Everything you need to know about derma rolling at home
No need for a trip to the salon – these top-rated derma rollers can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks on your entire body.
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Facials are one of the many luxuries I wish I could splurge on regularly but with their high price point they can be hard to justify.
That’s why the growing market of at-home beauty tools is so exciting – because we can tackle our skin concerns from the comfort of home and at a much lower cost.
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One of the many tools that’s been making the rounds on the internet for its amazing results is the derma roller.
“Derma rolling is a non-ablative treatment using a handheld wheel, with very fine stainless-steel needles that make tiny channels into the surface of the skin, optimising our skin cell function and inducing a radiant glowing skin,” says aesthetic practitioner Sarah Hudson, of Skin by Sarah Hudson.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A DERMA ROLLER?
With their tiny needles, derma rollers may look a little scary – but they offer plenty of skin benefits.
“As a non heat-based treatment, Derma rolling is ideal for most skin types (except active-acne and red or inflamed skin,)” says Sarah.
“It assists in regeneration in the skin cells, stimulates your own collagen naturally, and boosts the penetration of skincare products on the skin for optimal skin health.”
On top of all that, derma rolling can reduce the appearance of acne scars, dark spots, and stretch marks – and if you use the tool on your scalp, you can stimulate blood flow to wake up hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
Basically, with the one tool you can rejuvenate yourself from head to toe – so if your interest has been piqued, keep on reading for our picks of the best-rated derma rollers money can buy.
BEST DERMA ROLLERS
Skinstitut Skin-Inject MTS Derma Roller 0.25mm, Adore Beauty, $63.96 (RRP$79.95)
Boasting a 4.5-star average rating from more than 100 reviews, this derma roller from cult favourite beauty brand Skinstitut comes in as our top pick. It has 10 independently rolling discs and an advanced silicone suspension system for smooth gliding across your skin, along with 600 gamma-sterilised, surgical-grade stainless steel 0.25cm microneedles – so you can rest assured that it’s the best quality for your skin.
“I have struggled with breakouts, oily skin and pigmentation for years and using this roller with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C powder has solved all my issues,” wrote one five-star reviewer. “The needles are small yet sharp enough to do the job without causing too much pain. The quality on this roller is the best I’ve seen.”
Press Beauty The Activator 0.3MM Microneedle Rose Gold Dermal Roller, THE ICONIC, $59.95
If you’re looking to add a little luxury to your skincare routine, this roller will do the trick. It also comes in all black, but we prefer this rose gold hue – just for the glam. Made with fine titanium micro needles and cruelty free, it’s safe to use one your face to stimulate collagen production and blood flow, or on the scalp to promote hair growth.
Derma Roller Boolavard, Amazon Australia, $14.99
The Derma Roller Boolavard comes in a variety of different needle lengths suitable for different purposes – up to 1.0mm for fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars; and up to 2.5mm for cellulite, stretch marks, and hair growth stimulation. Choose the best length to suit your needs – each one has the benefit of coming in at an impressively low price point of $14.99.
The derma roller has an average 4.1-star rating from over 3,400 reviews, with one five-star reviewer writing “I have suffered with hormonal acne for years and have tried so many products but nothing has ever worked. I purchased the 0.25 & 0.05 rollers and saw amazing results after just one use. My skin is so much clearer already and for the first time in years, SMOOTH”.
Lonvitalité Microneedle Derma Roller 0.3mm, Oz Hair & Beauty, $59.95
The Lonvitalité Microneedle Derma Roller has hundreds of titanium needles (540, to be precise) to penetrate your skin’s surface and create micro-channels into the middle layer of skin. You can also purchase the brand’s Microneedle Face & Body Kit that includes interchangeable heads for use from head to toe.
It has a 4.8-star average rating from reviewers, with one commenting “After using this for first time, I woke up bright and fresh! It did hurt a bit while using but well worth the results. Will keep using for sure!!”
Skin Gym Face + Lip + Body Microneedle Set, Sephora, $87
This three-piece face and body roller kit offers a complete microneedling therapy treatment. The interchangeable roller heads allow you to modify the function to serve your needs – use the 0.2mm 240-needle head for around your eyes and lips, the 0.2mm 600-needle head for the rest of your face, and the 0.25mm 1,200-needle head for your body – so you can prep yourself to glow all over.
Mukti Organics Microneedle Dermal Roller, Adore Beauty, $59.95
Containing 540 titanium needles, this derma roller can assist serums and moisturisers to more effectively address your skin concerns. The roller is created by certified organic Australian skincare brand Mukti, giving you peace of mind if vegan and cruelty-free products are your thing.
A reviewer on the brand’s website called it a “game changer”, adding “Turning 40 I have become a bit skin obsessive, looking for anything non-invasive I can do to slow down the ageing process and this little tool is amazing. Noticeable improvement in skin texture after only a couple of uses”.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A GOOD DERMA ROLLER?
When buying a derma roller, quality is important. “Look for surgical stainless-steel needles, as these are inherently more sterile,” suggests Sarah.
She also recommends investing in a cleaning product for your roller to maintain its cleanliness. Plain old isopropyl alcohol sanitiser sprays will do the trick – we recommend the Aesthetics Rx Isopropyl Spray, which will only set you back $14.95.
Other than that, you’ll want to consider the needle size best suited to your needs – more on that below.
HOW DO I USE A DERMA ROLLER AT HOME?
“Disinfect the device before and after use with 70 per cent Isopropyl alcohol (or to manufactures instructions), allow to dry then replace the lid,” says Sarah.
“Do not overuse: once to twice per week is sufficient. Post treatment only apply a hyaluronic acid serum and post treatment moisturiser. I do not prescribe actives such as Vitamin A or retinol post treatment, as creating too much inflammation on the skin can damage the barrier function and lead to additional skin problems.”
WHAT SIZE DERMA ROLLER IS BEST?
The best derma roller for you depends on how you’re intending to use it. According to Sarah, 0.25mm length is sufficient for your needs at home, but if you want more info, here’s the needle sizes recommended for common skin concerns:
• Hair regeneration and regrowth: 0.2mm to 0.5mm
• Fine lines: 0.25mm to 0.5mm
• Wrinkles, visible pores, pigmentation, pimples and acne scars: 0.5mm to 1.0mm
• Cellulite: 1.0mm to 2.0mm
• Stretch marks: 1.0mm to 2.5mm
Looking for more beauty tool recommendations? We tried the LED mask that delivers glowing skin, the Foreo devices for all skin types, and the at-home laser hair removal devices to save you hundreds.
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