Best at-home red light therapy for face & body
Red photon power...
I love at-home red and Near Infrared (NIR) light therapy because it's an easy, painless and effective at-home skin rejuvenation tech.
Here are the best red & NIR light therapy devices I recommend from my thorough testing:
- Dermalux Flex MD professional, medical LED face & body panel
- LYMA Laser hand-held cold laser
- CurrentBody Skin LED masks hands-free face, neck & décolletage masks
- CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector targeted eye mask
- CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector targeted lip & mouth mask
Keep reading for a concise overview on how at-home red & NIR light therapy works, how to stay safe, and what results you can expect.
A quick overiew…
About at-home red & NIR light therapy
“Easy, painless, hand-held devices or hands-free panels and masks which bathe your skin in healing red and near infrared light. Use them regularly to reveal healthy, hydrated, smooth, firm & bright skin, noticeable after just one month.”
Top brands: Dermalux, LYMA, CurrentBody Skin, Silk’n, Quasar, Nuface
Regenerates, heals & protects
Face, neck, chest, body & hands
All skin tones & types
💰 to 💰💰💰💰💰+
Based on medical therapy
WHAT IS IT?
Specific therapeutic wavelengths of red and near-infrared light from LEDs or a cold laser shone onto your skin.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Old or sick skin cells grow weak and sluggish. They have less energy so they’re much slower at building your essential collagen and elastin proteins, and highly-hydrated sugar molecules called proteoglycans. It's these things that make your skin supple and bouncy. This results in skin that’s drier, weaker, has less elasticity, and more wrinkles and imperfections.
Red and NIR wavelengths reach different depths in your skin and stimulate your cells. Everything perks up and works faster, resulting in a cascade of healing and regenerating activities to heal damaged and old tissues. The process is called photobiomodulation.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Inside our cell mitochondria, specific light-sensitive molecules called Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) absorb the light photons and gain energy. COX then works much harder and faster during cellular respiration in two important ways.
First, they speed up the process so there’s a massive increase in the output of ATP energy molecules. Second, they keep this process speedy because they’re better at removing waste and harmful toxins from our cells at the end of cellular respiration. Without this detoxing and antioxidant activity, cellular respiration stalls and cellular energy falls.
With an abundance of ATP, our skin fights damaging inflammation, and our fibroblasts build more and stronger collagen, elastin and proteoglycans which heal, repair, support and moisturise our skin. The light energy also generates gentle heat which boosts blood flow bringing essential nutrients and taking away toxins. All this contributes to much faster and stronger cell growth and regeneration.
EVIDENCE
There is heaps of clinical evidence showing red light therapy works to build collagen, and heal and regenerate tissues. It’s used in both a medical setting to speed up wound healing, and in aesthetic clinics too.
Most at-home red light devices work in the same way but are less powerful. However, there is one medically-cleared professional device available to use at home.
The FDA indicates cleared at-home devices to emit energy in the red/IR spectrum, specifically indicated for use in the treatment of periorbital, perioral and/or full-face wrinkles.
Learn even more detail about Red light therapy in this in-depth article.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Key checks ✔️
Before you buy a home use device, check:
- You’re not pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding. The technology is not tested on pregnant or breast-feeding women, so the risks are unknown.
- You don’t have an open or bleeding wound
Do a skin sensitivity test according to the user manual (if required) before you do a full session.
Body areas to avoid ❌
There aren’t any!
It's safe to use red & NIR light therapy on body and face.
Medical History
DON't USE it if you have a medical history of:
- Lupus erythematosus
- Photosensitive eczema or albinism, as it may cause a severe skin reaction
- Any photosensitive disorder (sensitization to light) such as epilepsy
- Light induced headaches
- Any genetic conditions of the eye
- ALWAYS wear goggles with medical strength light if you have eye disease and conditions including Glaucoma, Cataracts, recent laser eye surgery or light induced migraines.
