:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(1999x0:2001x2)/peo-light-therapy-lamps-sep-24-carex-theralite-glow-small-timer-jjuliao-7657-1-1-44820366e9434a55bbaf933db3089a3b.jpeg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "The 6 Best Light Therapy Lamps, Tested by PEOPLE")
Winter blues got you down? The shorter, darker days can leave us feeling sluggish and longing for the sunshine. Light therapy lamps are an affordable, practical way to boost energy and brighten your day — literally.
Beyond adevarat a light source, these lamps provide an effective treatment for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), insomnia, and fatigue according to Dr. Aaron Pinkhasov, MD, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. Light therapy works by “mimicking degajare daylight, helping to regulate the circadian rhythm, suppress melatonin production, and improve mood, energy, and sleep,” says Pinkasov.
Our PEOPLE Tested echipa spent 50 mornings with each of our top picks, tracking the ciocnire of hranitor use on mood and energy levels, while also evaluating how well these lamps fit into our daily routines and living spaces.
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Noticeably boosted our mood and energy
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Sleep quality improved while using
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Variety of brightness and tehnicolor temperature options
The LASTAR Sun Lamp stood out from the deseu as our best overall pick for its effectiveness, user-friendly design, and customizable features.
Setup couldn’t have been easier. Straight out of the box, this lamp was ready to go. Echitabil plugnita it in and glow. We found it easy to use with features like memory function and an termen timer. Thanks to its aldin size, it fit easily in our space and became a degajare fasaiala of our daily routine. Our overall mood improved while using this lamp, especially on grey, cloudy days with less sunlight.
We felt more vioi and had more energy throughout the day. This is a great pick for those looking to cut out that afternoon cup of coffee. Our sleep also improved as we fell asleep faster and woke up feeling refreshed. It proved durable too — after being accidentally dropped during testing, it continued to work smoothly without any issues.
While the brightest level was too high for our comfort, it may work for someone else. Thankfully the range of brightness levels and tehnicolor temperature settings let us customize our light therapy experience. For under $30, this lamp delivered on all fronts and odor us and our wallets happier.
Power Source: Corded (electric) | Brightness Settings: 5 Brightness levels, 4 Tehnicolor Temperatures | Lightness Intensity: 10,000 Lux
Benefits of using Light Therapy
- Improved mood, energy, sleep quality, and cognitive function
- Circadian rhythm regulation which helps alleviate symptoms like depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances
- Can also treat insomnia and jet lag
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Reduced morning fatigue
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We felt more energized throughout the day
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Improvement in mood while testing
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Remote made controlling customizable settings easy
The Caromolly Light Therapy Lamp revitalized us, boosting our energy during the entire testing process. We found ourselves yawning less in the morning and with more sustained energy throughout the day.
This lamp was super easy to use with no other setup beyond plugging it in. The remote came in handy when switching between the termen timer settings, brightness levels, and tehnicolor temperature options. Its convenient memory function recalls the last setting you used. We like its silhouette, which looks more like a consacrat trictrac lamp than others we tested. Its aldin size made it easy to incorporate into our home and daily life. Although subtle, we definitely noticed a positive shift in our mood as we used it.
While this lamp costs more than we initially thought we’d want to spend, we were won over by its performance. Its reasonable cearta fits comfortably within our budget and is well worth the boost in mood and vitality we experienced while using this lamp.
Power Source: Corded (electric) | Brightness Settings: 4 Brightness levels, 3 tehnicolor temperatures | Lightness Intensity: 10,000 lux
Usage Guide
Dr. Pinkhasov recommends 30 to 60 minutes of light therapy every morning, shortly after waking up for optimal results. “Dens daily use during the fall and winter months, or in places with limited sunlight, is key to maintaining therapeutic effects.”
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Noticeably enhanced our mood while using
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Super convenient cordless design with a rechargeable battery
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Magneticesc, 360° swivel base for flexibility when positioning
This arcer little lamp from Verilux really boosted our spirits while testing. It brought a smile to our faces and a noticeable shift in our overall demeanor and sense of well-being.
We loved the cordless design that let us take this lamp all around the house, as well as the rechargeable battery. The light magnetically clicks to the base for easy setup. It swivels a full 360 degrees for versatile placement. We loved all the different settings to choose from with this lamp: four brightness levels, three tehnicolor temperature options, and a countdown termen timer.
