We have NASA to thank for red light therapy.
Before the skin-loving, hair-follicle stimulating benefits were discovered, the LED was used by astronauts to combat injury on space missions before becoming a fixture in professional clinics.
The world’s leading aesthetics harnessed red light after NASA’s data revealed its impact on the skin’s reparative process, stimulating collagen, calming inflammation, busting breakouts and improving the appearance of pigmentation.
It has been predicted that red light therapy will be one of 2025’s biggest wellness trends, harking back to NASA’s original intentions for its creation. “Consumers will increasingly incorporate LED devices into their self-care routines not just for skin rejuvenation, but also for overall wellness”, suggests Dr Treacy, owner of Ailesbury Clinic Dublin and Cork. “This shift will position LED light therapy as a versatile tool, bridging the gap between beauty and health, and making it a staple in both skincare regimens and wellness practices.”
What do the experts say? To decode everything you need to know about red light therapy, we called on Emma Wedgwood, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Natalia Armaganova, Heleo4 Brand Director to find out more.
What is red light therapy?
Armaganova explains, “Red light therapy (RLT) is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that uses low-wavelength red light to penetrate the skin and to stimulate cellular function. It's often used in dermatology and aesthetic treatments to rejuvenate the skin and speed up the healing process.
“With wavelengths typically between 630 and 850 nanometers, red light therapy helps to boost collagen production and improve circulation, making it effective for reducing wrinkles and treating acne”.
Wedgwood adds, “In addition to skincare, red light therapy improves blood circulation, making it effective for treating muscle pain, reducing joint inflammation, promoting hair growth, and even supporting better vision. Its versatility has made it a popular choice not only in aesthetics but also in broader wellness treatments”.
How do red light therapy devices work?
“Red light therapy devices work by emitting low-wavelength red light that penetrates into the skin and tissues”, says Armaganova. “Once the light reaches the cells, it stimulates the mitochondria, which are like the powerhouses of the cells”.
Continuing on, Wedgwood reveals, “This light boosts cellular energy production, enabling cells to repair and regenerate more rapidly. As a result, it improves skin tone, reduces signs of ageing, and accelerates the healing of damaged skin. The therapy also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, helping to keep skin firm and radiant”.
Both draw attention to red light therapy’s improvement of blood circulation, which Wedgwood adds, “further enhances the skin's regenerative processes”. She says too that it “has even been shown to improve minor vision issues”.
Armaganova ends by explaining that “The treatment is gentle and non-invasive, making it a popular choice for people looking to improve their skin’s health without downtime or discomfort”.
Are home red light therapy devices worth it?
“Home red light therapy devices can be a convenient and affordable option for improving your skin from the comfort of your home. However, it’s important to manage expectations”, Wedgwood cautions. “While home devices can deliver results, professional treatments are generally more powerful and produce quicker, more noticeable improvements. For home devices, results may take longer to appear and are more suited to long-term use”.
Armaganova agrees, adding that “If you’re looking for subtle improvements or maintenance, a home device might be an option, but for more significant concerns like deeper wrinkles, severe acne, and faster results, in-clinic treatments are likely to be far more effective”.
What makes a good red light therapy device?
Look out for the following, according to Wedgwood.
- Wavelength: A high-quality red light therapy device should operate within the optimal wavelength range of 600 to 1000 nanometers, ensuring it effectively boosts skin repair and collagen production. Power: The device should have sufficient power to penetrate deeply into the skin, and a larger surface area can make treatments faster by covering more skin at once.
- Clinically tested: Look for devices that have been clinically tested or are FDA-approved to ensure safety and efficacy.
- Medical professional: While red light therapy is generally considered a safe treatment, it's always wise to consult with a medical professional before starting, especially if you have any underlying conditions.
Shop the best red light therapy devices below
Best red light therapy devices for skin
Lyma Pro
Lyma changed the beauty game with its Lyma Laser. The medical grade, 500mW infra-red beam transformed our perception of what at-home tech could do, addressing skin concerns from pigmentation to rosacea. For those looking to work on larger areas, the 1,450mW Lyma Pro has advanced cosmetic laser technology and is eight times larger than standard devices.
The brand uses low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) that is said to penetrate the skin even deeper than traditional red-light therapy, through past the fat and muscle tissue to a cellular level for results that are beyond the superficial. It’s clinic grade but that doesn’t mean it’s painful. Far from. The laser scientists, plastic surgeons and geneticists involved in the creation of the device engineered the technology to rejuvenate the face, neck and full body (arms and legs included) with no downtime and in just three minutes of daily use. A turbocharged treatment.
Buy now £4995.00, Lyma
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
Beauty tech is CurrentBody’s bread and butter so we had high hopes for its own-brand LED mask - and we weren’t disappointed. For pre-party prep, this treatment has you covered.
There’s a combination of collagen-stimulating red lights as well as infrared that has a rejuvenating effect on areas of the skin that need healing. There are anti-ageing benefits too where you may see a reduction in the look of wrinkles - with many users suggesting that this happens in just one month. This is of course depending on how deep set these are, but you should at least notice the improvement of tone, texture and tightness - consistency is key though.
