6 Best Red Light Therapy Wands For Firmer, Smoother And Healthier Skin
Considering how technologically savvy our society has become, it was only a matter of time before our skincare routines became more futuristic, too. Not only do the best red light therapy wands and LED masks look like Space Age devices, they actually are, with clinically-proven benefits: NASA scientists were the ones to discover the reparative properties of red light.
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“Red light wands use very low levels of red light to help improve the appearance of your skin,” explains Howard Sobel, a clinical attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He shares that red light therapy can address many of the most common skincare concerns by fading fine lines, age spots, stretch marks and wrinkles, as well as improving redness, wound healing, and acne.
According to Audrey Matney, medical aesthetician and founder of 123 Beauty Lab in New York City, red light works by penetrating deep into your dermis to activate your mitochondria (the powerhouses of your cells, as you may recall from Biology 101). “This gives them a serious productivity boost, helping them churn out more ATP, or cellular fuel,” she explains. With more fuel, your cells work harder and more efficiently, resulting in better, healthier skin.
Read more: Vogue’s edit of the best skincare tools.
There’s no shortage of these light-powered devices on the market, including LED face masks and panels, but we’ve found that one of the most convenient ways to integrate this tech into our routines is through handheld tools. Portable and power-packed, red light therapy wands make it easy to target localised concerns, like glabellar lines (aka. forehead wrinkles), or a particularly stubborn blemish. Here, we share the best red light therapy wands to rejuvenate skin – plus expert insights on incorporating them into a daily routine.
Read more: Everything You Need To Know About Red Light Therapy At Home, According To The Experts.
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Read on for Vogue’s favourite red light therapy wands
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: A step up from red light in terms of the depth its beams penetrate, Lyma’s device combines low-level cold laser therapy with NIR to rejuvenate skin from the inside out. This handheld tool can treat fine lines everywhere on the face and body – from the crow’s feet to hands and lips – and offers impressive results for deep-set concerns like pigmentation and scarring. What’s more, it fits inside your handbag and is still effective when used over your SPF or make-up. Great for the jet setter who needs on-the-go treatments, it’s no wonder this device is beloved by the celebrity set.
- Device type: Handheld
- Best for: Best for deep-down skin rejuvenation. Tightening lax skin, renewing dull skin and remodelling skin with scars. Several users praise the non-invasive device for its anti-inflammatory effects on conditions like psoriasis.
- Target area: Face, body, neck and hands
- Treatment Time: Three plus minutes daily
- Good to know: As well as whole face rejuvenation, try using it for five minutes on targeted areas like acne scarring and persistent sun spots.
Best multipurpose: Therabody TheraFace PRO
- Why We Love It: While we’re big fans of Therabody’s LED face mask, this is the device we reach for when we need more targeted, bespoke treatment. “This FDA-approved device helps with skin toning using microcurrent and a tension-reducing, circulation-boosting facial massage,” says Matney. It also has three LED attachment options to treat fine lines, breakouts, and dark spots, plus a cleansing ring attachment that you can pair with your favourite face wash for a deep clean. There are also hot and cold attachments sold separately to help boost collagen and quell puffiness, making the TheraFace Pro an eight-in-one device.
- Best for: Fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, discolouration, enlarged pores, facial tension
- Specs: Features three LED colours (red, blue, infrared), microcurrent, massage, cleansing
- Usage: LED can be used daily for up to eight minutes, moving to a new area of the face every 15 seconds
Best for ageing: NuFace Trinity Wrinkle Attachment
Nu Face
Trinity Wrinkle Attachment
- Why We Love It: If you’re one of the countless beauty tool aficionados who swear by the NuFace Trinity, you should absolutely treat yourself to this attachment. “It’s FDA cleared, fast, effective, and perfect for when you want glowing skin and don’t have time to come and see me for a facial,” teases Matney. Simply use the attachment with its red, amber, and infrared lights for three minutes on each area of your face (such as your forehead, nasolabial folds, and so on) to help smooth and firm, then swap it out for the microcurrent head and slick on some conductive gel to start tightening and toning.
- Best for: Fine lines, wrinkles
- Specs: 36 LEDs in three colours (red, amber, and infrared)
- Usage: Five days a week for up to 21 minutes, three minutes per facial area
Best for breakouts: Solawave 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment
Solawave
3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment
- Why We Love It: Matney cites this as the best option for blemish-prone skin thanks to its mix of blue and red LEDs. The former helps to destroy acne-causing bacteria and reduce sebum production, while the latter rejuvenates and soothes, making for a comprehensive three-minute treatment to calm and clarify skin. In most cases, this petite gadget can clear up a pimple in three days.
