I Tested Bon Charge's Max Red Light Therapy Device For 2 Weeks — My Honest Take

My 56-year-old mom started raving about red light therapy years ago, when she became obsessed with the red light booth at her local spa. She refused to miss a single session, swearing she could feel the difference in her body.

I was skeptical. Despite knowing the countless science-backed benefits of red light—glowing skin1, faster recovery, better sleep—I doubted she could tell the difference of a few days without her 20-minute red light session.

Fast-forward to present day, and I officially owe my mom an apology. I'd been using Bon Charge's new Max Red Light Therapy Device daily for two weeks ahead of a big trip abroad. And after just one week without the device, I could tell the difference in my body (and it wasn't just jet lag).

Bon Charge is a longevity company that creates biohacking essentials, like infrared sauna blankets, PEMF mats, and red light LED masks. Launched in 2017, the company offers a wide range of products that span beauty, sleep, and recovery.

Along with a wide range of red and near-infrared light products, the company offers blue-light-blocking glasses, EMF protection devices, and cold therapy devices.

At this point, I'd consider my longevity routine pretty stacked when it comes to biohacking tech. I use my PEMF mat, compression boots, red light LED mask, and portable infrared sauna about three times per week each.

All of my lamps have Bon Charge's full-spectrum light bulbs (which I prefer to overhead lighting) to reduce blue light exposure at night, and I track my stats using Oura and Whoop. And yes, I even have a cold plunge tub in my backyard.

Despite this lengthy (and perhaps excessive) routine, I still didn't have a full-body red light panel. It seemed like a small oversight in my setup—which likely reflects the higher price point of a quality red light panel.

Most people only think about red light therapy, also referred to as red light LED therapy, as a skin longevity tool. This tech works around the concept of photobiomodulation2.

While we're still trying to understand exactly how photobiomodulation works, we know that specific light waves can activate different parts of our cells.

"Studies seem to show that light acts on the mitochondria of cells, which leads to increased production of different factors that increase the proteins and factors that allow cells to communicate," board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, M.D., MBE, FAAD, previously told mindbodygreen.

Increased communication allows cells to work more effectively—which is key to red light's positive impact on your skin.

The only issue? Red light wavelengths, between 620 and 750 nm, can't penetrate the skin as deeply as needed to unlock the other benefits of light therapy. Enter: near-infrared light.

Invisible to the human eye, near-infrared light falls on the spectrum between 810 and 850 nm and can be felt as heat. When added to red light therapy, it unlocks a host of other science-backed perks.

When choosing a quality red light panel, it's important to pay attention to the number of LED bulbs, irradiance (or strength) of the light, and the specific wavelengths offered by the device.

The very first time I plugged in my Bon Charge's Max Red Light Therapy Device, I was overwhelmed by how bright the panel made my room. It was late at night, and the entire space was illuminated in a red glow.

I made the mistake of looking at the panel directly without the goggles, and my vision went blue for nearly four minutes—similar to when you wear a red light LED mask for 15 minutes. I immediately knew this light was intense.

After my first 10-minute session, I felt instantly calmer. My body was more relaxed, and I was excited to see how well the light would minimize the appearance of sun spots after a summer spent outdoors.

Knowing the device could take up to four weeks to unlock its full range of benefits, I paid closer attention to my sleep, recovery, and overall inflammation. I expected the changes to be subtle, accumulating over time.

However, I didn't realize what a difference the device has made until I left on vacation. The increased energy and better sleep I clocked with my red light panel evaporated overnight. The subtle glow along my décolletage and arms disappeared. I felt drained.

While I initially chalked it up to jet lag, my sleep regulated and I still felt less energized than normal (despite consuming an abundance of quality fruit and veggies and clocking lots of steps).