Skincare has stepped up its game over the past 5 years with new tools, treatments and masks. Many of which are available on the market and in your medical esthetician’s office. There is an abundance of treatments available and always a new beauty trend on the rise - but how does one choose the right treatment?
First, let’s skip your estheticians office and take the treatment home.
You’ve probably heard of microneedling at your medical aesthetics office, but with non-invasive versions you can now microneedle at home and its perfectly safe to use! So, don’t let the word needle scare you off. These at-home versions are designed with smaller needles that are thicker in diameter, allowing you to roll safely as you sit at home watching the next episode of Euphoria.
The Benefits
Cosmetic microneedling comes with a wide range of skin benefits. This treatment penetrates the first layer of the skin – the epidermis – making it safe to personally use in the comforts of your own home. But that being said, always take caution when using anything with a sharp edge!
It is a great at-home treatment for anyone wanting smoother, plumper and firmer-looking skin. But it doesn’t stop there. Microneedling also diminishes scarring, acne, blemishes, enlarged pores, stretch marks and even rosacea! Yes, ladies and gents this facial tool does it all!
Image: Giphy.com
How it Works
The small sterilized stainless-steel needles penetrate the epidermis, creating microscopic wounds on the surface of the skin - this stimulates collagen and elastin production, as well as allowing your skincare products to penetrate deeper into the epidermis. In laymen terms, it fools the skin to heal the wounds which forces the natural production of collagen. This type of treatment is called collagen induction therapy. With many topical treatments, it is hard for products to absorb 100% into the skin for reasons like: formula consistency and clogged pores. So, the solution to that problem – Microneedling! Your at-home dermatologist that wont stick you with the hefty bill!
Choosing your Needle
When choosing the right needle, you want to take a look at the size. Yes, ladies, in these instances, size most definitely matters! So, lets break it down for you.
0.5mm - 1.5mm: for face, neck and chest
1.5mm - 2.5mm: for the body
Before use, make sure to inspect the needles aren’t bent or blunt and make sure to always sanitize, sanitize, sanitize! Just like at your doctor’s office!
This at-home treatment shouldn’t be painful or draw blood, but you may experience slight swelling, tenderness and redness. Whoever said pain is beauty, they’re absolutely right! Some may call it sadistic but its beauty for us!
If you are looking for a microneedle in all these sizes, we’ve got you covered. Zoe Ayla’s 3-piece Micro-Needling Derma Roller comes with three interchangeable roller heads (0.5mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm).
At-Home Use:
Before we start rolling our skin problems away, you will want to prepare your tool before use. Using Isopropyl Alcohol, sanitize your roller before and after each use and let it dry. You want to use your roller on cleansed skin (face or body).
STEP 1 | After cleansing your skin, apply your favourite serum for pre-treatment.
STEP 2 | Gently roll over the treatment area 4-8 times upwards or downwards, then sideways, then diagonally. You want to work in sections (we prefer starting at the bottom of the face working upwards).
TIP: When rolling you want to roll in one direction – rolling back and forth may cause unwanted pulling or skin breakage and irritation.
STEP 3 | Once you have completed your entire face or treatment area, apply your favourite serum, followed by your moisturizer.
STEP 4 | Sanitize and store your roller properly. Avoid leaving it open or uncovered to help keep it sterile.
Ideally you want to use this treatment at night to avoid any irritations that the skin may experience during the day. If you do plan to microneedle during the day, make sure to avoid sweating heavily and apply your protective sunscreen after treatment. Also avoid using makeup, especially brushes that haven’t been cleansed.
DO NOT use over active acne or over keloid scars. When using over active acne this can spread bacteria all over the face, so patiently wait for your acne to reduce before treating.
Depending on the size of your needle, you can use this treatment every other day for shorter needles, and if the needle is longer, space out treatments every 3-4 weeks! We recommend that you start with spaced-out treatments to see how your skin reacts and heals, then slowly increasing frequency as you go.
Aftercare
Make sure to use fragrance-free, non-comedogenic products after treatment. Choose products with Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane and Ceramides to see the best anti-ageing results.
For 2-3 days post-treatment, avoid skincare products containing ingredients like:
- Alcohol
- AHAs
- BHAs
- Retinoids
- Vitamin C
- Perfume
With proper and consistent use, your skin will look and feel better than it has ever been! This small but powerful tool will give you the skin you’ve always wanted – smooth, supple, youthful and glowing!
