Microneedling technique aka collagen induction therapy is a relatively new resurfacing cosmetic procedure that is becoming more popular for a variety of skin conditions and cosmetic rejuvenation.
In addition to stimulating collagen production, micro needling treatment enables faster and deeper penetration of skin care products through freshly created micro channels. Therefore, the absorption rate and effectiveness of skin care products are much higher after undergoing this facial treatment. So it’s important to know what kind of serum or cream to use right after the microneedling procedure.
If you are using dermaroller or dermapen with needle length of 0.5mm or longer, your skin will be very irritated. In fact, common side effects of skin needling include redness, spotted bleeding, bruising, peeling, mild swelling and pain. For this reason it’s best to do microneedling in the evening, so you can maximize skin’s natural healing process by allowing it rest and regenerate overnight. Also, dermatologists advice to avoid applying makeup on your face right after the procedure and avoid exposing skin to direct sunlight.
At a glance:
√ Best serum: Eminence Strawberry Hyaluronic Serum
√ Overall best soothing: Orgaid Organic Sheet Mask
√ Best affordable moisturizer: Derma E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Cream
What Products To Use After Microneedling
So what should you use after microneedling skin treatment?
Natural or organic products with hyaluronic acid and calming ingredients will deliver best results, especially if you are using 0.5mm needles or longer. You can also apply skincare products that target a certain concern you want to address: anti-aging, photo damage, scar fading, stretch marks, or cellulite.
Preferred microneedling aftercare products:
- Organic
- Natural
- Nontoxic
- Chemical-free
- Fragrance-free
After being punctured for hundreds of times your skin will become very stressed and as a result dry. Therefore, using hydrating serums, soothing and cooling masks, or nourishing moisturizers will be essential after the microneedling session.
You can also speed up skin rejuvenation by applying serums, masks or creams with antioxidants, growth factor, or with soothing and calming properties. In fact, we suggest looking for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, stimulating peptides, ceramides, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), and antioxidants.
Best Soothing And Healing Ingredients
Hyaluronic Acid – is an ideal ingredient as it helps retain skin moisture, accelerates wound healing, improves skin firmness and elasticity, and decreases the depth of wrinkles and the appearance of fine lines.
Antioxidants – found in fruits, berries, vegetables, green tea, amino acids, vitamins, CoQ10. They reduce collagen degradation, protect and prevent cells from free radical damage, repair skin, prevent photo aging, reduce inflammation, brighten skin tone.
Vitamin C – (in low concentration 8%-15% if your skin tolerates it well) lightens hyperpigmentation, dark spots, promotes collagen synthesis, improves wound healing, protects against UV exposure, and brightens skin. Using Vitamin C products with high concentration (15% and more) can be irritating for the skin that just undergone microneedling skin treatment.
Peptides – activate regeneration processes, reduce appearance of wrinkles, stimulate the synthesis of elastin and collagen production, improve wound healing, increase firmness and even out skin tone.
Ceramides – help skin barrier function, retain moisture, protect against environmental irritants, reduce visible signs of aging, accelerate wound healing.
Aloe Vera gel – rich in vitamins and minerals, has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, promotes skin turnover, heals damaged skin, locks in moisture, improves the appearance of aged skin, has cooling effect and helps relieve some pain.
Hydrating Serums
Here are few good options of hydrating serums, soothing masks and moisturizers that are made with organic, natural, non-toxic, and clean ingredients, which will help sooth and heal the skin after the microneedling procedure.
Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This organic serum is a holy grail in skincare regimen. Formulated with potent organic, natural and nontoxic ingredients such as botanical hyaluronic acid, strawberry juice, rhubarb juice, red algae extract, aloe vera, CoQ10, honey, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants.
Not only this antioxidant serum hydrates, heals, plumps, and softens the appearance of wrinkles, but also it repairs and brightens your skin, leaving it looking soft, radiant and rejuvenated. Suitable for all skin types.
REN Clean Skincare Flash Hydro-Boost Instant Plumping Emulsion
This water-activated non-toxic emulsion/serum will especially benefit dry and dehydrated skin. It contains clean ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, squalane, peptides, ceramides, shea butter, carob seed extract, and designed to lock in moisture while providing instant hydration and plumping effect. This booster also helps to repair skin barrier, reduce depth of wrinkles, and boost skin firmness.
Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
A miracle worker, glow-getter, and so-called best eco-buys, this magical serum is packed with powerful antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid and hyaluronic acid, as well as plant and herbal derivatives like konjac root, chamomile, clary sage, and aloe. It improves uneven skin tone, reduces discoloration, overall appearance, protects from photoaging, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, softens and soothes the skin.
Eminence Organics Eight Greens Youth Serum
Hydrating serum packed with antioxidants like flexseed, hops, yucca, and chasteberry extracts, as well as vitamin C, honey, algae extract, CoQ10, paprika, and lavender.
This organic anti-aging serum reduces visible signs of aging, replenishes moisture, hydrates, calms, improves complexion, protects and repairs skin from free radical damage. It’s especially great for hormonally imbalanced skin, as it quickly soothes irritation.
Orgaid Greek Yogurt & Nourishing Organic Sheet Mask
Soothing, calming and hydrating mask for all skin types formulated with natural and organic ingredients. It is infused with Greek yogurt, which helps with regeneration and skin cells growth; lactobacillus ferment evens out skin tone and smoothes; lavender, green tea and chamomile help sooth skin and promote healing; aloe vera, rosehip, and hyaluronic acid have hydrating, moisturizing and calming properties. Excellent option for stressed out skin or as anti-aging treatment.
Knours Sweet Enough Rescue Mask
Great soothing sheet mask for irritated skin after microneedling, microdermabrasion or chemical peel. The key ingredients in this intense facial are rosewater, honey, niacinamide, ceramides, and other potent botanicals that help deeply hydrate, heal, sooth and nourish the skin. In addition to healing, moisturizing and brightening properties this EWG Verified mask is also age defying!
OSEA White Algae Mask
Anti-aging, hydrating and brightening mask that helps with cell renewal, stimulates healing, reduces redness and soothes irritated skin. Contains potent antioxidants, minerals and vitamins like white algae, white and green tea, multi peptides, hyaluronic acid, licorice root, aloe, jojoba, and fruit extracts to reveal youthful appearance and balanced complexion.
Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Rosewater Mask
This non-toxic revitalizing mask has cream-like texture, and is formulated for delicate, sensitive, and irritated skin. It’s a great budget option to use after resurfacing treatments.
Overall, the key ingredients include alpine rose stem cells that deliver hydration and calms sensitive skin, pomegranate improves skin tone and helps soothe irritated skin, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid provide ultra hydration, and Bioactive 8 berry complex supports dermal vitality.
PCA Skin Hydrating Mask
Enriched with oat milk extract, arnica montana flower extract, cucumber, panthenol and sodium hyaluronate, this at-home moisturizing facial mask will leave skin calmed, soothed, deeply hydrated, soft and less irritated. Great solution to calm skin after any exfoliating procedure including microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and microneedling. Designed for dry, normal, combination, sensitive, and irritated skin.
Moisturizers
Derma E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Moisturizer
This advanced anti-aging moisturizer is enriched with potent multi-peptides, plant-derived collagen, antioxidant complex, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin, A, and green tea extract. It helps to visibly soften deep wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, and provide intense hydration for a more youthful-looking skin. Best for dry, aging and mature skin.
CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture
Antioxidant-rich moisturizer for all skin types, especially sensitive, dry and irritated skin. Formulated with organic and natural ingredients, this skin rescue moisturizer is ideal for calming, soothing and hydrating skin after resurfacing treatments, and other skin stressing procedures.
The Tri-rescue skin complex (turmeric, alpha-bisabolol, reishi mushroom) aids in wound healing and repairing damaged skin, while aloe vera, oat extract, and chamomile reduce redness, calm, sooth and hydrate the skin while restoring a youthful glow.
Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer
This weightless, hydrating, calming and soothing moisturizer is infused with active ingredients like probiotics and squalane, which support skin’s natural renewal process, skin’s clarity and natural moisture barrier. Ginger extract and red algae help to calm irritated and stressed skin, and visibly reduce redness. This EWG verified facial cream is a great solution for normal, combination, oily and acne prone skin.
Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream
Formulated with clean and calming yet high performing ingredients specifically for sensitive skin. This gentle moisturizer promotes healing, calms irritation, inflammation and redness, hydrates, soothes, repairs, regenerates and protects damaged skin. Main ingredients include apricot kernel oil, rosehip seed extract, jojoba oil, German chamomile, manuka oil, and lactobacillus ferment.
Andalou Naturals Age Defying Goji Peptide Perfecting Cream
This perfecting cream is infused with Goji berry glycopeptides that improve skin texture and tone; Resveratrol Q10 – a powerful antioxidant that supports skin’s vitality and youthfulness; heirloom and apple cell stems, and Bioactive berry complex support cell turnover, renew skin, and protect against environmental stressors. This skincare product works best for aging and dry skin type.
Discover some of the most effective at-home anti aging devices>>
Post Microneedling Treatment Care
- Microwounds > injury > need healing
- Stressed skin > dry > needs hydration
Hopefully, after reviewing our recommended products you have a better understanding of what to use after microneedling session. In addition, there are also few precautions when it comes to applying skincare products after the microneedling and proper aftercare.
Don’t apply right after the microneedling products with the following ingredients:
- Retinol (to avoid skin irritation)
- AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), BHA (beta hydroxy acid) and PHA (poly hydroxy) acids especially in high concentrations
- Vitamin C (in high concentrations 15%-20% and if you have sensitive skin – to avoid irritation)
Additionally, protect your skin from possible side effects after the micro needling treatment by avoiding the sun or tanning beds (UVA/UVB) and avoid touching your skin. Also, make sure to apply broad spectrum SPF as part of daily protection. Remember, the longer the needles – the more time is needed for the skin to heal.
Read our step-by-step guide on how to clean your dermaroller properly >>
What To Avoid After Microneedling
Avoid the following activities right after the microneedling procedure:
- Makeup
- Direct sun exposure
- Tanning beds
- Swimming
- Excessive sweating/working out
If possible, use chemical-free, fragrance-free, nontoxic, high quality skincare products, or even better – use organic or natural skin care. Since your skin will be covered in penetration wounds, you want to stay away from any harmful or toxic ingredients that will get absorbed deep into the skin.
Microneedling Precautions
Do NOT use microneedling devices if you have:
- Active acne
- Hepatitis
- Active skin infection like herpes or warts
- Chronic skin disorders
- Skin diseases like psoriasis or eczema
- Ongoing cancer treatments like chemo or radiotherapy
- Poor healing
- Keloidal tendency
- Blood clotting issues
- Also avoid area with raised moles or raised scars
Like with many at home treatments and devices, it is important to have realistic expectations and not expect an overnight miracle. Noticeable results can be seen after several treatments and are cumulative with the continuous use of a microneedling device. Plan on using your dermaroller or dermapen for at least three to six months.
Related: Do you know the difference between dermapen vs dermaroller vs dermastamp?
Read also about what dermaroller size is best for you.
Sources:
Ablon G. “Safety and effectiveness of an automated microneedling device in improving the signs of aging skin.” Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, Vol 11, Aug. 2018
Bahuguna, A. “Microneedling – facts and fictions.” Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2013
Dunaway, S., et al. “Natural antioxidants: Multiple mechanisms to protect skin from solar radiation.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, Apr. 2018
Gupta R. C., et al. “Hyaluronic acid: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic trajectory.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol. 3, June 2019
Lima T.N., et al. “Bioactive peptides: applications and relevance for cosmeceuticals.” Cosmetics, Vol. 5, Mar. 2018
Meckfessel, M.H., et al. “The structure, function, and importance of ceramides in skin and their use as therapeutic agents in skin-care products.” J. Am. Acad. Dermatology, Vol. 71, Issue 1, July 2014
Nyman, E., et al. “Hyaluronic acid accelerates re-epithelialization and alters protein expression in a human wound model.” Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global Open, Vol. 7.5 , May 2019
Ravetti S., et al. “Ascorbic acid in skin health.” Cosmetics, Vol. 6, Oct. 2019
Sasaki G. “The effects of life line facial cream/periobitum serum and micro-needling of photodamaged skin: A split-face randomized study.” Open Access Library Journal, Vol.2 No.10, Oct. 2015
Alster T., et al. “Microneedling: a review and practical guide.” Dermatologic Surgery, Vol. 3, Mar. 2018
