After microneedling—whether at home or in a professional setting, you may feel a bit of a tingling sensation and experience slight redness. So you may end up wondering, is there anything I can apply after the session? Would it help? Would it hurt? Should I not apply anything at all?

Whether you use a dermaroller, pen, or stamp, it's common to feel lost on what you can or can't apply after microneedling. You must be extra careful about aftercare as applying the wrong products or doing certain things can cause serious damage or infection to your skin and delay your skin's healing process. Why is that?

Why Is Post-Microneedling Care Important?

Your skin’s barrier is more vulnerable after microneedling, making it both highly absorbent and prone to irritation. This is because the tiny individual needles create microscopic channels in your skin's outermost layer (the epidermis) and sometimes extend into the dermis, triggering increased blood flow and cellular activity.

The micro punctures initiate an inflammatory response as part of the natural healing process, which increases sensitivity and may cause redness, warmth, and a tingling sensation in the treated area. The stratum corneum, the outermost protective layer of the skin, is also temporarily compromised. This disruption reduces the skin's ability to act as a barrier, making it more vulnerable to environmental aggressors like UV rays, pollutants, and harsh chemicals.

The procedure can also temporarily deplete the skin’s moisture levels, exacerbating dryness and sensitivity. As a result, the skin overall feels tender until it fully recovers.

Now these microchannels created during microneedling not only boost the production of collagen and elastin but also enhance the penetration of topical products. While this is beneficial for delivering serums and nutrients, it also means the skin may react more strongly to products that could otherwise be tolerated.

This makes your post-treatment routine critical: the right care can amplify benefits, while the wrong products might lead to irritation or setbacks.

Microneedling is the best anti-aging skincare treatment, but its success also depends on how you care for your skin afterward. So whether you're new to microneedling or looking to optimize your results, I created this guide that will help you navigate the essential steps for aftercare. As the leading expert in Microneedling and working in the Skincare Industry for over 26 years now, you are in good hands.

Which Products Are Safe To Use After Microneedling?

The beauty market is vast and offers a variety of skincare products, to the point that it can be overwhelming. But the truth is, 99% of the skincare products sold are not made with microneedling in mind. Most are compromised of harsh or synthetic ingredients, which would only reverse the benefits.

And even though it says, natural, organic, or made for sensitive skin, I have encountered stories that they still experienced irritation, dryness, flaking, peeling, redness, and even burns. This is why I always remind everyone to only use products that are deemed safe, gentle, and effective for boosting the benefits of microneedling.

To help you find the right products and learn the proper aftercare, I made an in-depth video to guide you on what you should and should not use after microneedling.

I've covered frequently asked questions such as:

• Can I use Vitamin C after microneedling?
• Examples of ingredients that you should avoid?
• How to hydrate skin after microneedling?
• How to soothe the skin after microneedling?
• Can I apply tretinoin, retinol, and retinae after microneedling?
• Can I use oils/essential oils after microneedling?
• When can I use my other skincare products?
• Are there any skincare devices I recommend using after microneedling?
• What products are allowed to be used the next day after microneedling?
• Can I be exposed to the sun?

And more! You can watch the full video here or redirect to YouTube to view the Timestamps for each FAQ.

Now, where do I find these products that are safe to use after microneedling? Frankly, they do NOT exist before late 2017. As someone with sensitive skin, I was feeling hopeless after countless trials and errors with other products. This is why I took the initiative to work with the best chemists to make this possible.

Here's my list of Recommended Products to use after Microneedling:
1. Natural Peptide Serum
2. Vitamin C Booster
3. Hyaluronic Acid Serum
4. Vitamin C + Squalane Repair Cream
5. Hydro Sheet Mask

Each has its unique benefit and I usually mix and match them after dermarolling. You can click on each link to the product to learn more about it.

Why Don't You Recommend Using Other Brands?

I work closely with my manufacturing facility, so I know exactly where every ingredient is sourced. I oversee every step of the process, including how the ingredients are handled, the stability tests, and the quality tests. Because I know how my products are made, I can confidently say they’re safe, and effective, and are made in the United States. We are a certified Toxic-Free® Brand, Leaping Bunny® Certified, and GMP® Certified brand.

Now, when it comes to other brands, I can’t speak for them. Sure, you might know where their products are made or read their ingredient lists, and they might look fine on paper. But I haven’t been inside their facilities. I don’t know their testing processes, their quality control, or whether their products meet the same standards I hold for mine.

For example, we run a 40-day stability test at 200°F to ensure our serums stay mold-free and stable, even if they’re exposed to extreme heat during shipping. Think about summer—if I’m shipping a serum from Florida to New York in sweltering heat, I want to be sure it won’t grow mold. Or in winter, when it’s freezing in Chicago, I need to make sure my products don’t freeze or break down. That’s the level of detail and care I put into my products.

With other brands, I simply don’t know. I can’t guarantee their quality, and I’m not going to take the risk of recommending something I haven’t tested myself. After microneedling, your skin is vulnerable, and using poorly tested or unknown products could lead to serious issues—irritation, infection, or worse.

This is why I only recommend Gin Amber Beauty products. I know they’re high-quality, with complete certifications and I take full responsibility for them. If you can’t get my products, please also don’t try to substitute them with DIY alternatives like olives, eggs, oils, or aloe vera. These might seem harmless, but they could harm your skin, especially after microneedling. Better to use nothing at all in this case.

Your skin deserves safe, effective products after microneedling. That’s why I’m so particular about what I recommend—and why I trust what I make.

Let me know below if you have any microneedling questions 😀 Thank you for reading, till next time my Amber Babies! Please don't forget to subscribe and follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok 🥳