Solawave review: we test the celeb-loved 4-in-1 LED skincare wand

Almost every Solawave review I’ve read has one thing in common. They all fawn over this magical red light skincare wand and its glow-giving, skin-sculpting results. But can using this compact microcurrent and LED tool really yield better skin in two weeks?

Like many of the best red light therapy devices, Solawave has a major A-list following – Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Priyanka Chopra are all reportedly members of the Solawave skin club. But this buzzy tool isn’t just an Insta-fad endorsed by celebrities and 20-something-year-old influencers with already-youthful skin. It’s patented and grounded in serious science, approved by dermatologists and backed by impressive results from independent trials. A brand that is willing to post unfiltered, "real life" before and after pictures clearly has a lot to be proud of.

I am lucky enough to have tried a few LED light therapy devices during my beauty editor career. But Solawave’s dinky tool is the only one I’ve kept up with using religiously as part of my daily skincare routine. More than just red light therapy, it also uses microcurrent, facial massage and heat to target multiple skin concerns – as my Solawave review before and after shots show.

Our beauty editor’s Solawave review

Our first impressions of the Solawave Advanced Skincare Wand

Most red light therapy devices come in the form of a mask with a strap that goes around the back of the head. These are at best clinical-looking, and at worst give off creepy Michael Myers vibes. They also take up a lot of room. I’m one of those neat freaks who doesn’t like anything "out" I don’t want a massive, hockey-style mask on my bedside table, so I tuck them in my wardrobe, where they remain squirrelled away from sight and, as it turns out, memory (I probably still have one in there).

The beauty of the Solawave is it is neat, nifty, and portable. Measuring 1.5cm in width and 14.5cm in length, it's not much bigger than a nail file. This means it not only suits my anti-clutter sensibilities, it’s also incredibly portable and travel-friendly. It’s made from aluminium alloy, which feels cool and soft to the touch and makes the device as light as a pen. The head twists 90 degrees in a clockwise direction to reach every contour of your face and neck.

Currently, it comes in three colourways – matte black, metallic lilac, and ombré – all very pretty and Instagrammable; this tool was made for trendy flatlays, sandwiched between a flat white, a Macbook Air and a copy of Roxie Nafousi’s Manifest (ahem, see my photo above). In the box, you’ll find just the wand, a quick-start instruction guide and a charging cable. This is beauty tech at its slickest.

One of its biggest draws over other red light devices is that there are four technologies in one tool here. On top of LED, it utilises microcurrent, massage and heat to address multiple issues, from lines and wrinkles to puffy eyes and pigmentation. The claims are enough to draw in even the most sceptical beauty editor; according to an independent claims validation study of 60 people over 30 days, 93% reported their skin looked more vibrant and lifted after using Solawave for 14 days. Let’s dive deeper into those individual technologies:

• Red light therapy: Low-level wavelengths of red light at 630 nanometers help promote collagen production to smooth lines and wrinkles. Red light helps improve circulation to address puffiness.
• Microcurrent: Solawave sends low-voltage electrical waves (300 microamps) to stimulate the muscles and tissues in the face, like a gentle workout to help lift and tone, as well as improve blood flow.
• Facial massage: The vibration provides gentle massage therapy. This encourages better circulation and lymphatic drainage to de-puff and enhances radiance temporarily.
• Therapeutic warmth: As you glide the device across the skin, it slowly heats up to a maximum temperature of 107°F/41.6°C. Not only does this add to relaxation, but helps your serum penetrate more effectively and boosts the skin’s glow.

How well does the Solawave perform?

The user experience is, in a word, bliss. Its warmth feels particularly lovely around tired eyes at the end of the day, while the gentle buzzing of the massaging functionalnity makes the whole thing feel like a bit of self care, rather than a chore. Plus, you only need to use the device for a minimum of five minutes, three times per week. Easily achievable. The Solawave may require you to move the device around the face, but you can still multitask while using it, be that scrolling through the Zara sale or catching up on MAFS.

The Solawave should only be used on cleansed skin and requires a layer of serum for action. It automatically turns on when making contact with hydrated skin f your skin is too dry, it will shut off. The good thing about this device is you can use it with any of your best skincare products. However, Solawave does offer a Renew Complex Serum, which apparently gets results up to three times faster (I used it with my own skincare wardrobe, though this product does intrigue me).

I prefer to use the wand at the end of the day as I get into bed. You glide it across your face, moving it in upward and outward motions across your forehead, cheeks, under eyes, jaw and neck. I find it works best in a 90-degree, T-angle across most of the face, switching to the vertical I-shape for under the eyes.

It's worth adding that a cordless tool – be it one of the best hair straighteners or an LED skincare device like this – is undeniably useful, but only if it packs adequate battery life. The Solawave more than delivers on that front; it takes two hours to charge fully via the USB cable and will then work for a full hour. What does that mean in real terms? Well, I have used it at least three times a week for the past few months and I have only needed to charge it twice.

How does the Solawave Advanced Skincare Wand compare?

Any good Solawave review should be balanced, so although it’s difficult to find many negatives with this handy-dandy tool, I think it's good to highlight a couple of limitations. Firstly, as you may have noticed, it's not a hands-free gadget. You are in charge of gliding the Solawave across your skin. It’s not exactly labour-intensive, but if you prefer your beauty tools to do all the hard work for you, you may prefer a lie-back-and-relax LED mask, like the Dr Dennis Gross Drx Spectralite Faceware.

The second downside requires a quick science lesson on LED (light emitting diode), which sends different wavelengths of light into the skin to alter cellular function. Different lights address different concerns: blue light kills acne-causing bacteria to treat blemishes; green and yellow light targets hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone; and red light stimulates the production of collagen and elastin to improve skin firmness and reduce wrinkles.

The Solawave only utilises the benefits of red light therapy. This wasn’t a deal-breaker for me – my spotty days are, for the most part, behind me – but if someone wants to reap the benefits of blue light therapy for acne and wrinkle-smoothing red light, then the Solawave might feel a little lacking. Here, a mask with red, blue, yellow, and combination light options may be preferable.

Should you buy the Solawave Advanced Skincare Wand?

Not to sound like a brat – although it may be too late for that! – but I get to test a lot of beauty gadgetry as part of my job. Truthfully, it’s very rare that something "sticks" in my routine. That's usually because I don’t have the time (I have two children, five and under) but also because I lack the space to store bulky items (said two children, five and under, have approximately 324,505 toys). The Solawave transcends both limitations - if I can keep it up fairly diligently, then anyone can.

As for the improvements in my skin, I’ll admit they aren't mind-blowing, but that’s OK. Within a couple of weeks of using the Solawave, my skin felt and looked healthier. It’s the sort of thing you can’t really put your finger on – is it a new foundation? Is it a facial? That said, it's while looking at my before and after photos that I really see the results for myself. My complexion looks less patchy, save for a pesky spot (typical), while my laughter lines look less creased, and my cheeks appear lifted.

In the second set of pictures above, I'm actually wearing makeup in the 'before', and nothing whatsoever in the 'after' but I still think my skin looks so much fresher, healthier and hydrated now. I'm a hat trick away from 40 so I definitely need a bit more help than I did a few years ago. The Solawave is the perfect addition to supplement my everyday vitamin C, retinol and SPF routine, and I will be waving that magic wand for the foreseeable.