Want age-defying skin? Try the new microneedling breakthrough that boosts collagen like magic

Boosting your collagen levels for younger-looking skin is possible thanks to new advances in microneedling, says celebrity facialist Nathalie Eleni

Words: Nathalie Eleni | Images: Shutterstock & various brands

Microneedling isn’t new, but today’s upgraded medical devices and next-gen topical ingredients are making it more powerful, and more popular, than ever. Here’s why…

Collagen remains one of beauty’s most talked-about buzzwords for good reason. It’s the structural protein that keeps skin firm, plump and resilient, yet from our mid-20s, production naturally declines. Stress, sun exposure and hormonal changes accelerate that drop, leading to thinner, laxer skin, fine lines and uneven texture. Medical microneedling offers one of the most effective ways to switch collagen production back on, with little-to-no downtime.

It works by tapping into your body’s own wound-healing response. A precision device creates thousands of tiny micro-channels in the skin, triggering a cascade of repair signals. These channels prompt fresh collagen and elastin to form while reorganising older, weaker fibres. The result? A replenished “collagen bank” that keeps skin looking bouncy, lifted and luminous.

But not all microneedling devices are equal, and choosing the right one is half the magic. Precision, depth, needle quality and speed make the difference between a mediocre treatment and a collagen-transforming one. My favourites are XCellaris Twist, and SkinPen.

Now, microneedling is being combined with exosomes, which are tiny cellular messengers packed with growth factors, peptides and signalling molecules that tell your skin how to repair and regenerate. Applied after microneedling when the skin is at peak receptivity, they give cells a surge of regenerative instructions, encouraging faster healing, stronger collagen and elastin production, improved tone and clarity, and reduced post-treatment redness.

Bespoke microneedling

To experience the new generation of microneedling, I visited Dr Christine Hall at Taktouk Clinic in Knightsbridge (drwassimtaktouk.com) for SkinPen (£395) combined with Purasomes (£395). The clinic is calm, elegant and instantly uplifting, and Dr Hall is knowledgeable and incredibly reassuring. ‘Medical microneedling is very different to anything you can do at home,’ says Dr Hall. ‘A professional device creates around 1,600 precise micro-channels per second. It doesn’t change the volume or shape of your face – instead, it stimulates your own collagen naturally. That’s why it’s so effective for scarring, enlarged pores, acne marks, certain pigmentation types and overall pro-ageing support.’

Dr Hall applied Purasomes first, then began microneedling. The SkinPen stimulates collagen while helping those intelligent actives penetrate deeper. Some areas, especially the forehead and nose, feel a little “punchier”, but the treatment is quick, controlled and completely bearable.

I experienced redness for 48 hours, which is normal. Now, after three sessions, I’m genuinely impressed: my skin feels tighter, brighter, smoother and firmer.

If you’re after something more results-driven than a facial but not quite a “tweakment”, microneedling is the perfect step – just make sure you choose an excellent device and an even better practitioner.

Nathalie’s beauty picks

Want to try microneedling at home? Nathalie recommends these…

The Original Dermaroller

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Sensilis Eternalist A.G.E. Retinol

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ChitoCare Anti-Aging Repair Serum

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For daily beauty hacks and makeup tips, follow Nathalie on Instagram at instagram.com/nathalieeleni_beauty.