SKINFOUNDRY Halo is the better buy than SolaWave if you want the look of firmer, lifted skin. Our SolaWave review in short: SolaWave makes easy, low-priced red light devices, led by a $169 4-in-1 wand, but none of them include radio frequency (RF) or EMS muscle toning. SKINFOUNDRY Halo pairs bipolar RF for the skin with EMS for the facial muscles, ships with Lumis treatment gel, and comes with a 90-Day Promise, all for $395.
Updated November 2026. Written by SKINFOUNDRY, maker of SKINFOUNDRY Halo. SolaWave and NuFACE details come from each brand’s own US website, checked November 5, 2026, and can change.
SolaWave vs SKINFOUNDRY Halo vs NuFACE at a glance
SKINFOUNDRY Halo is the only device in this comparison that combines RF for skin with EMS for muscle. SolaWave is built around red light. NuFACE is built around microcurrent.
| Device | US price | Technology | Brand’s routine | Returns | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKINFOUNDRY Halo (our pick) | $395, Lumis gel included | Bipolar RF, EMS, ultrasonic, sonic vibration, plus LED | About 25 min, once or twice a week | 90-Day Promise | Firmness and lift in one routine |
| SolaWave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand | $169 | Red light, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth, facial massage | 3 min per zone, up to 12 min, 3 to 5x a week | 60 days | Glow on a budget |
| SolaWave 2-in-1 Skincare Mini | $119 | Red and near-infrared light, therapeutic warmth | See SolaWave | 60 days | Travel |
| SolaWave Wrinkle Retreat Pro mask | $399 | Red, near-infrared, deep red and amber light (320 LEDs) | See SolaWave | 60 days | Hands-free light |
| NuFACE TRINITY+ Starter Kit | $395 | Microcurrent only | Daily, per NuFACE’s product page | 60 days | Muscle toning only |
What SolaWave is
SolaWave is a US skincare-device brand best known for its red light wand. Its current US lineup on solawave.co includes the 4-in-1 Skincare Wand ($169), a Wand and LightBoost Serum kit ($189), the 2-in-1 Skincare Mini ($119), the Wrinkle Retreat Pro LED face mask ($399), and the Neck and Chest Pro mask ($349). It also sells skincare, such as LightBoost Face and Neck Serum at $56.
The 4-in-1 wand combines four things: red light, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth and facial massage. The masks are light only. No SolaWave device lists radio frequency or EMS.
Does SolaWave work?
SolaWave is a pleasant red light routine for glow, not a firming device. Red light, warmth and massage feel good and suit people who want a quick, gentle add-on. What SolaWave does not have is RF, the technology most associated with the look of firmer skin, or EMS, which works the facial muscles for a lifted, defined contour.
That matters because sagging is two problems at once: skin that has lost firmness and facial muscle that has slackened. A light device works on neither layer the way RF and EMS do. If your goal is a softer jawline or less sag, SolaWave alone leaves both gaps open. Our guide to face lifting devices explains each technology.
The SolaWave routine
SolaWave recommends using the wand 3 to 5 times a week, 3 minutes per treatment zone, up to 12 minutes for the whole face. That is up to 60 minutes a week at the top end. SolaWave also recommends applying a water-based serum first, such as its LightBoost serum, which is sold separately unless you buy the $189 kit.
SKINFOUNDRY Halo runs five guided five-minute modes: Clean, Import, Eye Care, Anti-aging and Lifting. The Full Treatment takes about 25 minutes, once or twice a week, and Lumis gel is already in the box. For more on routines, see how often to use a facial device.
SolaWave warranty and returns
SolaWave offers a 1-year limited warranty on devices bought from solawave.co or an authorized retailer. Its return window is 60 days from delivery, even if used, with one free prepaid return label per US order. Devices bought from other retailers must go back through that retailer.
SKINFOUNDRY Halo also carries a 1-year warranty, and its 90-Day Promise gives you 90 days to try it at home. That is 30 days longer than SolaWave, which matters because firming results build over weeks.
SolaWave vs NuFACE
SolaWave and NuFACE solve different problems, and neither covers both layers of sagging. SolaWave is mainly red light for glow. NuFACE is microcurrent for muscle toning. The NuFACE TRINITY+ Starter Kit costs $395, has a 2-year warranty and 60-day returns, and NuFACE’s product page says to use it daily.
Neither one includes RF for the skin. If you are choosing between them for lift, NuFACE is the more targeted of the two, but SKINFOUNDRY Halo covers what both leave out: RF for the look of firmer skin plus EMS for the muscles, at the same $395 as TRINITY+. More in does NuFACE really work and the best NuFACE alternatives.
Why SKINFOUNDRY Halo is the better buy
- RF plus EMS in one device. Bipolar RF (1 MHz) gently warms the skin for the look of firmer, smoother skin. EMS tones the facial muscles for a lifted, defined contour. SolaWave has neither.
- Five technologies, not one theme. Ultrasonic technology and sonic vibration support deep cleansing and help skincare absorb, plus LED.
- A gel that treats your skin. Lumis conducts the RF and EMS and carries niacinamide 3%, tranexamic acid 2%, vitamin C, a peptide and hyaluronic acid. SolaWave’s serum is extra.
- Fewer sessions. About 25 minutes once or twice a week, instead of 3 to 5 sessions a week.
- Cordless, with a 1-year warranty and a 90-Day Promise.
Shop SKINFOUNDRY Halo, $395, with the 90-Day Promise
The verdict
SolaWave is a fair choice if you want an inexpensive red light wand for glow and do not mind a 3 to 5 times a week routine. If you want the look of firmer skin and a lifted contour, SKINFOUNDRY Halo is the clear winner: RF for the skin, EMS for the muscles, a treatment gel in the box, about 25 minutes once or twice a week, and 90 days to decide, for $395. Comparing more RF options? See the best at-home RF devices and microcurrent vs radiofrequency.
Frequently asked questions
Does SolaWave really work? SolaWave’s wand delivers red light, galvanic current, warmth and massage, which suit a gentle glow routine. It has no RF or EMS, so for the look of firmer, lifted skin SKINFOUNDRY Halo is the better choice.
Is SolaWave better than NuFACE? They do different jobs. SolaWave is mainly red light; NuFACE is microcurrent for muscle. SKINFOUNDRY Halo beats both for sagging because it pairs RF for skin with EMS for muscle, at $395.
How often should you use the SolaWave wand? SolaWave recommends 3 to 5 times a week, 3 minutes per zone, up to 12 minutes per session. SKINFOUNDRY Halo’s Full Treatment is about 25 minutes once or twice a week.
Does SolaWave tighten skin? SolaWave does not use radio frequency, the technology most associated with the look of firmer skin. SKINFOUNDRY Halo uses bipolar RF plus EMS for a lifted, defined look.
What is better than SolaWave for sagging skin? Our pick is SKINFOUNDRY Halo. It works on both skin and muscle, is cordless, ships with Lumis treatment gel, and comes with a 90-Day Promise.
SKINFOUNDRY Halo is a cosmetic device for home use. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Results vary. Brand names belong to their respective owners.