Medications
DON'T USE if you’re taking or have recently taken these medications:
- Steroids or cortisone injections
- You are taking any medication that can cause photosensitivity. Medications include certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and diuretics. If you are unsure about your medication, check with your doctor.
Always check your medication instruction leaflet to see if photosensitivity is a listed side effect.
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
Ease of use
Smaller handheld devices, hands-free masks, & large face & body panels
Bright & gentle warmth
Painless
Leaves skin pink
Very rare side effects
Effort
3+ mins per small section, and up to 30 mins for your face
Start-up schedules vary:
- 3 to 5 sessions per week
- For 3 to 8 weeks
For maintenance, do 2 or 3 sessions per week.
Results
Typically see results at 4+ weeks
Best results at 8+ weeks
Take before & after photos! 📷
Results vary. You may see:
✔ Smooth, firm & well-hydrated skin
✔ Brighter skin that glows
✔ Fades dark spots & pigmentation
✔ Calms redness & irritation
✔ Softens acne marks & other scars
✔ Fades fine lines & wrinkles
✔ Skin looks healthier & younger
1. Dermalux Flex MD
"Tight, bright, supple & healthy skin, AND medically-cleared for healing, acne, psoriasis, & pain relief"
5 / 5
Professional results at-home
Red, NIR & blue light therapy
Face, scalp & whole body
💰💰💰💰💰+
CE medically cleared
Dermalux Flex MD deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODY150
CurrentBody voucher code
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇦 Canada
Dermalux Flex MD Review Summary
I highly recommend the Flex MD. It's expensive, but it's a solid investment. That’s because of the precise, stable and powerful LED tech, versatile panel design for whole-body use, CE medical certification, and the fast, significant healthy and youthful skin results. From head to toe. I love it.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
Easy, hands-free and very bright! 30 minutes complete horizontal downtime under the canopy for your face & neck with the goggles. Lay the durable LED panel flat over your body bits for 20 minutes per area & read or watch TV.
Effort
💧
Time-intensive, but zero effort sessions. Three to five 30-minute facial sessions per week, or 20-minutes per body area. Do twelve sessions for an intensive anti-aging or healing course. Then regular top-up sessions as you need them. Or do a sequence of three daily sessions to calm and kickstart your skin as you need it.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A fast & impressive multi-tasker which soothes, heals, rejuvenates, relieves musculoskeletal aches & pains, fights acne & other bacterial conditions. Skin visibly perks-up or calms after each session. Results build gradually but significantly over the short intensive course.
Pros
- Fast & significant results
- Medically cleared for fighting acne, skin healing, psoriasis, & musculoskeletal pain relief
- Significantly boosts skin health, so it looks & behaves younger
- Face, scalp & full body treatment
- Simple & little effort
- Single or multi-wavelength treatments
- No pain or side effects
- Clinically proven, FDA cleared & CE medically certified
Cons
- Super-expensive. Yikes.
- No money back guarantee
- It’s a large kit – store it safely!
- Time consuming sessions (but easy)
- It’s bright! (use the goggles for facial sessions)
- Mains cable could be better quality
Find more information on the Dermalux Flex MD light therapy kit. But if you think the FlexMD is perfect for you, please shop via my links (there's a special discount code for you too!). I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
2. LYMA Laser
"Firms, smooths, tightens & brightens; heals acne, rosacea, scars, cellulite & (maybe) thread veins"
4.7 / 5
Powerful multi-tasker
Near Infrared laser & blue LED light therapy
Face, neck, hands & body
💰💰💰💰💰+
LYMA Laser deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODY100
CurrentBody voucher code
🇬🇧 UK
🇩🇪 Deutschland
🇳🇱 Nederland
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇸🇬 Singapore
🌏 International
LYMA Laser Review Summary
This top-notch, powerful cold laser device promises significantly better results than rival cosmetic LED masks and handhelds. And as well as anti-ageing and acne, it can help with cellulite, scars and (maybe) spider veins. Although you can use it almost anywhere on your body, each 30-minute session suits smaller targeted areas best such as the face, eyes, hands, knees, scars, pigmentation etc. You’ll need plenty of spare time & motivation to tackle several of these areas.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
A super quality, cordless device with decent battery life. Use with the LYMA cosmeceuticals or your own skincare. Glide the wand slowly over your face, neck, and other body areas. Or hold it still for 3 minutes on each section. It’s a tad chunky & heavy, but the routines are simple so you can do it as you watch TV.
