Needles have always freaked me out. As a kid, I’d do everything necessary to avoid getting that vaccine shot. So you can only imagine my horror when I discovered Microneedling.
As a skincare enthusiast, I’ve tried every possible route to clear skin, from DIYs to LED lights to acids and peels. But the idea of needles pricking my face in a quest to achieve the skin of my dreams is still a far-fetched idea despite knowing that the procedure is minimally invasive and that I’ll be in a controlled environment with trained technicians. If you’re like me and needles terrify you, there’s a skincare product that mimics the effects of microneedling on the skin — without the pain of piercing tiny holes into your skin and 0 downtime. Yep, you heard that right!
It’s A Revolutionary New Product In Skincare
It’s true what they say, Korea is living ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to tech in beauty. VT Cosmetics, a Korean skincare company, launched a range of products called Reedleshot. These moisturisers are said to mimic the work of in-clinic microneedling, minus the pain, and minus the needles. Sounds too good to be true, right? All you have to do is use their serum a couple of times a week, and you will get the same results as you would with microneedling.
Their products contain tiny (dissolvable) Cica needles designed to create micro-channels on the skin’s surface, allowing for better product absorption and penetration of active ingredients. This tech helps deliver the key ingredients deeper into the skin for maximum benefits. The product tingles a little on application, but the after-effects are smoother skin, less visible pores, and clearer skin with just one use. Similar to your microneedling session where you can customise the intensity (read: length) of the needles, with Reedleshot, you can buy the products in different concentrations of 30, 50, 70 and 100. The higher the concentration, the more it’ll tingle and the better the results.
The VT Reedle Essence claims to reduce the appearance of pores, target hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and everything else a microneedling session would.
Their Instagram and YouTube are all about the products that cause a mild tingling or burning sensation on the skin, which improves their efficacy.
But haven’t we always been told not to use products that cause discomfort and make the skin tingle? Can skincare products replace treatments that require trained technicians? To clarify the matter, I roped in Dr. Geetika Srivastava, dermatologist and founder of Influennz Clinic. “Skincare products and procedures are in a symbiotic relationship and not antagonistic one. Both have their unique role catering to an individual need and skin concern,” she says diplomatically, giving an example of acne treatments. “Acne can be completely cured with skincare products alone but the addition of a chemical peel or a photo facial helps in quicker recovery and faster results. But on the contrary, skin texture (large pores, post-acne scars, accidental cuts, and surgical scars) can only be improved by procedures like microneedling or fractional CO2 laser,” she explains about the two that go hand-in-hand. “While skincare products, including serums, can play a beneficial role in improving skin health and appearance, they typically cannot fully replace the results achieved through professional treatments like microneedling,” adds Dr Niri Gaur, the Founder of Citrine Clinic, Gurgaon, in agreement.
As for the VT Serum, Dr. Srivastava does have some concerns about the product that claims to mimic microneedling. “There are no published scientific studies conducted,” she says, questioning its legitimacy. Another red flag? “No real reviews or client testimonials, only paid collaborations everywhere,” she adds. The only things these products are doing, according to her, are “Packaging optimism and inducing FOMO (the fear of missing out),” like most viral products do when they’re first launched. “While serums can be beneficial for skin health and appearance, they are not a direct replacement for in-clinic procedures like microneedling. Professional treatments offer unique benefits and results that cannot be fully replicated by skincare products alone,” reiterates Dr. Gaur.
The average cost of one bottle is around Rs. 3800 (approx. 46 USD), while a session of microneedling costs around Rs. 8,000 and can go upward to Rs. 50,000 depending on where you get it and how reputed the technician is. “These products may be a cheaper option, but is it effective? Sometimes, if a product seems too good to be true, it is probably a scam!” warns Dr Srivastava before signing off.
Scam or not, this Reedle range of products is generating quite the buzz, and as a skincare enthusiast, I’m willing to try it. Because what is beauty without some pain at the end of the day?
Wondering what microneedling is and how much it costs? Watch this!
Featured Image: Unsplash
