Microneedling 101 – Building more collagen for my skin with Dermapen

Dermapen treatment gifted
by Kosmetologi Noora Kangasmaa

Dermapen Microneedling

 

For the longest of time, I was against microneedling. Making tiny holes in the skin just seemed like a scary idea. But then again, there’s the saying: “no pain, no gain”. Before I get more muscle, my muscles hurt a bit after a workout. Before the beautiful glowy skin, my facial might sting a little bit.

Besides, now that I’ve actually read about the treatment and started to see some results myself, I’m turned. You can consider me a microneedling fan. Microneedling done by a professional is safe and really effective. And by now, you probably know I’m all about effective facials (though I do enjoy the traditional facial with a long massage too).

Skin Before Microneedling
My bare skin before microneedling.

 

The what and how  – Microneedling in a nutshell

The idea behind microneedling is to help your skin to build more collagen. This is done by penetrating the skin with tiny needles. The sterile device makes tiny holes (also known as microchannels) to the skin and your skin reacts to that by repairing itself and that boosts the collagen production.

If you want a more in-depth explanation, I recommend reading this Dermapen article.

Dermapen microneedling is effective in treating different scars (such as from acne or stretch marks), pigmentation or wrinkles. Overall it results in healthier, more even-looking skin.

Microneedling dermapen
The Dermapen microneedling pen.

My skin personally has gone through a lot. I’ve dealt with acne and different medications, hormonal changes and just the fact that I live in Finland. I have acne scars, big pores and my skin tone could be smoother. So anything I can do to make my skin more even colored and textured – sign me up!

My experience with the Dermapen treatment

Dermapen treatment is one of the best and safest microneedling treatment there is. The device is pen shaped and makes the holes vertically, instead of a roll, which has more of a risk to hurt the skin. So the so called “trauma” to the skin is more controlled.

This is why Dermapen was my choice too. I’ve now had the treatment a few times and I’m in love.

The facial itself is quite quick, but so effective. It takes about an hour. Basically your skin is just cleansed, microneedled (hah, what a verb!) and masked. Before and during the microneedling, a serum chosen for your skintype, is used. The mask in the end soothes the skin and is very lovely.

Noora Kangasmaa Kosmetologi Dermapen

Now  – does microneedling hurt? Not really, in my opinion. I was very nervous the first time it was done, but Noora started the treatment very carefully and made sure I was okay. Turns out it just feels like some tingling or scratching on the face. It’s hard to describe it. To my surprise, it actually feels oddly satisfying. I even find it relaxing.

Afterwards my skin feels very tight and a bit hot. That’s where the soothing mask really helps. After that, after I leave the salon, I feel fine. Redness is normal, but in my case, it’s really quite mild. I can go on with my day without looking like a lobster. And at the end of the day basically all the redness is gone.

It’s normal a few days after the treatment for your skin to feel dry and peel off a bit. Your skin is renewing. It settles for in about a week. But again, in my opinion, this is nothing crazy either.

You can even wear makeup the next day after the treatment.

My skin after Dermapen

After now having the treatment three times, already I can see my skin looking better. It’s slightly more even, healthier looking and glowy. I can’t wait to share my full experience after being done with the series of the facials (we do it one more time to really battle some deep scarring I have). Before and after photos are coming!

 

I’m very excited to have found yet again another spectacular treatment that is an investment to my skin.
Truly! I’m telling you, you need to try microneedling.

A video of the treatment can be found here.

 

Using the code ‘Charlotta’, you’ll get your first microneedling treatment for 125€. Normal price is 150€, so quite a nice save. The discount is valid for the time being.  Book your visit here. You’ll also find her on timma.

At Noora’s beauty salon.

Have you tried Dermapen?

 

CurrentBody LED Mask Review: Is It the Best Red Light Mask?

Charlotta holding the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask on a balcony

CurrentBody red light mask and eye perfector glowing red on a bed

Ad: CurrentBody. This post contains affiliate links marked with *. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict: I tested the CurrentBody LED red light mask for two months in 2022 and still think it is one of the most interesting at-home skincare devices I have tried. This is my personal review, not a full comparison of every LED mask on the market, and product details can change, so check the current CurrentBody page before buying.

I’m interested in skincare with evidence behind it and results I can see on my own skin. That’s why I’m super excited about *CurrentBody’s red light mask, which has made me love my skin even more.

