What is a home-use microneedling serum? A summary of its principles, ingredients, effects, and usage: improved absorption and skin texture.

You diligently apply serum morning and night, but your skin still feels dull, rough, and lacks radiance? The key issue is often not that the serum isn't good enough, but rather that the stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin) is blocking nutrient penetration , preventing your skincare routine from reaching the surface. The increasingly popular at-home "microneedling serum" uses ultra-fine needles to open micro-channels, allowing ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin faster and more effectively, improving dullness, fine lines, and pores. The results are far more noticeable than regular topical serums. Below, we'll quickly guide you through the principles, ingredients, efficacy, and usage of microneedling serums, as well as the differences between at-home microneedling and medical aesthetic treatments, helping you upgrade your daily skincare routine more safely and efficiently!

Why are at-home microneedling serums effective?

Many serums don't show noticeable results when applied to the face, and the problem is usually not with the product itself, but with limited absorption. The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, acts like a thick wall, blocking most active ingredients from penetrating, causing even the most expensive serums to remain on the surface. The reason at-home microneedling serums (also known as "microneedling infusion serums") have become so popular is because they can overcome this absorption bottleneck. Through micro-channels, they push ingredients directly into deeper layers, no longer remaining on the surface, resulting in more noticeable and faster-acting improvements.

Microneedle delivery principle

At-home microneedling serums effectively enhance absorption because of the combined effects of "microneedling × physical delivery," allowing ingredients to penetrate the skin faster and deeper. The overall principle can be divided into three parts:

Microneedling works on the surface layer, safely without damaging the dermis.

Home-use microneedles are mostly made of natural microcrystals or diatom microneedles. They are extremely small and soluble, and only act on the stratum corneum and superficial epidermis. They do not penetrate into the dermis, so they have low irritation and virtually no recovery period.

Open microchannels to accelerate serum penetration

When microneedles come into contact with the skin, they open up a large number of micro-absorption channels, which is equivalent to opening an "absorption fast track", making it easier for the essence to penetrate the stratum corneum. The penetration speed and absorption rate are much higher than those of ordinary topical essences.

Initiate skin repair, promote renewal and improve elasticity

The mild stimulation from microneedling can trigger the skin's self-repair, promote the production of collagen and elastin fibers, accelerate epidermal renewal, and make the skin smoother, the pores tighter, and the complexion brighter.

Dr.Once's Japanese-made Quad-Core Microneedle Serum series showcases four Needle Shot Serums: yellow (vitamin C), purple (exosomes), red (retinol), and green (azelaic acid), highlighting its skincare technology containing 95,000 microneedles.

Home Microneedling Serum Efficacy

At-home microneedling serums can push active ingredients deeper into the skin, thus improving multiple common skin problems simultaneously, with more noticeable results than regular topical serums. Key benefits include:

Improve dullness and brighten skin tone

Microneedling allows brightening ingredients such as Vitamin C to penetrate faster, effectively addressing uneven skin tone and dullness, resulting in brighter, more radiant skin.

Minimizes pores and improves roughness

By stimulating the skin with microneedles that are finer than pores, ingredients that promote collagen production are delivered to the deeper layers of the skin, making the skin appear fuller and smoother to the touch, thus improving roughness and tightening pores.

Improve absorption rate and enhance skincare efficiency

After applying a microneedle mask, the essence can penetrate more easily to the areas that need it, and the active ingredients no longer remain on the surface. The absorption of subsequent skincare products is also improved.

Reduces fine lines, acne scars and minor pits

It activates the repair and renewal mechanism, which helps improve fine lines, acne scars and minor depressions, resulting in smoother skin and a more adherent makeup finish.

Regulates oil production and soothes unstable skin conditions

Some formulas containing conditioning ingredients such as azelaic acid can reduce acne, redness, and seasonal sensitivity, helping to stabilize skin condition.

Enhance elasticity and radiance to create a "dewy" skin look.

Microneedling can deliver moisture deep into the skin, enhancing the skincare effect, making the skin softer, more elastic, and firmer, and giving the skin a natural glow and a radiant, dewy look.

Microneedle Serum Ingredient Analysis

For microneedling to achieve its best results, the ingredients must be highly effective and stably absorbed within the microchannels. They can generally be divided into two main categories: basic repair ingredients and medical-grade highly active ingredients.

Basic repair ingredients (essential for base makeup)

These ingredients can stabilize skin condition and improve the absorption of subsequent products, forming the foundation of microneedling serums.

• Hyaluronic acid: deeply hydrates and fills in dry gaps, leaving skin plump and radiant; microneedling can deliver moisture to the skin's base layer faster, providing longer-lasting hydration.
• Peptides: promote collagen production, reduce fine lines and improve firmness, suitable for mature or sagging skin; microneedling can accelerate penetration and make the firming effect more obvious.
• Vitamin C/E: Antioxidant, brightening, fades dark spots and improves dullness; microneedling can enhance penetration depth and brighten faster.
• Ceramide: Repairs the skin barrier, reduces redness and dryness, and improves skin stability; microneedling can more precisely fill gaps and accelerate repair.

Medical-grade highly active ingredients (enhanced repair and anti-aging)

These types of ingredients are often used in advanced microneedling serums to improve deep-seated problems and enhance overall skin texture. The effects are even more pronounced when combined with microneedling.

The Dr.ONCE Professional Ingredient and Efficacy Guide poster includes the core ingredients, main effects, and target skin problems of four serums: purple exosomes, red retinol, yellow vitamin C, and green azelaic acid.

