Solawave ♥️’d my experience so much that they agreed to sponsor my post
If I Were to Start My Skincare Journey Over, Here’s What I’d Do First
For years, I fully believed injectables were the only way to smooth my skin. That also means I dutifully paid a minimum of $1,000 per year on my recurring treatments.
When my best friend Anna tried to convince me to buy a viral TikTok skincare product she’d been obsessing over, I had to roll my eyes. The Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask & LightBoost Cream Kit from Solawave claims to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and blemishes while increasing overall radiance.
That said, I knew there was no way that a non-invasive, strap-on sheet of silicone could even approach the power of the anti-aging treatment people have relied on for over two decades now.
But somehow, after Anna’s relentless insistence that I was dead wrong (she sent me a dozen articles about famous makeup artists who use Solawave’s red light therapy on their A-list clients), I broke down. Given Solawave’s 60-day free trial, I figured I had nothing to lose.
First, I conducted a little investigation to get the scoop on Solawave
Founded in 2020, Solawave seems best known for their 7x award-winning 4-in-1 Skincare Wand, which sold out 9 times (?!) in two years after taking over Hollywood and blowing up online.
Last year, the company released their Light Therapy Face Mask and the LightBoost Topicals found in the Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask & LightBoost Cream Kit which Anna–and apparently all of TikTok–has been fixated on.
The kit costs $405, which is admittedly steep, but still less than my annual Botox bill. And if I loved the mask the way Anna said I would, then this one-time purchase would save me a lot of $ in the long run…
Editor’s Note: At the time of writing, this Solawave kit is 35% off, so roughly $263 total (big savings if you can catch it in stock).
Now, here’s where I had my doubts…
I can recognize that red light therapy is all the rage in skincare today—Anna’s assigned reading made that clear. But the clear A-to-B path of execution was what tripped me up. Injectables are literally pumped into problem areas, under the skin. How was mere light (of any color) going to make an impact?
Conveniently, I had a dermatologist appointment during my research phase, so I took advantage of the chance to pick my derm’s brain. (I’d trust this woman with my life).
She nodded knowingly when I mentioned Solawave, then explained that 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.
In terms of comparison to Botox, my derm explained that red light therapy isn’t an exact replacement for injectables, but that many of her clients favor it as a non-invasive, FDA-cleared, at-home iteration of anti-aging skincare. That’s not to mention it requires a one-time device purchase, rather than recurring (and exorbitant) bills. I had much to think about…
Time to give this baby a spin
Unpacking the Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask & LightBoost Cream Kit made me feel like an extra on The Purge… the eye holes and back-strap felt a little too ominous to be considered skincare. But I did love the fact that it was rechargeable and came with a cable, remote, and travel case. (Solawave recommends using the mask 3-5x per week, so they better make transporting it convenient).
The instructions advised me to cleanse and dry my skin. Then, it was time for the mask.
As I strapped the device onto my head, I braced myself for an inevitable sense of claustrophobia, but was pleasantly surprised when I didn’t feel nearly as restricted as I thought. Aside from subtle blurring in the outer corners of my eyes, the medical-grade silicone was both gentle and forgiving.
NGL, I was kiiinda vibing with it.
The mask is self-timed, so all I had to do was press start, sit back, and relax. I don’t have a problem with needles (you kind of have to let that go when you start Botox) but still, I loved the concept of treating fine lines without poking or prodding. Sprawled on the couch with the warmth of the mask emanating onto my face, my tiny NYC apartment felt like a spa.
Curiously, the instructions told me to use the cream in the AM and PM but not with the mask, which required clean skin for optimal results. I didn’t expect to find anything special about the LightBoost Face & Neck Rich Cream, but just two days in I had my foot in my mouth.
The formula practically melted into my skin, and it never felt heavy or sticky. Visiting the product page online, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cream is non-comedogenic so it won’t clog pores (I had to look that word up, lol). It also contains ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier alongside vegan collagen to firm and lift (and those are just two of the ingredients).
*Spongebob narrator voice* 30 days later…
I’m a by-the-book typa gal, so I faithfully used the mask 3x a week, and added the cream to my daily skincare regimen (even on non-treatment days). That said, I was still caught off guard when, about a month in, I saw the changes unfolding.
I was drawn to Botox after I noticed fine lines in my forehead, around my mouth, and–most frustratingly–between my eyes. Smoothing out my skin was goal #1, and any brightening side effects were just a happy surprise.
Solawave’s Light Therapy Face Mask and LightBoost Cream duo did me one better because it worked to not only reduce the appearance of the wrinkles I’d been so concerned about, but also to rejuvenate and lift my skin. It was as if everything I’d wanted out of my complexion was being generated by two teamed-up products. I just wish I found them sooner.
Solawave has me eating my words.
Anna was right about Solawave, and I’ll never hear the end of it. Suffice it to say, I was happy enough with the results I saw in the first few weeks to keep my kit (and to cancel my recurrent cosmetic injection appointments).
I’m cranking through my LightBoost Face & Neck Rich Cream, but that’ll be easy enough to replace–apparently they offer a subscription–and at $52 ($33.80 when you subscribe) it’s far cheaper than my injections used to cost.
My results are admittedly more gradual than those of Botox, but as long as I’m consistent, they should continue to build on each other. All that is to say if I’m already liking what I see, I can’t wait to see how my skin is looking in a few months. I thought Botox was my ride or die, but I clearly hadn’t done enough research on just how many options exist. It is 2025, after all.
