I’ve Given Enough Skincare Companies the Benefit of the Doubt to Know That Most Don’t Deserve It
I’ve (tried) a lot of supposedly life-changing products only to learn that the hype around them is just that—lofty praise without any foundation. Unfortunately, I’ve become pretty jaded by the whole industry.
My older sister is even more critical than I, but last month she started raving about a new tool she’s been using. She promised me that the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask from Solawave was (is) unlike anything she’d tried before… and she’s used even more products than I have. I resisted, not wanting to be burned again, but then she started sending me more and more evidence of Solawave’s efficacy in the realm of red light therapy skincare.
What initially drew her in, she explained, was that the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask harnesses two varieties of light (Red and Near-Infrared). When combined, this pair provides an optimal antidote to the skin-related signs of aging.
Given Solawave’s incredible return policy (it’s free for up to 60 days post-purchase), I finally caved… what was there to lose? Here was a product that couldn’t screw me over, even if they wanted to.
If Solawave Sounds Familiar, Here’s Why
After launching in 2020, Solawave became one of the top five fastest-growing beauty startups. Their award-winning 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand has been called “revolutionary” in that it is a vehicle for top-tier skincare technology to enter the average consumer’s home (no salon necessary). Over the last couple of years, they have received recognition from renowned outlets across the industry: Cosmopolitan, NYLON, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue (to name just a few!).
That’s not to mention use by celeb makeup artists, with clients including Reese Witherspoon, Doja Cat (my personal fav), Pedro Pascal, and Sydney Sweeney. Solawave has apparently received a parade of awards recognizing their efforts, one of which was the 2023 Women’s Health Beauty Award. So when it comes to red light therapy, Solawave has quite the resume. The jury is still out on whether it reads true.
In Defense of My Skepticism
My dermatologist is a believer in red light therapy, and she’s even explained the semantics to me. It works because low-wavelength red light is able to penetrate deep into the skin and stimulate collagen production, which can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and blemishes.
That being said, I know red light therapy works, but I also know it’s expensive. The notion that one device, priced at $349, could replace salon sessions chalking up to 1000s of dollars felt wayyyy too good to be true.
My Initial Thoughts
Unpacking the mask made me feel like an extra on The Purge… the eye holes and back-strap felt a little too ominous to be skincare. But I did love the fact that it was rechargeable and came with its own cable, plus its own remote. According to my sister, Solawave’s products are all designed to be taken on the go, and I definitely got that impression from the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Face Mask.
Made with flexible, medical-grade silicone, the full-face mask was way more accommodating than I expected, both to my face and to my suitcase (which I tried to fit it into for scientific purposes). Before committing, I always want to know how well my skincare will travel.
While skimming the (surprisingly straightforward) manual, I also noticed that the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask requires no serum or other lubrication on the skin, a simple detail that I love. Unlike Solawave’s beloved 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand, their full-face mask doesn’t require any sort of conductive solution… just clean skin and 10 minutes.
I Broke Down & Strapped In
The first time I strapped the mask onto my head, I did so while watching my current favorite show so that I could keep myself distracted and hopefully pass the time more quickly. I braced myself for an inevitable sense of claustrophobia but was pleasantly surprised to notice that I hardly felt the mask at all. Aside from subtle blurring in the outer corners of my eyes, the medical-grade silicone was both gentle and forgiving.
That said, lack of discomfort wasn’t enough to sell me. I had to know what was going on within the mask itself, so I took to Solawave’s website. The first detail I noticed was that the mask is FDA-cleared, which of course is a top-tier green flag. I also learned more about the dual-functioning light therapy that my sister had mentioned. The Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask combines both Red and Near-Infrared Light, and while each has a slightly different purpose, together the intended effects are as follows:
- Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
- Stimulate collagen production
- Visibly restore and rejuvenate skin
- Minimize appearance of sun damage
- Address overall signs of aging in the skin
At This Point, I Decided to Continue Testing the Mask for a Bit…
After all, I had 60 days to return it. I’m nothing if not a rule-follower, so I began to use it 3-4x per week, and after 3 weeks I started noticing results I couldn’t argue with. I felt incredibly sheepish—and pleased.
My skin felt definitively smoother and brighter, which is lowkey my hope for any and all skincare. I’ve had a few pesky dark spots that re-assert themselves every year when my skin starts to tan, but ever since I picked up the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask, I’ve been watching their darkness diminish. It blew me away!
What excited (and surprised) me most, though, was the fact that my skin began to feel increasingly supple and elastic. Solawave’s promised boost in collagen had to be the reason, and initially, I had very little faith that those results would actually pan out. It was a pleasant surprise, indeed.
In Short… I’m SO Glad I Took This Chance
If this were a scam, I’d be the first person telling you to run for the hills. But it just so happens that Solawave is one of those diamonds in the rough whose stellar reputation is actually well-deserved. It’s been 6 weeks since I bought the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask, and the return window is closing in on me, but I have no intention of parting with this mind-boggling, game-changing device.
No one was more satisfied to witness this progression of events than my sister. Part of why she urged me to buy was because the Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Mask is a new release from Solawave, and their product drops have a history of selling out lickety-split. So if you’re a curious skeptic like me, I can’t stress enough: there is no time like the present. Worse comes to worst, you can return the mask for free… but I really don’t see that happening.
