I've been a fan of microneedling for years, but while I was scrolling through TikTok I saw a new craze deemed 'Microneedling in a bottle' or liquid microneedling made popular by k-beauty brands. I was curious on how it worked so I did more research on liquid microneedling and how it compares to regular at home microneedling, especially in terms of the skin benefits.
Is liquid microneedling better than physical microneedling?
Physical microneedling is superior for long-term results like collagen stimulation and scar reduction. While liquid microneedling uses silica spicules to increase ingredient absorption, physical needles (0.5mm+) penetrate deep enough to trigger the skin’s natural healing response. Liquid microneedling often lacks the depth required for structural skin changes and may cause more irritation due to spicules remaining in the skin for up to 72 hours.
What is Liquid Microneedling vs. Physical Microneedling?
Liquid microneedling is the process of using a serum that is infused with micro spears called spicules. They're made from Silica and depending on the formula, some are coated in exosomes which are little proteins with RNA, and some are coated in Cica otherwise known as centella asiatica. Currently some of the trending liquid microneedling products come from Medicube and VT reedle with many new ones emerging on the market.
How Is it Used:
Liquid microneedling serums are massaged into the skin where the micro spicules create microchannels in the skin. Supposedly, it has similar effects to microneedling but we found the evidence is more mild benefits compared to actual microneedling.
Liquid Microneedling Review in 2026: What the Research Says:
There is not that much research on spicules, but there is some evidence that shows that it can increase delivery of skincare ingredients to the skin like hyalauronic acid to increase hydration in the skin.
How it feels:
The process can feel a little uncomfortable with users saying it's like rubbing sandpaper all over their face, and some people note that it feels like there tiny glass shards in the skin. The Spicules remain in the skin after they're applied and they take up to 24-74 hours to fully dissolve.
Pros: It can be a way to try microneedling without the actual needles. It offers some benefits like smoother skin, plumper skin, and perhaps some reduction in pigmentation, although the results seem to be temporary or don't last as long compared to physical microneedling.
The Drawbacks of Liquid Microneedling
While the "microneedling in a bottle" trend is popular on social media, there are several disadvantages to consider when comparing spicules to physical needles:
- Depth and Surface Limitation: Most silica spicules are smaller than 0.2mm. Because they do not reach the deeper layers of the skin like a 0.5mm physical microneedling tool, they are generally ineffective for long-term texture improvement or stimulating the skin's natural renewal process.
- Prolonged Skin Irritation: Unlike physical micro-channels that close within hours, spicules are designed to remain embedded in your skin. This can lead to 48–72 hours of redness, itching, and a "sandpaper" sensation as the micro-spears slowly dissolve.
- Lack of Precision: Liquid microneedling involves massaging sharp particles into the skin manually. This creates "uncontrolled" micro-trauma. In contrast, a microneedling stamper provides vertical controlled depths of entries and exits, which minimizes surface inflammation and protects the skin barrier.
- Risk of Migration: Because the "liquid needles" are suspended in a serum, they can easily migrate to sensitive areas like the eyes, causing significant irritation. Physical tools remain exactly where you apply them.
- Limited Formula Flexibility: With liquid microneedling, you are restricted to the ingredients in that specific serum. Physical microneedling allows you to pair your session with your choice of high-quality, stabilized Vitamin C or hydrating serums for a customized routine.
Next we'll discuss regular home microneedling and how it compares to liquid microneedling.
Regular Microneedling
How it's used
Traditionally it's been done in office but now it can also be done at home. Home microneedling uses a tool that contains several tiny micro needles that puncture the skin's surface. Benefits include increasing skincare absorption, reducing acne scars, fine lines, and enlarged pores.
How it feels
Since there are different lengths of microneedling needles, longer needles do tend to be more painful compared to shorter lengths. With at home tools, it can feel like a mild skin prickling, but it's not too uncomfortable.
Science Behind It:
Microneedling is based off mesotherapy and has been used in office for several years since the 1990's.
There are a lot more studies on the effects of microneedling for the skin and microneedling's high safety factor compared to liquid microneedling.
