NuFACE vs. Solawave: Which Is Better For Lifted Skin? Our Investigation

The at-home facial tools market is brimming with quality options (it’s also chock-full of knock-offs, but it’s relatively easy to sort through those with a little research). No matter your specific skin concern, there’s a device ready to lift, tone, or massage your complexion woes away. 

Dealing with puffiness? A vibrating T-bar may be just what you need. Looking to fade discoloration? Try an LED light therapy mask. Sagging skin? You might want to dabble in microcurrent. How, oh how, can you ever whittle down the options?! 

Think of microcurrent as a strength training workout for your skin. "It stimulates the facial muscles underneath the skin, which will help to improve the facial contour, tone the skin, and reduce wrinkles," celebrity esthetician Shani Darden once told mbg about the technology. 

Essentially, the handheld electromagnetic device sends gentle jolts of energy to stimulate your skin cells—this, in turn, can "exercise" the facial muscles and make them appear more toned and lifted. 

It all has to do with a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which acts as your body's natural energy currency. "What we do with microcurrent is replenish and boost the ATP and therefore, the collagen and elastin," biomedical engineer and holistic skin care expert Pooja Johari, M.S., says in an episode of Clean Beauty School. 

These non-invasive treatment tools are safe to use at home, assuming you snag an FDA-cleared, high-quality device (and use it correctly). We have a list of the best microcurrent devices on the market here, but NuFACE and Solawave are two of the most popular picks. 

Red light therapy is often used to treat scars, improve the appearance of breakouts, and increase collagen production. "[It goes] deep into the dermis layer and is great for healthy aging, targeting wrinkles and fine lines," master esthetician Sarah Akram previously shared with mbg.

One study even found that patients receiving red light therapy on their face twice a week for 30 total sessions experienced improved skin complexion1, skin tone, skin smoothness, and collagen density (as measured with an ultrasonographic test).

It’s a common addition to many types of facial services since the technology works quite well alongside a host of treatments (yes, including microcurrent!). Professional devices tend to be stronger than at-home tools, but that’s not to say you can’t find a quality handheld device—in fact, we did the legwork for you here. 

But the best red light tools can get pretty expensive, so you want to find a device you love before making the splurge. Both Solawave and NuFACE can give you more bang for your buck, as they include microcurrent technology and red light therapy. 

NuFACE makes some of the most famous microcurrent facial tools on the market. The device has an oval shape, with two spheres on top that hug the face and release currents. The attachments are magnetic, so you can simply pull off and snap on whatever head you please.

NuFACE also offers skin care products, such as a conductor gel, boosters, and wipes, which can be sold separately or come in the sets. 

Rather than offering different attachments, the Solawave wand combines red light therapy, facial massage, microcurrent, and therapeutic warmth into a single treatment. It has a sleek, portable design with a slim wand and 180-degree head rotation. 

Like NuFACE, Solawave also offers skin care products, such as a conductor serum, gel cleanser, booster mist, and nourishing face cream. 

NuFACE is significantly pricier than Solawave, at $395 for the NuFACE starter kit. If you want the complete set, which includes an LED and lip and eye attachments, it’s $595. But if you want to save a few bucks, the brand does offer other options, such as the Trinity+ Mini ($250), the Classic ($350), the Classic Mini ($220), and the smaller FIX facial toning pen ($165). Attachments are $160 a pop, and the individual skin care products (conductor gel, booster mist, etc.), range from $12 to $65 per item. 

NuFACE certainly wins in terms of features. You can easily switch out the base device (which has the two-pronged spheres) with the red LED or Eye & Lip attachment, so you can use the target wants for more precise areas (like the eyes and lips). In addition to the three intensity settings, the Trinity+ version also includes a “boost button” that amps up 25% more microcurrent for areas you want some extra toning power. 

The device also has Bluetooth capability that pairs with the brand’s Smart App, which offers professional step-by-step tutorials, a selfie tracker to see your progress, and custom reminders.

Solawave prides itself on being a four-in-one device, so rather than partaking in LED, microcurrent, massage, or warming treatments separately, you reap all the benefits in one fell swoop. The wand itself doesn’t come in different sizes, but the device is a bit smaller already, which makes it great for precise areas. As of now, Solawave does not offer an app to track treatments or real-time tutorials; however, you can find easy-to-follow instructions, along with video and image tutorials, on the brand's website. 

Before using any microcurrent device, you need to apply a generous dose of conductive gel, which allows the currents to penetrate the skin and activate the underlying muscles. 

NuFACE offers two activators: A lightweight, gel-based confection featuring star humectants glycerin, and a thicker, more luxurious cream with botanical extracts to brighten the skin. Both formulas feature a glacial water complex to balance the ionic environment on the skin’s surface and help the microcurrents penetrate. The brand also offers “boosters” to layer under the activators; there’s a vitamin C concentrate, an antioxidant concentrate, and a peptide concentrate. 

Solawave is definitely more portable, considering you only need a conductive serum and the device itself. NuFACE, on the other hand, has a bit more bells and whistles (attachments, gels, boosters) that don’t make it as travel-friendly. (Though the mini devices are better for on-the-go.) 

In terms of power, NuFACE’s Trinity+ (the most advanced version) delivers 340 microamps at its highest setting. It also has that handy booster button to increase the power by 25% on specific areas. The LED attachment has a total of 36 lights: a blend of amber (570 nm to 620 nm), red (620 nm and 700 nm), and infrared LED (700 and 1200 nm).  

I repeat: You can’t go wrong with either device. Both are high-quality and deliver glowing results. While the NuFACE is a bit stronger, it’s also bulkier and comes with a much higher price tag. Solawave might be more user-friendly, but it’s not as targeted a treatment. 

Still, when used consistently, both devices yield pretty dramatic results. “I personally was shocked by the results the first morning after using my new device—and it's only gotten more impressive with time,” Ferrante says in her review. “After two weeks, other people also started to notice, complimenting my ‘glowy’ skin. With each use, it brightens up my dark under-eye circles and eases tension in my face, revealing a less puffy, more sculpted appearance. Over time, I've noticed an improvement in fine lines and a more even skin tone overall.

I also noted some immediate improvements with my NuFACE Trinity+. I’m someone who typically wakes up with super puffy eyes and a swollen jawline—both woes went away immediately after a couple rounds of microcurrent. Over time, I noticed the biggest difference in my cheeks; they appeared way more defined. My partner also commented on how my cheeks looked more chiseled, and I promise it was unprovoked. Check out my before-and-after photos here. 

It’s difficult to deem one better than the other—they truly serve different needs! 

NuFACE features separate tech attachments, which makes the treatment more customizable to your needs. It does have a higher price point, so it’s best for those with a regular microcurrent routine looking to amp up their treatment. 

Research-backed, FDA-cleared skin care tools are certainly an investment, so you’ll want to invest your time and energy to determine the best device for your lifestyle, budget, and overall skin care goals. Both NuFACE and Solawave are stellar options, and trust me when I say you really can’t go wrong with either. 

However, if variety is what you’re looking for, I’d say invest in NuFACE. It’s definitely the pricier option, but with multiple attachments and tools to choose from, I think you can get a tad more out of your microcurrent routine.