LED Light Therapy at Home: 4 Expert Tips for Best Results
2026 is about upleveling our skincare routines by being super intentional about how we use our products and devices. So it’s less about implementing a lot of new products, trendy devices, and buying new skincare, and more about learning how to get the most out of the high-quality products and devices you have already chosen for yourself. Because I know you have been reading my blog and getting educated about the best skincare routine, ingredients, and products for you 😉
LED therapy is a tried-and-true skincare treatment that has risen in popularity over the last decade. It’s because it works! We also have a lot more advanced devices for at-home use. Ones that are easy to use, comfortable, and effective. If you own an LED device, are thinking about getting a device soon, or go to a skincare or wellness space for LED treatments, you’ll want to do everything you can to get the best possible benefits.
scrub me secret: new to having a skincare routine? Check out my blog articles How to Start the Perfect Skincare Routine for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide and Skinimalism: Simplify Your Skincare for Better Results. You’ll find all the information you need there!
A quick refresh on LED therapy
When looking for a great LED device, I look for these things:
Number of bulbs: The device has a large number of bulbs, closely packed together. This is what we want for the best results.
The correct nanometers of light: We want the LED device to deliver wavelengths of light at 400+ nanometers for blue LED and 600+ nanometers for red LED. You can find this information on the LED device’s website or by googling it.
Look for great reviews: Look at the reviews for the LED device and make sure customers have good things to say about the results and comfort of the device
The most important LED colors to focus on: There is a lot of evidence proving that both red LED and blue LED lights have great benefits for our skin and body. Other colors, like green and yellow, don’t have as many proven benefits.
Red LED - Red LED therapy increases energy in our skin cells and helps to renew collagen and elastin. Healing skin, making it firmer, preventing lines and wrinkles, and fading visible lines and wrinkles.
Blue LED - Blue LED works to kill bacteria in acne, control oil production, and reduce inflammation in the skin. Blue LED is specifically used for controlling breakouts and diminishing acne.
scrub me secret: infrared light is different than red LED. The lightwaves of infrared light penetrate deeper into the tissues and body to fight inflammation and repair skin and body. Infrared light is often paired with blue or red LED lights. its a great pairing! Lightstim that I use to treat skin in the treatment room combines infrared and LED.
My Favorite LED Devices
Lightstim Elipsa is what I use in my treatment room
All these devices have a good number of lightbulbs placed closely together, the right nanometers of LED, and they have proven effective results.
LightStim - My favorite because these devices blend infrared light and LED. The handhelds are great for at-home use, or you can splurge on the Elipsa and have a professional device at home!
OmniLux - You can choose a red LED device or a blue LED device. They are comfortable, easy to use, and fairly priced for a great device.
Therabody - My clients love this one!
scrub me secret: The solawave spot treatment led device for treating acne is also a great tool! its a good option if you get the occasional breakout but don’t want to invest in any of the led deivces listed above.
Start With Clean Skin
Use your device with clean skin - no serums, lotions, or SPF
The LED lightwaves cannot penetrate through topical oils, moisturizers, SPF, and serums with larger molecular weights. While some serums still allow LED to penetrate the skin, I always opt for fresh, clean skin for both myself and my clients. This way, we KNOW the LED is working.
Create Circulation / Microcirculation Before Red LED
Using tools, devices, or facial massage with your hands to create circulation and microcirculation in the skin helps boost the results of your red LED. This is especially helpful for areas where you want to target lines and wrinkles.
Use a gua sha stone - especially the comb edge
Use a gua sha stone to give yourself a circulation-boosting facial massage before your red LED for better cell renewal and collagen and elastin production. Use the comb edge to create a small amount of friction on visible lines and wrinkles - creating microcirculation in those areas helps fade wrinkles and reduce future fine lines.
Find gua sha facial massage tutorials for treating lines and wrinkles here: video tutorial
Use a textured roller to target lines and wrinkles or prevent wrinkles
A similar concept to using your gua sha stone’s comb edge to create microcirculation. Use a texture roller over places with lines or wrinkles that you want to target. This will help boost cell renewal, firm skin, and reduce visible wrinkles.
A textured roller is easy to use; you roll it back and forth, then up and down in the areas you want to treat.
Use an enzyme or AHA mask
Enzymes and AHAs gently create cell turnover and stimulate skin cells, creating a little bit of oxygen flow and circulation. If your skin is feeling dull, tired, dry, or lacking elasticity, using an exfoliating mask is a great idea before LED.
Apply an enzyme or AHA mask and leave it on for 5-12 minutes before removing it with water and/or a clean cloth. Then use your LED device.
Opt for a physical exfolaint
A physical exfoliant is a product that clears away dead skin cells and debris and creates circulation by scrubbing the skin. This is a great option for those who are sensitive to AHAs and enzymes, or if your main concern is dry skin.
Apply your physical scrub and gently buff your skin for a couple of minutes. Remove the product with water and a clean cloth before using your LED.
REMEMBER: IF YOU APPLY OIL FOR FACIAL MASSAGE OR USE A MASK OR SCRUB, ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO REMOVE ALL PRODUCT BEFORE USING YOUR LED DEVICE.
Professional treatment: Nano-infusion before LED
Nano-infusion is a professional treatment that is not the same as, but similar to microneedling. This treatment is not as intense, as there are no needles that penetrate the skin.
A nano-needle pen device contains a tip that is a cluster of small silicon spikes. These spikes oscillate rapidly and press into the surface layers of your skin, but do not puncture. This deeply infuses serums that are topically applied, and it creates microcirculation in the skin that helps to repair it make skin bouncy, firm, and healthy.
In the treatment room, nano-infusion is perfect before red and infrared LED therapy.
Use Calming and Anti-Inflammatory Items After Blue LED
Using skincare with anti-inflammatory ingredients and/or cooling tools after blue LED therapy is a great way to get better skin-clearing results. The LED sets functions into action that begin to kill bacteria and debris, as well as heal. Reducing inflammation directly after is a perfect way to reduce redness around breakouts and continue the healing process.
Use a CBD skincare item
I personally love topical CBD for treating redness and inflammation in the skin. CBD isolate is a very effective anti-inflammatory ingredient. Which is why I love hydrating, calming CBD toner, and lightweight lotion after blue LED therapy.
Ology Essentials is my go-to CBD facial care
Cooling globes or ice roller after blue LED
Topical cooling tools like cooling globes or a cold roller after blue LED therapy are an excellent way to constrict blood vessels, helping reduce redness and inflammation. The cooling effect is also a really calming feeling for acneic skin.
Create a Routine That Works For You
LED works best when done consistently - make a schedule that works for you
A mistake I see a lot of people make is overcommitting to skincare or wellness routines. Meaning they overload their plate by trying to implement unrealistic new habits or routines that they end up not being able to keep up. So don’t commit to using your LED device daily if that feels overwhelming or unrealistic for your schedule.
Maybe 2x a week works for you. Or every other day. The most important part is being consistent and not skipping long periods of time. We want cumulative results.
I find that if I (female 35 - for reference) use my LightStim LED device once every 7-10 days for the 16-minute red and infrared session, it gives me great skin health and prevents wrinkles and sagging. That’s what works for me. Find what works for you!
I have hundreds of blogs on topics like skincare ingredients, products, devices, facial treatments, body skincare, botanicals, wellness, and more. Use the search bar at the top of the blog to search for any subject you want! You might have to hit the refresh button after entering your search topic
This blog contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I am proud of all my partnerships, and I only recommend products that I trust and believe in.