
I Was Wrong About Red Light Masks & Skin Aging
Brad Stanfield
Mar 15, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Combine daily SPF 50+ sunscreen with retinoids for youthful skin
The most powerful and inexpensive approach to maintaining youthful skin is the combination of daily SPF 50+ sunscreen and topical retinoids.
Utilize red and amber light for effective wrinkle reduction
A 2023 study found that red light and amber light are almost equally effective for wrinkle reduction, with red light showing a 31.6% improvement and amber light a 29.9% improvement.
Question consumer device studies for bias in results
Studies on at-home red light masks often involve researchers connected to the device manufacturers, creating a clear risk of bias in the results.
Experience visible skin improvements with tretinoin in one month
A massive meta-analysis of 180 studies found that the topical retinoid tretinoin can improve wrinkles, uneven coloration, and age spots in as little as one month of use.
Supplement collagen peptides to enhance skin health
A February 2024 study confirmed that supplementing with collagen peptides leads to significant improvements in wrinkle size, skin elasticity, and hydration.
Rank skin rejuvenation treatments from effective to gold standard
Skin treatments can be ranked from effective and cheap (sunscreen, retinoids) to the expensive gold standard (lasers), with red light masks fitting in the middle due to their safety but limited data.
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