Easy to slip into your everyday routine, you can use the mask for just 10 minutes three to five times a day. Pop on the kettle and take the opportunity to use this time for a respite from the craziness of everyday life. When you’re travelling or out and about, the new and flexible poured liquid silicone exterior means you can slip it into your luggage with ease, while also being kinder and better fitting on the contour of the face.
For the Series 2 Mask, the beauty gadget specialist has upgraded the LEDs used for greater precision never before guaranteed - it now uses those with wavelengths 633nm and 830nm being within -/-2.5nm.
Buy now £399.00, CurrentBody
The Light Salon Boost LED Face Mask
The Light Salon was founded in 2015 to offer in-clinic treatments using, you guessed it, LED lights. But if you’re not able to book in at their Harvey Nichols, Selfridges or Cowshed locations, you can still treat your complexion to the penetrating nourishing rays.
This mask is created to adapt to the contours of the face with its silicone material. The red light tackles redness, evens out tone and boosts collagen, while Near-Infrared harnesses the power of deeply penetrating wavelengths to encourage circulation, remove toxins and nourish the skin as one of the more unique treatments that makes this stand out from the crowd. Not only will this help rebuild and counter signs of ageing, but it also encourages better absorption of skincare products that follow.
Treatment time is 10 minutes and the brand suggest usage between three to five days a week.
Buy now £395.00, John Lewis
Dr Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Legendary dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross is the expert behind this LED face mask that was created with acne suffers in mind.
Bringing the in-clinic experience to the comfort of your own home, you need not travel to Dr Gross’ Manhattan establishment to get the results. In just three minutes, the combination of 100 red collagen boosting and 62 blue bacteria busting lights will work their magic to bring you a clearer, plumper and more youthful complexion. It’s a powerful treatment that encourages cell turnover and so is ideal for healing those red raw blemishes.
You will notice the control button on the forehead that is pressed to activate a different mode. After the alloted time, it turns itself off but while in use, the cordless design allows you to go about your typical tasks.
We suggest popping it on during one of the many Zoom meetings you have in a day - just don’t forget to turn your camera off. Results are not immediate but gradual with consistent daily use over the course of 10 or so weeks.
Available with a luxe-looking white and gold exterior or a sleek black iteration.
Buy now £465.00, Selfridges
TheraFace PRO
The state-of-the-art TheraFace PRO was created with a clear mission in mind: to make skin look healthier. Therabody, the brand that created the gadget, has turned its attention from post-exercise muscle recovery to this portable facial health device, incorporating its signature percussive therapy in order to relax and work the muscles at a deeper level.
The professional experience at home, it harnesses the knowledge of dermatologists, scientists, and skin health experts to create an all-encompassing device that incorporates a whole lot of science-backed treatments in one, whether its the brand’s trademarked Cryothermal Technology, migraine release or microcurrent therapy.
The product is one of the most customisable on the market with magnetic ring attachments to tailor each individual treatment as well as offering the ability to combine for the timepoor. Use on a regular basis and you will notice the evening out of skin tone, a boost in elasticity and a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as a healthy glow.
Buy now £375.00, Therabody
Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
To get the most out of the Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device, you must lie down, relax and take some well-deserved me-time as unlike many of the other facial gadgets in this edit, it does not attach to your face, so multitasking is out of the question.
Nonetheless, it is one of the most potent LED gadgets on the market that uses three wavelengths; blue (415nm), red (633nm) and near-infrared (830nm), all of which have been clinically proven to reduce the look of ageing, soothe inflammation and minimise the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
There are 360 bulbs and a curved design for full facial exposure. It even reaches the neck too. In user tests, the brand has found that beyond the anti-ageing properties of stimulating collagen, it has found results in healing of wounds, busting blemishes and calming likes of rosacea. In fact, the Dermalux has been clinically proven to clear mild to moderate spots by 76 per cent in a month of usage, increase skin elasticity by 36 per cent, improve skin texture and smoothness by up to 79 per cent and increase cell regeneration by up to 200 per cent.
Buy now £1999.00, CurrentBody
Omnilux Contour LED Light Therapy Mask
Omnilux shot to the top of the wishlists of beauty enthusiasts after appearing on Kim Kardashian’s Instagram. While detailing why she included the LED Light Therapy Mask in SKIMS press packages, she gave the brand her seal of approval – after all, with all the treatments at her disposal, the billionaire entrepreneur chose this one. This is no doubt on account of the medical-grade LED technology that is harnessed - advanced functionality to rival that of professional-grade clinic treatments.
The Contour FACE has a flexible design that wraps around the face to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles through red and infrared wavelengths of light. It uses the trademarked Omnilux Medical light therapy to penetrate at a cellular level to stimulate collagen. In testing, we found the mask calmed inflammation and redness, while continuous use impacted the look of pigmentation.
The brand suggests using three to five times a week for 10 minutes for up to six weeks to see results.
