The light tools that bring a little of the sky and the sunset into our home
Light is one of the foundations of everything I share on Glowing Healthy. Sunlight first, always. But on dark winter mornings, long days at a desk and evenings at home, we can’t always get the light we’d love.
Chroma is the brand behind three of the most-used light tools in our house: the Ironforge, a powerful handheld red and near-infrared light that Darren loves, and two circadian lights, the Sky Portal 2.1 for the desk and the battery-powered Sky Portal Mini.
This is my guide to the whole Chroma range we have on Glowing Healthy: what each one is, how we use it, and who it suits.
Chroma’s sale takes 25% off your order at checkout. My discount code doesn’t combine with the sale, so just shop through my links and the saving is applied for you.
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Jump to: Circadian lighting · Red and near-infrared light · My favourites · Questions
Why I trust Chroma
Chroma designs its lights around the science of how light affects our body clock. Rather than simply making a bright lamp, it tunes the colours: a sky-like white for the day and a deep amber for the evening.[1]
Chroma’s founder, an engineer, built the first Ironforge prototypes for himself after a climbing injury, according to the company.[3] What I value is that Chroma is clear its devices are general wellness products, not medical devices, and backs them with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee and a 5-year warranty.[1][2][3]
💖 Tuned daytime light. Chroma says its white channel removes the 430 to 460nm blue “spike” found in many LEDs and boosts violet and cyan, the colours our non-visual light sensors respond to most.[1]
💖 Gentle evening light. A very warm 1300K deep amber with boosted 660nm red, designed to give you light in the evening with very little stimulation.[1][2]
💖 Powerful red light. The Ironforge uses five wavelengths, 630nm and 670nm red plus 760nm, 810nm and 850nm near-infrared, in a handheld the size of a brick.[3]
💖 Flicker-free. All three use flicker-free LEDs, Chroma says.[1][2][3]
The whole Chroma range we love
Tap any light to go straight to it at Chroma.
Circadian lighting
Bright, sky-like light by day and deep amber by night.
Red and near-infrared light
Fast, targeted sessions at home or away.
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How we use each Chroma light
Sky Portal 2.1: brighter winter workdays
The Sky Portal 2.1 lives on the desk. It has two channels you can blend, and at 100% white and 10 inches away Chroma says it produces well over 10,000 melanopic lux.[1]
In the morning it goes on bright, set to white and placed to the side of the screen as Chroma recommends. As the sun goes down we shift the dial towards amber, and after dark it’s 100% deep amber only.[1] It makes the room feel calm and bright rather than harsh.
“I keep these on my desk and they’ve completely changed how I feel through the day. I love how they support my circadian rhythm while I work, especially when I can’t get outside as much.” - Darren
Sky Portal Mini: the same idea, on the go
The Mini has the same daytime white and sunset amber channels in a compact, battery-powered design you can throw in a bag. Chroma says its 8,000mAh battery gives over 2 hours of full-intensity light and doubles as a power bank for your phone.[2]
It’s brilliant for travel, the kitchen table or moving from room to room. Chroma says it’s safe to fly with in your carry-on, not checked luggage, because of the battery.[2]
“I love how it helps keep my circadian rhythm on track, especially during darker mornings or busy evenings indoors.” - Darren
Ironforge: Darren’s favourite
The Ironforge is a compact handheld that Chroma describes as the most power-dense handheld light therapy device, with an average faceplate irradiance of over 850 mW/cm² and sessions of 30 to 90 seconds per area.[3]
Darren reaches for it after training. I love it as part of my evening wind-down, stacked with my Pranamat. It lives in a hard case, so it comes out when we need it and joins us on longer trips.
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Which Chroma light is right for you?
💖 Sky Portal 2.1. Mains-powered and mounted on your desk, for a permanent set-up and all-day use.[1]
💖 Sky Portal Mini. Battery-powered and portable, for travel and moving around the house.[2]
💖 Ironforge. Red and near-infrared light for short, targeted sessions, rather than standing in front of a big panel.[3]
Using Chroma lights well
💖 Sunlight first. Nothing replaces real daylight. Get outside as early as you can.
💖 White by day only. Chroma says to use only deep amber after dark.[1][2]
💖 Bare skin for red light. Chroma says clothing blocks some of the light, so use the Ironforge on bare skin, sweeping slowly at 0 to 6 inches.[3]
💖 Never look into it. Keep your eyes closed if the Ironforge passes near your face, and place the Sky Portals to the side of your eyeline.[1][3]
💖 UK plugs. All three work on UK voltage, but you’ll need a plug adapter.[1][2][3]
Safety first
💖 Heat. Move the Ironforge regularly and stop if the skin feels uncomfortably warm.[3]
Your questions, answered
Do I buy from Glowing Healthy?
No. You buy directly from Chroma. Every Shop button on this page takes you straight there.
Is there a discount?
Yes. Chroma is taking 25% off orders at checkout right now. My code doesn’t combine with the sale.
Can I use the Sky Portal in the evening?
Yes, but only on 100% deep amber, as Chroma advises.[1]
How long are Ironforge sessions?
Chroma suggests 30 to 90 seconds per area.[3]
Are these medical devices?
No. Chroma describes them as general wellness and lighting products. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Will they work in the UK?
Yes, with a plug adapter.[1][2][3]
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Sources:
[1] Chroma, Sky Portal 2.1.
[2] Chroma, Sky Portal Mini.
[3] Chroma, Ironforge.
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