Let There Be Light (Therapy)

Glow Up & Show Up with Color Light Therapy

It's no secret that my skin is super sensitive and I am prone to break outs. This summer has been no joke with the amount of times that my skin has broken out. From heat rashes to pimples, I've been through it 🥵. One thing that seems to help calm my skin and get me back into a good routine is light therapy. I've been fiddling with it for about the past 5 years for various reasons, and I've tried quiet a few at home products that I'm here to tell you all about but before I dive into those, let's deep dive what Color Light Therapy is, and how to start using it!

🌟 What Is Color Light Therapy & Why Should You Care?

Color light therapy (also called chromotherapy) is a wellness technique that uses different colors of LED light to target skin concerns, boost your mood, reduce inflammation, and support overall well-being. Each color has a different wavelength, which penetrates the skin at different depths and does different things: from stimulating collagen to calming your nervous system (ummmm, yes please!).

Originally used in spas and clinics, color light therapy has gone mainstream thanks to at-home devices you can use in your own self-care routine. It’s painless, non-invasive, and easy to work into your daily life, no needles, no downtime, no stress!

You’ve probably heard of red light therapy, but there are actually a full rainbow of colors, and each one is said to do something different!

What Each Color Does (According to the Experts)

Here’s a quick rundown of what each light is believed to help with:

🔴 Red Light:

Boosts collagen
Speeds up healing
Reduces inflammation
Improves skin tone and texture

🟠 Orange Light:

Energizing
Thought to boost creativity and mood
May support digestion

🟡 Yellow Light:

Promotes clarity
Sometimes used to reduce redness
May help with anxiety

🟢 Green Light:

Calming
Said to help with migraines and pain relief
Balances mood

🔵 Blue Light:

Kills acne-causing bacteria
Soothes skin irritation
Can help regulate sleep cycles (especially in small doses during the day)

🟣 Purple/Violet Light:

Combines benefits of red and blue
Believed to aid cell regeneration
Associated with relaxation and mental clarity

My Setup

I used a variety of different products for various areas of my body. I have a wrap that I use on my back to help with inflammation and healing. I also have 2 different face masks that my husband and I use to help even out my skin, fight the pimple outbreaks, and tone down some of my color pigmentation. I have a travel wand that is perfect for travel, and does all of the various colors, as well as a panel that I keep at my desk for early morning treatments.

With 2 of my 5 devices having a rainbow of colors to chose from, I've tried all of the shades below over the course of a few weeks. I've used it mostly on my face and neck, 10–15 minutes at a time, a few times a week.

What I Noticed

Here’s my honest experience:

Red light: My skin looked a little brighter and smoother, and I swear my breakouts healed faster.
Green light: I've used this when I had a headache and I did notice a difference in my headache not lasting the entire day and easing up a bit.
Blue light: Felt soothing and clean, though I didn’t see a big change in my skin personally outside of not breaking out as much.
Orange/yellow: These made me feel more upbeat and focused. Could be placebo, but I’ll take it! I liked starting my morning off with these, I feel like it woke me up quicker than I do on my own.
Purple: This was my go-to at night for winding down. Loved the soft glow and calm feeling. Helped me to feel groggy and ready for bed. Very soothing!
💡 Why Is Color Light Therapy Worth Trying?

If you’re into skincare, wellness, or anything that helps you feel like your best self, color light therapy is a fun and low-effort add-on with real potential benefits. It’s been used to:
Help reduce acne and redness
Support anti-aging by boosting collagen
Speed up healing after treatments or breakouts
Improve mood and reduce stress
Even help with sleep and headaches depending on the color used

While research is still ongoing, many dermatologists and wellness pros agree that certain types of light therapy (especially red and blue) can make a noticeable difference over time.

My Favorite Light Therapy Products:

💗 1. 7-in-1 Facial Massage Wand

This little wand surprised me! It’s super affordable but feels like a spa treatment at home. The heat and vibration make it so relaxing, and I love switching up the LED colors depending on my skin’s mood that day. I’ve been using the red light after applying my serums and it really feels like it helps everything soak in better. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and I actually look forward to using it before bed. This is the perfect one for travel because I have all the colors on the go, depending on what my skin needs. It's compact and fits perfectly in my carry on too!

💜 2. SDKWDH Light Therapy Face & Neck Mask

If you want full-face and neck coverage without holding anything, this mask is a game-changer. It looks a little intense at first (my husband may or may not have called me a robot), but the 7 light settings make it easy to target exactly what your skin needs. Definitely a fun “treat yourself” product. I like that there is a neck attachment too, because my face isn't the only area on my body that breaks out, or needs a little help!

