NuFACE vs Solawave: Which At-Home Facial Device Is Better?

You want something at home that lifts, smooths, or just makes your face look less tired. Two names keep coming up: NuFACE and Solawave. They sit side by side in search results and on Amazon, so it’s easy to assume they do the same job.

They don’t. NuFACE is built around microcurrent facial toning. Solawave is a multi-tool wand that combines red light, galvanic current, warmth, and massage. So the real question in NuFACE vs Solawave isn’t “which is stronger?” It’s “which approach fits what I want from my face?”

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This guide compares the NuFACE TRINITY+ with the current Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand (Radiant Renewal) so you can decide.

NuFACE TRINITY+ vs Solawave 4-in-1 at a Glance

Feature	NuFACE TRINITY+	Solawave 4-in-1
Main technology	Microcurrent	Red light + galvanic current + warmth + massage
Primary purpose	Facial toning, lifting, contouring	Multi-purpose skin rejuvenation
Red light	Optional attachment sold separately	Yes, 630nm, built in
Microcurrent/current technology	Microcurrent, 3 intensities, Boost button (+25% power, per NuFACE)	Galvanic current (Solawave does not describe it as microcurrent)
Facial massage	Gentle glide/vibration	Yes, vibration massage
Treatment time	About 5 minutes (per NuFACE)	About 3 minutes per area, ~12 minutes full face
Recommended frequency	Daily or near-daily to start, then maintenance	3-5 times per week
Conductive product	Required (NuFACE activator gel)	Water-based serum recommended (Solawave serum or your own)
App	Yes, guided treatments	No app; built-in timer guides you by zone
Attachments	Optional (e.g., eye/lip, red light)	Rotating head, no add-on attachments
Portability	Compact, wireless charging cradle	Handheld wand, very travel-friendly
Approx. price	Roughly $395 list for the Starter Kit	Roughly $169 list
Best suited for	Toning, jawline, contour	Glow, puffiness, texture, all-in-one routine

Prices and availability change often, and both brands run promotions. Check the current listing before you buy.

Quick Answer: NuFACE vs Solawave

NuFACE is a dedicated microcurrent toning system. It’s designed around lifting, contouring, and toning the face, and it asks for a steady routine.

Solawave is more of an all-around skincare ritual in one wand. It pairs red light with galvanic current, warmth, and massage, which makes it appealing if you want glow, de-puffing, and smoother-looking skin from one device.

Neither is universally better. If contour is your priority, NuFACE is the more purpose-built option. If you want a simpler, more affordable, multi-tech routine, Solawave makes more sense.

Check Price on Amazon: NuFACE TRINITY+ | Check Price on Amazon: Solawave 4-in-1

How NuFACE TRINITY+ Works

Microcurrent is a very low-level electrical current. NuFACE describes it as “fitness for your face,” meant to stimulate the 69 muscles in the face and neck. Think of it as a gentle workout that aims to make your face look more toned and defined.

You glide the device along your jawline, cheeks, and brow area, always on skin prepped with a conductive activator gel or serum. The gel matters because microcurrent needs a conductive surface to work as intended. TRINITY+ has three intensity settings, and NuFACE says its 3-Depth technology targets both skin and muscle. You can also pair it with the NuFACE app for guided step-by-step routines, and NuFACE sells optional attachments for the eye and lip area and a red light attachment.

It takes about five minutes per session, and consistency is the whole game. If you’re weighing the TRINITY+ against smaller options, our NuFACE TRINITY+ review and NuFACE TRINITY+ vs MINI+ comparison go deeper.

A note on evidence. NuFACE calls its devices “clinically proven” and FDA-cleared. FDA clearance means a device was found substantially equivalent to a legally marketed one. It is not the same as FDA approval, and it doesn’t guarantee any particular result. Much of the research on at-home microcurrent is small or brand-funded, so treat before-and-after claims as manufacturer claims, not settled science.

How Solawave 4-in-1 Works

The current Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand (also called Radiant Renewal) combines four technologies:

1. Red light therapy (630nm). Solawave says this helps smooth the look of fine lines and improve firmness with consistent use.
2. Galvanic current. Solawave says this helps serum absorb. Note that it’s a different type of current than the microcurrent NuFACE uses.
3. Therapeutic warmth. Meant to feel soothing and to support the look of tired skin.
4. Facial massage/vibration. Intended to help with the look of puffiness.

The official protocol is about 3 minutes per area, roughly 12 minutes for a full-face session, 3-5 times a week. A rotating head helps you angle the wand around the under-eyes, smile lines, jaw, and neck, and a built-in timer guides you zone by zone. Solawave recommends a water-based serum for glide, and you can use its own or another one. The wand isn’t waterproof, so keep it dry. See Solawave’s official product page for the current specs.

