There’s no such thing as a “magic wand,” but as far as skin-care devices go, red-light face wands get pretty close. The reparative effects of this futuristic technology were actually discovered by NASA scientists in space, where astronauts use red lights to grow plants in zero gravity. “Red-light wands use very low levels of red light to help improve the appearance of your skin,” explains Howard Sobel, MD, clinical attending cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. According to Dr. Sobel, red-light therapy can address the majority of the most common skin conditions, working to fade the appearance of fine lines, age spots, stretch marks, and wrinkles, as well as improve redness, wound healing, and acne.
Vogue’s Favorite Red-Light-Therapy Wands:
To the casual observer, red light just appears to be bathing skin in a crimson glow. But those wavelengths are actually instigating some serious work beneath the skin’s surface: According to Audrey Matney, medical esthetician 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.
There are countless light-powered devices on the market, from LED face masks to large panels that deliver treatment coverage to the whole body, but one of the most convenient ways to integrate this tech into one’s lifestyle is through handheld tools. Portable and power packed, red-light-therapy wands make it easy to target localized concerns, like glabellar lines (a.k.a. forehead wrinkles) or a particularly stubborn blemish. Here, we share the best red-light therapy wands to rejuvenate skin—plus expert insight on incorporating them into your daily routines.
In This Story
- Do red-light-therapy wands actually work?
- What skin care should you put on your face before a red-light wand?
- How long does it take to see the results of red-light therapy?
- Why choose a red light therapy wand over another device?
- How often should you use a red-light wand?
- How to Use a Red Light Therapy Wand
- Are red light therapy wands safe for all skin types?
- How We Tested
- Meet The Experts
Best Overall: LightStim LED Light Therapy Device for Wrinkles
- Why We Love It: LightStim’s LED devices can be found in treatment rooms around the world, including Matney’s. “It’s my absolute favorite—a tiny miracle for fine lines and inflammation, with a side of that just-got-a-facial glow,” she says, noting that she uses the professional device at the end of every client’s service. This at-home version features 72 lights (an impressive number for such a portable tool) in amber, light red, dark red, and infrared colors to target different depths of your facial tissue for smoother skin. It’s supported by data too: In clinical studies, 100% of participants showed significant improvement in fine lines and wrinkles in eight weeks with consistent use of the wand.
- Best for: Wrinkles anywhere on the face, including crow’s feet and lip lines
- Specs: FDA cleared, 72 LEDs in four colors (amber, light red, dark red and infrared)
- Usage: Three minutes per facial area, five to seven days a week
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Professional-strength device | Lights give off more heat than other devices |
| Clinically-tested |
Best for Travel: Solawave Radiant Renewal 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 favorite 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: Not FDA cleared, seven red LEDs, galvanic current, facial massage, therapeutic warmth
- Usage: Three minutes per facial area on damp skin daily
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Portable size that comes with a carrying case | May be too small to be noticeably effective quickly |
| Features additional technology for added beenfits |
Best Korean: Medicube Age-R Booster Pro
- Why We Love It: The Age-R Booster Pro—the enhanced version of the Hailey Bieber favorite 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 explains. While red and blue light (and their combination, purple) are most well-known for their use in treating signs of aging and blemishes, respectively, 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 skin-care routine for best results.
- Best for: Uneven tone, enlarged pores, redness, laxity
- Specs: Five LED colors (red, blue, purple, green, orange), electroporation, microcurrent, EMS, electric needles
- Usage: Varies depending on setting; see user manual for best results
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Features multiple LED colors and treatment modalities | Device can malfunction, weakening or failing to work over time |
Best Multipurpose: Therabody TheraFace PRO
- Why We Love It: While we’re big fans of Therabody’s LED face mask, this is the at-home device we reach for when we need more targeted, bespoke treatment. “This FDA-approved device helps with skin toning using microcurrent and 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 favorite face wash for a deep clean. There are also hot and cold attachments sold separately to help boost collagen production and quell puffiness, making the TheraFace Pro an eight-in-one device.
