Safety note: These are cosmetic devices with real contraindications. Microcurrent (NuFACE): do not use with a pacemaker or any implanted electronic device — this is an absolute contraindication — and talk to your doctor first if you have epilepsy, a heart condition, or are pregnant; always use the conductive gel as directed. Light therapy (Solawave, TheraFace): don’t stare into the LEDs, and check with your doctor before use if you take photosensitizing medications, have a light-triggered condition, or are pregnant. Cold/heat therapy: keep the wand moving and off broken or numb skin. All results are temporary and cosmetic — these devices support the look of firmer, calmer skin; they do not change skin’s structure permanently. These recommendations are not medical advice. Consult a dermatologist for persistent skin concerns.
These three brands aren’t competing head-to-head. They’re doing three totally different things. NuFACE is all about microcurrent sculpting. Solawave wants to make light therapy easy enough that you’ll actually use it. TheraFace brings recovery-tech thinking to your face — temperature therapy, LED masks, all of it. We checked the current listings, prices, and seller details to tell you which one’s worth buying.
Quick verdict: Get the Solawave 4-in-1 Wand (around $169) as your first device. You get four technologies, five-minute sessions, and no gel required. It costs about what you’d pay for a facial or two. If you want a sculpted jawline and you’re really going to stick with it, the NuFACE Trinity+ (around $395) is still the best microcurrent device out there. And if you want hands-free light therapy that covers your whole face without any technique required, the TheraFace Mask Glo (around $380) is worth the upgrade.
Quick Picks
Best OverallSolawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Wand$118.30as of Oct 11, 2026Read our take ↓
Budget PickSolawave Bye Acne Blue & Red Light Device$89.00as of Oct 11, 2026Read our take ↓
Best MicrocurrentNuFACE Trinity+ Microcurrent DeviceCurrently unavailableRead our take ↓| Spec | Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Wand $118.30as of Oct 11, 2026 4.2 | Solawave Bye Acne Blue & Red Light Device $89.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.1 | NuFACE Trinity+ Microcurrent Device Unavailable 4.3 | NuFACE MINI+ Facial Sculpting Tool $250.00as of Oct 11, 2026 4.3 | Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand $134.99as of Oct 11, 2026 4.2 | TheraFace Mask Glo LED Face Mask $299.99as of Oct 11, 2026 4.3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| brand | Solawave | Solawave | NuFACE | NuFACE | TheraFace (Therabody) | TheraFace (Therabody) |
| tech | Red light (630nm) + galvanic current + warmth + massage | Blue light (415nm) + red light (630nm), 24 LEDs | FDA-cleared microcurrent, 3 frequencies, 3 intensities | Full-strength FDA-cleared microcurrent, 3 intensities | Controlled cold + heat therapy, cordless | 504 LEDs — red, blue, infrared; FDA-cleared |
| sessions | About 5 minutes per area, no gel required | 3 minutes per area, auto shut-off | About 5-15 min; conductive gel required | About 5 min; conductive gel required | Minutes per area; morning-friendly | Preset 12-minute cordless treatment |
| bestFor | First facial device; easiest daily habit | Blemish-prone skin on a budget | Visible-lift seekers committed to a routine | Microcurrent results in a smaller, cheaper package | Puffiness, tired eyes, travel mornings | Hands-free, full-face light therapy |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
How We Evaluate
We pull from live Amazon data when we write these. Real product names, real prices, current stock, and actual sellers. The claims about how well these work come from the brands themselves, not independent studies. Honest truth? The evidence for at-home devices isn’t as strong as the ads suggest. We’re upfront about that. Here’s the seller situation: Solawave ships from its own store. NuFACE ships through Front Row Group, which is NuFACE’s Amazon retail partner. TheraFace ships from Therabody’s TheraGun store. About the Therabody 8-in-1 TheraFace PRO — that’s what most “TheraFace vs. NuFACE” searches are looking for. But it was only available from a third-party reseller with limited stock when we checked. So we’re showing you what Therabody is actually selling directly on Amazon right now.
Three Brands, Three Different Jobs
NuFACE is the sculptor. It uses FDA-cleared microcurrent. Small electrical currents go through conductive gel to make your facial muscles look lifted. Like they’ve been working out. Here’s the catch: the results fade fast. You’ve got to use it most days to keep them. Five minutes, almost daily, plus gel every time. If you commit to it, you’ll get the strongest lifted look. (Want to compare NuFACE’s two models? Check our NuFACE Trinity+ vs. MINI+ guide.)
Solawave is the easy option. It packs red light, galvanic current, warmth, and massage into five-minute sessions. No gel needed. Costs a third of what NuFACE does. Each technology is milder than a dedicated device. That’s the trade-off for being so easy to use. But a device you actually pick up every day beats a better device that sits in a drawer.
TheraFace is the toolkit. Therabody brings recovery-tech thinking to skincare. Controlled cold and heat to depuff. LED masks that bathe your whole face in red, blue, and infrared light. No technique required. It’s the most spa-like option here. It doesn’t focus as hard on any one specific result.