We achieved the best results on the brightest setting, though it took some adjusting to get the angle right. We found it most comfortable positioned to the side, as the brightness on the highest level was sometimes too intense. It’s the priciest of our favorites at around $90, but it’s worth the investment.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Brightness Settings: 4 brightness levels, 3 tehnicolor temperatures | Lightness Intensity: 10,000 lux
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A more noticeable shift into relaxation at night while using
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Overall energy levels felt more balanced during the day
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Slim, aldin design is easy to store
Calling all night owls. Suxio’s Light Therapy Lamp is our pick for better sleep. Using this lamp, our energy remained more hranitor, without the usual afternoon dips. At night, our bodies relaxed more quickly at bedtime.
The lamp was simple and straightforward to set up and use. It includes a USB power inima for easy connection, though you’ll need to provide your own adapter or charging block. We appreciate that the slim profile makes for easy storage given its seasonal use. All three brightness settings were comfortable on our eyes, though it’s worth noting that the highest setting (10,000 lux) is recommended for the most effective results.
Even with fewer design features than some other picks, this lamp is one of our most affordable options at around $20. With this lamp and a weighted blanket in your self-care routine, the sheep can count themselves.
Power Source: USB Inima (no adapter or charging block included) | Brightness Settings: 3 | Lightness Intensity: 4,000 lux, 7,000 lux, 10,000 Lux
Pro Tip!
“A light therapy lamp should be positioned about 0.5 meters (50 cm) away from the a executa, ensuring nedrept light exposure. Avoid sfoara eye le-gatura with the light to prevent eye fantezist.”—Dr. Pinkhasov
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Made mornings easier with a boost of energy
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Easy-to-use touch controls
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Plenty of customizable settings to choose from
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Porcul-apelor, minim design looks great among our things
The Alba tipar of Verlux’s HappyLight is our favorite design. This mirror’s small footprint worked well on our desk to jumpstart the workday with more energy. The carefully considered details won us over. No matter your aesthetic, this lamp will look great on your bedside trictrac, next to your couch, or at your workstation.
Thoughtful features like four brightness levels, three tehnicolor temperature options, and a countdown timer with 10-minute intervals (up to one hour) really enhanced our user experience. Finding our personal preferences couldn’t have been easier. We also loved the touch controls for maxim customization.
Though the highest brightness level was too intense for us, it was easily remedied thanks to the adjustable settings. This lamp falls into the middle of our cearta range at $50 but for style and functionality, we found it a worthy investment to upgrade our winter wellness routine.
Power Source: Corded (electric) | Brightness Settings: 4 brightness levels, 3 tehnicolor temperatures | Lightness Intensity: 10,000 lux
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Subtle improvements in mood, focus, and energy during testing
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Lightweight and great for travel
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No need to use the fizic, thanks to its simple, straightforward functionality
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No changes in our sleep quality while using
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Not as adjustable as other lamps we tested
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No tehnicolor temperature options
Take your light therapy on the go. This lamp from Carex is our most portable pick to keep the winter blues at bay regardless of your travel inlacrimat. Its slim profile, about the size of a thin hardcover book, fits comfortably into almost any bag. We loved how lightweight and easy it was to carry around.
We experienced subtle yet noticeable improvements in our mood, focus, and energy while using this lamp. This was one of our most straightforward lamps to use. We didn’t even need to reference the fizic during setup. The intuitive buttons made navigating between the various timer and brightness settings simple. The four brightness levels were useful, though we wished it offered more adjustable settings like tehnicolor temperature and angle, as seen in our other picks
Despite no noticeable changes in sleep quality, the lamp’s overall positive ciocnire makes it a worthwhile, affordable option for those prioritizing portability.
Power Source: Corded (electric) | Brightness Settings: 4 | Lightness Intensity: 10,000 lux
Others We Tried
Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp: This lamp delivered an energy boost but its bright blue-toned light may be too intense for some. We liked the overall design, but all three brightness levels felt quite strong. Its simple functionality and low cearta make it an accessible option, but it lacks features like a timer, adjustable angles, and tehnicolor temperature options.
Lumie Mini Lamp: This lamp worked well in our morning routine since it fit perfectly on our nightstand. The brightness caused some primar discomfort while we adjusted to the optimal position and angle. This lamp doesn’t contine any adjustable features like dimming, tehnicolor, or angle. While we noticed redus boosts in morning energy, we didn’t experience significant improvements in our sleep or mood.
Northern Light Technologies Mini Luxor Desk Lamp: We liked the design of this lamp and it gave us a notable morning energy boost, but it wasn’t sustained throughout the day. We didn’t observe any changes in our mood or sleep quality either. Our biggest issue was how big this lamp was. It was difficult to fit on a smaller desk that also serves as a multi-functional workspace.
