If you love Korean skincare and follow its trends religiously, you've probably heard of VT Cosmetics' Reedle Shot Line. This viral Korean treatment is one of my favourites right now for its innovative approach to skincare and exfoliation—it's gentle, hydrating, softening and barrier-repairing—what more could you ask for? I first discovered it after having a conversation with my aesthetician, Varuni Palacios. She's always giving me A+ product recommendations, but this one really took the cake. It's an affordable at-home version of Korean liquid microneedling, an in-office treatment I can't get enough of.
At just £25 a bottle, VT's Reedle Shot 100 is exactly the daily product I've been looking for. It's easy to use, doesn't irritate my skin and improves dark spots, acne and texture irregularities so fast. If you're interested in trying a treatment like this but don't have the budget to shell out hundreds for an in-clinic liquid microneedling treatment, you're going to want to keep reading. I'm sharing my full review of VT's Reedle Shot 100 below.
How Does Reedle Shot Work?
To give you a bit more info on this technology, VT's Cica Reedle Shot products use "spicule technology": tiny and extremely thin needle-like particles that are 14 times thinner than pores and help skin better absorb active skincare ingredients, allowing them to penetrate more deeply into the skin. Palacios also gave a bit more insight.
"Spicules are easily my favourite treatment coming out of South Korea right now," she says. "They're ideal for total skin rejuvenation: softening, brightening, skin-barrier-strength building, hydrating and firming. I can't get enough. I offer a clinical-strength treatment in my clinic, but I love that VT's Reedle Shot offers a gentler yet effective format for at-home use, because consistency is key, and consumers love to get their hands on anything they can do on their own. VT's Reedle Shot comes in various strengths, and I've been using the 300 for months. My acne-prone, pigmented skin has never looked better: brighter, smoother, clearer.
"VT's Reedle Shot is a skin exfoliator, meant to be used immediately after cleansing for best results," Palacios explains. "The innovative formula incorporates spicules that are naturally derived to exfoliate the skin, alongside centella asiatica extract, three different weights of hyaluronic acid and green propolis extract to repair, hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. You apply the product as you would any other corrective serum after cleansing and follow up with a hydrating moisturiser for barrier benefits."
The great thing about VT's Reedle Shot Line is that it comes in different strengths: 100, 300, 700 and 1000, which indicate the amount of spicules in the formula. 100 is the only one that's for daily use. Honestly, I thought I would start with 100 and see how my skin did, but I truly love this daily formula and was actually surprised by how well it worked after just one use. I'm talking clearer, calmer, more hydrated skin. I asked Palacios for a little advice on how to use it, and she had a few suggestions. She said you should always cleanse and then use Reedle Shot first before any other serums or moisturisers to ensure that the rest of your skincare routine penetrates the skin better.
In terms of using it with another exfoliant like iS Clinical Active Serum (£141) (which I use), Palacios says you can use them together, but proceed with caution. Although Reedle Shot is incredibly gentle, you might be a little tight or dry if you overdo it by using another exfoliator on top, so start small. You also shouldn't combine Reedle Shot with a retinoid (e.g., a retinol or retinal). I honestly got away with using both Active Serum and Reedle Shot 100 together, but I probably won't do it often. It did make my face a little dehydrated, so if you also have ultra-sensitive skin as I do, try just using Reedle Shot on its own first.
Before and After Using Reedle Shot
Trust me: I wasn't sure Reedle Shot 100 alone would be enough for my acne-prone skin, but it really gets the job done. I noticed a big improvement after just a few days of use. As you can see in the photo above, I'd been struggling with some post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and acne brought on by a recent chemical peel. Reedle Shot not only calmed the inflammation but worked wonders on my barrier damage, and both the acne and scarring started to improve on some stubborn spots after a few days.
It did, however, also cause some major purging, so be prepared for that if you have super-reactive, sensitive and acne-prone skin. It almost acts as a deep clean for your skin by refining texture and pushing any congestion out of your pores fast. Purging isn't exactly fun, but as my aesthetician always says, sometimes you have to just take it on the chin for the sake of clear skin.
Reedle Shot has been a game-changer for me, though, and I can't believe this product is only £25. It's the perfect solution for anyone who wants to try out spicule technology but can't afford a pricey in-clinic treatment. You'll feel tiny little pokes when you apply the product to your face, but I don't find it uncomfortable at all, and, as I've said, my skin is super sensitive. Compared to the discomfort of a professional microneedling treatment, this is a walk in the park.
Here's what my skin looked like after a couple of weeks (above). It's the perfect exfoliant for sensitive, acne-prone skin because it still works incredibly well, but doesn't dry out the skin like a lot of other acne treatments do. I can't recommend it enough if you have similar skin, and I completely get why this is so viral in Korea right now.
Shop VT Cosmetics Cica Reedle Shot
The same strength that I tried and recommend—and the only one suitable for daily use.
A higher-strength dose that can be used up to three times a week to smooth uneven skin texture and minimise the look of pores.
This is the strongest serum in the line and is great for really refining and brightening the skin.