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When it comes to the skincare gadgets Hollywood loves, few companies are making waves like Solawave.
The Brand’s 4-in-1 Skincare Stick with Red Light Therapy ($119, originally $149) – 20% off with code L20today only – in recent years she’s quickly gained notoriety, bringing together famous fans from Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman to Lil Nas X and Sydney Sweeney.
“I started using the Solawave Wand in the last few weeks and I use it every day,” the recent “Euphoria” star told Story and Rain in 2021, adding, “I went to the gym today and everyone was like, ‘Your skin. It’s glowing. What have you changed?”
The home appliance, which the brand says is designed to “soften fine lines”, “fade blemishes”, “boost skin radiance” and more, has also become a sort of red carpet staple.
Meghann Fahy used her device ahead of the 2023 SAG Awards, while Vanessa Hudgens and Pedro Pascal included the device in preparations for the 2023 Oscars.
Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Stick with Red Light Therapy ($80 to $119, originally $149)
As for why the wand is taking Hollywood by storm? Board-certified dermatologist Dr. “While many celebrities can and do attend office-based procedures, they also want a little ‘extra’ they can do daily at home to help them look the best they can be,” Karyn said. Grossman, who has worked with stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, tells Page Six Style.
While portable skincare devices aren’t necessarily new, products like Solawave offer “a greater sense of elegance and aesthetic beauty that makes them social media ready,” he adds.
Keep reading for dermatologists’ top tips and insights to shed light on how the nifty red light therapy tool works.
How do red light therapy and microcurrent devices work?
Solawave is designed to combine four technologies: facial massage, therapeutic warmth, microcurrent therapy, and red light therapy (also known as “LED-transmitted red light”).
Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Entière Dermatology, Dr. “LED light has been used in dermatology for decades,” says Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin.
“Depending on what wavelengths are emitted from the LED, the clinical manifestations change,” he adds of the technology as a whole. “LEDs are used to treat wound healing, reduce inflammation. [and] Heal sun-damaged skin by increasing the formation of new collagen.
Meanwhile, microcurrent therapy can generally have two effects “depending on the device”, Grossman says: “First, it can help tighten some facial muscles by causing muscle contraction. Second, the microcurrent can cause some increase in the penetration of products.”
How to use Solawave?
The brand recommends using its devices after cleansing and before applying products such as serums – a guideline reiterated by Levin and Grossman, who both emphasize the importance of following manufacturer’s instructions for when and how much to use red light therapy devices. (Grossman also recommends “keeping them off of retinoids” by using the wand in the morning and retinoids in the evening.)
“For the most part, these devices are safe when used as directed,” he says. “We don’t know if overuse of a device can overload receptors and block good pathways in the skin, so I recommend always staying within device guidelines.”
Solawave also sells a hyaluronic acid-packed Replenishing Complex Activating Serum ($32), designed to be used just before a wand session; used with the tool.
However, no matter which device you choose, if you’re going to start adding indoor LED devices, be sure to check with your dermatologist to make sure you choose the right device. [and] That your skin can tolerate such devices,” says Levin.
Derm adds that microtherapy should be avoided for two weeks after “injectables like fillers and neuromodulators like Botox,” and should be avoided completely “if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a history of epilepsy, cancer, a pacemaker, or any metal.” Let this be your cover.”
Does Solawave work?
At the end of the day, both dermatologists highlight the difference between in-office treatments and at-home skincare routines.
“I think the most important concern consumers should have is to have realistic expectations,” Levin says of portable products. “In-home LED devices can help, but there is a big difference between in-home and in-office devices. Simply, power!”
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While the skin specialist doesn’t typically recommend treatments to patients, he says, “if a patient is interested and committed, I think it’s okay.”
Meanwhile, Grossman adds, “I remind patients that while it won’t replace more aggressive treatments of these, it’s also important if it helps them protect their skin between treatments.”