Red light devices promise a lot—but do they deliver? Wirecutter supervising editor Rory Evans demystifies the science behind them, shares her top picks, and explains who might want to think twice before trying one.

Correction: In this episode, we misstated that the irradiance, or power over an area, of red light devices is measured in megawatts per square centimeters. It is measured in milliwatts, not megawatts.

 

Products we recommend:

• Best red light wand: LightStim for Wrinkles
• Best flexible red light mask: Omnilux Men
• Best rigid red light mask: Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask

 

Additional reading:

• The Solawave Wand Costs Half the Price of Other Red-Light Tools. But We Didn’t Love It. 
• The Best Red-Light Device

 

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Studio support from Maddy Masiello, Nick Pitman, Kyle Grandillo, and Samantha Winter. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Da