Should You Do Red Light Therapy Before or After Skincare?

For most people, red light therapy should be done after cleansing and before applying skincare products. Clean, dry skin helps you absorb light more effectively. Serums and moisturizers can be applied afterward to help support hydration and a healthy skin barrier.

The ideal routine when using LED light therapy devices for skincare can vary depending on the products you use and your goals. Many red light devices deliver light using red and near-infrared wavelengths, while some also include blue light for additional skin care benefits. But there are some general guidelines you'll want to keep in mind for your daily skincare routine.

Keep scrolling to learn about the best treatment order, why it matters, the benefits of red light therapy, what skincare products pair best with red light therapy, and ingredients to avoid. We'll also go over sample morning and evening routines for inspiration.

Why the Order of Your Skincare Routine Matters

Red light therapy uses red light devices, sometimes called low-level light therapy, to deliver specific wavelengths of light to the skin. Recently applied products or product buildup (think makeup, sunscreen, or thick creams) might interfere with light penetration into the skin.¹

This interference is sometimes called "light scattering." It's when LED (light-emitting diode) light waves(called photons) reflect light off the skin and are uselessly dispersed. In other words, they don't enter or penetrate the skin tissue properly.^2,3

Doing your skincare and red light session in the right order can help your device work as it should without overcomplicating your ritual. It's all about consistency and a thoughtful routine.

The Best Order: Cleanse → Red Light Therapy → Skincare

Should I do red light therapy before or after skincare? You should generally use a red light therapy device after cleansing your skin but before applying other skincare products.

Follow these steps for the best results.

Step #1: Start with Clean, Dry Skin

As mentioned, products like makeup and sunscreen could result in light scattering and keep LED light from penetrating into the skin.^4,5Clean, dry skin is thought to be best for absorbing the beneficial wavelengths from a red light mask.^6,7 So, what to look for in a red light therapy mask? Compatibility with your skincare routine is one factor. Some devices are designed to pair with specific products, like an activation serum, rather than bare skin, so it's worth checking the manufacturer's instructions before your first session.

So, start by washing your face to prepare your skin, removing not only makeup and SPF but also excess oil, dirt, and debris. After cleansing, carefully pat your skin dry with a clean washcloth.

Step #2: Use Your Red Light Therapy Mask

Use your red light face mask before doing the rest of your skincare routine.

Check the device's user guide to see what the brand recommends for treatment time. Many masks are designed for sessions between 10 and 20 minutes. Remember, longer sessions won't necessarily enhance or speed up your results, consistency is more important than intensity.

Step #3: Apply Your Skincare Products

After your red light therapy session, apply the rest of your skincare products. For instance, a toner, serum, eye cream, and barrier-supporting moisturizer. You don't have to use all of these products, of course. The idea is to support your skin with hydration following red light treatment.

If you're using an LED light therapy device as part of your morning routine, be sure to slather on sunscreen as a final step.

Which Skincare Products Pair Well with Red Light Therapy?

The best skincare products to use alongside red light therapy include:

• Hydrating ingredients – Think ceramides, hyaluronic acid (HA), glycerin, aloe vera, and vitamin E (tocopherol). These humectants help your skin stay hydrated and feel calm while supporting the effects of red light therapy.^7,8
• Barrier-supporting ingredients – Peptides, niacinamide (an antioxidant), squalane, ceramides, and some plant oils can support skin health and boost moisturization while offering a soothing feel.⁹

Morning vs Evening Products

You can use most of the same skincare products both morning and evening. But as noted, you'll want to apply sunscreen in the a.m. as a final step of your routine. So, how often should you use a red light therapy mask? Generally speaking, you should only do one red light therapy session a day, up to five times a week.

Some of the best skincare routines are simple yet consistent. As a general rule, you can apply products in order from the thinnest to the thickest consistency. So, it could start with toner, followed by serum, then moisturizer, then sunscreen. Or it might be even more pared down, with just serum and moisturizer.

What Should You Avoid Before Red Light Therapy?

Here's what you generally shouldn't apply before a red light therapy session:

• Heavy occlusive products – Thick creams, shea butter, petrolatum (petroleum jelly), silicones, coconut oil, and other plant oils may create a barrier on the skin that blocks light.¹⁰ That's why clean skin is usually preferred before the non-invasive LED skin care treatment.
• Strong active ingredients – High-strength retinoids (such as prescription tretinoin), AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids), and BHA (beta-hydroxy acid), like salicylic acid, can sometimes cause dryness or irritation, so consider applying them after your red light therapy session rather than before.
• Makeup and sunscreen – At the risk of sounding like a broken record, always remove makeup and sunscreen before treatment. Cleansing should be the first step, and SPF should be the final step of a morning skincare routine.

