Can the Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask Give Me Reese Witherspoon’s Glow? I Tested It for 2 Months to Find Out

PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here .

TOTAL: 90/100

For the last four years, I’ve been committing to a skincare routine , drinking half my weight in water , slathering on sunscreen —and no matter what, I still feel like I’m aging much worse than my friends. I know, I know—comparison is the thief of joy—but I just couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing differently.

“Candace, I’ve been getting Botox since we were 33,” a friend divulged. Another shared a similar story. And another. While I wasn’t quite ready for that level of commitment (nor do I have the budget for it), I did find another option intriguing: Solawave’s red light therapy gadgets. Everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Pedro Pascal has credited the brand for their “red carpet radiance,” so I figured I’d give it a shot. Plus, at $349 for its new Wrinkle Retreat Red Light Therapy Mask, it seemed much cheaper than the $700 to $1,200 per quarter for Botox. (Though the brand sent us the mask for free, its cost was a serious consideration as I decided whether I’d buy it as a future Christmas gift or recommend it to friends.)

I Tried the Solawave Radiant Renewal Wand, and It Transformed My Skin Texture in Just 2 Weeks

candace davison

Over the course of eight weeks—essentially the length of their 60-day money-back guarantee —I wore the mask for 10 minutes a day, at least three times a week (per the brand’s recommendation). For most of the two-month period, I wore it four to five times a week, and with each session, I looked at:

At the end of the two-month run, I compared my before and after pictures and examined my skin overall. Here’s what I found.

The device is FDA-cleared and dermatologist-backed, according to Solawave’s website , but still, I had concerns. Could a mask that made me look like the futuristic version of Leo in The Man in the Iron Mask actually transform my skin?

Yes, it could . A 2014 study of 136 people—113 of whom underwent twice-a-week red light therapy treatments—found that those treated had “significantly improved skin complexion” and improved collagen density, as measured by an ultrasound. The Cleveland Clinic says red light therapy is promising, but more research is needed. And Dr. Dawn Davis of the Mayo Clinic says that while red light therapy can have antioxidative properties that may treat signs of sun damage, it’s important to consult with your dermatologist before trying a device yourself. (It's not recommended for for anyone under the age of 22, are subject to seizures or photosensitivity, have skin cancer, or are allergic to silicone or plastics. Solawave also says that anyone with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V or VI, as well as anyone pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding should avoid using it.)

Second, *How* Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Remember in high school when you learned that the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell? Well, red light therapy essentially emits low levels of—you guessed it—red light straight to the mitochondria, giving it a jolt of energy to boost new cell growth and rejuvenate your skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic .

The Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Face Mask uses red and near-infrared lights. That famous 2014 study focused on red light ranges of 570-850 nanometers (nm), noting that “light in the spectral range from 600 to 1300 nm is useful for promoting wound healing, tissue repair, and skin rejuvenation.” To that end, the Solawave Wrinkle Retreat mask uses LED lights to deliver 630 nm of red light and 830 nm of near-infrared light.

So, What Happened When I Used the Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Red Light Therapy Mask?

Thankfully, the setup is simple: You charge the device with a standard USB-C plug, pop in the protective eyewear and attach the adjustable head strap on the back.

Make sure your skin is clean, then slide on the mask, adjusting the strap for a snug fit. Hold down the power button for two seconds, then relax for the next 10 minutes. Relaxing is key here—as a devout multitasker, I wanted to go on with my life, but I found that the mask’s strap would slip a little if I moved around too much, and the brightness of the red light was too much for me to read or sweep. The mask was best used lying down. A forced break in the day? Not so bad.

What Did It Feel Like?

My skin felt slightly warm during use, but it wasn’t particularly noticeable. Otherwise, it was just like…wearing a very bright, silicone face mask? It was relatively comfortable, all things considered.

The Results:

At first, I wasn’t convinced it was doing much. My skin felt fine—and thankfully, I never showed any signs of redness or irritation—but the results weren’t so dramatic. About three weeks in, though, the fine lines around my forehead and my crow’s feet seemed less prominent. I didn’t have Botox-caliber results, but I looked better rested, glowier—a less-haggard me. And honestly, that’s what I wanted. I’ve never been big into makeup; I just like a subtle boost on days when I look sallow. I wanted to still feel (and look like) me, and that’s exactly what these treatments did. My skin seemed more even-toned and smoother overall; less craggy and crepey. Is it worth $349? That depends on the results you’re after. In my case, yes. I wanted to restore my sense of radiance, and by extension, my confidence. And I achieved just that.

solawave

Psst: Katy Perry Uses the Solawave Radiant Renewal Wand for Her Superstar Skin

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.