For those of you that are not familiar with red light therapy, here’s the idea in a nutshell:

Research suggests that red light therapy may support collagen production, and collagen is one factor in keeping skin looking firm and healthy. Think of it like this: collagen supports and holds your skin’s surface together. Besides this, red light has other potential skin benefits as well. Personally I have found it helpful in calming the look of hormonal acne spots. I feel like it also evens out my complexion, making my skin glow from within. If you are comparing collagen-focused treatments, I have also written about microneedling and collagen and my Dermapen results.

Yeah I know – sounds almost too good to be true. But I promise you, red light skincare is here to stay. So let me tell you all about the best red light mask there is!

Charlotta applying CurrentBody serum before red light therapy

CurrentBody LED mask review

For the past two months I’ve been using CurrentBody’s *LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask and my skin is looking great. I feel like I’m on on top of my skincare game. Also – taking care of my skin has never felt this nice. And it’s cold, dark, dry November in Helsinki, so that’s saying something.

As I mentioned, collagen is key in keeping your skin healthy. As you get older, your skin starts to produce less collagen, resulting in wrinkles.

Charlotta wearing the CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask

CurrentBody LED mask review & my results

CurrentBody’s light therapy device combines red (633 nm) and near-infrared light (830 nm) wavelengths that are used in LED skincare to support skin renewal and collagen production. Red light therapy may also boost circulation and improve blood flow, which can make skin look more radiant.

All of this results in healthy, glowy skin. And I really see the difference! I would compare it to a great professional facial, after which you always feel so refreshed, clean and radiant. If you like treatment-result posts, my DMK enzyme facial review is another useful comparison point. I’m sure a big part of it is the way it boosts circulation. Because one of the great (but maybe underrated?) benefits of facials is the massage. It just depuffs your face – like a good workout does your body.

Read also: Red light therapy for hormonal acne & other skin issues

Charlotta showing her skin after two months with the red light mask
My skin after using the red light mask regularly for two months.

LED mask for visible signs of ageing

Charlotta holding a CurrentBody serum bottle during her skincare routine

How to use the *CurrentBody LED mask

5 times per week – 10 minute at a time – on clean skin

Using the mask is so easy, making it a part of your skincare routine is effortless. Truly. It has an automatic 10 minute program, so you only have to push one button. I use it for the recommended time – so 5 times per week. The mask is flexible, so the fit is great.

You apply the mask on clean skin – using a serum underneath is fine – and you just wipe it clean after every use to keep it clean. I use it on the evenings, while watching some tv-show (so the 10 minutes feels like 2). The light is bright, but my eyes get used to it quickly. If your eyes are sensitive, use the eye protection or inserts that come with the device and follow the current manual. I avoid making eye-safety assumptions beyond the manufacturer’s instructions.

CurrentBody LED face mask and eye perfector lit up for red light therapy
Charlotta wearing the CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Perfector

CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Mask

I also have CurrentBody’s *Skin LED Eye Mask, which is designed for the eye area and visible fine lines around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is thinner, so the first signs of ageing typically show there.

Three CurrentBody Skin serums on a bathroom shelf

Besides Currentbody’s led masks, I’ve been loving their serums. My top three serums are the

Hyaluronic Acid Serum – which helps with any dryness and also seems to soothe my skin.

Glow Serum – which I love under makeup to maximize my glow. It contains caffeine, do I need to say more?

and the Green Tea Serum, which I still need on my T-zone to balance out some impurities.

 

2026 update: the exact skincare set I originally linked appears to have been retired, so I removed that shopping link. I would now check the individual CurrentBody serums directly if you want to build a similar routine. All skin types benefit from the use of a serum. Using a light watery product under the lotion works wonders. If you have any dryness whatsoever, serums may be better than a thick cream. It’s all about layering – adding lighter products first and then sealing in the hydration with a lotion.

Read also: How to build a skincare routine for all skin types

Charlotta's skin in natural light during the CurrentBody review

One more thing I have to note about these led masks is the fact that it’s the first skincare thing that my man is also interested in. Risto was actually the one to first tell me about the benefits of red light therapy anyway. But now we’re both into it. As a beauty professional it’s a big thing getting to share something like this at home. We actually have a routine of both using the mask in the evenings.

So I guess I’ll add it to my list of things for a happy long relationship (as almost 10 year together, I’d like to think I have an idea).

Charlotta holding CurrentBody serums by a bathroom mirror

2026 shopping note: the original CHARLOTTA discount code was valid until the end of November 2022 and has not been re-verified, so I removed the live discount promise. The exact CurrentBody mask and eye-mask links below were checked during this refresh.

Shop:
*CurrentBody Skin LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask
*CurrentBody Skin LED Eye Mask

Want more skincare notes? I share routine updates on Instagram @charlottaeve.

Charlotta holding the CurrentBody red light therapy mask before use

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