Red light therapy is my latest obsession, as it has so many benefits for our body and skin. I feel like perimenopause is the best time to introduce it to our daily routines as our bodies start taking longer to recover and our skin needs a bit more help to stay hydrated and plump.
I already use a red light therapy mask and red light therapy panel, but I was very excited to review Nanoleaf 6-in-1 light therapy wand, as some of the features are a good addition to my red light routine, and having a wand has different benefits that my other two tools can not provide.
TL;DR
If you’re over 40 and dealing with hormonal acne, morning puffiness, and collagen loss, this wand is a genuinely useful addition to your routine. It won’t replace a panel or mask for full-face treatments, but for targeted acne care, lymphatic drainage, and depuffing, it’s great, especially at this price.
Use my code BAREFOOT10 for 10% off on the Nanoleaf website.
What I was looking for
When I entered perimenopause, my skin changed a lot. In this phase of our life, collagen production drops, hormonal acne flares up, water retention gets worse, and our skin just takes longer to bounce back. I have been looking for tools that specifically help with these issues without adding a 20-step routine, and the Nanoleaf wand genuinely addresses several of them. The blue light targets hormonal acne exactly where it appears, the cooling and vibration help with the puffiness that has become my unwelcome morning companion, and the red light and NIR support the collagen production our skin is desperately losing. It is not a miracle device, but it slots into a perimenopause wellness routine in a way that feels useful rather than gimmicky.
Nanoleaf kindly gifted this wand. As always, my review reflects only my honest personal experience. This post contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
First impressions
What’s in the box:
- Light Therapy Wand
- Charging Cable with USB connection
- User Manual – the manual is a bit light in detail, a few don’ts, simple control explanation, but I wish there was a bit more of each mode explanation, from wavelets to irradiance to science-proven benefits of each mode.
Look and feel
I really like how the wand looks and feels. It has a very clean design with very simple controls. You only have two buttons to control intensity and the modes, so it is very intuitive. It also feels heavy enough to feel expensive, but light enough for 4 minutes of treatment.
Nanoleaf light therapy wand modes and specifications
| LEDs | 12 |
|---|---|
| Red + NIR wavelength | 630nm + 850nm |
| Blue wavelength | 460nm |
| Treatment modes | 6 |
| Treatment duration | 4 minutes per mode (auto shut-off) |
| Recommended use | 3–5 times per week |
| Heating temperature | 38 ± 3°C |
| Cooling temperature | 15 ± 3°C |
| Battery life | 1–3 hours per charge |
| Charging | USB-C, ~3.5 hours |
| Size | 187 × 40 × 55 mm |
| Weight | 201g |
| Certifications | FDA-cleared |
| Warranty | 2 years |
6 Treatment Modes Explained
Anti-Aging
Red light + NIR + Heating + Vibration
Targets fine lines, boosts circulation and collagen production.
Acne
Blue light + Vibration
Targets acne-causing bacteria on the skin's surface.
Soothe
Heating + Vibration
Relaxes facial muscles and encourages lymphatic drainage.
Repair
Red light + NIR + Cooling
Calms redness and supports skin recovery.
⏱ 4-minute cooldown after use
Heating
Heat therapy (38 ± 3°C)
Opens pores and improves skincare product absorption.
Cooling
Cold therapy (15 ± 3°C)
Depuffs, tightens pores and locks in skincare products.
⏱ 4-minute cooldown after use
It is also worth mentioning that the Nanoleaf wand is FDA-cleared, which at this price point is not something you see very often. It gives me a bit more confidence that the device has been tested for safety, even if FDA clearance doesn’t guarantee the results the brand promises.
How do the wavelengths compare to clinical research?
This is something I always look into with red light therapy devices. The red light at 630nm is very close to the clinically studied sweet spot of 633nm, so I’m happy with that. The NIR at 850nm is slightly above the often studied 830nm, but still within a reasonable range. The blue light at 460nm is where it drifts a bit further from the 415nm wavelength that most acne studies reference (1).
Does that mean it won’t work? Not necessarily, but it’s worth knowing that more expensive devices tend to have more closely studied wavelengths. For the price, I think the Nanoleaf wavelengths are more than acceptable, but if you want clinical-grade precision, this is worth knowing.
My Nanoleaf light therapy wand routine
I love using the Nanoleaf wand on the days I don’t use the red light therapy mask, when I have acne breakouts, and if I wake up a bit puffy from salty food or other reasons I have water retention. I was surprised by how often I like to use the wand as a part of my morning routine.
I like to start the routine with lymphatic drainage activation on my collar bones and neck. I then move to areas around my eyes and where I feel the most puffiness with the anti-aging setting.
I go around my eyes with a smoothing setting, as I don’t like to shine red light into my eyes too much.
If I have an acne flare-up on my chin( I mostly have it before my period), I treat my chin area or where I can see the spots with blue light therapy.