Effort
💧💧💧💧
Requires time & significant commitment. Use daily for 3 months on each treatment area. Continue for further improvement or drop to 2 or 3 sessions per week for maintenance. Do a minimum 30 minutes per treatment area for fastest results. For pigmentation, wrinkles & scars, hold the laser against your skin for 3 minutes, 5 minutes for bruises, and 10 minutes for thread veins.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
An impressive multi-tasker to heal, rejuvenate, perfect & fight acne. No pain, side effects, or nasty skin reactions. Changes are slow & gradual, typically taking 4+ weeks of daily use until noticeable, with significant improvement at 3+ months. Be prepared to double up on your daily sessions for faster results. For pronounced scars and areas needing extra TLC, you may need 6 months of daily sessions.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Decent battery life
- Use it over tattoos
- No conductivity gels
- Compact travel partner
- Use all around your body
- Very little concentration needed
- Top-quality build & cordless design
- LYMA cosmeceuticals are optional
- Safe over the centre of your neck
- Safe around your eyes (no safety goggles needed)
- CE certified
- FDA-cleared (but with red LEDs instead of blue)
Cons
- Very expensive
- It’s unclear if the LYMA laser is clinically proven
- Time-intensive start-up schedule & maintenance
- Difficult to treat hard-to-reach body areas such as your back
- Monthly Mist and Glide gel consumables are very expensive (but optional!)
- Slightly chunky wand-shape is a tad awkward to manoeuvre around your face
- It’s rather heavy so is tiring on the face (but easy on other areas like hands & knees)
Find more information on the LYMA Laser here. But if you've decided it's your perfect one, please shop via my links (there's a special discount code for you too!). I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
3. CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Masks
"Smooth, bright, firm, hydrated & healthy skin"
4.8 / 5
Best hands-free
Red & NIR LED Light Therapy
Face, neck, decolletage
💰💰💰 to 💰💰💰💰💰
60-day money back guarantee
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Masks deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODYLED
15% off CurrentBody Skin code
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Masks Review Summary
I love the short 10-minute hands-free sessions because you can also watch TV, read or chill. And results come quick with just 3 to 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Then, continue as frequently as you need. No gels, no fussy routines. These masks are simple and effective for smoother, healthier and brighter skin.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
Easy to put on & simple to operate with a close-but-comfortable fit. Light is bright but not irritating, it’s pain-free. And as it’s hands-free you can easily watch TV, surfda interwebs, read or rest during the quick sessions.
Effort
💧💧
Three to five 10-minute easy hands-free sessions per week for at least 4 weeks. Continue, or reduce frequency according to your skin’s needs. For ongoing use.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Collagen and elastin build over 4 to 6 weeks to brighten, tighten and smooth skin. Wrinkles and fine lines then gradually soften. Gives an even, healthy, glowing complexion.
Pros
- Quality, no-dimming Omnilux LED technology
- Excellent battery life
- Virtually effortless hands-free operation
- Durable, comfortable & pain-free
- Zero-faff: watch TV, read or rest during your sessions
- No ongoing cost of gels or replacement bits
- Lightweight & portable (good for travel)
- Clinically-proven & CE certified
- 60-day money back guarantee
Cons
- Light is bright and may be irritating for some
- Uncomfortable/uneven fit for a few faces
- Awkward to walk around in
- It’s expensive at full RRP
Find more information on the CurrentBody Skin LED light therapy masks here. If this review has helped you decide, please support my future reviews and shop via these links for the CurrentBody Skin LED mask and Neck & Dec Perfector. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support 🙏!
4. CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector
"Smooth, firm & bright skin, softer periorbital lines, & meatier skin"
4.5 / 5
Best hands-free eye rejuvenation
Red & NIR (Amber & Deep Red too) LED Light Therapy
Around the eyes
💰💰
60-day money back guarantee
CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODYEYE
15% off CurrentBody code
CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector Review Summary
If your eye area looks tired, dark, puffy and lined, (or if you want to prolong your youthful peepers) give the painless, effortless and quick Eye Perfector a try. It partners very well with gentle microcurrent around your eyes to tighten and brighten loose skin. Try it with a reassuring 60-day money-back guarantee from CurrentBody, and a special discount code just for you!
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
A quality, cord-free flexible moulded build that’s light and comfy, with 80 precisely-placed lights bathing the skin around your eyes. Lights are bright but harmless to your eyes. Optional goggles provided. Simple one-button control and hands-free operation. Use any time of the day, watching TV or working. No pain or irritation.
Effort
💧
Use the Eye Perfector for easy 3-minute daily sessions. A quick habit to form. Keep it in the base to remind you to use it. It’s hands-free and easy to do whilst watching TV, reading, or working at your desk. For ongoing use.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Collagen and elastin build with noticeable results after 4+ weeks to brighten, firm, smooth and plump your lines & skin. Fine lines, crow’s feet, & 11s gradually soften, skin feels meatier, and dark patches fade for a clearer, brighter eye area. See your best results after 8+ weeks.
Pros
- Affordable
- No messy gels
- Fast 3-minute sessions
- Hands-free & simple operation
- Quality construction
- Painless & comfy to wear
- Easy to remember & stick with
- Optional hydrating hydrogel masks
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- CE certified
Cons
- Not clinically tested
- Not FDA-cleared
Learn more about the CurrentBody skin LED eye Perfector here. Or, if you've decided it's your perfect match for your peepers, please shop via my links (there's a special discount code for you too!). I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
5. CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector
"Smooth, firm & bright skin, softer perioral lines, & plumped revitalised lips"
4.5 / 5
Best hands-free lip rejuvenation
Red & NIR (Amber & Deep Red too) LED Light Therapy
Mouth & lips
💰💰
60-day money back guarantee
CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODYLIP
15% off CurrentBody code
CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector Review Summary
This painless, effortless and quick Lip Perfector is for you who need youth-boosting TLC around your mouth area. I think it’s the perfect companion to home microcurrent or a LED full-face mask if you want to further improve your results. It costs less than most, but the pennies add up if you choose this, a LED mask and the targeted Eye Perfector too. Try it with a reassuring 60-day money-back guarantee from CurrentBody.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
A quality, dribble-proof build that’s light and comfy to hold in your mouth. Lights are bright but harmless to your eyes. Simple one-button control and hands-free operation. Use any time of the day, watching TV or working. No pain or irritation.
Effort
💧
Use the Lip Perfector for easy 3-minute daily sessions. A quick habit to form. It’s hands-free and easy to do whilst watching TV, or working at your desk. And most other home-based activities too (except talking). For ongoing use.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Collagen and elastin build with visible results after 4+ weeks to brighten, firm, smooth and plump your skin and lips. Fine lines, folds and wrinkles gradually soften, and pigmentation fades for a clear and defined lip area. See your best results after 8+ weeks.
Pros
- Affordable
- No messy gels
- Fast 3-minute sessions
- Small, hands-free & simple operation
- Quality, dribble-proof design
- Painless & comfy to hold in your mouth
- Easy to remember & stick with
- Optional hydrating hydrogel masks
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- CE certified
Cons
- Not clinically tested
- Not FDA-cleared
Learn more about the CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector here. Or, if you've decided it's your perfect pout-plumper, please shop via my links (there's a special discount code for you too!). I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
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