Even though it’s her livelihood, celebrity aesthetician Shamara Bondaroff is the kind of practical person that realizes you just can’t—especially in the current climate of the past year—always get a facial.
She also realizes that, while at-home devices are great for glowing skin, they’re not always something you remember to use on the regular.
Her expert-approved solution: The handheld, portable wonder of the SolaWave ($149), a smart-touch microcurrent-meets-red-light-therapy-plus-more tool that Bondaroff (and the brand) are convinced will simplify that whole “consistency” issue. (Bonus: It’s super easy to clean and you can literally throw it in your bag or purse.)
If SolaWave hasn’t popped up on your social media yet, the claims are pretty impressive: Using just five minutes a day, three times per week, can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles and hyperpigmentation, according to the company. The size is small—think thinner than a Sharpie, similar to a pen, and it can be charged via a micro-USB port—but the “gliding” wand boasts the power of microcurrent, warming and vibrating massage, and red light therapy (with rumors of a blue light option coming soon).
While Bondraoff doesn’t necessarily recommend using the device over makeup—clean skin is best and there is a use-in-conjunction serum in the line—she does say if you make the move at your desk every once in a while (she admits to doing it, too), you probably won’t cause any harm. “But I really like using it quickly in the morning when I wake up to lessen under-eye puffiness,” she says. “It’s so fast!”