The Best of TheraFace, NuFACE, and Solawave
1. Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Wand - Best Overall
Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Wand
The Solawave wand wins because people actually stick with it. You glide it across clean skin for five minutes. You get red light, gentle galvanic current, soothing warmth, and massage all at once. No gel. No complicated setup. Nothing to dread. The brand says consistent use delivers firmer-looking skin. It softens the look of fine lines over weeks. The FDA cleared its red light function. Here’s the trade-off: each of its four features is milder than a dedicated device. But for around $169 from Solawave’s own store, it’s your smartest entry point.
2. Solawave Bye Acne - Budget Pick
Solawave Bye Acne Blue & Red Light Device
At around $89, Bye Acne is the cheapest FDA-cleared light device here. It has the clearest purpose. Three-minute sessions where blue light (415nm) tackles the bacteria behind breakouts. Red light (630nm) calms the look of redness. It’s not a whole-face treatment. It’s meant for small areas. It works alongside your acne routine, not instead of it. But if you break out a lot and you’re curious about light therapy, this is the lowest-risk way to try it.
3. NuFACE Trinity+ - Best Microcurrent
NuFACE Trinity+ Microcurrent Device
If you want a lifted look, the Trinity+ is still your best option. Three different frequencies. Three intensity levels. You can target your cheeks, jawline, and neck separately. The FDA-cleared current gives your facial muscles that toned appearance. You can add attachments for lips, eyes, and LED later. Go in with your eyes open: around $395 up front. You’ll keep buying conductive gel. Five or more minutes most days. The look fades when you stop. It’s basically a gym membership for your face. Not something you buy once and you’re done. You’ll get it from Front Row Group, which is NuFACE’s Amazon retail partner.
4. NuFACE MINI+ - Best Compact Microcurrent
NuFACE MINI+ Facial Sculpting Tool
The MINI+ gives you the same full-strength, FDA-cleared microcurrent as the Trinity+. Smaller device. Around $250. The real question is whether you’ll actually use the Trinity+‘s extra frequencies and attachments. If not, save yourself $145. You lose the attachment system and the multi-frequency controls. But you keep what counts: the current itself, three intensity options, and that lifted look from daily use. Same gel requirement. Same Front Row Group seller (they disclose this).
5. Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand - Best Depuffing
Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand
The Depuffing Wand is TheraFace’s most satisfying device. You see results right away. Controlled cold noticeably depuffs your eyes and cheeks after a single morning session (according to the brand, and this is probably the most believable claim in the whole category — cold’s been depuffing faces forever). Plus a heat mode that makes you look glowy and relaxed. Unlike ice rollers, the temperature stays consistent. It’s safe even on delicate under-eye skin. It’s cordless so it’s perfect for travel. At around $170 it does one thing. But it’s the right thing for morning puffiness.
6. TheraFace Mask Glo - Worth the Upgrade
TheraFace Mask Glo LED Face Mask
The Mask Glo is your lazy-genius pick. 504 medical-grade LEDs packed into a cordless, FDA-cleared mask. It runs through red, blue, and infrared light over a preset 12-minute session. You can be doing literally anything. No gliding. No technique. No gel needed. Plus a vibration scalp massage that actually feels nice. At around $380 it costs as much as the Trinity+. Therabody has an even pricier model above it. But full-face coverage with zero effort is what makes light therapy a habit you keep. And sticking with it is everything with these devices.
Which One Should You Buy?
Pick based on what you actually want. Not the brand name. For the best all-around starting point, the Solawave 4-in-1 Wand at around $169 is the obvious choice. If you want the strongest lifted-look results — and you’re honest about committing to daily use — grab the NuFACE Trinity+. Or put that $145 back in your pocket with the MINI+. For effortless full-face light therapy, the TheraFace Mask Glo is the upgrade that justifies the cost.
Want to compare NuFACE’s two devices side by side? Our Trinity+ vs. MINI+ breakdown has all the details. Building a collection of devices? Check out our guides on the best at-home IPL devices and the best facial steamers.
FAQ
Which brand gives the most visible results?
If you want a lifted, sculpted look, NuFACE’s microcurrent gives the most noticeable change. That’s based on what the brand reports and its track record. But you have to actually use it consistently. If you want to see a difference right now, the TheraFace Depuffing Wand’s cold therapy wins. Solawave’s changes show up more gradually. No matter which brand you pick, real independent research is less compelling than the marketing. What you actually do with the device matters more than the brand itself.
Do these devices replace professional treatments?
Nope. At-home microcurrent and LED work at way lower power than what you’d get in an office. Think of them as maintenance between professional treatments. Or as a cheaper option that gives you subtler results to match.
Are the results permanent?
Not at all. Any brand telling you otherwise is overselling. Microcurrent effects disappear in days to a few weeks if you stop. Light therapy improvements also depend on regular use. Plan on the routine itself. Not just buying the device once.
Can I use more than one of these together?
Sure. On the same face. Just not at the exact same time. You could do NuFACE microcurrent at night and a TheraFace cold session in the morning. Start with one device at a time so you can figure out what’s actually working. Pay attention to each device’s safety rules separately.
Why isn’t the TheraFace PRO in this comparison?
When we put this together, the 8-in-1 TheraFace PRO was only available from a third-party reseller. They didn’t have much stock. Not directly from Therabody. So we didn’t feel good about recommending it. The Mask Glo and Depuffing Wand we’re showing you are what Therabody is selling straight from Amazon right now.