Hollywood’s Go-To Skincare Wand Transformed My Skin in Two Weeks

I review products for a living, and I’ll admit the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand sat in my drawer for months. 

It's been raved by staffers and used on celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Pedro Pascal, but once a PEOPLE senior editor gushed about how it minimized her dark spots in our monthly beauty roundup, I pulled it out, watched a YouTube tutorial on how to use the skincare stick, and finally gave the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand a try.

In less than two weeks — yes, two weeks — my skin looked brighter and the dark spots along my cheekbones started fading away. My mom noticed the difference immediately, and soon enough, she, too, had a Solawave Wand in her hand.

4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Skincare Wand

Colors: Rose gold, ombre, and matte black | Perks: Free U.S. shipping and returns

This iteration of the Solawave Wand offers four benefits — red light therapy, galvanic current, warmth, and a gentle facial massage — which is why it is called the 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Skincare Wand. In reality, the red light therapy is the star of the show, and the rest of the features feel like a warm, vibrating side effect.

Solawave’s (new and improved) Activating Serum is also included in an upgraded version of the kit. It’s meant to be used in conjunction with the wand to help smooth, hydrate, and plump as you glide the wand across your face.

How to Use the Solawave Wand

It can be intimidating to try a new beauty product, especially one that states it emits a “galvanic current.” Solawave has a helpful how-to video, and I also read other reviews to make sure I used it correctly. In the end, it was actually very simple.

• “Divide” your face into four sections: cheeks, forehead, undereyes, and neck.
• Apply serum to each section. (Solawave’s included serum is great, but we saw results using any quality serum.)
• Power on the wand and rotate the head to your preferred angle.
• Slowly drag the wand across your face and neck in an upward motion. The wand should gently touch your skin — no need to apply pressure.
• Wait for the wand to pause before moving on to another section of your face.
• When you’re finished, wipe off the wand’s head and store it in the included case until your next use.
• Continue your skincare routine as usual with your daily moisturizer, makeup, etc.

For best results, the brand recommends using it for three minutes on each area for a total of 12 minutes a day. (However, I usually use it somewhere between five and 10 minutes in the morning — depending on how late I’m running — and I still see results.)

How We Tested the Solawave Wand

To test the 4-in-1 Solawave Skincare Wand, my mom and I followed the instructions in the included manual. For the first few days, we used the wand for five minutes a day to get our skin acclimated to the red light. Then we worked our way up to 12 minutes a day, three times a week. 

Now, I look forward to my Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Solawave mornings. (I always time it right before my first meeting of the day so I look extra fresh.)

The Results

I wish I had Solawave before and after photos, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see such a difference. 

The Solawave site promises results in two to four weeks, but my skin looked noticeably better in less than two weeks, and when I use the wand now, the results are immediate.

I started using the 4-in-1 wand in January because I moved to Hawai’i and wanted to reduce the appearance of my dark spots before I developed more permanent sun damage. A quality sunscreen and my Solawave Wand helped fade my previous dark spots and prevent new ones from forming. 

I’m not kidding when I say I fully attribute my youthful-looking skin to good hydration, SPF, and Solawave. (I was recently asked on a date by someone a decade younger than me, so I’d say this skincare tool is erasing more than a few years off my face.)

My mom has only been using the wand for a few weeks, but she’s already seen a reduction in the dark spots around her cheekbones. More importantly, she says she loves using this wand because it makes her feel good knowing that she's doing something positive for herself.

Plus, if you try the skincare wand and don’t see results within 60 days, the brand will offer you a full refund.

Is the Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Skincare Wand Worth It?

Is the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand worth it? Absolutely. I wish I could shout it from the rooftops, but instead, I shared my love for this tool with my mom (and anyone reading this, of course). 

Even at its full price of $169, it’s worth every penny, but when it's on sale, it’s a must-have skin device. Can you think of a better gift for yourself or a mom than glowing, radiant skin? This tiny tool can help brighten up a tired new mom’s undereye circles and eliminate older, wiser moms’ wrinkles. Not a mom? Me neither, but I also get undereye circles and wrinkles! However, thanks to this tiny skincare wand, that’s a secret my mom and I will keep to ourselves.