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8 At-Home Red Light Therapy Devices to Reduce Acne
The time has come to put an end to fine lines, inflammation, and dullness.
No matter how extensive—or pricey—your skincare regimen is, sometimes you just need a little more help. Skin quenching cleansers, concentrated serums, and hydrating moisturizers can do a lot to get your skin in shape, but an at-home tool can give your products the assistance they need in between office visits. A red light therapy tool is one device worth investing in for added skincare benefits.
Fun fact: NASA developed red light therapy to explore its effect on plant growth. Soon after, researchers discovered that red light may also treat wounds and, eventually, underlying skin problems. “Red light therapy is a treatment using light emitting diodes to deliver low-level wavelengths in the red and infrared light (NIR) spectrum to the skin, usually in the form of a face mask, a wand with tiny LED bulbs, or light panels,” Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, cosmetic dermatologist of La Jolla Laser Dermatology and founder of AziMD Skincare, explains.
There are a lot of factors to consider when browsing the interwebs for a red light therapy device, from price point to design to key features. Ahead, we broke down the 10 best red light therapy devices worth investing in.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Pros
- Red LED treatments for anti-aging
- Blue LED treatments for acne
- Can treat your entire face at one time
Cons
- Pricey
- Must be charged frequently
Full-face LED masks address all areas of the face all at once, as opposed to wands that require you to manually target different areas of your face, which makes this one from Dr. Dennis Gross one of Dr. Eman Abdallah’s favorites. “I personally prefer the full mask type light therapy so that the light is being distributed evenly the entire length of the treatment,” Dr. Abdallah says.
Sephora Rating: 3.4/5 stars
What Sephora reviewers are saying: “I’ve been using this mostly consistently since October and I use it on both red and blue settings. My acne has cleared up, scarring has been minimal and I have noticed my forehead lines aren’t as defined.”
Dr Dennis Gross SpotLite Acne Treatment Device
Dr Dennis Gross SpotLite Acne Treatment Device
Pros
- Designed to minimize individual zits
- Red and blue LED lights
- 3-minute treatment
Cons
- Can't treat large areas
STOP—don’t pick at that spot on your face. Instead, pop on this battery-powered LED light for a 3-minute acne-shrinking treatment.
Dermstore Review: 3.73/5 stars
What Dermstore reviewers are saying: “I used this for the first time on a couple of spots I would have normally picked at, and I saw a very noticeable difference—the spots were dried out, clearly healing, vs. the red and puffy they usually are after they sprout up. I’m impressed and will definitely rigorously incorporate it into my spot treatment routine.”
| Targeted Use | Body, Face |
|---|---|
| Red Light Wavelength | n/a |
| Best Used | As needed |
Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy
Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy
Pros
- Quick 5-minute sessions
- Vibrates to gently massage face
Cons
- Needs water-based serums to be activate
Solawave’s best-selling wand helps you stop painful cystic acne and stubborn breakouts right in their tracks with just five-minute treatments. Water-based serums activate the wand, so it can easily glide across your face and targeted areas.
Solawave Rating: 4.8/5 stars
What Solawave reviewers are saying: "I am absolutely loving the Solawave skin-care red light therapy device! In just less than a month, I have already noticed a significant improvement in my skin. My skin now looks much more radiant and youthful. Using the device has become a complete game changer. If you want to enhance your skin's health and appearance, you absolutely cannot go wrong. It’s a perfect 10 out of 10.”
| Red Light Wavelength | 630nm |
|---|---|
| Targeted use | Face and neck |
| Best used | Three times per week |
Pros
- Contoured design for maximum results
- 10-minute treatment
- Can treat your entire face at one time
Cons
- Pricey
The Omnilux face mask curves around your entire face to ensure the red lights target every inch of your mug. Dr. Shirazi suggests investing in this one because it’s a “high-quality device with clinical trials and research to back it up.”
Omnilux Rating: 4.8/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Great product. My skin has improved and friends have noticed too. I love that 10 minutes for myself.”
| Red light wavelength | 633nm and 830nm |
|---|---|
| Targeted use | Face |
| Best used | Three to five per week |
Shani Darden PRO LED Light Mask
Shani Darden PRO LED Light Mask
Pros
- Reduces acne breakouts and fine lines
- 10-minute session
- Also has a neck piece
Cons
- Super pricey
Anyone lucky enough to get a facial from beauty whisperer Shani Darden (her clients include clean beauty queen Jessica Alba) knows it’ll end in a gorgeous glow. Mimic that radiance from the comfort of your home with her light therapy mask, a costly addition to your skin gadget collection but a worthy one.
