Tuesday, April 15, 2025

That wand that supposedly makes your skin glow?

Meh
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The Recommendation

April 15, 2025

This viral red-light therapy wand promises glowing skin. We tested it.

A photo of a Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand next to a photo of someone using the Solawave.
NYT Wirecutter

The Solawave wand — a sleek, handheld device significantly less expensive than many red-light masks — promises "glowing skin in 2 weeks." It has earned skin-care cult status. But our diverse panel of Wirecutter testers didn't love it. There are some nice features, sure. But as staff writer Hannah Frye puts it: "At the end of the day, it's neither the most efficient nor the easiest way to apply red light to your skin." For that, you'll want a red-light mask, which treats the entire face at once.

And of course, no red-light treatment can lift all of the weight on its own — these devices are meant to be accessories, added to your full skin-care routine. As for that routine, our brand-new skin-care essentials are a good place to start.

Our full verdict on the Solawave→

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Your daily deal: A luxe shower oil one Wirecutter writer calls "a bottle of literal liquid gold"

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil
L'Occitane

Staff writer Kaitlin Mahar swears by this luxe, moisturizing body oil as her secret to low-effort supple skin. Super-indulgent yet relatively mild, this formula transforms from a runny oil into a creamy salve — and won't turn your bathroom into a slippery mess. Plus? It smells divine.

Why we love this (on-sale!) shower oil→

More from our beauty experts

Our five picks for best retinol products, displayed on a sand-colored surface in the middle of a bunch of flowers.

The best retinols

Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for skin care. These are the best ones→

A person washing their face over a bathroom sink.

How often should you be washing your face?

First, you'll need to determine your skin type→

Different Mascaras lined up next to each other.

The 5 best mascaras

No smudging, running, or flaking here→

One last thing: The Rhode Barrier Butter lives up to the hype

A dollop of Rhode Barrier Butter on a hand next to a bottle of Rhode Barrier Butter.
NYT Wirecutter

Our experts are normally a bit skeptical of celebrity brands, which have a reputation of underdelivering and overpromising. One notable exception? Rhode Barrier Butter, which is an ultra-thick, dew-inducing moisturizing balm. It's not for everybody, but if you have very dry skin and crave a glistening, dewy finish, it's an excellent choice that leaves skin plump and hydrated.

"I have a hard time putting this moisturizer down"→

Thanks for reading.

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