Can You Use Retinol with Red Light Therapy?

Yes, combine red light therapy with retinol and other retinoids, like retinaldehyde (retinal), tretinoin, adapalene, or retinyl esters, as part of a skincare routine. But timing matters.

As with other skincare products, you should apply retinol after using your LED therapy device. If it's a retinoid serum, you'll apply it either right after using the device or following toner.

Since retinoids and red light therapy aren't always used every single day, some people use them on alternating nights to avoid possible irritation.

Listen to Your Skin

If you're new to skincare and at-home wellness treatments, gradually introduce new products, active ingredients, and devices. Start with two or three days a week to see how your skin responds. If you notice dryness or discomfort, slow down or stop using a product.

When in doubt, prioritize gentle skincare formulas, focus on hydration, and follow the instructions for each individual product.

Sample Red Light Therapy Skincare Routines

Let's look at a couple of sample skincare routines you can use with red light therapy.

Morning Routine

• Cleanser
• Red light therapy mask
• Antioxidant or hydrating serum
• Lightweight moisturizer
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30

Evening Routine

• Oil-based cleanser (if removing makeup and/or sunscreen)
• Water-based cleanser
• Red light therapy mask
• Retinol or other active ingredient (optional)
• Hydrating serum
• Barrier-supporting moisturizer

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here's what not to do with your red light therapy skincare routine. DON'T:

• Apply thick creams or occlusive skincare products before using an LED mask
• Layer too many active ingredients immediately after treatment
• Skip sunscreen in the morning
• Extend treatment sessions beyond the manufacturer's recommendation
• Expect immediate results

You'll get the best results with consistency, so don't try to do too much all at once.

Build a Skincare Routine That Works with Red Light Therapy

Should you do red light therapy before or after skincare? Before. Use your LED device before applying products like serum and moisturizer. Your best bet is to keep your routine simple, focus on consistency, and adjust products based on your skin's needs.

Lifepro supports everyday wellness with thoughtfully designed red light therapy machines that make it easier to build healthy, sustainable self-care habits. Whether you're refining an established routine or incorporating a new ritual, choosing quality equipment can help you stay consistent over the long term.

FAQ

Do you do red light therapy before or after skincare?

You should do red light therapy before applying skincare products like serum and moisturizer. But cleanse first so you begin each session with clean, dry skin.

When can you do skincare before red light therapy?

You can do certain skincare steps before red light therapy, such as cleansing, toning, or mild exfoliation. The most important thing is that your skin is clean, dry, and not irritated when you start your red light session.

Can I use red light therapy before moisturizer?

Yes! Moisturizer is typically applied after red light therapy treatment.

Should I wash my face after red light therapy?

Usually, no. You don't want to wash your face after using a red light mask or other LED device unless you're removing a product you applied afterward or an activation serum recommended by the device manufacturer. It won't necessarily hurt, but the idea is to cleanse first, so you start with clean skin.

Can I wear makeup during red light therapy?

No, you shouldn't have any makeup on during a red light therapy session, as it could affect the light's ability to penetrate your skin. Your face should be clean and makeup-free before treatment.

Does the time of day matter?

No. You can use a red light therapy device in the morning, evening, or another time of day, as long as your skin is clean when you start. A consistent routine is more important than the exact timing.

Sources:

1. Dose-Response. Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2203/dose-response.09-027.Hamblin
2. Journal of Lasers in Medical Science. Biological and Therapeutic Responses of Human Skin to Different Wavelengths of Light: A Comprehensive Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12958274/
3. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia. Red light-emitting diode on skin healing: an in vitro and in vivo experimental study. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0365059624002010
4. Skin Research & Technology. Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/srt.13391
5. Lasers in Medical Science. Monte Carlo Simulations of Optical Propagation in Human Skin Using Experimentally Measured Laser Parameters. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10103-026-04911-7 
6. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3926176/
7. Frontiers in Photonics. Red-light photons on skin cells and the mechanism of photobiomodulation. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/photonics/articles/10.3389/fphot.2024.1460722/full
8. SKIN — The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine. When to Reapply Moisturizers: Evidence-Based Intervals from a 24-Hour Hydration Study. https://skin.dermsquared.com/skin/article/view/3955
9. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Understanding the Epidermal Barrier in Healthy and Compromised Skin: Clinically Relevant Information for the Dermatology Practitioner. https://jcadonline.com/fundamentals-of-skin-barrier-physiology/
10. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5796020/