Heads up on models: Solawave has sold several wands over the years, including older versions. Everything here refers to the current 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal wand, so don’t assume older reviews match its specs.

NuFACE vs Solawave: The Technology Difference

• NuFACE = microcurrent toning. One technology, focused on how the face looks and feels structurally: contour, tone, and lift.
• Solawave = broader skincare routine. Several technologies working on skin surface, texture, and puffiness.

That’s why “which has stronger technology?” is the wrong question. A microcurrent device and a red light wand aren’t competing on the same scale. It’s like asking whether a strength workout or a good facial is “stronger.” They serve different goals, and the difference between microcurrent and red light therapy is really a difference in purpose.

Which Is Better for Facial Lifting?

If lifting and contouring are your top priority, NuFACE is the more targeted choice. It’s built for the jawline, cheeks, and brow area, and the TRINITY+ has attachments and app routines aimed at exactly those spots. Many users notice a temporary “toned” look right after a session, but that effect is short-lived, and it builds and holds only with regular use.

Solawave’s massage and warmth may leave skin looking fresher, but it isn’t designed as a lifting tool.

Be realistic with either device: neither delivers a permanent facelift, and results vary. If lifting is your main goal, our roundup of the best microcurrent devices for sagging skin and jawline and the best at-home facial lifting devices show more options at different price points.

Which Is Better for Wrinkles and Fine Lines?

This one is closer, because the two devices approach it differently.

NuFACE aims to help fine lines through microcurrent toning and its skin-level settings. Solawave relies on 630nm red light, which is the technology behind its FDA clearance for face wrinkles.

On the evidence side, red light therapy has a larger body of research overall than at-home microcurrent, but studies vary widely in device, wavelength, dose, and duration, and consumer wands aren’t the same as clinical panels. Brand claims like “visibly reduces wrinkles” come from the manufacturers. Expect subtle changes, and expect them only with weeks of consistent use. Solawave itself points to visible improvement after roughly 4-8 weeks of regular use.

If wrinkles are your primary goal and you’re curious about red light specifically, Solawave is the more natural fit. If you want toning plus a smoother look, NuFACE is a reasonable pick.

Which Is Better for Puffiness?

Solawave leans harder into this. The combination of warmth and vibration massage is aimed at temporary de-puffing, especially around the eyes in the morning. NuFACE’s gliding motion can also make the face look less puffy for a while, and NuFACE describes support for lymphatic drainage, but puffiness isn’t its main selling point.

In both cases, effects are temporary and depend on why you’re puffy in the first place. Persistent or sudden swelling is a question for a doctor, not a device.

Which Is Better for Glow and Skin Texture?

Solawave tends to appeal more here. Red light, warmth, and massage are all part of a “skin-refreshing” routine, and many users like how their skin looks and feels after a session. Galvanic current is also marketed as helping serum absorb, though claims about how much are brand-driven.

NuFACE can leave skin looking a bit fresher too, and its activators are formulated to be nourishing, but the device is mainly about contour. No device can guarantee glow, and the serum, sleep, sun protection, and your baseline skincare all count.

Which Is Easier to Use?

Treatment time: NuFACE is about 5 minutes. Solawave is about 12 for a full face, split into 3-minute zones.

Technique: NuFACE has more of a learning curve. You need to glide in specific directions, hold in certain spots, and keep the skin wet with activator. The app helps a lot. Solawave is simpler: apply serum, glide upward and outward, and follow the timer.

Conductive product: Both need something on the skin. NuFACE uses its own activators. Solawave recommends its serum but says a water-based serum works.

Cleaning and charging: Wipe both clean after use and follow the manual. NuFACE uses a wireless charging cradle, and Solawave is rechargeable and not waterproof.

Portability: Both are compact. Solawave is the easier one to toss in a bag.

For a beginner who wants a low-fuss routine, Solawave is easier to start. For someone who likes structure and app guidance, NuFACE feels more like a system.

Total Cost of Ownership

NuFACE

• Device: The TRINITY+ Starter Kit lists around $395, and Amazon prices vary.
• Activator: It’s required for treatments. The Starter Kit includes about two months of Aqua Gel and Silk Crème, and after that you’ll be buying refills. Check current pricing on the listing.
• Attachments: Optional. The eye/lip and red light attachments cost extra, which can add up.
• Long-term: You’ll keep buying activator as long as you use it, and the biggest cost is staying consistent.

Solawave

• Device: Roughly $169 list, though promotions are common.
• Serum: Solawave recommends its own activating serum, but says a water-based serum works, so you can control the cost.
• Consumables: No refill parts to buy for the wand itself, though the serum is an ongoing cost.
• Warranty and guarantee: Solawave advertises a 60-day money-back guarantee on its own site. Amazon return policies and warranties can differ, so check the listing you’re buying from.
• Battery: It’s rechargeable, and battery life over the long term will vary.

