VT COSMETICS's Iconic Reedle Shot range: non-intrusive micro-needling from the comfort of your home

Microneedling has long been a go-to treatment for smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin, but until recently, it was something you’d only find in an aesthetician’s office. Enter VT COSMETICS’ Reedle Shot – an innovative, at-home microneedling solution that delivers professional-level results with nothing more than a serum. No tools required!

Already a bestseller in Korea and Japan, Reedle Shot has been flying off the shelves, consistently topping the sales charts at various Korean skincare retailers and selling out due to high demand. But if you’re hesitant about trying microneedling at home, you’re not alone. You might be wondering: How does microneedling actually work? Why is it so beneficial for skin? And what makes VT’s Reedle Shot different from traditional microneedling treatments?

In this guide, we’ll break it all down – exploring the science behind microneedling, what it does for your skin, and how to use VT’s Reedle Shot for the best possible results. Whether you’re new to at-home microneedling or just curious about the hype, we’ve got you covered - so read on!

What is conventional microneedling and why is it good for you? 

Traditional microneedling - also known as collagen induction therapy, dermarolling, or skin needling – is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles to create micro-injuries in the skin. This triggers the body’s natural healing process and encourages the skin to repair itself by creating new, healthy tissue, producing more collagen and elastin to do so – helping to plump up, firm, and balance your complexion, heal wounds and active acne, and fade hyperpigmentation and scarring. 

While microneedling is typically not painful – the healthcare provider administering the treatment will apply a numbing cream to the face prior to the procedure – you will probably find your face appears red, irritated, and maybe even a little swollen immediately afterwards. Depending on how reactive your skin is, these effects will calm down within any time from a few hours to a few days. 

What is VT’s Reedle Shot and how does it work?

VT’s Reedle Shot is an intensive skin booster that works to increase the skin’s absorption of active skincare ingredients. As a result, it maximises the effectiveness of any products that you apply after using it, helping to give you buttery-smooth, rejuvenated-looking skin from the inside out. Its aesthetic-level effects include refining texture and tone, minimising the appearance of pores, brightening hyperpigmentation, and promoting wound healing. 

It does this through a patented microneedle technology known as the Cica Reedle™ – “reedle” being a compound word coined by VT to refer to “regenerating skin” with“microneedles”. These reedles, also known as “spicules” after their fine, toothpick-like shape, are made with purified Hydrolysed Sponge, which is primarily made up of Silica, and coated in VT’s soothing Cica complex to give irritated or compromised skin a little extra help along the way.

These reedles work on the top layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, rather than acting on the lower layers of the skin. When applied, they form microchannels in the skin surface through tiny, pin-prick tears, which both speeds up skin regeneration and allows active ingredients, subsequently applied, to penetrate deeper into the dermis, where they’ll be most effective. The reedles also help to gently physically exfoliate clogged skin, leaving your complexion looking rejuvenated and feeling noticeably smoother – effects you can see after the very first use!

VT worked with a Tokyo University professor to create this technology, which went through hundreds of tests before the VT team landed on the Reedle Shot’s current formulation. Seems like it was worth it, because this product has become a huge phenomenon in Korea and Japan; EuniUnni, a popular Youtuber who has worked in the K-beauty industry for more than 10 years, thinks it’s one of the most impressive products she’s ever seen.

The Reedle Shot is available in various different strengths, determined by the number of Cica Reedles™ the formula contains. Below is a little more information on each of the four versions of the product we currently have in stock at Skin Cupid.  

Reedle Shot 50

The mildest of VT’s Reedle Shot formulations and perfect for ultra-sensitive skin, the Reedle Shot 50 contains 38,000ppm Cica Reedles™, and can be used in the morning and evening daily. Its lightweight, gel-serum texture makes it easy to layer other products on top of it. 

Reedle Shot 100

The ideal starter strength for most skin types, the Reedle Shot 100 contains 95,000ppm Cica Reedles™, and can be used every evening. Like the Reedle Shot 50, it has a light, gel-like texture that is easy and comfortable to layer other products on top of.  

The Reedle Shot 100, specifically, is clinically proven to improve pore size and count, reducing vertical pore length by 31.25% and the number of visible pores on the skin by 38.08% over 2 weeks.* Currently, it’s ranked 5th out of all blemish treatments on Korean skincare review platform Hwahae. 

Reedle Shot 300

For those ready for a stronger formula, the Reedle Shot 300 contains 237,500ppm Cica Reedles™ and can be used every 3 days as part of your evening skincare routine. Like the Reedle Shots 50 and 100, it has a light, gel-like texture that is easy and comfortable to layer other products on top of.  

