Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. 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.
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 10 minutes a day and can be done while you're relaxing in bed scrolling TikTok?
Red light therapy has exploded in popularity lately because it's convenient, noninvasive, 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.
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 are 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. 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.
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. 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. Maybe you're claustrophobic and the idea of wearing masks gives you the heebie jeebies—that's where panels come in.
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