Red Light and Microcurrent for Under Eyes, Does It Help
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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Red light is used for the look of fine lines and skin quality under the eyes, while gentle microcurrent along the bony orbit can give a slightly firmer, less puffy look, so they combine well, but neither fixes hollows, fat bags or dark circles from pigment.
This article covers how the two work together, such as:
- what red light does under the eyes
- what microcurrent does under the eyes
- how to combine them
- what neither can fix
- safety around the eyes
and many more!
We make PureLift GLOW, which combines red and blue light with microcurrent and EMS, so weigh our view accordingly.
Key Points:
Red light works on the skin's surface and is used for the look of fine lines and skin quality.
Microcurrent works on the muscles and is used along the bony orbit, never on the eyelid or eyeball.
Use a low level, plenty of gel and short passes under the eyes.
Neither fixes under eye hollows, fat pads that cause bags, or dark circles caused by pigment.
Protect your eyes from bright LED light and follow the device's eye safety instructions.
What red light does
Red light works on the skin's surface and is used for the look of fine lines and skin quality over weeks of use. How it compares with microcurrent is in our microcurrent vs red light article.
What microcurrent does
Gentle microcurrent along the bony orbit can give a slightly firmer, less puffy look. See our eye area article and our under eye bags article.
How to combine them
Microcurrent first, on a low level with plenty of gel, along the orbit bone from the inner corner outward.
Remove the gel, then use red light on clean skin, following your device's eye safety instructions.
Our full order is in our microcurrent before or after skincare article.
What neither can fix
Hollows from lost volume.
Bags caused by fat pads pushing forward.
Dark circles caused by pigment or visible blood vessels.
Hollow cheeks and volume loss are covered in our hollow cheeks article.
Safety around the eyes
Never place a microcurrent device on the eyelid or over the eyeball.
Do not look directly into bright LEDs, and use eye protection if your device recommends it.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
A simple weekly routine
Four or five microcurrent sessions a week, keeping the under eye passes to under a minute per side on a low level.
Red light on the same days or alternate days, following the time your device recommends.
A gentle eye cream afterward, and sunscreen in the morning.
Compare photos at eight and twelve weeks. Morning puffiness tips are in our morning puffiness article.
One device for both
Our GLOW model adds red light at 634 nm and blue at 465 nm to the same device. Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and work with any water-based conductive serum.
See our LED mask vs GLOW article.
Frequently asked questions
Does red light and microcurrent help under eyes
They can help the look of fine lines and puffiness with regular use, but they do not fix hollows, fat bags or pigment.
Can I use microcurrent under my eyes
Yes, on a low level along the bony orbit, never on the eyelid or eyeball.
Should I use red light or microcurrent first
Microcurrent first, then red light on clean skin.
Does red light help dark circles
It is not designed for dark circles caused by pigment or visible blood vessels.
Is red light safe for the eyes
Do not look directly into bright LEDs, and follow your device's eye safety instructions.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.