❤️ 3. Red Light Panel

I keep this panel at my desk and I notice that I stay more in routine with it during the cold, bleak, winter months than any other time of the year. It came with a pair of glasses, and I just throw them on, turn on the timer and set it up next to my computer monitor as I tackle the day. Like the other ones, it's calming, but what's nice about this one is that the size is quiet large, meaning I am hitting more than just my face. I've also taken it into the bathroom for my lights out showers, and I've set it up near my yoga mat for when I do at home work outs or meditations. So versatile and endless options with this one.

💚 4. Red Light Therapy Belt (for Body/Pain)

This one’s more about body care than skincare, but wow, does it feel good after a long day or a stiff start to the morning. I use it on my lower back after sitting at my desk too long or on sore muscles after workouts. It’s soothing and helps with stiffness without having to take anything or rub on a cream. I wasn’t sure I’d use it much, but now I find myself reaching for it more than I expected. You do have the option to be plugged into the wall, but I hook up one of my portable battery packs to it, and I can walk around using it, which is a nice feature!

🔴 5. Omnilux Contour Face Mask

This is my splurge mask and honestly, it lives up to the hype. I was super nervous about the price tag on it, but it came highly recommended to me by my bestie's mom (who's worked in a dermatologist office for many years). The red and near-infrared light feel like they’re doing real work under the surface, and after a couple of weeks, I genuinely noticed my skin looking more even. It’s super flexible and comfortable, so I’ll wear it while watching Netflix or even while folding laundry. If you're serious about skincare, this is one of those “worth the investment” devices that delivers visible results over time. I like that it's been FDA cleared too which helped me be more confident with my purchase!

⏰ When Should You Use Light Therapy?

You can use color light therapy:

In the morning to wake up your skin and set a positive tone (try yellow or orange)
Before bed to relax your body and mind (try purple or red)
Post-workout to help reduce muscle soreness (red or green are popular for this)
During your skincare routine after applying serums to help absorption
When you're breaking out or inflamed, especially with blue or red light
Anytime you just need a mood boost or a calm moment

🧴 How to Add It to Your Skincare Routine

Adding light therapy to your skincare ritual is easy — here's how to layer it in:

Start with a clean face: Remove makeup, sunscreen, etc.
Apply any water-based serums (like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide)
Use your LED device: 10–20 minutes depending on your skin goals
Finish with moisturizer or SPF (if daytime)

You can use a handheld wand, face mask, or panel depending on your setup. Many devices let you switch colors based on your mood or need!

💡 Fun & Creative Ways to Use Light Therapy

You don’t have to be lying in bed with a face mask to get your light therapy in. Here are a few ways to multitask with it:

During a workout: Use a red light panel while lifting weights or doing yoga to support recovery
In the shower: Install color-changing LED lights in your bathroom — soak in purple light while winding down
While journaling or meditating: Sit in front of green or blue light to create a calming environment
While working: Clip a small LED device to your desk or mirror for mood and focus support
During skincare “me time”: Light a candle, apply your serum, and relax under your LED mask for a spa moment
🧪 Is Color Light Therapy Legit or Just a Trend?

Short answer: Some of it is proven and some of it is still being studied.

Let’s break it down:

✅ What’s Proven (According to Science & Dermatologists)
Red light therapy (RLT) has been widely studied and is backed by real science. It’s been shown to:
- Boost collagen production
- Reduce inflammation
- Improve wound healing
- Help with joint and muscle pain
- Support skin rejuvenation and scar healing
Blue light therapy is also clinically proven for treating mild to moderate acne. It helps kill P. acnes bacteria on the skin (the stuff that causes breakouts) and is even used by dermatologists in-office.

Both red and blue light therapy are FDA-cleared for certain skin concerns and used in medical-grade skincare devices.

🧪 What’s Still Being Researched

Other colors like green, yellow, purple, and orange are commonly used in spa and wellness settings and are gaining popularity — but they don’t have as much clinical research behind them yet.
- For example, green light is being studied for migraines and pain relief.
- Yellow light is being looked at for skin redness and lymphatic drainage.
- Purple and orange lights are used more for mood, relaxation, or energy, but the evidence is mostly anecdotal for now.

So while color light therapy isn’t snake oil, some of the benefits are still being explored. That said, many people (like me!) find that it’s a great add-on to their routine for skin health, stress relief, and glow-up goals even if not every single color is fully backed by science (yet).

💸 Does Insurance Cover Light Therapy?

Sometimes but not always.

Insurance may cover certain types of light therapy, but usually only when it’s medically necessary and prescribed by a healthcare provider.

