The Tamesis
The beauty lies in seeing red – infrared.
Red light therapy is becoming a popular skin care solution with the promise of reducing inflammation, reducing acne and wrinkles, and promoting collagen restoration. The sauna, fitness studio and facial clinic now offer red light tanning beds and treatment sessions. LED sticks and masks from brands like CurrentBody, Shark, Solawave, Vym, Monastery and FAQ have become the latest beauty accessories. It helps that these masks are perfect social media fodder: Glowing red-lit selfies have appeared on the feeds of celebrities and influencers like Kourtney Kardashian and Bethenny Frankel. New York-based Solaris Labs is selling a baseball cap with built-in LED light therapy designed to promote hair growth, with the inconspicuous “Out of Office” slogan printed on the cap. Searches for “red light therapy” on TikTok have surged 123% in the past four months, the platform said.
“Cultural and social factors have a huge impact on how red light penetrates skincare products. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube have fueled the hype. You can do it at home to support your existing skincare routine or as an adjunct to in-office treatments,” says Suzanne Scott, global beauty director at PR and strategy firm Seen Group. “Social entertainment is really making Red Light the protagonist of GRWM, evening routine content and even cleaning content.”
Despite the popularity of red light therapy content online, practitioners say they believe consumers are drawn to it as part of a bigger-picture investment in longevity and overall health, with people buying products that promise to do more than just a superficial salve. “People are moving away from chemical environments and rediscovering healing from within. People are more aware of how their bodies work,” says Philippa Harvey, director of holistic health at SHA Wellness Clinic, which has offices in Spain and Mexico and has been doing red light therapy since 2008.
According to Allied Market Research, the global phototherapy market will be worth US$521.1 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$802.7 million by 2031. McKinsey says Gen Z and Millennials are driving demand for wellness devices and tech tools in everyday life, but experts say red light therapy will transcend generations. For many people, it’s an expensive skin-care routine: Tools can cost more than $1,000, and regular treatments at spas and fitness centers can add up. But experts believe the investment is part of a broader shift in health awareness, with consumers willing to spend more on health than in other categories.
Beauty brands are moving quickly to get involved. From specialty companies like CurrentBody – which sells red light devices for the face, hair, neck, décolletage, hands and more – to beauty giants like L’Oréal Groupe, which will launch its first red light tool next year. “This continued engagement with using a mask every day to see results makes it more than just a fad or a phase. Consumers are investing time into their skincare and wellness habits,” said Danielle Lessing, chief product development and innovation officer at Shark. Shark’s Red Light Mask sells for $350 and has become a fixture in social media content.
Running a red light to go home
Laurence Newman, CEO and co-founder of The Beauty Tech Group, which owns CurrentBody, Ziip Beauty and Tria Laser, said red light therapy is growing in popularity as customers seek treatments that go deeper than the skin but don’t require going under the knife. “The rise of at-home beauty solutions during COVID-19, increased awareness on social media and growing demand for non-invasive anti-aging treatments, even among younger consumers, are driving this trend,” he said. The brand’s LED light therapy mask was featured in the opening scene of season two. emily in paris. “Moments like these help us transform red light therapy from a niche health tool to a mainstream skin care must-have,” says Newman.
