If there's one way to describe me, it would be skin care-obsessed, so much so that I would call it a "healthy hobby." As I get older, I find my routine is growing more extravagant, and that might be because I've been noticing signs of damage, whether that's from worshipping the sun in college, picking at acne marks, or a variety of other skin faux pas that I'm guilty of. So when all the buzz came out about red light therapy, I was more than intrigued! But the one thing that held me back from hopping on the bandwagon was the hefty price tag that came with it; some LED masks will set you back hundreds of dollars.
But, there was one trending device that fell on the more affordable end that I had my eye on: The Solawave. The celeb-loved facial wand was popping up all over social media, and if you search #solawavewand on TikTok, you'll see the hashtag has been taken over with videos clocking views in the hundred thousands.
So when the brand reached out to Shop TODAY to send a few of their facial wands to try — I immediately raised my hand and opted in. And right now, the retailer's site is offering a rare buy one, get one free deal!
What is the Solawave facial wand?
According to the brand, this facial wand (particularly the newest launch) has a plethora of skin benefits thanks to its red light therapy technology, galvanic currents and a therapeutic warming massage. Each technology provides a specific benefit:
- Red light therapy: The brand says red light therapy can help with concerns such as fine lines, dark circles and even acne. When used frequently, the LED lights can help fade the appearance of these concerns and leave your skin glowing in a matter of two weeks.
- Galvanic current: If you haven't heard of this cosmic-sounding term, it's a form of microtherapy that can help your skin absorb serums and moisturizers better, according to the brand.
- Warming facial massage: This device gently vibrates and creates a warming effect. I found it to be extremely relaxing and felt like the products were melting into my face. Plus, the brand says the low vibrations and heat can help decrease any skin puffiness.
When previously speaking to New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Angela Lamb about red light therapy benefits, she says she personally likes the Solawave for it's anti-aging benefits too.
Why I like the Solawave
It's so easy to use
I've been using the original Solawave wand for over two years now and it's easily become one of my favorite parts of my nighttime routine. After I complete my entire skin care routine, I love cozying up on my couch and gliding the device all over my face while I catch up on my favorite shows. The warming effect and gentle vibrations feel like I'm getting a nightly facial massage.
Since my main areas of concern are fading dark marks from post-acne spots and smoothing out (and hopefully preventing) fine lines, I follow the product suggestions and gently glide the wand upwards using long strokes, giving extra attention to my chin, where I experience acne, and then my under eyes and forehead, where I notice fine lines. Depending on how much time or energy I have, I use it about three to five nights a week, anywhere between five to 20 minutes at a time!
It's functional and travel-friendly
One of my favorite features is the on/off button. The original Solawave had a feature where it automatically turns on at the touch of your skin, but I like how the updated version gives me more control and it doesn’t turn off when I lift it to change sections. This new one also has more LED lights than the original, which makes me think it’s working faster and better! And one of the best upgrades? It comes with a travel case so you can safely store it and keep up with your skin care routine when you’re on vacation, which I will definitely be doing on my next trip.
What to consider
I found the Solawave to work, but you'll need to be patient and use it consistently to see results. Since I started using the facial wand, I noticed that my skin looks overall smoother, and if I do get blemishes, it helps fade the dark spots quickly. I will say that I don't notice the fine lines fading completely, but after using it, my face looks less tired and more plump, which makes them less noticeable in my opinion. And in my experience, the more I use it, the faster I notice my results.
The brand suggests using the activating serum to help boost results; I use this occasionally, but depending on where I am in my “skin cycling” routine, I will use my own favorite serums and moisturizers. However, I love how hydrating this serum makes my skin feel. It has hyaluronic acid and aloe vera as the main ingredients, and a few drops go a long way. I like to use it to replace my normal hyaluronic acid serum on days that I know I’m going to use my facial wand.
If you're anything like me and a little intimidated by the cost of beauty tools but still want to advance your skin care routine, I'll be the first to say that the Solawave is worth the hype — and they're certainly a more affordable place to start, too.
More red light devices to shop
This editor-loved device is affordable and recently won “best value facial massager” during our first-ever Shop TODAY Mature Beauty Awards.
Solawave offers other red light devices, such as this LED light mask for the delicate eye area. “In an effort to counteract some areas of concern, I’ve been turning to this light therapy eye mask during cozy nights at home,” says deputy managing editor Jess Bender. “It works effectively against puffiness and dullness in the span of minutes, thanks to the multiple types of light therapy rolled into the mask."
This mask is also offered during Solawave's Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal!
To combat stress-induced hair loss, editor and producer Julie Ricevuto leaned on a trifecta of products. One of them is this red light therapy hat, which she says helped boost her results. "My favorite thing about it is how easy it is to use. I just put the hat on, it has a self-timer so it beeps after 10 minutes, and then I’m done. I’ve been using it for 10 weeks now, and my results have been impressive!” says Ricevuto."
Why trust Shop TODAY
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Shannon Garlin is an associate editor for Shop TODAY. She has covered a wide variety of topics, including the latest in fashion and beauty, product reviews, sales and more.