✅ Covered (In Some Cases)

Blue light therapy for acne
If you're seeing a dermatologist for moderate to severe acne, they might use in-office blue light treatments that can be covered by insurance — especially if prescription meds haven’t worked.
Red or infrared light for pain management or wound healing
Some physical therapists and pain clinics use red/infrared light therapy for things like joint pain, arthritis, or slow-healing wounds. These treatments may also be covered with a referral and diagnosis.

❌ Not Covered (Usually)

At-home devices like LED masks, handheld wands, and full-body panels are considered cosmetic or wellness tools, so they’re almost never covered by insurance.
Light therapy for mood, skincare glow-ups, or spa-like relaxation is also not covered — those are considered “elective” or “self-care,” even if you swear it’s helping your skin and soul (same, girl).

👛 Bottom Line:

If you’re using light therapy for acne, pain, or skin conditions and you’re seeing a licensed medical provider, ask if insurance can help it depends on your diagnosis and plan but the worst they can say is no. If you’re using it at home for skincare, mood, or general wellness, it’s usually an out-of-pocket cost and I haven't heard of insurance helping out with the cost.

✨ What Skincare Pairs Best with Light Therapy?

To get the most glow for your time, the products you use before and after light therapy really matter. You want ingredients that are light-safe, nourishing, and designed to work with — not against — the healing and collagen-boosting effects of LED.

👌 Best to Use Before or During Light Therapy:

*(I'll include a few links at the end of a few options)

These ingredients help prep your skin, boost penetration, and hydrate without causing sensitivity:

💧 Hyaluronic Acid

Helps plump and hydrate the skin — great under red light
Lightweight and gentle
My go-to when I want a dewy glow after red light sessions

🍄 Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Calms redness and supports skin barrier
Pairs well with any LED color (especially blue and red)
Great for acne-prone or sensitive skin

🧴 Peptides

Supports collagen and elasticity
Great when used before red or near-infrared light
Helps firm and soften fine lines

🫧 Aloe Vera Gel (pure, alcohol-free)

Soothing and cooling
Helps calm inflammation and works great post-blue or green light
Lightweight enough to use before light sessions if skin feels dry

🛑 Ingredients to Avoid Right Before Light Therapy:

Some actives can make your skin more sensitive to light or just aren't necessary during a session:

Retinol / Retinoids – Can increase sensitivity and irritation
AHAs/BHAs (like glycolic or salicylic acid) – Great at night, but skip right before a light session
Vitamin C – Brightening, but best used after or at another time of day (can degrade in light)

🌙 What to Use After Light Therapy:

After your LED session, your skin is warm, calm, and ready to drink in nutrients — so this is the perfect time to layer on:

Moisturizer with ceramides or squalane
Barrier-repair creams (like Cicaplast, First Aid Beauty, or Dr. Jart Cicapair)
A light facial oil (rosehip, jojoba, or marula)
SPF if it’s daytime — always protect your glow!

💡 Brittny’s Tip:

I like to keep my light therapy routine simple and gentle. I’ll cleanse, apply a hyaluronic acid serum, do my red light for 15 minutes, then follow with moisturizer and a jade roller if I’m feeling extra. It’s a small act of self-care that really sets the tone for my day or helps me unwind at night..

🌟 The Verdict:

Whether you're dealing with breakouts, looking for that healthy glow, or just want to add a little self-care magic to your routine, color light therapy is such a fun and surprisingly effective tool to try. From budget-friendly wands to luxe LED masks, there's something out there for every skin goal and price point. I loved experimenting with all the different colors and seeing how they supported my skin and mood in different ways. As always — I tried it so you don’t have to wonder. 💡✨

Ready to glow up and show up? Let there be light, babe. 💖

Happy Shopping & Shine Brightly!

❤️Brittny

✨ Shop It Here:

7 in 1 Wand: https://amzn.to/3Iedmrm

Color Light Mask: https://amzn.to/4eVtTwJ

Red Light Body Wrap: https://amzn.to/3IfVbS7

Red Light Panel: https://amzn.to/4lFThbM

Omnilux Mask: https://omniluxled.com/collections/all/products/omnilux-contour-face

Hyluronic Acid Options: https://amzn.to/4nBRq9M, https://amzn.to/400LTQ0, https://amzn.to/3Tnhjwd

Niacinamide Options: https://amzn.to/3Ih6qJW, https://amzn.to/400PCgs, https://amzn.to/4kqvBqS

Peptides Options: https://amzn.to/4nAIXU5, https://amzn.to/44DE6ZL, https://amzn.to/3I8W1A7

Aloe Options: https://amzn.to/4eFCyDd, https://amzn.to/4lyK1qt

I noticed a lot of great Prime Day deals for these as I was generating this list (FYI!)

*If you use my link, I may earn a small commission—thank you for supporting Brittny Tried It! 💕