Happy Thursday,
No podcast tomorrow... but I’ve got something better queued up for you.
I just recorded a deep‑dive on one of my favorite over‑40 skin treatments, microneedling. Zero hype, all science. More collagen, fewer lines, smoother texture, smaller pores. Picture your skin leveling up like it’s ’92 and you just upgraded from cassette to CD.
Before you MacGyver a random roller off Amazon, read and watch this.
Inside Today’s Beauty Stack
What microneedling really does
Why it’s safer than lasers for sensitive and melanin‑rich skin
My face, eight days post‑treatment, makeup on and looking human
What to expect if you’re 40‑plus and want results that last longer than a library card late fee
Tiny Needles, Big Results
Microneedling, also called Collagen Induction Therapy, pokes tiny controlled injuries in your skin. Your body rushes in with fresh collagen and elastin, no heat or laser drama required.
End result, firmer, smoother skin and tighter pores.
Why Collagen and Elastin Matter
Collagen gives skin structure, elastin gives it snap. After 35, both start ghosting you, leaving lines, sagging, and dullness. Microneedling kinda jogs their memory.
What Microneedling Can Actually Improve
Fine lines and wrinkles that foundation loves to camp in
Crepey, thinning skin around eyes, cheeks, neck, chest
Rough texture, sandpaper cheeks, bumpy patches
Enlarged pores getting louder as estrogen exits stage left
Acne scarring, boxcar, ice pick, rolling
Stubborn hyperpigmentation from all those “baby oil at the pool” summers 🙋🏻♀️
Early sagging at the jawline
Fresh stretch marks
Dull, sluggish skin needing a glow‑up
Tech‑neck and chest lines from screens and sun
Vertical lip lines that trap lipstick like it’s Y2K
Hands and forearms looking older than your face
Skin that ignores every product you own
Bonus: If perimenopause or menopause has your skin feeling as thin and stretched as an old VHS tape, microneedling rebuilds the thickness and spring that creams alone can’t deliver.
What Microneedling Won’t Fix
Lost volume, that’s filler territory
Deep creases and folds, see above
Active acne or infections, leave them alone
Instant results, this is a compounding process
Bad technique, done wrong it can scar you
Why I Let Pros Handle the Needles
In‑office
Up to 3 mm depth, real collagen stimulation
Sterile setup, no housecats or Dorito dust
Custom depth per face zone
Optional radiofrequency, jury’s still out
Roughly $250–$300 each session
Downtime, one to three days looking like you argued with a cat, worth it
At home
Hard pass.
I’ve seen staph infections, barrier breakdowns, and long‑term pigmentation from reused needles. Thirty‑plus years in skincare and even I won’t needle myself. My eyesight is iffy and I share space with pets, recipe for disaster.
What It Feels Like
With numbing cream, cranky cat tongue. Afterwards, mild sunburn vibes for 24‑48 hours, maybe light flaking, then smooth sailing. Does hurt a little more near hairline.
Downtime Reality
Day 1, red and stingy
Day 2, pink but calming
Day 3‑4, possible dryness or flaking
Day 5+, bounce, smooth, glow
Plan ten days ahead of any photos or events, two weeks if your skin is sensitive like mine.
Timeline to Results
Three to six sessions, four to six weeks apart
First glow often shows after session two
By session three, friends ask what you did
Maintenance once or twice a year
I go one every 3 months, cause I’m a ho like that
Between sessions, focus on peptides and barrier support, skip heavy actives. Recovery is where the magic happens.
Sensitive Skin? Same Here
My skin complains at tap water, yet pro microneedling calms it down, less redness, smoother texture, stronger barrier. Rules: always pro, custom depth, no acids or retinoids for three weeks, never during a rosacea flare.
Skip It If
Active breakouts, rosacea flare, keloid tendencies, compromised immunity, blood thinners, or your idea of “sterile” is rinsing tools in vodka. Ask your derm if meds or health issues slow healing.
Microneedling vs. Lasers
Lasers can backfire on deeper skin tones, hello hyperpigmentation. Microneedling skips heat and light, safer for melanin‑rich and reactive types. Great starter treatment if you’re procedure‑curious but not ready for full send.
Should You Let Tiny Needles Poke Your Face?
Over 40, sensitive, melanin‑rich, or just want results without nuking your barrier? Yes, go pro. DIY is Vegas odds on your face.
TL;DR
Hurt level, mild sunburn
Downtime, 48 hours
Sensitive‑skin safe, with a pro
Home or pro, pro
Schedule, monthly x3‑6 then twice a year
Makeup, wait 48 hours
Darker skin safe, yes
Helps acne, scarring yes, active breakouts no
Peeling, maybe, nothing crazy
Under eyes, yes with a pro
Just for women, nope
Bleeding, pinpoint good, gush bad
Have you tried microneedling or still side‑eyeing it?
Next week, you’re coming with me to my filler appointment. Yes, there will be numbing cream, no, I’m not a martyr.
Until then, baby that skin.
Sonia
Here’s my Microneedling Hero Kit the Barrier Repair Trio.
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