We're not going to leave you hanging here. Derma-rollers (also called micro-needling devices) are known throughout the beauty industry as one of the best ways to heal and improve the health and radiance of our complexions. Yes, there are expensive, in-office micro-needling treatments available that can have great benefits for acne and other skincare concerns, but doing the treatment at home with a high-quality derma-roller can actually reap similarly exciting results. (Especially if you're consistent and invest in great products to accessorize your regimen with.)
Licensed esthetician Kerry Benjamin is the micro-needling queen here in Los Angeles and is the CEO of StackedSkincare, which makes one the best derma-rollers available on the market. As Benjamin explained to us previously, micro-needling is the practice of using a specialized tool (a chic little roller equipped with hundreds of tiny needles) on top of the skin's surface in order to help stimulate collagen and drive the active ingredients in skincare products deeper into the skin. And not just a little bit—we're talking a whopping 90% or greater increase in absorption, folks.
"At-home derma-rollers are safe, effective, and meant to be used daily with serums," says Benjamin. You can use gentle strokes horizontally, vertically, and diagonally all over your face, neck, even your lips on cleansed skin followed by your favorite serums. Or get even more bang for your buck by adding a serum before you start your rolling ritual in addition to after.
Since not all derma-rollers are created equally, we handpicked the 10 best options worth your money—no matter your budget. Keep scrolling!
#1: StackedSkincare Microneedling Tool 2.0
Created by Benjamin, this at-home derma-roller is my personal favorite and maintains an *almost* solid five-star rating on Sephora's website with over 102 reviews. It's designed to be safe for daily use. Just ensure your horizontal, vertical, and diagonal strokes are gentle and that you're disinfecting your roller head after each and every use with rubbing alcohol. (And replace it monthly!)
#2: BeautyBio GloPro Microneedling Regeneration Tool
Violet Grey is known for only carrying the best, expert-approved products and tools in the beauty market. Thus, it's telling that this is the one and only derma-roller it carries. It's specifically designed to trigger the skin's micro-rejuvenation response and, in turn, even out skin texture, plump up fine lines, and help the skin-loving ingredients in your fave products work more effectively. You can use this tool alone or right before your product regimen.
#3: Ora Face Microneedle Dermal Roller System
Ora's best-selling derma-rollers have developed a cult following among skincare enthusiasts everywhere, and while it has an assortment of covetable options, this is the most-wanted, highest-rated model on Dermstore's website. It has ultra-fine, 0.5-millimeter needles that effortlessly glide over your skin, creating painless micro-punctures that signal your skin to up the ante with collagen and elastin production. The result? Glowing, plump-looking skin.
#4: Skin Gym Goldie Face Roller
Aside from the fact that this is definitely the most aesthetically pleasing derma-roller in our roundup, it's also one of the best if you're looking for a noninvasive option that doesn't actually puncture the skin but still boosts circulation, relieves facial tension, and encourages deeper penetration of products. If you have active breakouts, rosacea, eczema, raised moles or warts, psoriasis, or keratosis, this is tool is the best alternative sans needles.
#5: Nannette de Gaspé Art of Noir Roller
This derma-roller is so popular it consistently sells out on Revolve's website and is one of its best-selling beauty products in general. To increase natural exfoliation, improve the fine lines and wrinkles, boost radiance, and even help reduce pore size, lightly roll this sleek black number on your face, lips, neck, and carefully around your eye area.
#6. Kitsch Derma Roller
This top-rated Amazon find features 540 0.25-millimeter micro-needles made from surgical steel, which, according to the brand, is sharper and thus better for more even skin penetration. Did we mention the $13 price tag? We don't recommend all affordable derma-rollers, but this is a high-quality one we (and happy Amazon shoppers) completely back.
#7: Linduray Skincare Derma Roller Cosmetic Microneedling Kit
Another best seller on Amazon, this derma-roller is super-affordable and effective. It has 2126 ratings with an impressive 4.5-star rating. One happy customer even called it "pure witchcraft" for helping with their inflammation and uneven skin texture.
#8: Lolysenta Derma Roller
For just $10, this derma-roller racks in 1198 ratings on Amazon and 4.5-star average review. The 0.25-millimeter needles are made from titanium, durable, and when used with your favorite quality skincare products can help contribute to a healthier and more radiant complexion.
#9: Koi Titanium Derma Roller for Body
This titanium derma-roller from Koi Beauty is one of the best options out there if you want to extend the benefits of micro-needling to your body. With a longer neede length, this pick IS NOT (repeat after us, IS NOT) for your face but is perfectly acceptable for giving your body some extra TLC.
#10: Teresa Tarmey Microneedling Kit
This epic micro-needling kit has practically every product and tool you need for your healthiest, glowiest skin yet. Yes, it's an investment, but it's also a jackpot of exciting skin fixtures. Here's the skinny on what's inside: a lactic acid spiked toner to exfoliate away dulling dead skin cells, a peptide treatment to boost firmness and even your skin tone, a derma-roller to stimulate skin repair, a gold-plated vibrating massage tool that increases the efficacy of your products, and last but certainly not least, a reusable silicone mask enriched with plumping hyaluronic acid for a one-two punch of hydration.
The Best Serums to Pair With Your Derma-Roller
This is important. Since using a serum in tandem with your derma-roller will increase the potency, absorption, and all-around efficacy of the ingredients it contains, be sure you avoid using formulas with strong, potentially irritating ingredients like vitamin C and retinol.
Instead, on days you use your derma-roller, choose serums brimming with other active ingredients like stem cells, growth factors, and hyaluronic acid. "These are the types of ingredients that will really maximize the effects of at-home micro-needling to stimulate collagen, rev up cell turnover, lift hyperpigmentation, smooth out fine lines, firm, plump, and hydrate," Benjamin explains.
We're sharing all of our favorites below. Keep scrolling!
The Best for Soothing Hydration
This is one of my all-time favorite serums and is consistently recommended by facialists and dermatologists alike. It's lightweight, it absorbs instantly, and it even calms and cools your complexion with powerful botanicals, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid for an extra surge of moisture.
The Best for Pigmentation Breakouts
Finding a high-quality serum with epidermal growth factors is one of the best antidotes if you're looking to address and reduce a host of different skin concerns. According to Benjamin, this top pick is especially great for combating breakouts, lifting away pigmentation and lightening dark spots, and boosting healthy collagen production.
The Best for Botox-Like Lift
This serum is one of the most technologically advanced on the market and is especially great for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. But it also works wonders for age spots and redness thanks to an exclusive, patented technology featuring a home-run combination of powerful neuropeptides including XEP 30, a biomimetic molecule that mimics the peptide found in cone snail venom.
The Best for Megawatt Radiance
Hands down, there's simply no better serum in terms of brightening and radiance-boosting prowess than Caudalíe's cult-loved French favorite. It boasts the brand's signature patented ingredient, Viniferine (a natural compound found in vine sap with potent brightening powers), alongside olive squalane, organic chamomile, and organic grape water.
The Best for Literally Everything
An answered prayer, this serum (a superstar collab between Victoria Beckham and Augustinus Bader) addresses every kind of skin woe. Of course, it features the same patented technology which has made Bader's face creams THE best thing since sliced bread, but it's also brimming with other strategic additions like yeast ferment complex (for smooth skin texture and hydration), triple-weight hyaluronic acid (to lock in moisture), niacinamide (to calm and diminish redness), olive fruit extract (to protect against blue light damage), microalgae extract (to reduce damage from environmental pollutants), and floral biopeptides (to re-balance skin's surface bacteria).
Up next: We Asked a Micro-Needling Expert All of Our Burning Questions
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
