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As a child, even though I hated the cold, I loved winter. But as I grew older, I realized that as fun as the holiday festivities are, the colder seasons mean early nights, and I know the lack of sunlight will cause winter blues to hit me hard. If you’re battling your cold-season blues, you’re not alone. However, you should also know that there is a very simple at-home solution available to (literally) brighten up your days and help you feel less lethargic, sluggish, and down: Light therapy lamps for seasonal depression.
You might already own a red light therapy device, whether for curing acne, smoothing neck wrinkles, or encouraging hair growth. “LED light therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular activity and promote healing,” explains Sarah Akram, a celebrity facialist and Dior US skin care expert. “This technology is often used to address a variety of skin concerns.” But did you know that LED lights can also help lift your mood? “For seasonal affective disorder, light therapy has been used to improve mood and is really considered a first-line treatment,” explains Evan Rieder, an NYC-based dermatologist who is one of only three American doctors to be dual board-certified in dermatology and psychiatry. “Though we don’t understand exactly why it works—perhaps by regulating winter circadian rhythms—there are years of data demonstrating that extending people’s photoperiod (daily exposure to light) can alleviate depressive symptoms.”
Our top picks for the best light therapy lamps for seasonal depression of 2024
That being said, you can’t just pick out a random lamp off the internet, which is why we consulted experts and combed through the internet for highly rated options that actually work. Scroll down for six best light therapy lamps that’ll keep seasonal depression at bay all winter long.
Carex Day-Light Classic Plus Bright Light Therapy Lamp
Pros
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Not as compact as other options
According to Dr. Reider, when shopping for a light therapy lamp, you should “look for a full spectrum visible light source with at least 10,000 lux,” he says. This one from Carex has that and more, including a glare-resistant screen and an adjustable angled stand. The light is powerful enough that you’re able to sit up to a full foot away so that you don’t feel like you have to be positioned right next to the lamp to reap the benefits.
Lux: 10,000
Screen size: 16” x 13”
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I was feeling an extreme lack of energy after the fall time change. Not just sleepy but also muscle fatigue. I purchased this lamp, and the results have been incredible, and I would not believe it if I hadn’t experienced it myself. From day one of using this lamp, things began to change. My energy level at 30 minutes was too high, almost making me hyper, so slowly, I decreased the amount of time (as recommended in the literature) until I found what worked best for me was 20 minutes. I read, pay my bills, write my to-do list, etc. during that time. I do it first thing in the morning around 8 AM. Most notably, before the light therapy, I was taking one two hour nap a day and still feeling tired. Now I take 1 half-hour nap a day and feel full of energy. Amazing!”
Pros
- Touch-controlled
- Multiple timer options
Cons
- Corded
Small but mighty, this compact lamp can imitate daylight by emitting full-spectrum light. But unlike actual sunlight, the LED lights in this device don’t emit harmful UV rays.
Lux: 10,000
Screen size: 6.7” x 6.7”
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I work from home near a north facing window, so even when the sun is shining, it is always quite shady where I sit all day. I got this to try and help my 2 PM crash, and so far, so good! It’s helped keep me awake, alert, and focused throughout my work days. I also like that it is dimmable and you can switch from cool and warm lighting.”
Pros
- Long-lasting bulbs
- Adjustable stand
Cons
- Relatively short cord
If you’re traveling to a gloomy area or want to avoid jet lag as much as possible, take this light therapy lamp with you. It’s small and thin enough to slip into any bag, but powerful enough to make a difference in your mood and energy levels.
Lux: 10,000–25,000
Screen size: 7.5” x 5.25”
Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I experience lethargy, lowered mood, and difficulty waking once the days get shorter here in the northeast US. I’ve tried two other light therapy systems —one a visor, one a larger free-standing lamp. This is brighter, smaller and seems more effective—within two weeks of using it daily, I’m feeling relief from symptoms. Waking up is no longer a slog. Highly recommend.”