- Best for: Fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, discoloration, enlarged pores, facial tension
- Specs: FDA cleared, features three LED colors (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
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Portable, multitasking device | Device’s weight can make it awkward to use (the handle is quite thick) |
| Soothing technology is said to help relieve TMJ |
Best for Aging: NuFace 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: FDA cleared, 36 LEDs in three colors (red, amber, and infrared)
- Usage: Five days a week for up to 21 minutes, three minutes per facial area
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| FDA-Cleared | Some find it time-consuming to use |
| Treatment head enhances an already effective device |
Best for Breakouts: 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: FDA cleared, combination of red and blue LEDs
- Usage: Once daily for three minutes until blemish improves
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Helps treat blemishes without irritating actives | Small device head limits treatment to individual blemishes |
| Travel-friendly size |
Best for Pores: PMD Clean Redvolution
- Why We Love It: Matney likens this device to an at-home esthetician, doing double duty to decongest pores with silicone bristles and sonic vibrations as well as smoothing fine lines and wrinkles with red LED. “It’s practical, efficient, and quietly transformative—it elevates your everyday routine without over-complication,” Matney adds. By cleansing and delivering a light treatment, this is a multitasking device of dreams.
- Best for: Cleansing, enlarged pores, anti-aging
- Specs: FDA cleared, features 19 medical-grade red LED lights and advanced SonicGlow Technology
- Usage: To cleanse, rinse your face with warm water, apply cleanser to the silicone bristles, select desired vibration level, move device across your face in circular motions and rinse; to treat skin with LEDs, clean and dry skin, place LED lights against your skin and move device to each treatment area.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Multitasking device provides two treatments in one | LED lights may be too strong for some skin types, especially post-cleanse |
| Two levels of sonic vibration allows you to customize your cleanse |
Most Time Efficient: Laduora Lumeo 4D
- Why We Love It: This powerhouse tool combines red and near-infrared light with microcurrent and facial massage to comprehensively sculpt, calm, tone, and depuff. “A Lumeo session is like a gentle nudge to your collagen—smoothing, lifting, and coaxing radiance to the surface,” says Matney. It delivers all of its benefits in just one three-minute treatment—making it perfect to have on hand for when you need a post-facial glow at the last minute. No wonder its been a secret weapon for Jenna Ortega’s signature snatch.
- Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, dullness, puffiness
- Specs: 30 red (630nm) and near-infrared (850nm) lights, microcurrent, and massage
- Usage: Apply the included serum to clean skin, turn on device and move it across the face, addressing each treatment area for 30 seconds for a total of three minutes; use three to five times a week.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Fast and effective treatment | Serum dries quickly, necessitating frequent reapplication during treatment |
| Multitasking device delivers four treatments simultaneously |
Everything You Need to Know
Do red-light-therapy wands actually work?
While we completely understand any skepticism 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 office,” he explains. That’s not to say they don’t offer any benefit; they’ll just deliver results a little more slowly.
What skin care 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 sensitize 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.
Why choose a red light therapy wand over another device?
Simply put, one might choose a wand based on personal choice. Considering all the red light therapy devices on the market—masks, panels, etc—wands are the most convenient. Often lighter in weight, these handheld devices are easily swept across skin’s surface through a few minute treatment. And because of their size, they can often be stowed away in luggage or tossed in a tote bag for on-the-go use. It’s this versatility that sets them apart from similar offerings.
That said, their small size can mean they have fewer LED bulbs than say a mask or full-size panel, which experts say can weaken efficacy. As for any device, you’ll see results from red light therapy wands with consistent, habitual use and by following respective instructions to a tee. Those interested in skin rejuvenation across the entire face should consider a light therapy mask, instead.
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 sensitizing 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.
How to Use a Red Light Therapy Wand
Always start your DIY treatment with a red light therapy by reading the directions and making sure your skin is clean and dry. Nearly all devices are meant to be used on product-free skin. Then, you’ll want to slowly glide the wand across your skin in deliberate, overlapping passes, says Matney. “No pressure is needed; this is light therapy, not facial massage,” she reminds us. Those slow and steady movements will allow the wavelengths of light to properly engage with your skin cells, maximizing the effects of your treatment. “Use it regularly, and it becomes that quiet little ritual that helps your skin look suspiciously well-rested, even when you aren’t,” Matney adds.
Are red light therapy wands safe for all skin types?
Yes—red light therapy is generally safe for all skin types and tones. “Red light is a non-UV, non-thermal, inclusive technology that supports cellular repair and reduces inflammation for all Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI,” says Matney. However, you’ll want to proceed with caution if you have melasma or a compromised skin barrier. Melasma can flare from any type of light, so it’s best to do shorter, less frequent red light therapy sessions. “For clients with compromised barriers, I recommend starting slow, watching your skin and adjusting accordingly,” Matney advises.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional insight on the industry’s standout products; ones specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to red light therapy wands, we selected the best based on the following characteristics after at least 30 days of testing: light wavelengths, treatment types, comfort, and additional benefits offered. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
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 esthetician and the founder of 123 Beauty Lab in New York City.