I then finish my routine by adding my moisturiser and finishing off with a cooling treatment around my eyes.
In total, I take up to 10 minutes and feel so much more refreshed and ready for the day.
When can you expect to see results?
I started noticing a difference in puffiness and overall skin tone within the first couple of weeks of consistent use. That said, Nanoleaf states that deeper benefits like reduced fine lines or clearer skin typically show up after 4 to 6 weeks. In my experience, the depuffing and lymphatic drainage benefits are almost immediate, but the anti-aging and acne improvements take longer and depend on how consistent you are. I would say commit to at least 6 weeks before you decide if it is working for you.
I love the feeling of freshness in my face after I use the wand, and I do feel like my hormonal acne doesn’t flare up that much. I still get the spots, but if I treat them with blue light, they do take longer to disappear.
Things to know before using the wand
If you are using retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, or any exfoliating acids in your skincare routine, and let’s be honest, most of us over 40 are, you should be a bit careful with light therapy. These ingredients can make your skin more sensitive to light, and Nanoleaf does recommend checking with your dermatologist before using the wand if that is the case. I personally avoid using my retinol on the same evening I use the wand, and I have not had any issues. But it is something worth being aware of, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Things I love About the Nanoleaf 6-in-1 wand
1. Blue light feature
Blue mode is the feature I was most excited about. Let me explain why. On both my mask and panel, blue light is combined with NIR light. From my research, this is not necessary as blue light works mostly on the surface to kill the acne bacteria. This wand has blue light with vibration on its own, and I feel it will be more beneficial long-term. Another great thing about the blue light in a wand is that I can treat only the area I need instead of all the face or even a larger area with the panel. In my case, this is great, as I only suffer from hormonal acne on my chin and can treat a new flare-up before it gets too inflamed without needing to treat areas that don’t need blue light.
2. It is great for traveling
I know I will be taking it on all my travels, as it is a great tool for small morning treatments. I feel that it will be great to treat face puffiness after long flights, as well as massage the neck to reduce stiffness.
3. You can hit the places that the mask and panel can miss
I love that you can reach and work on areas on your neck, underneath your chin, where the mask and panel might miss slightly if not positioned correctly. I also love that you can give more attention to the areas that need it most, instead of treating all areas the same.
4. Love vibration and heat features
It took a bit of time to get used to, but I find heat combined with vibration very therapeutic; it feels like a gentle face massage, and I can feel it is very helpful for lymphatic drainage as it is soft enough to activate it. I will be incorporating it into my lymphatic drainage face massage for sure.
One of my favourite ways to use the wand is the anti-aging feature on my neck. It makes me feel less stiff due to red light, heat, and vibration. It is like a very gentle massage that I use way more than I expected. As I have some neck issues, I really appreciate this feature and can’t wait to see the results.
My partner loves it as well.
5. It helps with lymphatic drainage
I love using this wand in the morning. I have started noticing my eyes being more puffy lately, and the puffiness is a bit harder to get rid of. I have started practising face yoga, and it definitely helps, but the wand helps me activate the lymph with the subtle vibration, heat, and red light
Things could be better
1. No Traveling pouch
This wand is perfect for travel, but the same as the Nanoleaf red light therapy mask, it does not have a storage pouch. I know it is a small thing, and I do justify the decision due to the price, but it would be great to have something to store the wand in, mainly for hygiene reasons.
2. The size of the head is a bit awkward to use around the eye area
The head of the wand is quite large, which is great as it can treat quite a big area in one go, but it becomes a bit difficult to treat areas around the eyes. The area around my eyes is my biggest concern, especially for lymphatic drainage, so I will have to figure out the best way to move the wand to treat this area. Looking at other similar products on the market, which have a more eye drop shape, I feel that the head is slightly chunky if you want to get into more awkward parts of the face.
4. Led placement misses the entire middle area
The middle of the wand is allocated for heat and cold treatment, which is great; this area would also benefit from some lights.
5. Cooldown Lock
One thing that caught me off guard at first is that after you use the Repair or Cooling mode, those two modes lock for about 4 minutes while the device cools down. You can still use the other modes during that time, but if you were planning to do cooling back-to-back, you will need to wait. It is not a fault; it is a safety feature to protect the device. But I wish the manual explained this more clearly, as I can see people thinking their wand is broken. It is explained on the website, but I only found the information later on.
6. No information about irradiance
I have reached out to the brand to confirm this, but haven’t heard back yet. I will update this section as soon as I get the reply.
7. Usage guidance a bit vague
The manual and website don’t always agree, and neither gives enough detail. For example, the website explains that heat opens pores for better skincare absorption and cold locks it in, but the manual just says “use skincare.” So should I use heat and then cold in the same session? On the same day? It’s not clear.
The 3–5 times a week guidance is also vague. Does that apply to each mode individually or all modes combined? LED light probably shouldn’t be used daily, but what about heat and cold on their own for lymphatic drainage? And can I go beyond 4 minutes per mode?