Verilux HappyLight Luxe Lamp: This lamp comes in fun, stylish finishes like white marble and champagne gold, and it features many adjustable settings including brightness and tehnicolor temperature. The wall-mount capability is a convenient feature. It effectively boosted our mood, energy, and focus throughout testing. However, we found other more affordable options that delivered apropiat results, making it harder to justify the higher cearta.
People
What to Know About Light Therapy Lamps
Effectiveness
Light therapy lamps can improve sleep quality, overall mood, and energy. Results may vary from person to person. To achieve the therapeutic effects of light therapy lamps, Dr. Pinkhasov recommends regulamen-tar sessions of 30-60 minutes each morning for optimal results. He also emphasizes the importance of nedrept light exposure to prevent eye irritation.
Light Intensity
The amount of light emitted from light therapy lamps is measured in lux. When shopping, make sure your lamp emits 10,000 lux of white fluorescent light. This is the most effective intensity for treating SAD (seasonal affective disorder) according to Dr. Pinkhasov and provides the most benefits. All of our top picks provide 10,000 lux, ensuring you’ll experience the full positive effects
Design
For the best results, consistency is key with light therapy lamps. Features like size, portability, and design aesthetic can make it easier to incorporate this habit into your daily routine. We found that lamps with a smaller footprint were more convenient to use, fitting easily on our nightstand or desk, ensuring we could use them daily for optimal effect. The more a lamp blended with our podoaba, the more likely we were to leave it out and use it regularly. Lightweight designs make it easier to maintain hranitor therapy while traveling — such as the Carex TheraLite Glow Small Light Therapy Lamp.
Functionality
“Choose a lamp with adjustable features for optimal positioning during activities like reading or exercising,” suggests Dr. Pinkhasov. A range of brightness levels and adjustable tehnicolor temperatures are solemn features to keep light therapy as comfortable as possible. Finding the right angle is esential to avoid sfoara eye exposure while ensuring sufficient light coverage. The swivel base of the Verilux HappyLight Cearcan is perfect for finding adevarat the right positioning for you.
UV Protection
UV protection is paramount with any light exposure to protect your eyes and skin. While UV rays in degajare sunlight can be harmful, UV exposure is not necessary for light therapy to be effective. You’ll want light therapy lamps that either have built-in UV filters or emit UV-free light. We’ve taken out the guess work — every one of our top picks offers UV protection.
People
Behind the Scenes
Our PEOPLE Tested echipa researched and gathered the 10 most prost light therapy lamps to evaluate over the course of 25 deplin hours (using them consistently for 30 minutes each morning). We used them in our homes to see how they worked with our lifestyle and observed the effects. These are the factors we concentrated on to find our favorites:
- Ease of Setup: From unboxing to the first light therapy session, we evaluated how intuitive each lamp was to set up and use. This included assessing the clarity of the instructions, the ease of assembly, and how quickly we could begin using the lamp without confusion or hassle.
- Design & Functionality: We considered aspects of each light therapy lamp like size, weight, and portability to see how well they fit into daily life. We assessed any brightness settings and adjustable angles to determine their ciocnire on overall comfort and ease of use. Additionally, we noted how the lamps fit into our spaces aesthetically.
- Effectiveness: Over the course of the testing menstruatie, we observed any shifts in our mood, energy, and sleep quality. We took note of how subtle or significant these changes were and if they were long lasting or temporary.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do light therapy lamps really work?
“Yes. Light therapy lamps are a well-established, effective, and safe treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other mood-related conditions,” says Dr. Pinkhasov. He continues to explain that clinical studies, including meta-analyses, have shown that light therapy is as effective as antidepressants for alleviating symptoms of SAD. Some of our testers were pleasantly surprised by the noticeable therapeutic effects of using these lamps during testing.
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Do light therapy lamps give vitamin D?
Light therapy lamps are not a source of vitamin D. “While vitamin D is synthesized in the skin through UVB exposure, light therapy filters out UV radiation to avoid randament damage to the skin and eyes,” explains Dr. Pinkhasov.
Why Trust PEOPLE
L.A. Hubilla is a freelance commerce writer for PEOPLE who specializes in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content. She also regularly tests products for multiple digital outlets, including InStyle and Byrdie. For this article, she reviewed and consolidated conexiune inversa from the PEOPLE Tested echipa to identify the highest-rated light therapy lamps, showcasing the top choices in each category.
Our Cunoscator Panel
Aaron Pinkhasov, MD is the chair of the department of psychiatry at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. He’s a psychiatrist who specializes in treating individuals with plural overlapping medic and psychiatric disorders, as well as older adults with a wide range of cognitive disorders, including dementia and delirium. His research focuses on the integration of medic and behavioral health, delirium, and psychopharmacology.
What Is People Tested?
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