If you’ve spent even five minutes researching the best red light therapy devices, chances are you’ve come across LightStim.
The New York Times Wirecutter voted them as the best handheld red light device. Equinox stocks its LED bed at NYC locations. Reddit reviewers ask, “Is Lightim worth it?” only to be met with raving reviews in the comments. Celebrities like Courtney Cox snap photos of themselves using it. Even the FDA fangirls over their technology, as LightStim is the first FDA-cleared bed to relieve muscle and joint pain, arthritic pain and stiffness, and muscle spasms.
I’m always looking for wellness tools that actually support the body instead of becoming another overhyped biohacking trend. And it’s clear Lightstim is one of the most trusted LED light therapy brands on the market.
But I wanted to know: what actually makes red light therapy work?
And more importantly: why does everyone seem obsessed with LightStim specifically? (Myself included).
So, I went straight to the founders for the answers we’re all dying to know.
- How did LightStim come to be?
- Is LightStim different from other devices?
- How do we choose LED light devices that actually work?
- What other wellness rituals do you swear by?
- How can we get a discount on your devices? (Spoiler alert: it’s using code TOXICFREEKB for 10% off at checkout)
And they had some seriously juicy answers for us all!
Read the blog or tune into the pod ↓
The Personal Story Behind Founders Steve & Joni Marchese Revolutionary Technology
Steve Marchese was in the autodetailing business when Joni first introduced him to red light therapy through her own beauty routine. Fascinated by the health and wellness world, they purchased the rights to the technology the company was using and kick-started their small, family-run business.
So how did they become one of the most trusted LED light therapy manufacturers in the world?
Well, nothing beats the work ethic of two parents finding solutions for their sick kid.
After a tonsil surgery complication at 21 years old, their son Chase suddenly developed dangerously high blood pressure seemingly out of nowhere. When nothing seemed to help, Steve put his thinking cap on.
What if the issue wasn’t one missing supplement or one magic fix? What if his body simply didn’t have enough cellular energy to heal properly?
That idea led them to build the very first prototype of what would eventually become the LightStim LED bed — a giant, homemade, full-body light device.
Their son started using it consistently. Two months later, his blood pressure normalized.
Steve reflected that’s when they realized, “Whoa, this could help a lot of people!” And oh boy, it has!!
Why LightStim Is Different From Other Red Light Therapy Devices
One thing that became very clear during our conversation is that LightStim is borderline obsessive about testing, FDA clearance, and legitimacy. And rightfully so! Especially in a wellness world tainted with Amazon dupes and false claims.
Here’s the rundown on why LightStim is among the best of the best:
- MultiWave® Technology: Emits multiple complementary wavelengths designed to penetrate different layers of the skin and body (instead of relying on a single wavelength like many devices do).
- Highly Concentrated Lights: Many generic devices use only a small number of LEDs, while LightStim handheld devices use 72 medical-grade LEDs and the LightStim LED bed? More than 1,400!!
- FDA-Cleared Technology: LightStim devices go through extensive clinical testing for efficacy and safety (something Steve says many wellness brands blur the lines around).
- 20+ Years of Clinical Research: The technology behind Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) has been studied for decades, including research pioneered by NASA around cellular healing and recovery.
In our conversation, Steve gave eye-opening insight into the difference between being FDA-cleared and FDA-registered. Make sure to tune in for the full breakdown before buying just any random red light therapy device online.
How to Choose the Best Red Light Therapy Devices
Who better to ask than Steve and Joni for this one? You might think they’d give a biased answer, “just choose LightStim!” But instead, they dished out the knowledge we’re all looking for.
Next time you’re comparing red light masks, remember this!
According to Steve, one of the biggest misconceptions in the entire LED light therapy industry is that more power automatically means better results.
But what actually matters? Depth of penetration.
This matters most because it affects:
- how deeply the light reaches into the body
- how many cells are being affected
- whether the light can meaningfully stimulate change beneath the skin’s surface
As Steve explained on the podcast, treating only the surface of the skin affects a relatively small number of cells. But once you can penetrate deeper into the body, you’re affecting hundreds of millions more.
Which explains why there’s such a huge difference between cheap gadgets you see all over TikTok and the clinically tested redlight therapy devices for home use!
Invest in the research-backed brands, bunnies! Your body will thank you.
The Wellness Rituals the LightStim Founders Swear By
At this point, I was basically frothing at the mouth to ask about other wellness habits they use in their own routines. They’re the kind of people with the inside scoop and definitely practice what they preach, so I KNEW they had some good insight for us.
And oh my! Their house sounds like the ultimate wellness playground. Some of their go-to rituals include:
- hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- stretching
- infrared sauna
- PEMF mats
- salt booths
- hydration
- vitamins
- gratitude practices every morning
Brb, adding salt booths to my next guinea pig experiment for you all!
Joni also shared that one of her biggest non-negotiables is stretching and cardio because it helps her physically release stress and tension from the body.
And if you know me, my ONE daily non-negotiable is movement. Just a reminder that it’s definitely the little things that add up to a healthy life!
So, is LightStim Worth It?
If the deep conversation with the LightStim founders about efficacy and research wasn’t enough, let me share some real-life insights into using their products!
As someone who’s dealt with mold illness, chronic inflammation, nervous system dysregulation – all while living a pretty active lifestyle – I am VERY picky about the wellness tools I invest in.
But the LightStim ProPanel + Handheld Devices have become some of my favorite tools for recovery and nervous system support.
My Favorite LightStim Devices Right Now
- LightStim for Pain → amazing for sore muscles, tension relief, recovery days, and boosting circulation after workouts or travel.
- LightStim Pro Panel → once reserved for aesthetic medicine offices and wellness clinics, now available at home!
- The LightStim LED Bed → genuinely one of the coolest wellness experiences I’ve tried last time I was in NYC. I almost fell asleep right there and felt my entire nervous system shift right out of fight or flight!
💡TFWB Tip: Pair it with your at-home lymphatic drainage massage or during your sauna session!
RELATED: Honest Review on Sunlighten Infrared Sauna for Detoxing
And most of all, I really appreciate that the brand doesn’t rely on fear-mongering or miracle claims.
The entire conversation felt grounded in consistency, supporting the body naturally, and giving your cells the tools they need to function better all around. Which honestly aligns with everything I believe wellness should be!!
So is LightStim worth it? I definitely think they’re THE brand to buy!
Snoop around their products for yourself → LightStim LED Light Therapy Devices
And because Steve and Joni love the TFKB community, you can use the Lightstim coupon code TOXICFREEKB for 10% off your order at checkout.
Listen or Watch the Full Toxic Free with KB Episode
If you’re into wellness devices, this episode is basically catnip. I know I’ve still got 10+ tabs open from the research it stirred up!
And the full episode with Steve and Joni gets even deeper into:
- red light therapy myths
- wellness industry scams
- inflammation + recovery
- nervous system healing
- the future of wellness technology.
🎧 Listen on Apple or Spotify
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube
✨ And subscribe so you get pinged whenever a new Toxic Free with KB episode drops.
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Heads Up, Babe ✨
Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them (at no extra cost to you, of course).
I only share products I genuinely use, love, or would recommend to my friends and family. Thanks for supporting Toxic Free with KB and allowing me to continue testing wellness rabbit holes for all of us.