I also have no guidance on pressure. Should the wand sit flat against the skin or hover slightly above it? How long should I stay in one spot before moving on? Without knowing the irradiance, it’s hard to judge this for myself.
This is where you can tell Nanoleaf is a lighting company rather than a wellness brand. The device itself is great, but the usage guidance leaves too many questions unanswered for a product that combines LED light, vibration, and temperature therapy.
Who should and who shouldn’t buy a nano leaf wand?
You should buy a Nanoleaf wand if you:
- Travel a lot and would like to have red and blue therapy always accessible
- Want to improve lymphatic drainage but don’t want to learn massages
- Suffer from acne only in one area
You shouldn’t buy the Nanoleaf Wand if you:
- Expect the same results as from a panel
- If you like to multitask during your treatments
- If you are not very good at keeping tools like this clean, or would want to share with your partner.
Price and where to buy
The Nanoleaf 6-in-1 Light Therapy Wand retails at £99.99 / $99.99, which honestly makes it one of the most affordable multi-function wands on the market. To put that into perspective, the Medicube Booster Pro costs around $250, and the Solawave wand is around $149 to $200, depending on the kit. For a device that gives you red light, blue light, NIR, vibration, heating, and cooling, I think the Nanoleaf offers incredible value.
I also have a 10% discount code for you, which brings it down to around £90 / $90.
Use code BAREFOOT10 at checkout on the Nanoleaf website.
| Nanoleaf 6-in-1 | Medicube Booster Pro | Solawave 4-in-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £99 / $99 | ~$250–$384 | ~$149–$207 |
| Red light | ✓ 630nm | ✓ LED | ✓ LED |
| Blue light | ✓ 460nm | ✓ LED | ✗ |
| Near-infrared (NIR) | ✓ 850nm | ✗ | ✗ |
| Microcurrent / EMS | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Galvanic current | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Heating | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cooling | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Vibration | ✓ | ✓ Sonic | ✓ Massage |
| App | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| FDA-cleared | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel case | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Best for | Budget multi-function, targeted acne, depuffing, lymphatic drainage | Product absorption, glass skin, app-guided routines | Simple daily routine, beginners, travel |
FAQ about the Nanoleaf 6-in-1 light therapy wand
How does the Nano leaf light therapy wand compare to the viral Medicube wand?
I would call the Nanoleaf 6-in-1 light therapy wand a less fancy Medicube Booster Pro cousin. It has a similar function but is more focused on simplicity. If you always wanted a medicube wand but are not fussed about having an app and want more simple features and a very affordable price, the Nanoleaf Light therapy wand is a great start.
How does it compare to the Solawave wand?
The Solawave 4-in-1 wand is the other device I see people comparing this to. Solawave combines red light therapy, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth, and facial massage, and it is a solid device for the price. However, it does not have blue light for acne, and it does not have a cooling mode. If acne treatment and depuffing are priorities for you, the Nanoleaf has the edge. Solawave does come with a travel case, which Nanoleaf still needs to sort out. Solawave is also more expensive, so if you are looking for the most features at the lowest price, Nanoleaf wins.
Which one is better, the Nanoleaf light therapy wand or mask?
These two tools are very unique and have different purposes and functions. While mask is focused for long term benefits in skin condition. Wand serves more instantly achieved depuffing, lymph drainage, and product absorption. So I think for the best results, a combination of both is the best.
How to clean the Nanoleaf 6-in-1 light therapy wand?
In terms of keeping it clean, Nanoleaf says to wipe the head and body with a soft, damp cloth after every use. Do not use any harsh chemicals, and definitely do not submerge it in water. It is simple enough, but you do need to be consistent with it, especially if you are using it with serums or moisturisers, as the product can build up on the head quite quickly.
To summarize,
I love my Nanoleaf wand, and I find it a very useful addition to my other red light treatments. I love using it for acne on my chin, as well as the cooling feature around my eyes, and smoothing or anti-aging features to depuff my face and help with aging and lymphatic drainage. It is a tool that will be with me for a very long time, and I will be taking it with me on all travels, as it is so easy to take with me. Its design and usage information are not perfect, but for the price, I think it is a very good tool.
Editorial Note: This post is for informational purposes only and is based on my personal experience.
References
- Gold MH, Andriessen A, Biron J, Andriessen H. Clinical Efficacy of Self-applied Blue Light Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Facial Acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2009 Mar;2(3):44-50. PMID: 20729943; yeah well the weather is nice nowPMCID: PMC2923954.
Silvija Meilunaite, PN1-NC, CSMC, is a certified nutrition coach and menopause coaching specialist writing from personal experience of perimenopause. She covers midlife health, hormone-supportive nutrition, and non-toxic living with a research-driven approach, helping women over 40 feel informed, strong, and healthy.