I haven’t put monthly costs on either one because prices and usage vary. Check the current Amazon or official listing.

See Current Price on Amazon: NuFACE TRINITY+

NuFACE Pros and Cons

Pros

• Purpose-built microcurrent for lifting and contour
• Three intensities and a Boost button for extra power
• App-guided routines that shorten the learning curve
• Optional attachments for eyes, lips, and red light
• FDA-cleared, with a well-known brand and pro-spa use

Cons

• Higher price, and attachments cost extra
• Conductive activator is required and needs refilling
• Works best with near-daily use, which takes commitment
• Results are temporary and build slowly
• Red light isn’t built in

Solawave Pros and Cons

Pros

• Four technologies in one wand
• Lower price than most microcurrent devices
• Built-in 630nm red light
• Simple technique and a built-in timer
• Easy to travel with

Cons

• Not a dedicated microcurrent lifting device
• No app
• Full-face session takes about 12 minutes
• Not waterproof
• Marketing sometimes blurs “microcurrent” and “galvanic current,” so read specs closely

NuFACE vs Solawave for Different Buyers

If your main goal is…	Consider
Jawline definition	NuFACE
Facial contouring	NuFACE
Facial toning	NuFACE
Fine lines	Either; Solawave for red light, NuFACE for toning
Red light therapy	Solawave
Glow	Solawave
Puffiness	Solawave
Multifunctional skincare	Solawave
App-guided routine	NuFACE
Simple skincare ritual	Solawave
Travel	Solawave, though NuFACE Mini options are compact too
Beginner-friendly device	Solawave for simplicity; NuFACE if you want app guidance

If you’re also weighing other microcurrent brands, see our Medicube Age-R Booster Pro vs NuFACE TRINITY+comparison.

Can You Use NuFACE and Solawave Together?

Technically they’re different technologies, so some people do use both. But there’s no official guidance from either brand about combining them, so follow each manufacturer’s instructions, and don’t stack treatments back to back just because you can. More isn’t always better with skin, and overdoing it can cause irritation. If you have any health conditions or concerns, ask a healthcare professional first.

Safety and Contraindications

Both devices are consumer beauty products, not medical treatments. Solawave says the wand is intended for adults in general good health and publishes a full contraindications list, and NuFACE’s manual has its own. Read both before you use either device.

In general, electrical facial devices come with cautions for people with pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices, pregnancy, certain medical conditions, and so on. Don’t rely on this article for that. Check the manual for your device, and talk to your doctor if you’re unsure. Stop using either device if you get pain, unusual redness, or irritation.

To check a device’s FDA clearance status yourself, you can search the FDA 510(k) database.

FAQs

Is NuFACE better than Solawave?
Not universally. NuFACE is better for dedicated microcurrent toning, and Solawave is better if you want red light and a multi-tech routine.

Is Solawave better than NuFACE?
It depends on the goal. Solawave is better suited to glow, puffiness, and red light. It’s not built as a lifting device.

Can Solawave replace NuFACE?
Only if you don’t need microcurrent. They use different technologies, so Solawave isn’t a like-for-like substitute.

Does Solawave use microcurrent?
Solawave’s official specs list galvanic current, not microcurrent. Some retailers and reviewers use “microcurrent” loosely, so go by the manufacturer’s spec.

Does NuFACE use red light?
Not in the base TRINITY+ device. NuFACE sells a red light attachment separately.

Which is better for a jawline?
NuFACE, since jaw and cheek contouring is its focus.

Which is better for wrinkles?
Both make similar “visible improvement” claims. Solawave uses red light, and NuFACE uses microcurrent. Independent evidence for consumer devices is limited, so keep expectations modest.

Can you use NuFACE and Solawave together?
Follow both manufacturers’ instructions and don’t stack treatments needlessly. Ask a healthcare professional if you have concerns.

Which is better for beginners?
Solawave is simpler and cheaper to start with. NuFACE’s app makes it beginner-friendly too, but the routine takes more commitment.

Is NuFACE worth the higher price?
If you want a dedicated microcurrent system with app guidance and attachments, many people feel it is. If you just want a general skin-refreshing routine, you may not need to spend that much.

Final Buying Guide

Choose NuFACE if…

• Your primary goal is facial toning
• You care about jawline and cheek contour
• You want a dedicated microcurrent system
• You’re comfortable using conductive activator regularly
• You like app-guided routines and optional attachments

Choose Solawave if…

• You want multiple skincare technologies in one device
• Red light matters to you
• Glow, puffiness, and skin texture are your priorities
• You prefer a simpler, multifunctional skincare ritual
• You want a lower-cost, travel-friendly device

Neither device delivers permanent or guaranteed results, and the right choice comes down to your main skincare goal.