VT
Reedle Shot 100 Essence
Key ingredient: Microneedle Technology
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For texture-prone, enlarged-pore, dullness-prone skin that wants the resurfacing outcome of a clinic microneedling session without the downtime, the VT Reedle Shot 100 Essence delivers patented marine-sponge spicules in a 2% niacinamide + centella + propolis essence — the at-home spicule technology that defined a new K-beauty category from 2023 onward.
The ingredient story
Hero ingredient
Marine sponge spicules (Hydrolyzed Sponge) + 2% Niacinamide + Centella Asiatica + Propolis Extract
Concentration
Reedle Shot 100 is the strongest spicule load in the VT line — "100" refers to the spicule concentration tier (the Cica Reedle Shot 700 and 1000 are stronger; the Pink Reedle Shot 100 is the same dose with added pink propolis). The base essence delivers 2% Niacinamide, low-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Propolis Extract.
Deep-dive
Read the full guide →How it works
Marine sponges naturally produce silica-rich microscopic spicules — needle-shaped microstructures the sponge uses for structural support. VT hydrolyses sponge tissue to isolate the spicules and suspends them in essence base. When massaged into skin, the spicules create thousands of microscopic channels in the stratum corneum (a fraction of a millimetre deep — well above the dermis) that (1) trigger a controlled minor wound-healing response that upregulates collagen synthesis over 4-6 weeks, and (2) create transient absorption channels that push the niacinamide, HA, centella, and propolis deeper than passive application would allow. The mechanism is genuinely a low-grade microneedling effect, not a marketing analogy — but at home-safe penetration depth.
What the evidence shows
VT-published in-house studies report measurable skin texture and pore-size improvement at 4 and 8 weeks. The marine-sponge-spicule wound-healing literature is small but mechanistically replicated by independent dermatology research groups (largely Korean and Chinese). The Reedle Shot won Korea's Best Cosmetics 2024 Grand Award and Rakuten Japan Cosmetics Shop of the Year 2024 — independent commercial validation of the category fit. 2% Niacinamide is clinically validated for barrier and pore appearance.
Tingles for ~30 seconds on application — this is the spicule action and is normal. Do NOT use on broken skin, active acne lesions, post-procedure surfaces (laser, microneedling, peels), eczema, or rosacea flares. Avoid the eye area. Limit to 2-3 evenings per week to start; 4-5 max. Always use AM SPF — the controlled micro-channelling does increase UV sensitivity for 24-48 hours. Pregnancy: consult derm — the spicule mechanism is minor but the niacinamide + propolis are individually pregnancy-safe.
The brand
Philosophy
“Pharmaceutical-grade skincare — VT is owned by VT GMP Group, a pharmaceutical and biotech holding. The thesis is that GMP-manufacturing discipline (the same standards applied to drug production) should apply to skincare, especially mechanism-led products like spicule essences.”
VT Cosmetics launched in 2010 as the skincare and makeup arm of VT GMP Group, a Korean pharmaceutical and biotech holding company. The "VT" originally stood for "Vitality and Technology," and the GMP-pharma background shaped the brand from the start — fewer marketing-led launches, more focus on a small number of mechanism-led signature products. For the first half-decade VT was mostly known for cica-line cleansers and toners in the domestic Korean market. The 2017 partnership with BTS — at the height of the group's global breakout — launched the brand into international awareness as a name, even before the skincare formulas crossed over. The Reedle Shot line launched in 2022 and went global viral through 2023-24, winning Korea's Best Cosmetics 2024 Grand Award and Rakuten Japan Shop of the Year 2024 in cosmetics. The "Reedle" portmanteau is "Real + Needle" — a deliberate marketing nod to the at-home microneedling effect without claiming clinical needling. The Reedle Shot 100 is the entry tier; the Cica Reedle Shot 300/700/1000 escalate spicule concentration for advanced users.
