Can the Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask Give Me Reese Witherspoon’s Glow? I Tested It for 9 Months to Find Out (P.S. It's on Sale!)

How I Tested the Solawave Wrinkle Retreat Red Light Therapy Mask

For the first two months, I wore the mask for 10 minutes per day, four to five times per week. After that initial test and review, I scaled back to one to three times per week. (The brand recommends using it three times per week, but I found that in busier seasons, I wasn't as diligent with wearing it—and keeping it charged—as I'd hoped.) With each session, I looked at:

• How prominent my wrinkles were
• How radiant and taut my skin looked
• How smooth my skin felt
• Whether there were any signs of redness and irritation

Around the six-month mark, I learned Solawave had a line of LightBoost skincare products, designed to enhance your results, so I committed to an eight-week run of using its Face & Neck Serum (was $56, now $45; it's now included with the mask when you buy it), as well as the Face & Neck Rich Cream ($52; $42) and LightBoost Eye Cream ($44; $35).

At the end of the two-month run, and again after nine months, I compared my before and after pictures and examined my skin overall. Here’s what I found.

First, Does Red Light Therapy Even Work?

The device is FDA-cleared and dermatologist-backed, according to Solawave’s website, but still, I had concerns. Could a mask that made me look like the futuristic version of Leo in The Man in the Iron Mask actually transform my skin?

Yes, it could. A 2014 study of 136 people—113 of whom underwent twice-a-week red light therapy treatments—found that those treated had “significantly improved skin complexion” and improved collagen density, as measured by an ultrasound. The Cleveland Clinic says red light therapy is promising, but more research is needed. And Dr. Dawn Davis of the Mayo Clinic says that while red light therapy can have antioxidative properties that may treat signs of sun damage, it’s important to consult with your dermatologist before trying a device yourself. (It's not recommended for for anyone under the age of 22, are subject to seizures or photosensitivity, have skin cancer, or are allergic to silicone or plastics. Solawave also says that anyone with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V or VI, as well as anyone pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding should avoid using it.)

Photos: This before photo helps illustrate the areas I wanted to target—my crow's lines, discoloration and overall dullness. For the past two months, I've been testing the Face & Neck Serum, shown, to help amplify my results.

Thankfully, setting up the Wrinkle Retreat Mask is simple: You charge the device with a standard USB-C plug, pop in the protective eyewear and attach the adjustable head strap on the back.

Make sure your skin is clean, then slide on the mask, adjusting the strap for a snug fit. Hold down the power button for two seconds, then relax for the next 10 minutes. Relaxing is key here—as a devout multitasker, I wanted to go on with my life, but I found that the mask’s strap would slip a little if I moved around too much, and the brightness of the red light was too much for me to read or sweep. The mask was best used lying down. A forced break in the day? Not so bad.

Billed as non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested and containing a proprietary blend of "LightBoost Tech" to improve the effects of light therapy, the Face & Neck Serum lives up to its claims of moisturizing without clogging pores or causing breakouts. That's sweet relief, considering some of the serums I've tested over the past four years have left me with itchy, sensitive skin and breakouts. This was gentle and soothing—I found myself using it on days even when I wasn't actively using the mask, just to hydrate my skin.

I really loved the eye cream—it's instantly cooling and refreshing, and doesn't feel sticky or tacky. On days when I hadn't slept for, I found I reached for it instead of my go-to eye masks.

On their own, the skincare trio left my skin feeling plumper, smoother and more hydrated. When used with the mask, I didn't notice too much of a difference, but when I compare photos over time, my fine lines are less prominent. My skin is a bit dewier when I use the whole skincare-and-mask system, and my glow seems to last a bit longer throughout the day. (Still, nobody's stopping me on the street to ask about my skincare routine...though fewer people are randomly telling me I look tired, too.)

If you're looking to start or try a new skincare routine, this is a gentle, one-and-done solution that works well with Solawave's devices, because it was designed to. For someone like me, who wants skincare to be as simple and straightforward as possible, that's a win.

Is it worth $299? That depends on the results you’re after. In my case, yes. I wanted to restore my sense of radiance, and by extension, my confidence. And I achieved just that.