GOOD GEAR RATING — 8/10 STARS

Summary: I tested Solawave’s Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask and their Neck & Chest Pro Mask for the last six months to see how regular use would affect my fine lines, uneven skin tone, and redness. With just three minutes for each treatment, incorporating the mask into my nightly routine was easy — and the results speak for themselves. While it doesn’t eliminate my redness completely, I could see a visible improvement when I stuck with my routine.

What I loved: 

  • The Solawave masks are designed to be comfortably worn over the face, neck, and chest with a flexible, medical-grade silicone structure that easily conforms to facial contours.
  • Treatments last only three minutes, with a built-in timer and automatic shutoff on the remote.
  • The masks come with their own storage bags and boxes, which are cute enough to stack on your vanity or bedside table, so the masks are always nearby and ready-to-use.
  • The red light therapy in each mask includes red, infrared, deep red, and amber light, each penetrating the skin at different depths to trigger specific biological responses at a cellular level.
  • Painless, science-backed, and designed for portable, at-home use, these masks make incorporating regular red light therapy into your skincare routine a breeze.

Things to keep in mind: 

  • Solawave masks are an investment —the face mask retails at $499 and the neck and chest mask is $349, though both are frequently available BOGO.
  • Your results are dependent on your consistency — over six months, I had weeks where I stuck to my routine and weeks where I fell off the wagon, and I could definitely see the difference in my skin.

Around the time I turned 40, I realized that my skin was starting to show some of those “signs of aging” that the internet wants us all to be so worried about: I was losing elasticity, a series of fine lines had started to gather above my eyebrows and at the corner of my smile, and at least one pesky little sunspot appeared near my temple. Years of heavy reading and writing had predisposed me to develop 11 lines from furrowing my brow, and it seems they had finally made good on their threat to put down roots on my face.

Huh, I remember thinking. That’s new. Around this time, it seemed like everyone I knew was not only getting fillers, but apparently had been doing so for many years. I was, according to a particular perception that social media marketing would have me believe, already behind.

“I don’t have the energy or attention span (let alone the budget) to spend on battling what my body is inevitably going to do.”

Something you should know about me before we get into this review: I am not going to get those fillers. When it comes to aging, I am just as uncomfortable as the next gal about the changes that crop up seemingly overnight, but I’m much more likely to wrestle with what that discomfort means for me personally than dive into the many “fixes” out there clamoring for my dollars. I don’t accept the premise that the natural process of aging is a problem to be fixed — and I don’t have the energy or attention span (let alone the budget) to spend on battling what my body is inevitably going to do.

That said, I do invest in some “anti-aging” practices — while I personally abstain from certain cosmetic procedures, I still love makeup, skincare, and self-care. I want a healthy relationship with my own aging process, as much as possible, and for me that includes gentle practices that are nourishing and not combative. I want to celebrate my life as one that I’ve lived well, which means I choose beauty and self-care products that feel aligned with that desire.

Which is why I was excited to try Solawave’s Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask and Neck & Chest Pro Mask. These red light therapy masks looked exactly up my alley for a gentle, calm approach to skincare, with science-backed and FDA-cleared technology that helps support collagen production and cellular repair — foundations for healthy, visibly smoother skin.

About Solawave and light therapy

Solwave was launched by Andrew Silberstein and Eli Bailey in 2020, with their viral at-home 4-in-1 skincare facial wand. Silberstein grew up struggling with acne, which he was able to treat in part due to light therapy with a dermatologist. Many years later, he teamed up with Bailey to create the affordable, accessible Solawave wand that combined multiple skincare technologies typically only available in a clinical setting for at-home use.

The Solawave 4-in-1 Advanced Skincare Wand allowed users to enjoy red-light therapy, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth, and facial massage for a non-invasive, painless, and fast treatment that promised impressive results: collagen boost, reduced wrinkles and puffiness, and relaxed and soothed skin.

At the heart of the product is the red light therapy itself, also called photobiomodulation, which has been used in sports medicine and even at NASA for decades for muscle repair and wound healing. Wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin help on a cellular level, allowing the body to convert them into usable energy that boosts the natural biological processes essential for cellular renewal, repair, and restoration.

“Wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin help on a cellular level, allowing the body to convert them into usable energy.”

The light spectrum consists of different wavelengths, and each one has a specific effect on the body, penetrating the skin at various depths, which is measured in nanometers (nm), and create distinct biological responses:

  • Near-Infrared Light (830 nm): Deepest penetration; supports circulation, recovery, and repair
  • Deep Red Light (660 nm): Supports skin firmness, tone, and elasticity
  • Red Light Therapy (630 nm): Support collagen and elastin for plump, firm skin
  • Amber Light Therapy (605 nm): Circulation support and helps reduce redness
  • Blue Light Therapy (415 nm): Reaches acne-causing bacteria and helps calm skin inflammation

Research for light therapy shows decades of support for mitochondrial activation, with evidence for its use not only in skincare, but also hair growth, wound healing, and even niche pain treatments. With everyone from across the scientific community seemingly on board, I couldn’t wait to see how this seemingly low-key therapy might affect my own skin.

Testing Solawave

I snagged the Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask and Neck & Chest Pro Mask for this review. As a generally low-maintenance lady, I was drawn to these over the wand because I like that they don’t require me to do anything beyond wearing them for just three minutes a session. With the wand, I’d get a little obsessive about whether I missed a spot, but the generous size of the masks are the kind of set-it-and-forget-it setup I’m much more likely to stick with..