Reedle Shot 700

The most intense Reedle Shot formulation available at Skin Cupid, the Reedle Shot 700 contains 570,000ppm Cica Reedles™ and can be used once a week as part of your evening skincare routine. With a creamier, more lotion-like consistency than the 100 and 300, this treatment can also be used to provide care for specific areas of the complexion, such as the T-zone. 

How often can I use the Reedle Shot?

How regularly you can use your Reedle Shot depends on the strength of the formula. The mildest formula, the Reedle Shot 50, can be used in the morning, but all other strengths should be used in the evening only. Below, here’s VT’s advice for how frequently you can use each version of the product, and how to combine them if you are using multiple strengths.

• Reedle Shot 50: Use every day, morning and evening.
• Reedle Shot 100: Use every day in the evening.
• Reedle Shot 300: Use every 3 days, in the evening – for instance, on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday. 
• Reedle Shot 700: Use once a week, in the evening.

If you are using multiple Reedle Shots in combination with each other, follow a cadence like this:

Monday: Reedle Shot 100

Tuesday: Reedle Shot 300

Wednesday: Reedle Shot 100

Thursday: Reedle Shot 100

Friday: Reedle Shot 300

Saturday: Reedle Shot 100

Sunday: Reedle Shot 700

Which intensity level is right for me?

Generally, we recommend starting with the lower concentrations of the formula and building up your skin’s tolerance before moving onto the more powerful products in the range. If your complexion is ultra-sensitive, try the Reedle Shot 50 to kick things off – but if not, you can probably safely start off using the Reedle Shot 100.

As with every new product, we recommend doing a patch test prior to full application. The VT team suggests dotting a small amount onto your cheekbone area and keeping an eye out for any sensitivity or irritation over the next 24 hours. A prickling sensation, however, is totally normal, as we’ll discuss more below!

What does it feel like on my skin?

Users’ descriptions of the sensation that the Reedle Shot produces on the skin vary – one reviewer describes it as feeling like “a strong glycolic acid”, whereas another says that it doesn’t feel like a “chemical tingle” or a “physical exfoliant”, but something more unique. Most people, however, describe the product as feeling “prickly” or “pricking” during application, and persisting for between 10 seconds and a minute depending on the strength of the formula used. You may also feel the sensation again, less strongly, when applying the subsequent steps of your skincare routine. 

Some reviewers have also noted that the prickly sensation is stronger on the back of the hand than it is on the face, which is something to be aware of if that’s somewhere you test out new skincare products. 

At what point in my skincare routine should I apply it?

VT recommends using the Reedle Shot as the first step in your routine after cleansing. If you use toner pads as a continuation of the cleansing portion of your routine – i.e., to exfoliate dead skin cells and remove dirt – then apply the Reedle Shot after using them; if, however, you use a regular toner, then you’ll probably want to apply the Reedle Shot first – that way, you’ll get the maximum hydrating and conditioning benefits from its ingredients. 

When will I start to see results?

If you’re lucky, you’ll find that your skin is noticeably softer, smoother, and more even-toned the morning after first using the Reedle Shot in your evening routine. However, everybody’s skin varies in responsiveness, so you might need to wait for 1 to 2 weeks before you start seeing positive changes in your skin.

Where do the reedles end up going? Does my skin absorb them?

The reedles do not dissolve or get absorbed into your skin, so worry not! They actually remain on the skin surface and are shed in accordance with the skin’s natural healing cycle over the three or so days following treatment. 

Can I use it if I have active acne?

In the sense that the formula won’t clog pores, yes – the Reedle Shot 100 is certified non-comedogenic, so you won’t congest skin further by using it. However, the prickling sensation generated by the product might feel uncomfortable over particularly inflamed acne, so patch-test a small amount first and see how your skin feels before proceeding with a full application. 

Can I use it with exfoliating acids like BHA?

In theory, there is no ingredient that the Reedle Shot cannot be combined with, and exfoliating acids are no exception! Depending on how sensitive your skin is, however, you’ll probably want to avoid using products containing high percentages of AHAs or BHAs in the same routine as the Reedle Shot. 

Can I use it with a beauty device?

VT advises that you don’t use both the Reedle Shot and a beauty device in the same routine, as it can fatigue your skin. However, you can use a beauty device in the morning and Reedle Shot in the evening, if desired.

General usage advice

• Ensure that your skin is completely dry before applying the Reedle Shot in order to reduce any potential irritation. 
• Avoid applying to your neck, as the thin skin on this part of your body is more prone to sensitivity and redness. 
• However, you can apply the Reedle Shot to your body as well as your face! Try using it to target wrinkles around your cleavage area, or above your elbows. 
• For microneedling beginners or those with sensitive skin, a soothing sheet mask makes an ideal follow-up to the Reedle Shot – in fact, VT developed a combination Reedle Shot sachet/sheet mask for this very reason! Ideal if you want to sample the product before committing to a full bottle, we also stock these in strengths of 50, 100, 300, and 700.