Microneedling with thin needles at 0.5mm are deep enough to stimulate collagen in the skin which can provide more long term benefits for acne scars, skin texture, fine lines, hair growth, and hyperpigmentation.
The Advantages of Physical Microneedling
Physical microneedling remains the gold standard for at-home skin renewal due to its controlled delivery and proven ability to stimulate collagen. Here is why it outperforms "liquid" alternatives:
- Optimal Depth for Results: The Banisher 3.0 uses 0.5mm needles, the ideal length to reach the dermal layer. Unlike spicules that stay on the surface, this depth is necessary to effectively improve the appearance of acne scars, fine lines, and uneven skin texture.
- Controlled Vertical Micro Injuries: The stamping mechanism ensures needles enter and exit the skin at a 90-degree angle. This prevents the "micro-tears" of the skin often associated with massage-in spicules or low-quality rollers, leading to less surface redness.
- Gold-Plated Titanium: The needles are gold-plated, offering a high level of hygiene and durability. Gold is naturally antimicrobial, making the Banisher 3.0 a safer choice for those prone to breakouts compared to silica-based liquid formulas.
- Maximize Ingredient Absorption: Physical microneedling creates temporary micro-channels that stay open for a short window. This is the "Golden Hour" to apply potent topicals like L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), as absorption is significantly enhanced without being restricted to a pre-mixed serum.
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May be more cost effective over time: Microneedling tends to be a little more expensive initially than the liquid microneedling serums, but the tradeoff is better long term in results with regular microneedling. Microneedling tools may end up costing the same or less compared to the serums because tools like the Banisher 3.0 have replacement heads where you can gets 4 month supply for $40 it has a longer shelf life than spicule infused serums.
Cons:
Microneedling at home may not be as effective for extreme cases of deep scarring such as severe ice pick scars.
Comparison Chart Between Liquid Microneedling vs Physical Microneedling
| Feature | Liquid Microneedling (Spicules) | Physical Microneedling (Banisher) |
| Mechanism | Silica micro-spears (Spicules) | Gold Plated Titanium Needles |
| Depth | Typically < 0.2mm (Surface) | 0.5mm (Dermal penetration) |
| Collagen Induction | Minimal/None proven | High (Triggers healing response) |
| Recovery | Spicules stay in skin 24-72 hours | Micro-channels close within hours |
| Customization | Locked to specific serum formula | Can be used with various gentle serums |
Recommendation
Based on all the studies behind microneedling, doing physical microneedling has more proven benefits for the skin that last long term compared to liquid microneedling.
When it comes to physical microneedling, you can also choose what serums to use on top so it is more customizable too.
Microneedling at home may be a little more costly $100 average range compared to $50 average than liquid microneedling serums, but because of the better results and benefits we think it is well worth it to invest in a home microneedling tool instead.
Recommended At Home Microneedling Tool
Banisher 3.0 - With gold plated 0.5mm needles and 2 replacement heads. - $125
References:
Luo Z, Weiss DE, Liu Q, Tian B. Biomimetic Approaches Toward Smart Bio-hybrid Systems. Nano Res. 2018 Jun;11(6):3009-3030. doi: 10.1007/s12274-018-2004-1. Epub 2018 May 22. PMID: 30906509; PMCID: PMC6430233.
Zhang, Chi & Zhang, Keda & Zhang, Jia-Liang & Huilong, Ou & Duan, Jiwen & Zhang, Saiman & Wang, Dexiang & Mitragotri, Samir & Chen, Ming. (2019). Skin Delivery of Hyaluronic Acid by the Combined Use of Sponge Spicules and Flexible Liposomes. Biomaterials Science. 7. 10.1039/C8BM01555D.
Ismail ESA, Patsatsi A, Abd El-Maged WM, Nada EEAE. Efficacy of microneedling with topical vitamin C in the treatment of melasma. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Oct;18(5):1342-1347. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12878. Epub 2019 Feb 15. PMID: 30770637.
Adam G. Harris, Catherine Naidoo, Dedee F. Murrell,
Skin needling as a treatment for acne scarring: An up-to-date review of the literature,
International Journal of Women's Dermatology,
Volume 1, Issue 2,
2015,
Pages 77-81,
ISSN 2352-6475,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2015.03.004.
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