Where this fits in your routine
Routine step
Essence (after toner, before serum) — 2-3 evenings per week to start
Evening (Reedle nights, 2-3x weekly): double cleanse → toner (no acid) → Reedle Shot 100 → calming/repair serum (snail, centella, peptide) → moisturiser Evening (off nights): standard routine Morning after a Reedle night: must use SPF — micro-channels increase 24-48h UV sensitivity
Layers especially well with: Snail Mucin (COSRX) — apply snail AFTER the spicule essence so the snail repairs the controlled microchannelling overnight. Centella Ampoule (SKIN1004) — extends the calming/repair stack. Heartleaf Toner (Anua) — as the pre-Reedle toner.
Avoid same evening as: AHA/BHA/PHA exfoliants, retinol, vitamin C ascorbic acid, benzoyl peroxide. The micro-channelling already triggers a controlled stress response; piling actives on top can overshoot into irritation. Treat Reedle evenings as the dedicated active session.
Avoid altogether on: broken skin, active inflamed acne, sunburn, post-procedure surfaces (laser, MN, peels, filler), eczema, rosacea flares, fragrance allergies (propolis can sensitise).
Pairs especially well with
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence — spicule + snail repair = the canonical pair. Snail mucin layered after Reedle Shot accelerates closure of the controlled microchannelling and amplifies the collagen response.
Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Jelly Cream — two mechanism-led K-beauty innovations — Reedle delivers spicule micro-stimulation, Medicube PDRN supplies the salmon-DNA peptides that the wound-response then incorporates
AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream — spicule essence + cera-cream lock = the active + recovery stack. AESTURA seals the micro-channels with ceramide-cholesterol-FFA matrix overnight.
Full ingredients
Free from
Full INCI ingredient list (manufacturer)
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Adenosine, Propolis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol
What real users say
“Honestly the tingle freaks you out the first time — feels like fizzy needles. But after four weeks of twice-weekly use my pores on the nose are visibly smaller and the texture on my forehead is gone. The hype is justified.”
— r/AsianBeauty, 2024
“I bought the 100 first to test tolerance and graduated to the Cica Reedle 700. Pair it with snail mucin underneath for the recovery — that is the routine combination that made the difference.”
— TikTok review with hashtag, 2024
“My dermatologist asked what I had changed when she saw less texture on my cheeks at the 6-month check. I told her VT Reedle Shot. She had heard of it. Said the marine spicule mechanism is genuinely at-home microneedling at safe depth.”
— Sephora US review
Texture / feel
Watery essence with a barely visible matte particulate suspended (the spicules). Fragrance-free; mild propolis-honey botanical note. The 30-second tingle on application is the spicule action — it fades quickly. Sinks in 60-90 seconds to a dry-touch finish. Will pill if rubbed or layered over silicone bases — pat in and pause before next step.
Buying authentic
Verified UK retailers
Counterfeit warning
VT Reedle Shot is heavily counterfeited on Amazon UK marketplace and unverified eBay sellers since the 2023 viral moment. Authentic bottles have crisp VT branding, frosted-glass dropper, and the spicule suspension is visible as a faint matte tint when held to light. Counterfeit bottles are often clearer or have visible separation. Buy from listed authorised retailers only; if the price seems too low it is almost certainly fake.
Clinical data
VT-published in-house consumer testing reports skin texture and pore improvement at 4 and 8 weeks. Korea's Best Cosmetics 2024 Grand Award winner. Rakuten Japan Cosmetics Shop of the Year 2024. The underlying marine-sponge-spicule wound-healing literature is small but mechanistically replicated.
This page was last reviewed on 2026-05-22. We update product storytelling when formulation, retailer availability, or evidence changes meaningfully.
About this product
Innovative essence using natural microneedle beads for enhanced ingredient absorption. Improves skin texture, brightens, and boosts product efficacy.
Best for these skin types
Concerns addressed
AHA/BHA chemical exfoliation smooths rough patches, while hyaluronic acid plumps for a refined finish.
