beginner’s guide to microneedling at home step 1: clean skin + sanitized device wash your face and sanitize your device with hypochlorous acid — or 70% isopropyl alcohol. every time. step 2: numbing cream optional but recommended for beginners. apply, wait 20-30 min, wipe off completely. i don’t use it anymore but i did in the beginning. step 3: needle head start with a 36-pin cartridge. most beginner friendly. step 4: serum pure hyaluronic acid — helps the pen glide smoothly. linked below. step 5: speed start at a 2. work up from there. step 6: depth by area forehead — 0.5mm cheeks — 0.75–1.0mm nose — 0.25–0.5mm chin — 0.5–0.75mm jawline — 0.75–1.0mm eyes — 0.25mm upper lip — 0.25–0.5mm neck — 0.25–0.5mm step 7: technique small circular motions until the area turns pink. then move on. step 8: growth factor — immediately after micro-channels are open, skin is in repair mode. this is what triggers collagen production. linked ones I use. step 9: aftercare follow with a ceramide barrier cream — this protects and supports healing. linked. and no actives for at least two days. no retinol, no acids, nothing. let your skin recover. step 10: red light therapy — wait until the following night to use red light. your skin barrier has just been disrupted and applying heat and light the same night can cause unnecessary inflammation. the next night is when red light really works in your favor — it penetrates deep into the skin, accelerates cellular repair, and amplifies the collagen production that your growth factor already triggered. linked the one I use. *the exact pen I use is the Dr. Pen M8 but I’m unable to link it. The one I linked will do the same thing. It goes up to 2.0 depth.  LTKBeauty LTKOver40 LTKselfcare