The 7 Best Red Light Therapy Devices of 2024, Tested by Real People

Best Overall

Foreo UFO 2

$150 at Amazon $299 at Ulta View on Foreo.com

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4.8/5
• Skin Texture
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Our top pick for the best light therapy mask is the Foreo UFO 2. After testing this device out, we were blown away by how well it rejuvenated our complexion and targeted some of our biggest concerns, including inflammation and puffiness. We love how easy the handheld device is to use and found it very simple for a beginner. The treatment period is only 90 seconds, so it’s not that much of a time commitment either. 

This device uses red and blue light therapy and is designed to activate the brand’s coveted face masks, so in addition to the device, you also have to make sure to purchase the Foreo UFO-activated masks to see results.

While we wish you didn’t have to purchase additional products to reap the benefits of the light therapy device, we appreciate the overall luxe and salon-worthy experience — it seriously felt like having a professional facial at home.

Recommended Use: 1-2 times per week when masking | Device Type: Handheld | Light Colors: Blue, red | Wavelength: 463nm (blue), 627nm (red)

Best Wand

SolaWave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

$169 at Amazon $119 at Nordstrom $169 at Ulta

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Design
  4.7/5
• Skin Texture
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

The best LED therapy wand is without a doubt the SolaWave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand. This tiny LED facial device utilizes the benefits of red light therapy to target signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. It also works to lift and tone the skin, lighten dark spots, and can even help make the skin look less puffy.

When testing this device, we found the compact size super convenient and the technology easy to use. We also love how you don’t have to commit to spending a ton of time with this wand since you only need around five minutes per day. 

Associate shopping editorial director Erin Johnson personally tested out the Solawave and raved about the skin-brightening effects. “The Solawave site promises results in two to four weeks, but my skin looked noticeably better in less than two weeks, and when I use the wand now, the results are immediate,” Johnson says.

Although we didn’t see any noteworthy improvements in our skin’s texture, we did notice that after the testing period, our dark spots appeared lighter. Additionally, our skin appeared more radiant with regular use.

Recommended Use: 5 minutes per day | Device Type: Wand | Light Colors: Red | Wavelength: 660nm

Best Spot Treatment

Solawave Bye Acne Pimple Spot Treatment

$69 at Amazon $69 at Ulta $69 at Solawave.co

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.7/5
• Design
  4/5
• Skin Texture
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

SolaWave also makes a spot treatment device that’s ideal for breakouts. While testing the SolaWave 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment, we were impressed by how well it reduced breakouts and helped fade some dark acne spots, too.

We love that this device is compact in size, so it’s easy to travel with and incorporate into your skincare regimen wherever you go. The device is also very easy to use, making it an ideal option for beginners who want to try out the benefits of light therapy without getting too overwhelmed by all of the bells and whistles some of these devices have.

The wand utilizes the bacteria-fighting benefits of blue light along with the inflammation-reducing results of red light to target and treat pimples. It only takes around three minutes per treatment, a few times per week, and quickly reduces breakouts with regular use.

Recommended Use: 3 minutes per day | Device Type: Handheld | Light Colors: Red, blue | Wavelength: 415nm (blue), 630nm (red)

Best Anti-Aging

CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask

$380 at Amazon $380 at Currentbody.com

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.7/5
• Design
  4.7/5
• Skin Texture
  4/5
• Value
  3.5/5

The CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask claims to be “31 percent more powerful than any other LED mask” on the market. Based on our results after testing it out for ourselves, we believe the hype. After wearing the mask for just 10 minutes a day, our skin looked brighter, firmer, and all-around glowier. We even noticed a reduction in the number of breakouts we usually experience.

We found the mask to be very comfortable to wear, although the straps around the back of the mask weren’t the most secure, so it works best when sitting still. The wide surface area of the mask covered our whole face, and the mouth and nose holes allowed us to breathe comfortably, though the mouth hole wasn’t large enough to eat or drink through.

Since the automatically-timed red light sessions last for just 10 minutes at a time, we think it’s worth it to sit down, relax, and use the mask for a few peaceful minutes to achieve a youthful, healthy glow.

Recommended Use: 10 minutes per day, 5 days per week | Device Type: Mask | Light Colors: Red, near-infrared | Wavelength: 633nm (red), 830nm (near-infrared)

Best Brightening

HigherDose Red Light Face Mask

$349 at Fwrd.com $349 at Revolve $349 at Neiman Marcus

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.3/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Skin Texture
  4.7/5
• Value
  2/5

After testing this device out, we were immediately impressed by the results we saw upon first use. This face mask features red light therapy and near-infrared technology, which benefit the skin by promoting collagen production and cellular renewal. During testing, we noticed a change in the overall radiance of our complexion, as it left our skin with a nice, healthy-looking glow.

Albeit on the expensive side, we found that this mask is highly functional and worth the splurge thanks to the hands-free design that allows you to move around and even partake in some light exercise or meditation. The red light glow didn’t irritate our skin either, but it does make it a little hard to see, so we recommend using this while relaxing in bed or on the couch rather than wearing it while sitting in front of your computer.

Recommended Use: 10 minutes per day, 3-5 times per week | Device Type: Mask | Light Colors: Red | Wavelength: 630 nm

Best for Acne

Therashield 3-in-1 Light Therapy Mask

View on Therashield.la

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.6/5
• Skin Texture
  4.7/5
• Value
  3/5

When testing the Therashield 3-in-1 Light Therapy Mask, we originally tried it out for our dark spots but quickly discovered that it actually works extremely well on blemishes. With regular daily use, the mask completely got rid of our breakouts.

The light therapy mask features three colors — red, amber, and blue — for different benefits, including promoting tissue repair, diminishing redness, and preventing (and targeting) breakouts, respectively.

Overall, the mask is easy to use and attached to the face like sunglasses, so you don’t have to worry about straps. Toggling back and forth through the different colored lights is also simple enough for beginners. While we found the plastic mask to be a bit uncomfortable for long periods of time (especially when sitting up), it’s definitely doable while lying down and relaxing.

Recommended Use: Two 15-minute sessions per day | Device Type: Mask | Light Colors: Red, amber, blue | Wavelength: 620nm to 750nm (red), 590nm to 620nm (amber), 435nm to 500nm (blue)

Best Face Massager

Therabody TheraFace Pro

$399 at Amazon $399 at Nordstrom View on Therabody.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Performance/Effectiveness
  5/5
• Features
  5/5
• Overall Look
  5/5

Not only does the TheraFace handheld device provide red light benefits, but it also offers percussive massage and three different kinds of LED light therapy. The treatment is totally customizable — you can choose from red, blue, and infrared light therapy and cycle through three increasingly strong percussive massage levels to suit your taste. 

We loved that the TheraFace provides multiple benefits in one, and using the massage function together with the red light function saved us time in our nightly routine. The device also comes with a few different massaging heads that are easy to click on and off, and the percussive massage is gentle yet powerful enough to help us relax jaw tension from TMJ and generally relax our facial muscles. 

While our skin appeared brighter at the end of the test, we didn’t notice much difference in the texture. We also noticed that the magnetic massaging tips would sometimes come unclicked from the device when we used too much pressure, but that could also be a user error.

Recommended Use: 8 minutes per day | Device Type: Handheld | Light Colors: Red, blue, infrared | Wavelength: Not listed