The Red Light Therapy Devices Changing My At-Home Beauty Routine

If there is one beauty trend I don’t see disappearing anytime soon, it is red light therapy. I have always been someone who loves trying beauty treatments, especially treatments that help my skin look fresh and healthy without having to rely on makeup. But lately, some of the most interesting beauty technology isn’t happening inside a med spa. It’s designed to be used right at home.

Red light has come a long way from those futuristic-looking LED face masks we first started seeing everywhere.

Now there are red light therapy devices designed for your lips, breakouts, scalp and even your mouth. As someone approaching 40, I find this especially interesting because my beauty concerns are changing. I’m thinking less about simply treating the occasional breakout and more about skin texture, fine lines, pigmentation, hair density and maintaining the health of my skin long-term.

I started looking into some of the newer devices on the market, and these five stood out to me because they aren’t all trying to do exactly the same thing.

Why Red Light Home Therapy Has Become Part of the Beauty Conversation

Before getting into the devices, it helps to understand why red light home therapy has become so popular.

Red light therapy, sometimes called photobiomodulation, exposes the skin to specific wavelengths of light. Unlike UV light, red light doesn’t tan or burn your skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology explains that research suggests red light therapy may help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, redness, rough skin and loose skin. There is also research surrounding its use for certain types of hair loss.

The Red Light Therapy Mask I’m Watching: INIA GLOW

If you’re specifically looking for a red light therapy mask, the INIA GLOW Wireless Red Light Therapy Mask is one that immediately caught my attention.

And honestly, one of my favorite things about it has nothing to do with the light itself. It’s wireless! I love my beauty treatments, but I also know myself well enough to know that if something requires me to sit next to an outlet doing absolutely nothing, I am much less likely to use it consistently.

Different wavelengths are used for different purposes. Blue light, for example, is commonly used in light-based acne treatments, while red and near-infrared wavelengths are frequently associated with skin rejuvenation treatments.

INIA recommends using the mask for 10 minutes at a time, three to five times per week initially.

That’s the type of beauty routine I can realistically get behind. Ten minutes while I’m answering emails, packing for a trip or doing something around the house feels much more doable than adding another appointment to my calendar.

Red Light Therapy Devices Aren’t Just for Your Face Anymore

This is probably what surprised me the most when I started looking into the latest red light therapy devices. We’re way beyond face masks. One of the most interesting examples is the Rajani MD PlasmaGLO™ LED Lip and Mouth Device.

Rajani MD PlasmaGLO™ LED Lip and Mouth Device

This might be the most unique device on my list because it is specifically designed for the lips and mouth. As I get older, I’m paying much more attention to my lips and the skin around my mouth. It’s an area where we can start noticing changes in volume, texture and fine lines, yet most of our expensive skincare products are focused primarily on the rest of our face. I love seeing beauty technology become this targeted.

SWIRISE LED Light Therapy Device

The SWIRISE LED Light Therapy Device is another option I found interesting because you don’t actually wear it. Instead, the curved device sits over the area you’re treating. This style appeals to me because it gives you more flexibility than a traditional mask. You aren’t necessarily buying something that can only be strapped across your face. Some of the areas I use it for is on my décolleté to reduce signs of aging, my hands, and even my lower back for back pain.

I think we’re going to see much more of this in at-home beauty—devices that can be incorporated into several parts of our routines instead of doing just one thing.

SolaWave Bye Acne 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment

Not every light treatment needs to involve your entire face. That’s what I like about the SolaWave Bye Acne 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment. As someone who still deals with the occasional hormonal breakout, I appreciate the idea of having something I can pull out when I need it rather than treating my entire face.

The American Academy of Dermatology explains that visible-light treatments can be effective against pimples, although they don’t treat every form of acne. Deep acne cysts and nodules, for example, aren’t effectively treated by visible light alone. So again, knowing what a device is—and isn’t—designed to do is important.

Red Light Therapy for Thinning Hair May Be the Most Interesting Development Yet

This is the category I am particularly interested in as I enter my 40s. Hair changes aren’t discussed nearly enough when we talk about aging and beauty. We hear endlessly about wrinkles, but changes in hormones and age can also affect the thickness, texture and overall appearance of our hair. That’s why red light therapy for thinning hair caught my attention.

CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet

Yes, it’s a helmet. And yes, it looks a little futuristic. But the CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Growth Helmet may be one of the most interesting devices on this list.

CurrentBody says an independent 84-day study it commissioned involving 31 people with mild-to-moderate hair loss or thinning found improvements in hair growth rate, density and thickness. Those are company-reported study results, so I don’t think anyone should assume they are guaranteed to experience the same changes.

However, the idea of using red light for hair loss isn’t coming solely from beauty brands. The American Academy of Dermatology says randomized controlled trials involving people with hereditary hair loss have found that repeated red light treatments can result in some hair regrowth as well as increased hair thickness and length.

That’s enough to make this a category I’m going to continue watching.

What Should You Expect From Red Light Therapy Before and After?

This is one area where I think social media can create some unrealistic expectations.

Search for red light therapy before and after photos and you’re going to find some pretty dramatic transformations. But red light isn’t the same as getting a peel or another treatment where you might notice an obvious difference shortly afterward. Consistency seems to be key.

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that at-home devices use lower-strength light than dermatologist-administered treatments. It can take regular treatments over time before you see results, and not everyone will experience the same outcome.

I would approach it the same way I approach skincare: take your own before photos in consistent lighting and give the product enough time to actually determine whether it is doing anything for your skin.

And make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Makeup, self-tanner, lighting and even where you’re standing in front of a window can make a huge difference in a photo.

Are At-Home Red Light Therapy Devices Worth It?

I think this ultimately comes down to your expectations. If you’re buying one of these devices because you expect to wake up looking ten years younger after a week, you’re probably going to be disappointed.

But if you’re someone like me who already invests in skincare and professional beauty treatments and likes the idea of doing something consistently at home to complement that routine, I can absolutely see the appeal.

The biggest thing I would consider before purchasing one is what you actually want to treat.

If your main concern is your overall complexion, a mask like the INIA GLOW makes sense. If you’re dealing with breakouts, a targeted device like SolaWave may be more practical. If hair density is becoming a concern, the CurrentBody helmet is tackling an entirely different beauty issue. And devices like PlasmaGLO and SWIRISE show just how specialized this technology is becoming.

I would also look for FDA-cleared devices when appropriate and pay attention to the actual wavelengths, recommended treatment schedule and research behind a product rather than simply buying whatever device happens to be trending on social media.

And, as always, if you have a skin condition, take medications that make you sensitive to light or are undergoing treatment for hair loss or another medical concern, talk with your dermatologist before adding a light-based device to your routine.

At-home beauty technology has changed tremendously over the past few years, and I don’t think red light therapy is going anywhere. What I’m most excited about isn’t simply seeing more devices. It’s seeing devices become more targeted to the beauty concerns many of us start thinking about as we get older.

Fine lines. Breakouts. Lips. Hair. Skin texture. Apparently, there’s a light for just about everything now!

Please Note: I always strive to provide accurate and helpful information, but just a quick heads-up—I’m a blogger, not a doctor, lawyer, CPA, or any other kind of certified professional. I’m here to share my experiences and insights, but please make sure to use your own judgment and consult the right professionals when needed.  

Also, I accept monetary compensation through affiliate links, advertising, guest posts, and sponsored partnerships on this site, however I am very particular about the products I endorse and only do so when I am truly a fan of the quality and result of the product.