Easy Guide On How To Buy The Best Light Therapy Lamps
Learn how to capture the health benefits of the sun by using a light therapy lamp. These buying tips will help you pick the best model.
What To Look For
Light therapy lamps are designed to mimic outdoor light and give you the same chemical change in your brain that you’d get from being outside on a sunny day. For people who suffer from SAD, this is key to helping fight depression and be more productive, especially on short, dark winter days.
There are a lot of light boxes on the market and they’re not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so it’s key that you do a bit of research before purchasing. You want to get the best deal for your money and make sure it’s safe, too.
That’s why our team of ShopOwl researchers put together this quick guide to help you choose the right light therapy lamp for your needs.
How Do Light Therapy Lamps Work?
Before starting light therapy, it’s important to have a discussion with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s the right choice for you. While you don’t need a prescription to buy a light therapy lamp, you might have a condition that makes it a poor solution. Sometimes people with past and current eye problems, like cataracts or glaucoma, need to take additional precautions or avoid light boxes.
If you’re cleared to begin light therapy, it’s time to select a light box. Look for something that is in your price range first. The prices vary and there are ways to get as much therapeutic benefit from inexpensive models as there is from the very pricey ones—if you know what to look for.2
What To Look For And What To Avoid
- Look For
- Filters UV rays
- Adjustable brightness settings
- Avoid
- Less than 10,000 lux intensity
- Short bulb life
Beware Of Overpaying
Light therapy lamps can get very costly, especially if they have very high intensity or are large. If you’re willing to invest the time, you can purchase a light therapy lamp that has less than 10,000 lux. The problem is you’ll have to sit in front of it longer. Of course, it will cost significantly less and can still give you the results you want.
What Else To Consider Before Buying A Light Therapy Lamp
The tips above will help you narrow down your light therapy lamp and set you on the right path for one that fits your lifestyle and your budget. These following factors can help you finetune your decision.
What Style Is It?
You’re obviously not shopping for aesthetic value, but the size and shape of your lightbox can play a role in how easy and comfortable it is for you to use. You need to use it daily and have a place where you can sit and absorb the light for 20-30 minutes, so it’s physical characteristics can be important.
Positive And Authentic Reviews
Make sure to check with the ShopOwl algorithm before purchasing a light therapy lamp, so you can get a clear understanding of what other customers liked and didn’t like about their light therapy lamp. This will help you make a more informed purchase.
What’s The Purpose?
We’ve really focused on light therapy for SAD here, but there are light boxes that are designed to treat skin disorders too. No matter what you’re using your light box for, make sure that’s what its intended purpose is—You don't want to be wasting money and not treating your specific condition.
01
HappyLight Touch Light Therapy Lamp
Sold by: Verilux
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A
98/100
After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, HappyLight Touch by Verilux received a high score for its quality.
Review Rank A
100/100
Our algorithm didn’t find any fraudulent or suspicious reviews.
Value Rank A
96/100
Considering the high quality score and strong review rank, we’ve determined this product has a very good purchase value.
Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A
96/100
After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, TaoTronics Light Therapy Light received a high score for its quality.
Review Rank A
100/100
Our algorithm didn’t find any fraudulent or suspicious reviews.
Value Rank A
94/100
Considering the strong quality rank and very high review rank, we’ve determined that this product has an A value rank.
Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A
95/100
After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, the Happy Light by Verilux received a high score for its quality.
Review Rank A
100/100
Our algorithm didn’t find any fraudulent or suspicious reviews.
Value Rank A
95/100
Considering the strong quality rank and very high review rank, we’ve determined that this product has an A value rank.
Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:
04
SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp
Sold by: Nature Bright
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A-
91/100
After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp received a high score for its quality.
Review Rank B
83.3/100
Our algorithm flagged about 17% of reviews as being fraudulent or suspicious. This score is a little below average.
Value Rank B+
88/100
Considering these different variables and the moderate review rank, we determined that this product has a B+ value rank.
Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:
05
Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamps
Sold by: Circadian Optics
Close Full Analysis
Quality Rank A-
90/100
After our algorithm searched over 5,000 data points and analyzed 52 variables, the Lumos 2.0 by Circadian Optics received an average score for its quality.
Review Rank D
63.6/100
Our algorithm flagged about 38% of reviews as being fraudulent or suspicious. This score is well below average.
Value Rank B-
82/100
Considering the good quality rank but poor review rank, we’ve determined that this product has a B- value rank.
Marketplace Rating:
Adjusted Rating:
Citations
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651