A hand holds a pink Solawave box labeled “Wrinkle Retreat Light Therapy Face Mask” beside the mask, remote, pouch, and a quick start guide on a quilted surface.
A hand holds a pink and white LED light therapy face mask with eye, nose, and mouth openings, over a gray quilted blanket.
The Solawave masks come with instructions, storage bags and boxes, charging cables, and different sizes of straps for comfortable use.

The masks come in beautiful packaging — the sort of high quality boxes you don’t throw out. They each have their own soft storage bag as well, so you can keep the products safe between uses.

The masks each boast hundreds of LED lights (320 each, to be exact), ensuring that your skin is evenly exposed to the treatment. With a flexible, soft, medical-grade silicone structure, both masks are comfortable and easy to wear: simply wrap them around your head and neck, using the adjustable, detachable straps. They even come with another size, in case the standard strap doesn’t fit.

“The masks each boast hundreds of LED lights (320 each, to be exact), ensuring that your skin is evenly exposed to the treatment.”

The masks connect to a handheld controller with a rechargeable battery that holds about 20 uses. Once plugged in, you simply hold the button down until the masks turn on. The controller counts down the minutes and also shows you how much battery is left.

Person wearing a pink LED face mask labeled “SOLAWAVE,” holding and operating a connected SOLAWAVE control device with a digital screen.
Person wearing a beige robe and a glowing red LED face mask, standing indoors with framed artwork visible on dark blue walls in the background.
The controller has a rechargeable battery that makes the masks completely portable, and also clearly displays the time and charge on it.

Even though three minutes seems super short, I really appreciate that the masks are totally portable. I tend to do my treatment at night before bed, and I like to multitask — I often slip the controller into my pocket and use the time to fill up my humidifier or fold and put away laundry. Even when I don’t try to do anything else, I always appreciate the fact that I could — I hate feeling stuck, so this is a big bonus for me!

“I really appreciate that the masks are totally portable.”

The brand stresses that red light therapy is most effective when done consistently, and they recommend committing to 3-5 sessions a week for eight weeks. For someone who is generally low maintenance, these masks have been ideal. I can’t ever seem to keep up with a new routine if it’s too fussy or long, but within a couple of weeks I was automatically reaching for my masks nearly every night. They are a soothing, calm ritual that signal the end of my night just before sleep.

Enjoying the routine has been paying off, too — and I think my photos speak for themselves!

A person with light skin and blue eyes looks to the left, wearing a pink headband and a white shirt, in natural lighting.
A person with light skin and blonde hair looks to the left in soft indoor lighting, wearing a lace-trimmed top and small hoop earrings. Blue and beige tiles are visible in the background.
My skin on the left before starting red light therapy treatment; on the right, after six months.

I’ve been using the masks nearly nightly for about six months now, and I have seen a definite improvement in the quality of my skin. I have always had acne- and rosacea-related redness, but I can tell that there’s been a gentle improvement to both my skin’s tone and texture — especially in the thinner skin around my eyes. I can even see a softening in my smile and forehead lines, too, which I wasn’t really expecting.

A person with light brown hair and fair skin looks to the side, wearing a white shirt, with natural light highlighting their face.
A woman with light skin and blue eyes looks to the side in natural light, wearing a lace-trimmed top and a thin necklace. The background is softly blurred.
The changes in my skin have been gradual and are gentle, but they are also impressive! I love knowing that my skin has improved from a cellular level, not just an externally or cosmetically.

The most dramatic change, in my opinion, is the overall appearance of firmer, plumper skin. This really surprised me! Before my red light therapy routine, my skin appeared more dehydrated and wan; now, it looks smoother and more filled out. I guess all those claims about collagen production boosts weren’t wrong!

“Before my red light therapy routine, my skin appears more dehydrated and wan; now, it looks smoother and more filled-out.”

The skin on my chest also looks like it’s benefited from the mask — though I don’t think the changes are as dramatic. I have noticed that the breakouts I can sometimes get on my breastbone have decreased, as you can see in these photos.

I think one of the things that the mask has encouraged me to do is think about the skin on my neck and chest at all, instead of only focusing on my face. I always put sunscreen on my chest now, for example, instead of just on my face. I also change out of sweaty sports bras right away, instead of wearing them for hours, too. I’m glad I’ve started to build some habits to take care of the thin skin on my chest and neck now, before they’ve started showing many changes!

A person wearing a light gray sleeveless tank top and green pants stands indoors with one hand on their hip.
A person’s chest and neck with visible mild redness, wearing a lace-trimmed top and a thin necklace.
The breakouts on my chest have reduced, and using the mask on my neck and chest helps remind me to treat and protect this skin more regularly.

So, is Solawave actually worth it?

The Solawave red light therapy masks are more than just another pretty viral beauty product — they are a legitimate at-home skincare treatment, delivering non-invasive, pain-free, low-maintenance red light therapy that shows visible results. After six months of consistent use, I can see that my skin looks plumper, smoother, and the texture and tone on my face and chest more even.

While the price tags are not exactly cheap — the Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask is usually $499 and the Neck & Chest Pro Light Therapy Mask is $349 — compared to the hundreds of dollars worth of skin products that may or may not work, or the thousands I could be spending in injectables and fillers, these masks feel like a steal.

Right now, Solawave is having a BOGO, too — link up with a friend and get two Neck & Chest Pro Light Therapy Masks for the price of one, or two Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Masks for $399. The science (and this beauty editor!) will back you up.

A gray cat sits on a bed next to a pink Solawave LED face mask, remote, and accessories. Blue and white pillows are in the background.
Person in a pink LED face mask and bathrobe reads a book titled “Where the Crawdads Sing” in a room with blue walls and framed art.
If you need your skincare to be low-maintenance and relaxed as well as effective, these Solawave red light therapy masks might be for you!

Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she writes about motherhood, artmaking, and work culture. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.