• Retinol (Retinol): The formula contains ingredients that accelerate skin renewal, reduce fine lines, and improve roughness. Retinol is considered a gold standard ingredient in anti-aging. Through microneedling, the active ingredients are released as the serum penetrates, reaching deep into the skin barrier. It is recommended to use with moisturizing skincare products to reduce skin irritation.
• Exosomes: They repair and regenerate, strengthen the skin barrier, and promote collagen production, targeting issues such as rough skin and loss of elasticity; microneedling can accelerate their deep repair effects.
• Vitamin C: For those who want to fade dark spots and acne scars, this product has powerful antioxidant properties while whitening, improving dullness and promoting collagen production; microneedling allows the brightening ingredients to penetrate faster and deeper, making the brightening effect more visible.
• Azelaic acid: For those with skin problems such as acne and redness, Dr.Once's product contains triple active soothing ingredients such as centella asiatica and azelaic acid, which can effectively improve the oil-water balance and are suitable for oily and acne-prone skin; microneedling can be used to target areas in need to enhance the effect and improve the skin care results.
• NMN, glutathione, and growth factors (EGF, FGF, AGF, XGF): NMN can boost cellular energy and delay aging; glutathione has powerful antioxidant and brightening effects; growth factors promote repair and renewal, improving fatigue, dullness, and sagging. Through microneedling, these ingredients can be more effectively delivered to the skin's base layer, resulting in more significant activation and repair effects.

If you want to achieve anti-aging, brightening, repair, and skin stabilization all at once, you can try microneedling serums that integrate multiple medical-grade ingredients into one bottle. For example, Dr. Once's "7 in 1 King of Microneedling Serum" contains core medical-grade ingredients such as NMN, glutathione, and four growth factors (EGF, FGF, AGF, and XGF). It also offers high-concentration serums tailored to individual skin types, including exosomes, retinol, vitamin C, or azelaic acid . Combined with microneedling technology, these active ingredients are precisely delivered to the deeper layers of the skin, providing synergistic effects from renewal and repair to brightening and oil control. The formula is free of fragrances, alcohol, preservatives, silicone, pigments, and talc, resulting in a refreshing, non-sticky texture, making it ideal for daily use in Hong Kong's humid climate.

How to use at-home microneedling serum (steps)

1. Step 1 | Cleansing
   Thoroughly cleanse your face to remove dirt and oil, then pat dry and keep your skin dry.

2. Step 2 | Apply microneedling serum
   Apply a small amount of serum evenly to the entire face, avoiding the eye area, and gently massage until absorbed.

3. Step 3 | Subsequent Skincare
   After the essence is absorbed, you can proceed with your daily moisturizing or repairing steps. The effect is even better when used with a moisturizing cream or mask.

4. Step 4 | Frequency of Use
   Use once or twice a week. First-time users can adjust the frequency according to their skin's tolerance.

Safe use of home microneedling serum

Maintain hygiene

Thoroughly clean your hands and face before and after use to ensure your skin is clean when applying the product, thus preventing bacteria from entering the microchannels and reducing the risk of irritation or infection.

Avoid the eye area

After cleansing and drying your skin, apply an appropriate amount of microneedling essence evenly to the entire face (avoiding the eye area) and gently massage until absorbed; a slight tingling sensation is normal when using it for the first time.

First, conduct a small-scale test.

People with sensitive skin should perform a small-scale test behind the ear or on the wrist before use. If redness or stinging occurs, discontinue use and avoid using it with irritating products such as high-concentration fruit acids or salicylic acid on the same day.

Strengthen moisturizing after use.

Use a gentle face mask or cream; be sure to apply sunscreen during the day and avoid applying makeup immediately to allow your skin time to stabilize.

*A slight tingling sensation is normal with home-use microneedling and will not cause scarring.

How to choose microneedling products?

Skincare comparison chart: General serums, home microneedling serums (Dr.Once), and medical aesthetic microneedling treatments are compared in terms of penetration depth, main efficacy, recovery period, and recommended candidates, emphasizing that home microneedling offers the best balance.

1. General topical serums: primarily for moisturizing and basic repair, suitable for users who prefer simple skincare or are new to basic skincare.
2. Microneedling treatment: It can quickly improve deep wrinkles, pits and sagging, but it is expensive and requires a recovery period. It is suitable for people who need deep repair.
3. Home-use microneedling serum: It has strong absorption and can improve dullness, pores and fine lines. It is suitable for daily skin improvement and maintenance after medical aesthetic treatments. It is the most balanced choice and suitable for most people.

If you're looking for a way to "upgrade your skin" with regular skincare but don't want the pain and discomfort of cosmetic procedures, Dr.Once's "7 in 1 King of Microneedles Essence," made in Japan , is a great option. It combines seven highly concentrated medical-grade ingredients in one bottle, allowing busy individuals to enjoy the benefits of a "medical-grade treatment" at home and easily improve their skin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Microneedling Serums

Q1: Why does microneedling serum sting?
A1: When microneedles come into contact with the skin, they open tiny channels for delivery, which may cause a slight tingling or numbness, and this is a normal reaction.

Q2: Will microneedling treatment hurt? Will it leave scars?
A2: The home-use microneedling device is designed to be extremely fine, causing only a slight tingling sensation, unlike the pain associated with medical-grade microneedling; it will not leave scars if used correctly as instructed.

Q3: Can I apply a face mask after microneedling?
A3: Yes, but it is recommended to use a gentle moisturizing or repairing mask and avoid those containing irritating ingredients such as alcohol or acids, so as not to increase sensitivity.