Is Liquid Microneedling the Secret to Glass Skin?

First came glazed doughnut skin, with videos of Hailey Bieber’s glossy complexion flooding feeds, then came glass skin. Yet another K-beauty export, glass skin, which, as a hashtag, has been used millions of times on TikTok, refers to ultra-hydrated, bouncy skin that has the reflective sheen of, you guessed it, glass. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hailey Rhode Bieber (@haileybieber)

When the iconic Lena Dunham attempted to recreate the trend, she described herself as “slick like an otter, greased up like a Thanksgiving Turkey”. For anyone like Dunham who lived through the mousse-matte foundation days of the late noughties, the concept of any form of skincare that promotes shine may seem totally foreign. But skin so moisturised that it looks lit from within, I can get on board with that.  

It is this pursuit of a pearlescent visage that brings me to a secret courtyard in Knightsbridge, tentatively tiptoeing over cobbles as I try to find the Taktouk Clinic – the first clinic in the UK to offer the “Glassifier”, a liquid microneedling facial. 

What is Liquid Microneedling? 

To understand liquid microneedling, you must first consider its predecessor: plain old microneedling. First developed in the 90s, microneedling creates punctures in the skin with tiny needles to stimulate skin renewal and collagen production and help fade acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Liquid microneedling, the traditional method’s younger, less intimidating cousin, mimics these results but in a less invasive format. Instead of needles, liquid microneedling relies on a serum containing needle-like particles, a.k.a. spicules, to create superficial microchannels that help active ingredients penetrate deeper while boosting the skin’s natural renewal process. 

As my facialist, Monica, explains, the “Glassifier,” developed by Korean brand IDENEL, differs from other liquid microneedling treatments because “the spicules are linked to a peptide, helping to absorb products by 60 per cent more, as well as more collagen stimulation.” “You get the benefits of microneedling, but without any of the bleeding or risk of infection.” According to IDENEL’s website, for two decades, aesthetic medicine has given patients a choice: efficacy or invasiveness. The Glassifier provides an option where that trade-off becomes obsolete. 

What does Liquid Microneedling Feel Like? 

As with many women, I have a relatively high pain threshold. Particularly when it comes to skincare, I used to believe that if I couldn’t really feel the treatment, it wasn’t working. While I’ve since grown up and realised that a gentler overall approach often yields better results, I didn’t find that dilemma with this. In all honesty, it’s pretty spicy. 

First, to prepare the skin, your face is gently cleansed and toned. Once ready, your practitioner selects a variation of the IDENEL powder and solution that best suits your skin type. In my case, I have combination skin and am just starting to think about anti-ageing, so Monica opts for a regenerative treatment. “It’s full of PDRN,” she tells me, another Korean beauty buzzword delivering phenomenal results. “This one is better for sensitive skin, and it helps to purify as well.” No complaints from me so far. 

Then comes the spiciness. I’m given fair warning, with Monica reassuring me that “the first time is always a little more sensitive”. She describes the sensation as tiny shards of glass being pressed into the skin. That’s pretty accurate, but I promise it's bearable and fades quickly into a low-level warmth. Some people report little or no redness afterwards. I wasn’t one of them and was rather red the rest of the evening – my boyfriend even asked if I was feeling a little hot when I got home. Come the next morning, my complexion returned to just a healthy blush. The other thing to note is the post-treatment sensitivity. The spicules remain on the skin until your body naturally expels them, so for the next 24 hrs there’s a slight prickliness whenever you brush up against something, for example, a pillow. 

Who is Liquid Microneedling For? 

According to the NHS, one in ten people in the UK report having a needle phobia. It’s one thing to get a medically necessary injection for a trip reluctantly, but to elect to have thousands of tiny punctures in your face is something else entirely. If you’re part of that demographic (and looking for glassy skin), then liquid microneedling is for you. Similarly, as Monica reminds me: “Anyone who's concerned with texture, with fine lines, pores, light post-inflammatory pigmentation, this is a really good treatment for.”

What are the Results Like? 

By sheer virtue of the absorbative nature of the skin, in my eyes, it’s hard to maintain the glassy look without consistently lathering creams upon creams on your face. The Glassifier debunks this. Most naturally, I notice a definite glow the next day. Once the redness subsides, a dewy radiance remains for the next few days. I’m told a course of five treatments, at two-week intervals, is advised for optimal results, but the improvement is relatively immediate. What impresses me most is the textural change. Less of a sanding, more of a resurfacing; my cheeks in particular feel smoother and more refined. 

To book the Glassifier, book through drwassimtaktouk.com