Although science still needs to do a little more research, I firmly believe in the powers of red light therapy. I’ve noticed firmer, brighter, less inflamed skin across my entire body since I first started using my Dr. Dennis Gross LED Mask a few years ago. But honestly, I’m far from the perfect candidate for red light because I’m, admittedly, lazy as hell. I don’t have the energy or time to do an elaborate skincare routine every single day, let alone wear it, which is the key to seeing long-term results. But what if there was a way to make sure you could get your red light in just by doing a task that you already have to do every day? That’s what Higher Dose thought when they made their new red light showerhead filter.
When this new product popped into my inbox, I was ecstatic. I’m obsessed with Higher Dose’s sauna blanket and have used their red light mask before, too (and our assistant beauty editor Jasmine Hyman constantly wears the red light hat at her desk, lol)—both are incredible quality and actually worth the price tag, IMO. But at $599 for a shower head, I wasn’t so sure it could compete. Lemme tell you all about how I tested it and my full review.
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About the Higher Dose Red Light Showerhead Filter:
Higher Dose combined its award-winning LED technology (it’s dual wavelength: 650nm of red light and 850nm of near-infrared light) with a filtration system to help remove contaminants (chlorine, heavy metals, mineral residue, and more) from your water in the shower.
What’s cool is that it’s technically separated, so that you can charge up the red light on the included charging stand or use it on its own as a red light panel. To turn on the red light, the device comes with a handy remote with three preset timers (5, 10, and 15 minutes), and there’s also a button on the side of the device too (although most won’t want to reach up that high when they’re showering).
The actual device comes in three finishes: black, chrome, and brass, meaning it’ll match well with whatever you’ve already got going on in your bathroom. And it looks very sleek and high quality.
What benefits can you expect?
“When exposed to red and infrared wavelengths, the cells in our bodies absorb energy from the light, become more efficient in their use of oxygen, and are better able to make cell fuel, or ATP,” dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD, previously told Cosmo. “With more ATP, cells become more active and better at doing their jobs, whether that be DNA repair, cell turnover, collagen production, or calming inflammation,” she adds. Because of this, it’s thought that red light can help smooth and prevent fine lines and wrinkles over time, as well as improve the look of scarring and dark spots. It’s also helpful for soothing skin and reducing puffiness and inflammation while accelerating wound healing and circulation. This is why it’s beloved for hair growth,me too.
And of course, a shower filter is lovely too to help purify the water coming out of your faucet. Blondes, this is especially important for you (and even myself, as a faux ginger): Hard water can seriously fade and oxidize your hair color. It’s also important for soft, sleek, and hydrated hair strands.
Beth Gillette for Cosmopolitan
How I tested:
So, the first time I tested this was at a hotel, and it was the most glorious shower of my life. But the showerhead in my NYC rental can’t be swapped out, leaving me assuming this tool would just go to waste once I brought it home. Luckily, though, the panel detaches from the filter and can be placed on the included charging stand in your shower or anywhere. So while I can’t use it with the showerhead function, I do have mine placed in my shower at all times, propped on the tub to emit light directly on me when I’m under the water.
Obviously, I’m missing the benefits of the shower filter this way (but don’t worry, my apartment building is shockingly progressive and has a filter attached). I will say, though, that this was super easy to put on when I tried it at a hotel. I’m the kind of person who hires a Task Rabbit to hang a frame on the wall, and even I could install this and take it apart in 10 minutes or so.
My review:
I believe in the whole “habit stacking” thing (aka when you multitask healthy habits to boost productivity and convince yourself to do them more often), and this is essentially its final boss. The ability to help improve the skin on my entire body, plus my scalp, all the while I’m just doing something I’d have to do anyway (i.e. shower) is game-changing. I now don’t have an excuse not to do my red light sessions. I’m already naked in the shower; I might as well!
In the shower, it’s bright, but not so bright that I feel like I need to put on eye shields (at my desk, I’ll put on the shields to protect my eyes, but it’s not entirely necessary). It actually adds such a lovely ambiance to my bathroom that I genuinely look forward to my shower every morning. And it feels like I’m doing two things at once: Flooding my skin and scalp with red light, all the while sudsing up with my favorite products.
Initially, I wasn’t sure I could say I’ve seen tons of results. But everyone keeps telling me my skin looks glowier lately, and I’m wondering if it’s all the red light sessions. I will say I notice that my breakouts heal faster and my redness isn’t as prominent either.
FWIW, you’ll have to replace the filter in your showerhead every 75 days. I’ve been using mine for two months and haven’t replaced it yet, but I likely will do so in the next month.
Final verdict: Is the Higher Dose Red Light Showerhead Filter worth it?
If you were already considering getting a red light panel or mask (or upgrading one that you already have), I think this would be a worthy investment. Here’s the thing: Spending all this money on a device that you won’t actually get around to using is like throwing money down the drain, tbh. But! If you can find a way to make it more likely that you’ll use it (i.e. every day when you hop in the shower for 5 to 10 minutes), then it immediately increases the value you’re getting out of it. And for me, I think that’s worth it. I actually get around to using this nearly every single day because it’s easy to just quickly pop on when I take a shower.
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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.
