for these issues. From wrinkle-smoothing injections like Botox and fillers to anti-aging creams, you've got an arsenal of skin-boosting tools at your disposal.
But what if I were to tell you that there's one such solution that takes roughly ten minutes a day and can be done while you're relaxing in bed scrolling TikTok? Enter red light therapy.
Best Red Light Therapy Tools
- Best Overall: CurrentBody Skin LED Face Mask: Series 2
- Best Value: Skin Gym Wrinklit LED Mask
- Best For Mature Skin: Qure Light Therapy Mask
- Most Amazon Reviews: Pure Daily Care Luma Mask LED
- The Women’s Health Beauty Award Winner: Solawave Neck & Chest Pro Light Therapy Mask
Red light therapy has exploded in popularity lately because it's convenient, non-invasive, and can be done at home. It uses a specific spectrum of visible light that offers a host of beauty benefits—low-level laser light therapy can effectively treat scars, vitiligo, and psoriasis, research shows. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and can even help to smooth wrinkles, too. So, how does it work? We know that red light penetrates 2 to 3 millimeters into skin's dermis, where it's “absorbed by light-sensitive porphyrins in the mitochondria of skin cells, stimulating energy production in fibroblasts to churn out more collagen,” says dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD.
But the goodness doesn't stop there. Red light can also help fade dark spots and manage eczema, plus boost hair growth, says dermatologist Purvisha Patel, MD. These at-home devices can be expensive, but they're an investment you can use for a lifetime: Many red light therapy tools are also equipped with blue lights, which is particularly effective at treating acne (say buh-bye to those period or menopausal breakouts) and other concerns. Bottom line: At any age—and for years to come—these red light therapy tools can be a beneficial addition to your beauty routine.
What to Consider
I've got a great list of options for you, but if you find yourself in the market for one of the best red light therapy tools, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Type
There are several kinds of red light therapy devices to choose from, including panels, masks, and facial wands, and one may be a better fit for you based on your lifestyle and the area you're seeking to treat.
Masks
LED masks are the most common variety you'll find for home use because most are hands-free and contain a lot of diodes (a fancy way of referring to the individual lightbulbs), offering a powerful burst of light to treat the face, neck, or chest.
Panels
Maybe you're claustrophobic and the idea of wearing masks gives you the heebie jeebies—that's where panels come in. They look like flexible bodyboards that you lie down under, and they come in a diverse range of shapes and sizes, each offering different levels of red light exposure to your face, décolletage, and back. These also help replace the need for a separate lip-specific red light therapy tool.
Facial Wands
Wands are appealing when you want to target smaller specific areas (the crow's feet or smile lines, for example) and prefer to do your treatments on the go (you can walk around while using these).
Undereye Patches, Eye Masks, and Goggles
Our eyes are the first place to show signs of aging, so you’ll want to take a cue from dermatologist Pooja Rambhia, MD, and use these affordable red light therapy eye tools. They target fine lines, wrinkles, darkness, and puffiness early on, making them a smart preventative beauty move.
Time Commitment
It's tempting to pick a device with the quickest treatment window, especially if you don't have loads of free time to sit back and chill with a red light mask. But remember: To treat more advanced signs of aging, a longer treatment time may be more beneficial. Look at the full picture before you base your purchase on the convenience of a quicker treatment. And for what it’s worth, almost all of our featured recommendations can be used in just three minutes, so even busy women can incorporate quick treatments into their routine.
Nanometers
You may notice the abbreviation "nm" on the outer packaging of many of these tools. This stands for nanometers, and refers to the wavelength of the light that the device emits—an important metric to consider, says dermatologist Jody A. Levine, MD. "Red light typically falls between 630 and 660 nanometers, and is good for targeting fine lines and mild discoloration," says Dr. Levine. If you're looking for something slightly more powerful—to deal with deeper wrinkles, sagging, or stubborn pigmentary problems—go with a device that cranks up to the near-infrared range (between 800 and 850 nanometers) to penetrate deeper.
How We Selected
Our beauty team is well-versed in red light therapy tools. We’ve been updating this story since December 2022—and I’ve been writing about these devices since November 2019. I've also been using red light therapy tools since April 2018. They've significantly diminished my stubborn fine lines and hyperpigmentation—and when I stop for a few months, they slowly reappear. Consistency is key, so we tested dozens of red light therapy devices for over two years to determine which ones are worth purchasing and can help us maintain wrinkle-free skin.
Since there are quite literally thousands of options available on Amazon alone, I asked dermatologists about their no-fail picks. Next, I recruited WH staffers—beauty director Brian Underwood, associate style & commerce editor Shannen Zitz, and associate health and fitness editor Addison Aloian—and our beauty contributors—Erica Metzger, Lily Wohlner, and Lisa DeSantis—for their suggestions. After compiling a comprehensive list of promising new launches, old standbys, and products that align with derm guidance, we got to testing.
We spent at minimum three weeks evaluating attributes like ease of use, treatment time, comfort, any tangible results, and overall value. Of the 22 devices tested, these ten delivered the best results in our in-depth testing process.
Beyond keeping expert guidance in mind—type, nanometers, and time commitment—we considered our long- and short-term results. We also considered each product’s durability over the years, and eliminated anything that doesn’t remain in top shape. Ahem, don’t forget to clean your LED face masks to help with their longevity. We also tried the latest drops and the Women’s Health Beauty Award-winning Solawave Neck & Chest Pro Light Therapy Mask took the crown as our favorite launch of the year.
Ultimately, these are the devices that we’ll continue to use and would genuinely repurchase if we had to start our skincare routine from scratch. The best part? Our faves start at just $72, which is a major win for a category that easily ranges from $300 to $700.
Meet the Experts
- 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.
- Purvisha Patel, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare.
- Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD, is a double board-certified surgeon and facial plastic surgery specialist in New York City.
- Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
- Amy Spizuoco, DO, FAOCD, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist in New York.
- Jody A. Levine, is 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?
While many red light devices are generally safe, 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 frequency.
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 into the skin—just patch test on some skin before you do it on the whole face.
What precautions should you take when doing red light therapy at home?
It sounds obvious, but read the instructions carefully and don’t use the device on infected skin, says Dr. Patel. Most LED face masks come with goggles to shield your eyes, wearing one offers essential protection. And, be sure that you don't fall asleep with the mask or tool on your face longer than instructed or it can result in scars and burns, says Dr. Camp notes. Most tools have an auto turn-off feature, but if yours doesn’t, then set a timer on your smartphone.
More Dermatologist-Approved Beauty Devices
Best Clear Sunscreen | Best Wrinkle Cream | Best at Home Waxing Kit | Best Body Wash for Women | Best Lip Balm | Best Moisturizer for Mature Skin | Best At Home Laser Hair Removal | Best Hair Brush | Best Epilator| Best Microcurrent Device | Best Moisturizers With SPF| Best Powder Sunscreens| Best Sunscreens For Sensitive Skin| Best Tinted Moisturizers With SPF| Best Zinc Oxide Sunscreens | Best Sunscreens For Dark Skin Tones
Additional reporting by associate health and fitness editor Addison Aloin and contributing writer Lily Wohlner.
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.
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.

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