Pros
- Sleek design
- Adjustable color temperature
Cons
- Not cordless
At this price point, Verilux’s HappyLight Luxe is a bargain. Not only does it provide 10,000 lux of full-spectrum light, but it also comes with four different levels of brightness and three color temperature options. Also helpful is the built-in timer—you can program it to turn off the light once you’ve hit the desired number of minutes of exposure.
Lux: 10,000
Screen size: 7.48” x 11.73”
Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “After using the light for a couple of weeks, the effects become pretty noticeable. It helped improve my mood during the low light days and really made me feel more awake and alert. This is great for early mornings or afternoons when I’m starting to crash. It’s very bright, so you don’t want to have it pointed directly at you. I usually just keep it angled about halfway across the table from me while I work on my laptop. It’s very thin and lightweight, perfect for travel or moving to other locations in the house.”
Pros
- Larger surface area
- Clinically tested
Cons
- May feel too bright at first
We love a light therapy lamp that’s large and in charge; because of its bigger surface area, it ensures maximum exposure to the beams. According to the many happy customers, you might experience positive changes to how you feel and the quality of your sleep almost immediately.
Lux: 10,000
Screen size: 12.25” x 17”
Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “This thing will burn your retinas if you put it right in front of your face like how other brands require it, but unlike those other brands, this light you can actually put at a distance about a foot away and still get 100 percent therapeutic effect. Also let’s be honest, the other brands usually require unreasonable conditions such as being less than six inches away from the light source or else it loses effectiveness, which is hard to do without being disruptive. Boxelite truly allows for good light shining through from a distance away.”
Pros
- Four-year warranty
- Solidly built
Cons
- Can slide around on smooth surfaces
Not a fan of the boxy, solar panel-like look of the other lamps on this list? Try this more stylish option to keep on your vanity, side table, or even your desk at work, as one reviewer did. “After a couple weeks of using the lamp for about an hour a day, it’s not that I noticed I was happier—I just noticed I wasn’t headed to the dark place per my usual winter strategy,” reported the reviewer. “I just felt like myself, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for with light therapy.”
Lux: 10,000
Screen size: 9” x 8”
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Ordered this because I’ve been feeling seasonal depression now that it’s the rainy season and daylight savings has passed. Only used it for two days, but I’ve been feeling the difference already. I feel more awake and happier. I leave it near my bed and sit up and scroll my phone for about 30 minutes in the morning with the light in my line of sight. It’s a good size and works well! Feels really bright at first, but it’s not too bad to sit in front of—also has three brightness settings if the maximum is too bright for you to start with.”
Meet the Experts
Sarah Akram is a celebrity facialist and Dior US skin care expert.
Evan Rieder is one of only three American doctors to be dual board-certified in dermatology and psychiatry and is based in NYC.
Do I need to apply SPF before using light therapy devices?
It’s a resounding no from our experts. “While many sunscreens will not block the visible wavelengths of light used for light therapy, some of them can,” says Dr. Rieder. “I am fanatical about SPF use, and this is the only time I tell people to not wear an SPF,” adds Akram.
How should you prepare for light therapy?
“I would ensure the area of concern is clean of product and that the eyes are protected,” says Dr. Rieder. “The risks to the eyes are minimal to none but may not be zero.” Time to whip out your favorite pair of sunglasses!
Also, if you’re treating your skin with an LED or red light therapy mask, Akram recommends going in with a serum like Dior’s Prestige La Micro-Huile de Rose Activated Serum “for post-treatment skin health and recovery,” she says. Doing so will provide extra nourishment for the skin—this serum in particular infuses the skin with peptides, omegas, and hyaluronic acid.
Why Trust Elle Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee spoke with trusted dermatologists about light therapy lamps and how they work. Lee also searched the internet for top-rated light therapy lamps, perused sites for dozens of popular options, and evaluated each on their features and customer reviews.
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