Buy now £319.00, Amazon
FAQ 202 Smart Anti Aging NIR + 7 LED Face Light Therapy Mask
FAQ comes under the FOREO brand and like its parent company, innovation is its mission. This supercharged LED mask is not content on just the one or two wavelengths that many of its competitors use – no, no.
The brand calls on eight different wavelengths, rivalling the tech used in professional treatments. These are placed on a flexible silicone face-moulding mask that is wireless and lightweight so easy to take on the go and multitask during the treatment. While doing so, the LEDs tackle your pressing skincare concerns, from age spots and uneven texture to blemishes and a lack of radiance. You can use the five-minute treatment that comes as standard or personalise a programme in the companion app.
Buy now £683.73, Amazon
LUSTRE ClearSkin 3XPRESS Beauty Patches
For breakout-prone skin, forget squeezing, poking and prodding. At the first sign of a blemish, call instead on the LUSTRE ClearSkin 3XPRESS patches that use red and blue LED light to revitalise the skin in just three minutes.
The compact size provides a targeted treatment, so you can place it under your eyes, forehead, cheeks, chin or wherever you need to tackle your skin concerns – be it to even out skin tone, banish pesky spots, combat oiliness or transform dullness.
Buy now £110.00, Amazon
BEAUTYPRO LED WAND 5-in-1 Anti-Ageing Device
For targeted red-light treatment, the BEAUTYPRO LED Wand 5-in-1 Anti-Ageing Device is on hand – it can be literally too. You can use it on your face, neck, hands or anywhere you are concerned about fine lines forming.
It uses red and blue light, the former of which boosts collagen, while the latter is responsible for fighting blemishes and soothing inflammation. But that’s just the beginning. EMS Microcurrents are responsible for contouring and lifting, while High-Frequency Sonic Vibration encourages the skincare that follows to be better absorbed. To round off the high-performance package, thermotherapy boosts circulation to leave skin radiant. A quick fix, it requires just five to 10 minutes to get results on your chosen area – anywhere from head to toe.
Buy now £95.00, Amazon
Lightinderm Device
It requires just three minutes out of your busy schedule to transform your complexion with French beauty tech label Lightinderm. The unique device uses a combination of LED wavelengths selected after an extensive development process. A testament to its efficacity comes from the 60 French dermatologists who have given the technology their seal of approval, lauding its impact on wrinkles, pigmentation, redness and acne.
Follow programs like the Purity Programme to minimise the look of pores, or if a big event is coming up, try the Brightening Programme to give your skin a healthy glowy finish.
Buy now £400.00, Lightinderm
Best red light therapy devices for hair
FOREO LUNA 4 hair
There are 395 silicone bristles that line the surface of FOREO’s Luna 4 hair device. Through the brand’s trademarked T-Sonic pulsations, these bristles remove follicle-clogging build-up so that the red LED light set in a circular fashion can have a direct path to the scalp.
The massaging effect of the near 400 bristles encourages microcirculation and stimulates the scalp, while the LED encourages the growth and strength of the individual strands. Red light therapy is said to mimic the impact of natural sunlight to energise the cells; improving physical function, speeding up the healing process and calming inflammation.
It is designed to be used on wet hair before shampooing, after applying conditioner and before rinsing it off to distribute the nourishing formula or at the end of the wash day process before blow drying.
Buy now £189.00, FOREO
Higherdose Red Light Hat
You may be familiar with HigherDOSE for its infrared sauna blanket, in which the brand is a leader in the space. But turning its attention to a different wavelength, the tech label has called on red light (650nm) to line its baseball hat with a twist. Not your typical logo canvas cap, while it sits adorn your head, it uses ATP-stimulating illumination to encourage blow flow to the scalp and energise the cells. This process stimulates the hair follicles to invigorate growth, minimise shedding and promote healing.
Use for 10 minutes a day for at least a month but HigherDOSE suggests as many as six for optimal results – and it’s easy to do so considering it is more subtle than some of its helmet-like contemporaries.
Buy now £449.00, Healf
CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device
The most helmet-looking hair growth device on the market, this CurrentBody creation looks straight out of Star Wars with its Stormtrooper-esque design. Much like the soldiers in a galaxy far, far away, this too shoots lasers, but these specialised wave lengths work on a cellular level and are designed to encourage regrowth of the hair follicles and counteract pattern balding, thinning and receding in men and women alike.
Before you even get started, the instructions encourage you to take a ‘before’ photo. This set expectations high as we looked forward to viewing the ‘after’ four months down the line. You are advised to use the device every single day across a 16-week period, which may not sound like the easiest to do but seeing as you only need to wear for 10 minutes, it was remarkably more seamless to slip into a routine (provided you have no extended holidays on the cards). What’s more, there’s headphones inside the helmet that can connect to your phone via Bluetooth so you can pop on a playlist or a podcast while mid-treatment.
Applied to a clean dry head, it boasts support and rejuvenation for the scalp too. There are 120 red LED bulbs to provide full coverage and it can be applied on all hair types. To breathe new life into your locks, it works through three varying wavelengths (630nm, 650nm, 655nm) that are medical-grade and activate the follicles.
Buy now £650.00, CurrentBody