Shani Darden Rating: 5/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “The mask is very comfortable and I immediately felt tighter & smoother skin after a few treatments. My favorite new thing at the end of my workday from home is to plop on my comfy chair and run the quick 10-minute light session. It’s like a meditation and face rejuvenator all at once! I love the sense of a healthy glow to start my evening.”
| Red light wavelength | 630nm |
|---|---|
| Targeted use | Face |
| Best used | Four times a week |
CurrentBody Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
CurrentBody Dermalux Flex MD LED Light Therapy Device
Pros
- Has red, blue, and infrared wavelengths
- May help with some types of psoriasis
- Has pre-programmed treatment sessions depending on goal
Cons
- Treatment session is 30 minutes
- Can't multi-task
- Pricey
If it's good enough for Kate Moss, can we have one, please? This light therapy device reminds us of a tanning bed with way better results—sit back, select which of the seven 30-minute treatment plans you want to try, zone out, and your visage will absorb the red, blue, and infrared wavelengths to address any skin issues you may be concerned about.
Currentbody Review: 4.9/5 stars
What Currentbody reviewers are saying: "Because of acne plus aging (yes, that's possible), skin was in a really bad way following two years of various hormone treatments. I tried this in a salon, thinking it probably won't work, but within one session, I was so surprised by the changes. After 6 sessions I was looking for ways to buy my own and I'm so happy. Not only is it giving me amazing skin that is acne free and feels firmer every day, but I also get 30 mins of time just for me to relax and listen to an audio book!"
| Red light wavelength | 633 nm |
|---|---|
| Targeted use | Face and body |
| Best used | Depends on treatment |
Foreo UFO 2
Foreo UFO 2
Pros
- Small enough to treat neck and chin area
- App enabled
Cons
- Pricey
- Serum needed
Foreo's UFO 2 looks small in size, but packs a huge punch. The compact LED light therapy fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, and the app will teach you exactly what to do to get the results you want.
Ulta Rating: 4.6/5 stars
What Ulta reviewers are saying: “I'm so happy to have this, it makes me look and feel beautiful in my own skin... simply AWESOME beauty gadget that you must incorporate into your skincare routine! You will be so happy you did.”
| Red light wavelength | N/A |
|---|---|
| Targeted use | Face and neck |
| Best used | Daily |
Solaris Laboratories NY How To Glow 4 Color LED Light Therapy Mask
Solaris Laboratories NY How To Glow 4 Color LED Light Therapy Mask
Pros
- Cordless and rechargeable
- Four different light settings
- Clear so you can multi-task
Cons
- Takes time to see results
Kill acne-causing bacteria on the spot with this multi-light therapy mask from Solaris Laboratories. Using NASA technology, red, blue, amber, and green LED lights stop stubborn acne from wreaking havoc on your face and help to reduce the appearance of discoloration, wrinkles, and more.
Revolve Rating: 4.5 stars/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Mask is so great! So easy to use while relaxing. Easy to charge and my skin is already looking softer and smoother!”
| Red light wavelength | 620-750 nm |
|---|---|
| Targeted use | Face |
| Best used | Three to five times a week |
What is red light therapy?
Simply put, red light therapy treats underlying skin issues your traditional skincare products can’t quite get to. “When you place the red light near the skin, the light particles are able to penetrate through the tissue and activate chromophores, which can then trigger beneficial changes in cells,” Dr. Abdallah says. Red light devices vary in size, design, and key features, but their main function remains the same. “Some of the benefits of red light therapy include decreasing redness and inflammation in the skin, decreasing pigmentation, aiding in the treatment of acne, hair loss, and can even help to stimulate collagen to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles over time,” she explains.
How often can you do red light therapy at home?
Dr. Shirazi recommends keeping your at-home treatments to “every other day from five to 15 minutes at a time,” though many devices come with specific instructions on how to use them. Keep in mind, red light therapy devices aren’t as strong as the professional grade ones you find in-office, but they can still be effective as long as it’s used correctly. “Like any treatment, you never want to overdo it because it can lead to unfavorable effects. Make sure to consult with your dermatologist or skin specialist regarding your desired treatment outcome in order for them to safely guide you on how to properly use your at-home device,” Dr. Abdallah adds.
What are the benefits of red light therapy at home?
The benefits of using red light therapy on your skin vary, but the tool is used mainly to help with anti-aging. “Several studies have found red LED light treatment to improve eye-area wrinkles, as well as improving elasticity and hydration. Red light is thought to set off signals in the energy centers of skin cells to regulate the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, in addition to reducing inflammation, pigmentation, and redness. It’s also been found to promote cellular repair and circulation, leading to healthier skin,” Dr. Shirazi says.
Meet the experts
Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD Skincare
Dr. Eman Abdallah, board-certified dermatologist and owner of Emana Medical
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
Margaux Anbouba loves to try it all, which makes her a perfect beauty editor for ELLE. She's not afraid to chop, slather, dye, swipe, or inject—and if it's worth your dollars, she'll tell you about it here.
Nerisha Penrose is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends way too much time re-watching 90s sitcoms.
As ELLE’s beauty editor, Margaux wants to try it all and do it all…and she does. She's not afraid to chop, slather, dye, swipe, inject, and more—and if it's worth your time and money, she’ll rave about it here.
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends way too much time re-watching 90s sitcoms.
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