- Best for: Blemishes
- Specs: Combination of red and blue LEDs
- Usage: Once daily for three minutes until blemish improves
Best for travel: Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand
Solawave
Radiant Renewal 4-In-1 Skincare Wand
- Why We Love It: Solawave’s handy device is about the size of your standard toothbrush and far more sleek, making it easy to tuck into any cosmetics bag. It’s designed to be used after applying your favourite formulas; glide the wand over your skin, and the combination of built-in galvanic current and warmth will enhance absorption, while the facial massage and red LED lights will promote a smoother, more radiant complexion. Try it when you need to bliss out after work or to reawaken skin after a long flight.
- Best for: Uneven texture and fine lines, puffiness, dull skin
- Specs: Seven red LEDs, galvanic current, facial massage, therapeutic warmth
- Usage: Three minutes per facial area on damp skin daily
Best Korean wand: Medicube Age-R Booster Pro
- Why it’s Vogue-approved: The Age-R Booster Pro – the enhanced version of the Hailey Bieber favourite Age-R Booster H – from K-beauty brand Medicube is designed to help you achieve glass skin, with a lot of unique settings as well as an app that’s as smooth and reflective as a windowpane. In addition to microcurrent, electrical muscle stimulation, and a needleless take on microneedling, Age-R Booster Pro delivers five LED wavelengths to tackle a full spectrum of skin concerns, Matney assures. While red and blue light (and their combination, purple) are most well-known for their use in treating signs of ageing and blemishes, the Age-R Booster Pro also offers inflammation-reducing green light and radiance-boosting orange light. Use these light wavelengths with any of the other glow-boosting settings after your skincare routine for best results.
- Best for: Uneven tone, enlarged pores, redness, laxity
- Specs: Five LED colours (red, blue, purple, green, orange), electroporation, microcurrent, EMS, electric needles
- Usage: Varies depending on setting; see user manual for best results
Do red light therapy wands actually work?
While we completely understand any scepticism around these tools (they’re just delivering a gentle wash of light, after all), red light’s efficacy is backed by legitimate data. A 2019 article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology suggested that low-level red light therapy promotes the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid within the skin; a 2017 article in AIMS Biophysics implied that it could also reduce inflammation and promote healing. Just maintain reasonable expectations, says Dr Sobel. “A red light wand you can buy on the internet will not be as powerful as the light you can be treated with in a dermatologist’s office,” he explains. That’s not to say they don’t offer any benefit; they’ll just deliver results a little more slowly.
What skincare should you put on your face before a red light wand?
In most cases, you’ll want to use a red light therapy wand on clean, dry skin, Matney says, but some devices are designed to be paired with product. In those cases, she recommends sticking to gentle, hydrating formulas, like a hyaluronic acid serum. “Skip anything with alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, or retinoids,” Matney warns; this combination could inadvertently sensitise the skin.
How long does it take to see the results of red light therapy?
Don’t expect instantaneous results from LED therapy, says Matney. “It will probably take several months to see a difference,” agrees Dr Sobel, noting that you’ll have to be consistent in using your red light therapy wand several times a week to get real benefit. Consider taking photos of yourself before integrating red light into your regimen; that can make it easier to observe more subtle changes. Remember, “it doesn’t target one flaw – it enhances everything, yielding results like improved tone, texture, and elasticity over time,” Matney says. These cumulative benefits take a while, but they’re worth the effort.
How often should you use a red light wand?
Most devices on the market, including the ones we’ve picked, are designed to be used multiple times a week; some even suggest every day. However, our experts recommend starting with two to three times a week to see how your skin tolerates it. “More isn’t better – overdoing it could leave you irritated instead of glowing,” says Matney, adding that you should treat your skin for no more than 20 minutes each time. Dr Sobel also advises that you shield your eyes to avoid sensitising them. That said, red light therapy wands, especially those made for at-home use, are generally regarded as safe, gentle, and very low risk. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself hooked on daily treatment; red light is a great add-on to any hardworking skin-care routine.
Meet the experts
- Howard Sobel is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
- Audrey Matney is a medical aesthetician and the founder of 123 Beauty Lab in New York City.