Published: March 15, 2025
LED light therapy was initially developed by NASA back in the 1990s. They were studying how it could be used to grow plants in space but also inadvertently discovered its potential in the medical and cosmetics fields.
It wasn’t long before LED light therapy gained popularity in the world of skincare, hailed as a non-invasive way to target a multitude of visible skin concerns.
The question is…does it really work? Can shining some light on your face really help to clear the look of issues like acne and wrinkles? Keep reading as Bionyx investigates!
How Does LED Light Therapy Work?
It has long since been known that light rays have the potential to affect the skin. After all, UV light, even though it can’t be seen with the naked eye, can quickly cause the skin to burn. It also triggers changes deeper down in the skin. Inflammation, accelerated aging, dehydration, and skin cancer are all associated with UV light exposure.
LED light therapy makes use of visible light. Each color is a different wavelength and each wavelength penetrates and affects the skin in a different way:
Red Light
Red light is usually promoted the most when it comes to LED light therapy for the skin. This is the wavelength that’s revered for tackling the appearance of wrinkles and loose skin. It’s also very promising at lightening the look of dark spots and helps, to some extent, to lower the feeling of inflammation in the skin.
Although a lot more research is needed on the efficacy of red light therapy as a tool to reduce the visible signs of aging, there’s no arguing with the success that has been seen on the studies that have been carried out so far. Fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots become less noticeable while the skin takes on a softer finish. The appearance of redness is also diminished after a series of red light therapy sessions.
Blue Light
Blue light therapy is often referred to as a credible alternative to the topical treatments and medications that are recommended for an acne-prone complexion. However, how effective is it at clearing up the look of the skin?
Once again, the studies that have been carried out so far are full of promise. They show that blue light therapy is extremely successful at tackling the appearance of inflammation in the skin. This includes inflammatory acne lesions. It is also believed to have an effect on any acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
Green Light
Although green light isn’t as commonly used as red and blue, it still offers some distinct advantages. This wavelength is all about balancing the complexion. It evens out the skin tone, lightening the look of discoloration and brightening the overall appearance.
Green light therapy is also known for having a calming effect on the complexion. It will soothe the surface of your skin to leave your skin feeling happier.
Combining Lights
While each LED light therapy wavelength can be used on its own, they can sometimes be even more effective when combined. However, this all depends on the visible skin concerns that you’re trying to target. While blue light, for example, is a great tool for fighting the appearance of acne, its results are magnified when it’s mixed with red light.
Cyan is another popular combination. This one brings together blue and green lights. This wavelength is excellent at soothing the feeling of irritation in the skin.
Are There Any Risks or Side Effects?
One of the reasons why LED light therapy has become so popular so quickly is because side effects are extremely rare. It’s completely non-invasive and is safe to use on all skin types and skin tones. When compared to the other skincare products/procedures out there that are used to reduce the appearance of acne and wrinkles, this is pretty impressive!
Adding LED Light Therapy to Your Skincare Routine
Back in the day, LED light therapy sessions would have required a weekly visit to your dermatologist. Today, however, there are various at-home devices available. Not only do these save time, but they work out to be very cost-effective too. After all, with LED light therapy being so versatile, an at-home device is one that you’ll be able to turn to time and time again over the years.
If your visible skin concerns are focused around your eye area, take a look at the Photonix-2 Jade Eye Wand. This device offers two LED wavelengths; red and blue. The red mode enables you to tackle the appearance of crow’s feet and other eye wrinkles. Meanwhile, the blue mode is great for soothing the look of puffiness and bags around the eyes.
The Photonix-3 Neck Solution is also worth considering. Again, with two modes to choose from, you’ll be able to customize each LED session based on what your skin needs.
How exactly do you incorporate one of these devices into your skincare routine? Here are the steps to follow:
Begin by Cleansing Your Skin
As always, you should never do anything to your skin without cleansing it first. If your skin is coated with sebum and other impurities, your LED light therapy device won’t have much of an effect.
Ideally, use a gentle cleanser, such as the Bionyx Rhodium Mousse Cleanser. With a blend of hydrating ingredients, it will leave your skin feeling beautifully supple.
Apply a Serum
It is believed that LED light therapy can help to enhance the efficacy of topical skincare products. So, make the most of this by applying a serum to your skin before you reach for your LED light therapy device.
What type of serum should you use? This depends on what you’re planning to use LED light therapy for. If your main aim is to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with red light, use a serum that does the same, such as the Bionyx BioLift Platinum Deep Wrinkle Concentrate. This serum is infused with vitamins A, C, and E. These ingredients are revered for how they tackle the look of aging.
On the other hand, if you’re hoping to calm the feeling of inflammation with blue light or rebalance your complexion with green, try the Bionyx Alloy Platinum Synergizing Serum. It contains a blend of peptides and collagen, which will leave your skin barrier feeling stronger and more resilient.
If you’re going to be focusing on your eye area with your LED light therapy device, applying an eye serum would be a good move. The Bionyx Rhodium Intensive Eye Serum is a superstar at reducing the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness around the eyes.
Moisturize
After applying a serum to your skin, it’s always a good idea to top this off with a moisturizer. Why? Because a moisturizer will lock your serum into your skin, preventing those beneficial ingredients from evaporating away.
The Bionyx Platinum Transformative Cream is a moisturizer that works well in conjunction with LED light therapy. It’s filled with hydrating ingredients and antioxidants, along with several ingredients that keep the skin barrier feeling supported. Even on its own, this cream is capable of minimizing the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and inflammation. Combine it with LED light therapy and the results that you see will be even more impressive!
Use Your LED Light Therapy Device
Now that your skin has been perfectly prepped, turn on your LED light therapy device. How you actually go about using it will depend on the device itself. So, make sure that you read the instruction manual first.
Usually, at-home devices need to be used for 5-10 minutes each time. While professional LED treatments only need to be carried out once a week, at-home devices aren’t quite as powerful. Therefore, they’re best used two to three times a week to start with. Once you can see the improvements in your complexion, you can then cut this back to once a week for maintenance. It’s important that you don’t completely stop using your device after your complexion improves. The results provided by LED light therapy aren’t permanent. This is another reason why at-home devices can be so much more convenient than having to sign up for long-term professional LED light therapy treatments.
Once you’re done using your device, clean it with a cloth before putting it away. Don’t use any soaps or detergents directly on your device as this could damage it.
Apply a Sunscreen
If you’re using your LED light therapy device in the morning, make sure that you apply a sunscreen to your skin once you’re done. While some skincare products can be applied before you use your device, others, like sunscreen, are best done after. Although sunscreen products are designed to block UV light, it can also obstruct red LED light.
Is LED Light Therapy Worth Trying?
There’s no denying that a lot more research needs to be done when it comes to the many ways in which LED light therapy can influence the skin. However, the studies that have been carried out so far show plenty of promise with a minimal chance of side effects, which is more than what can be said of many of the other acne and wrinkle products out there.
With this in mind, LED light therapy is definitely worth trying if you aren’t seeing the results that you’d hoped for with your topical skincare products. Sure, it’s still relatively new but it holds so much potential and could end up saving you from having to opt for a more invasive procedure to tackle your visible skin concerns. Plus, with LED light therapy now being so widely accessible thanks to at-home devices, adding it to your routine has never been easier!
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