Young Australians drive surge in wellness technology use

BON CHARGE has released a global report on wellness technology, finding that more than half of Australians aged 18 to 34 have used some of these products.

Based on a survey of 7,000 adults in Australia, the UK, the US and the UAE, the report points to rising use of red light therapy, blue light blocking devices, infrared sauna products and PEMF tools. In Australia, about a third of adults have used red light therapy and blue light blocking devices, while usage among younger adults reached 58%.

The findings suggest the market is still young but expanding quickly. Among Australian red light therapy users, 84% said they started within the past two years, while 81% of blue light blocking users said the same. Two in three Australian users of infrared sauna and PEMF products began in the past year.

Use patterns also varied by gender. In Australia, men were more engaged with red light therapy, one of the widest gender gaps recorded in the survey.

Changing uses

Beauty and skin-related goals have overtaken recovery as the main reason people use red light therapy. In Australia, red light face masks were the most popular red light product, ahead of devices used for general wellbeing and recovery.

The shift comes as consumers place greater emphasis on scientific evidence in beauty and skincare. The survey found that 56% of Australian adults do not trust skincare or beauty products without scientific backing.

Infrared sauna products also showed notable take-up in Australia. Among existing users, relaxation was the main reason for use, cited by 37% of respondents.

PEMF products were another area of growth. BON CHARGE said sales of its PEMF devices rose 86% year on year, while just over a quarter of Australian respondents who use the technology said celebrity or influencer endorsement played a role in their decision.

Global picture

Across the four markets, younger adults were the leading users of wellness technology. The UAE was the exception, with engagement also remaining strong among people in their late thirties and forties. Men led adoption across several categories internationally, particularly in Australia and the US, although in the UK slightly more women than men reported using red light therapy.

The UAE recorded the highest engagement levels in the survey, with red light therapy use at 61% and blue light blocking device use at 57%.

Many users have adopted these technologies only recently. Globally, about 86% of red light technology users and 82% of blue light blocking users said they had started within the past two years. For infrared sauna, two in three global users said they had begun in the past year.

Blue light blocking devices were the most widely used category overall across the four markets, with 35% of respondents saying they had used them, narrowly ahead of red light therapy at 34%. The main reason given was to try to prevent discomfort from screen use.

Celebrity and influencer endorsement appeared to have a measurable effect in some categories, especially PEMF. The share of users who said endorsements encouraged them to try the product was 39% in the UAE, 32% in the UK, 28% in the US and 26% in Australia.

The report, conducted by Opinium, surveyed consumers in December 2025. It expands on BON CHARGE's earlier work focused solely on red light therapy by examining the wider wellness technology sector.

"People are becoming much more invested in their overall wellness, and as a result they're seeking out accessible tools that offer multiple benefits, whether for their skin, hair, sleep, stress resilience, recovery or gum health."

The rapid adoption of technologies such as red light, blue light blocking, infrared sauna and PEMF, particularly among younger adults, reflects the current global movement towards proactive wellness.

At BON CHARGE, we're driven by the mission to restore the biological signals modern environments have removed. As science continues to validate the benefits of these technologies, we believe they will become as integral to wellness as nutrition and fitness," said Andy Mant, co-founder and chief executive officer of BON CHARGE.