My 10-Step Skincare Routine Just Hasn’t Been Cutting It Lately.
And it’s not for lack of consistency. But, maybe because I’m getting older (sigh), my face has just been looking dull. I don’t get that glow like I used to, I can see some more lines showing on my forehead, and my 11s have been looking much more noticeable. My mom had enough of my complaining and got me a gift certificate to get a facial in November, and post-facial was the first time in months that I felt the glow. Of course… it only cost $350! (Thanks, Mom.)
But seriously—you know I’m not paying for that on a regular basis. So when my TikTok feed started showing me these viral, at-home skincare devices, I was more than a little interested. According to skintok, you can get spa-level treatment from the comfort of your own home with new technology.
They had me at “spa-level.” An all-access pass to facial quality skin and I don’t have to keep nagging my mom to bless me with more gifts? Sign me up. I saw a few devices, but the ones that popped up the most were Solawave’s Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand and NuFACE’s Trinity Facial Toning Device.
I did a quick search and it turned out both of these award-winning devices had no hassle return policies. I decided if I was serious about glowing up my skin, I could test them each out for a few weeks to see which (if either) would have an impact. So that’s what I did.
Solawave Vs. NuFACE: I Did My Research First…
If you’ve spent any time on skincare TikTok in the past year, there’s a 0% chance you haven’t seen Solawave or NuFACE. People love them because they’re both safe for all skin types, noninvasive, expert tested, and recommended by numerous dermatologists. People also swear by them (even some A-list celebrities in Solawave’s case).
NuFACE was started by a mom and her two daughters in 2005. The device they created utilizes microcurrent, a tried and tested method for sculpting, lifting, and toning the skin. They felt like people needed a way to keep up the practice in between facials. This device is the more expensive option, and sort of reminds me of the remote from Click.
Solawave, on the other hand, broke into the scene in 2020, and they’ve already won 13 major awards from publications like Harper’s Bazaar and Men’s Health, scored features in Vogue and Forbes, and stacked up an impressive list of celebrity users. Not to mention their lifetime residency on my social media feeds. Their device is called the Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand, and apparently, it’s been called the “holy grail of skincare devices” for a reason. While the NuFACE utilizes microcurrent, Solawave packs 4 different technologies into 1.
Both seemed legit, honestly. The proof, as they say, will be in the pudding.
Unboxing and First Attempts
NuFACE
Let’s start with the NuFACE. This little guy is a microcurrent device that’s supposed to help firm and tone the face & neck, smooth lines, contour cheeks, and lift brows in just a few minutes of use. They offer some add-ons for more functionality, but I just kept it simple and got the standard Trinity Starter Kit which comes with the device itself, their Aqua Gel Activator, and a charging port.
It took me some time to even figure out how to use this thing. They give you this informational video on the website to use “advanced holds,” and I had to rewatch each time I used it for a few days until I got it down. It gave me this tingly feeling and made some hairs prickle, and made a beep sound when it was time to change positions. It didn’t hurt but it felt quite strange and kind of scared me a little bit, like it could really shock me at any point.
Solawave
Solawave’s skincare wand packs red light therapy, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth, and gentle vibration into one razor-sized device. All this combined is supposed to promote radiant, lifted-looking skin, help smooth fine lines, help boost product absorption, and help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.
The kit I bought came with the wand itself, their Skin Therapy Activating Serum, and a snazzy travel case. I followed the directions and applied some serum, turned the wand on, and started to glide it across my face. While the NuFACE felt a little off-putting, using the wand felt soothing, like I actually was at the spa.
But time would tell which device actually had lasting effects on me. After all was said and done, I broke it down into 3 main categories:
1. Price: Solawave
NuFACE’s Starter Kit comes in at $350, while Solawave’s Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand & Serum Kit comes in at $189. Clearly, Solawave wins this category. The real reason I wanted to get one of these things in the first place was to spend less money, so this was not a small category to win, lemme tell ya.
$189 is still not what I’d consider cheap, but when I consider the fact that it might absolve me from ever having to pay for a facial treatment again (your gift certificates are still very much welcome, Mom), a one-time payment of $189 sounds like a cake walk.
Well, technically 4 payments of less than $50 since I’m an Afterpay queen. 🙂
2. Experience: Solawave
I followed instructions and used the NuFACE for 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. After I got over my initial fear of the tingling sensation and mastered the complicated treatment method, it wasn’t that difficult to use, it just felt like some kind of mind-reading tool from the future with its beeps and its metallic spheres. Even though I sort of got into a rhythm with it, it was still a little clunky to use and wasn’t the easiest to store in my tiny apartment bathroom.
Solawave, on the other hand, was so much easier to fit into my routine. The box said I only needed to use it for 3 minutes per area of the face, 3 times per week, but it wasn’t just the time commitment that made it easier. The gentle vibration and warmth running over my skin just felt so good, using Solawave was more like a treat than a chore—and after one use, it made my skin look less puffy. When I used the activating serum that came with it, the wand also gave my skin an instant glow. The red light also felt futuristic but in a more inviting sort of way.
The Solawave wand just felt more natural to me, and I loved the fact that I saw visible benefits like de-puffing as well as longer-term benefits (more on that in a second). Also, when I went away for the weekend, the wand slipped into my toiletries bag effortlessly and I could keep the routine up, no matter where I was.
3. Results: Solawave
Okay, the moment of truth. This is what I (and probably you) came for. After 8 long and dedicated weeks of super-“scientific” research, the Solawave wand ended up having the most impact on my skin. Let me explain.
The NuFACE device definitely worked. Pretty instantly I could see my brows looking more lifted and my cheeks less puffy, and over the few weeks I was using it, I also started to see my jawline look more defined. It didn’t really do much for my fine lines or 11s, though, which were more or less the reasons I wanted one of these devices.
That’s why the Solawave wand blew NuFACE out of the water for me. After just a week of using the wand, I started to see a similar lifting effect as the NuFACE had, but the kicker was that I was getting more than that. The red light therapy gave me the instant glow I got from my mom-sponsored facial, and the daily depuffing helped me out big time with my morning under-eye bags.
But the biggest shock came when I slowly watched the fine lines on my forehead smooth out and my 11s start to look much less pronounced. Plus, I got all the jawline sculpting I was getting from the NuFACE. Maybe even more. Even my mom gave me the rare compliment about it (although she may have just been lobbying to not pay for another spa day).
When It Comes to These Skincare Titans, It Depends On What You’re Looking For
If you’re a firm believer in the power of microcurrent and know that’s all you want from an at-home device, NuFACE is more dedicated to that technology. But if you’re like me and have more of a fine-line, wrinkle concern, or if you’re just looking for a versatile way to stay glowing without going to the spa, Solawave has your answer.
The Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand has long-term and short-term benefits, it’s easy to use, it’s super portable, it feels amazing, and it completely transformed my skincare routine (and my skin). I still can’t believe I only paid $189 for it. My mom’s birthday is coming up, and I already know what I’m gonna get her.
Seriously though, Solawave’s “holy grail” gave me faith in my skin again. If you want to glow like a celebrity (without needing their bank account), I 100% recommend this little skincare savior.
Be a Glow Getter
Unlock your own "radiant renewal" without the expensive facial.