I’ve Tested Basically Every LED Mask Out There—Solawave’s $400 Device Is a Recent Standout

Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask

I’ve been using LED masks for four years, so I’m basically convinced I’ll never age. That’s how it works, right? Or at the very least, my skin is producing so much collagen and will be smooth and tight forever. That’s what I tell myself.

But there’s one problem: You have to be consistent. One-off use here and there is practically the same as never using a device. It’s like going to the gym. One workout might make you feel good, but unless you can consistently hit the squat rack, you won’t see muscle gains. And I—to the dismay of my friends, family, coworkers, and lovers—have never been all that good at consistency.

I get excited by a skincare device, use it a few times, and then life happens. I throw it in my drawer, forget I own it, and move on to the next thing. Or in the case of LED masks, I use it for a few weeks, and then a work trip comes up and I can’t pack this gargantuan steel mask in my already-overweight carry-on. A week away turns into two weeks away, and suddenly, before I know it, I’ve entirely abandoned my LED practice until a new device comes along (or I have a first date to get ready for).

So when I first began testing Solawave’s Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face Mask, I thought, another mask I’ll use once and forget about. But it quickly turned into the one tool I’ve convinced myself to use over and over again, even while traveling.

Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED Face MaskNow 20% Off$499 $399solawave.com

Before I get into my full review of the device, I’d be remiss not to fill you in on the wild deal happening right now. Nearly all Solawave products are buy one, get one free. Yup, including this LED mask, the brand’s original 4-in-1 Skincare Wand, the Nest & Chest Pro Mask, and more. I’ve been a fan of the brand for nearly three years, even awarding them a handful of Cosmo beauty awards.

With this deal, it makes snagging a mask for you (and maybe one for your friend!) nearly a 50 percent savings. I cover beauty sales for a living, and I can tell you right now I don’t see deals like this very often.

How it works

Solawave’s LED Face Mask uses four wavelengths of light (red, infrared, deep red, and amber) and contains 320 LEDs—all of which are thought to help speed up collagen production to plump and firm skin over time. The science around red light therapy is still murky (we need far more studies to confirm how well it really works), but there’s been a lot of anecdotal evidence, leading many dermatologists to continue recommending it. LED is thought to…

• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Help fade hyperpigmentation
• Improve uneven skin texture
• Calm down redness and inflammation

The device itself is a silicone mask that fits snugly around your face and attaches on the back of your head with adjustable Velcro straps.

Pros

• Complete coverage: The silicone style of this mask fits around my face, working with all the natural curves to offer full coverage. Every area I want to treat–under-eyes, around my mouth, jawline, smile lines, and even my nose—gets in on the action with this.
• Comfort: I genuinely like how this feels on my face, which is another reason I am inspired to use it often.
• Ease of use: All I gotta do is press a button on the remote, and it turns on. When the treatment is over, it shuts off on its own. There really is no space for user error, making this whole experience pretty mindless. I just put it on my face and read or go through emails or do whatever.
• Length of time: This is probably the tool’s biggest pro. One session is only three minutes. Unlike many other devices I’ve tried, this LED mask doesn’t have a bunch of settings that you sift through to figure out how long you should use it. No matter what, it’s always only three minutes. So, so easy. Honestly, I barely even have time to do anything while I’m wearing it because it goes by so quick. Half the time, I just use it right between washing my face and putting on serums and moisturizer.
• Compact design: Another massive pro. I rarely travel with beauty devices because I just don’t have the space (or weight) in my bag. But this takes up virtually no room (the foldability is great for stuffing into small spaces next to all my packing cubes of clothes), and it’s extremely lightweight. I actually have (and will continue) to bring this on trips so I can use it five days a week.

Cons:

• Only has red light: I’m acne-prone and love a device with blue light therapy to help kill acne-causing bacteria. This one, though, is mostly for anti-aging, so it only contains red, amber, deep red, and infrared light. It does help bring down some inflammation, which helps reduce the size of my cystic acne.
• Consistency: Obviously, this is not a con of this device, but rather LED as a whole. It really only works if you’re consistent, which is hard! We all have lives and can’t spend hours in front of the mirror doing self-care every day. (But that’s where the three-minute treatment time comes into play to make things a smidge easier.)

Final thoughts

I am such a fan of this $400 LED mask, especially stacked up against many that I’ve tried that cost so much more. Most of all, it’s easy to use, which is exactly what convinces me to keep using the tool over and over again (and is the only way to actually see results).

Genuinely, though, I can’t get over the buy one, get one deal happening right now. If you were thinking about picking up an LED mask, now’s the time. Go halfsies with your bestie, snag an early birthday or holiday gift, surprise your mom—it’s one of the best beauty deals I’ve ever seen.

TRY THE SOLAWAVE MASK

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Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair, makeup, nail, and fragrance stories.

Beth Gillette

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.