The ocean's own
microneedles —
working while you rest.
Spicule Dermal Therapy is bio-microneedling: tens of thousands of microscopic marine needles, applied in a single session, that continue stimulating collagen and renewing skin for up to 72 hours after you leave the studio. Nature engineered this. We composed the protocol around it.
Not a facial.
Not microneedling.
Something older,
and more elegant.
Marine sponges have been producing spicules — microscopic calcium carbonate and silica needles — for hundreds of millions of years. Their function in nature is structural: they form the skeletal framework of the sponge. In clinical aesthetics, that same geometry becomes a precision tool — each spicule measuring between 150 and 400 microns, capable of creating micro-channels through the epidermis and into the upper dermis without mechanical devices, without heat, and without breaking the skin's surface barrier.
What makes spicule therapy genuinely remarkable is not the session itself. It is what happens after it. Unlike conventional treatments that complete their action while you are in the chair, spicules remain biologically active in the skin for 48–72 hours — continuing to stimulate collagen synthesis, accelerate cell turnover, and enhance serum penetration long after you have gone home. The skin keeps working. The results keep developing. You wake up to skin that has been quietly renewing overnight.
At Roses & More, we chose a spicule formulation with the clinical depth to offer targeted protocols for different skin concerns — not a single generic option. That distinction is what makes the difference between surface glow and genuine transformation.
Four ways spicules
transform the skin.
Each mechanism runs concurrently — and continues independently for up to 72 hours. This is what distinguishes spicule therapy from any one-and-done treatment.
Applied to the skin and gently worked in, spicules penetrate the stratum corneum and create tens of thousands of micro-channels simultaneously — far exceeding the channel density possible with mechanical microneedling devices. Critically, spicules do not puncture: they embed and lodge, maintaining channel patency for 48–72 hours. This sustained opening is what allows the active serums applied during and after the session to reach the dermis over an extended window — not just in the 20 minutes while you are on the treatment bed.
Each embedded spicule creates a micro-injury signal — recruiting growth factors, activating fibroblasts, and initiating collagen and elastin synthesis in the dermis. Unlike a single microneedling pass, spicules deliver this signal continuously as they remain in the tissue. The collagen cascade does not peak at the end of the session; it builds through the 48–72 hour active window and matures over the weeks that follow. Clients who assess their skin at 24 hours are still seeing the beginning of the result.
As the spicules work through the stratum corneum, they mechanically clear dead cell accumulation and accelerate the epidermal renewal cycle — compressing the typical 28-day turnover to 14–21 days. This is what produces the immediate surface luminosity that clients notice in the first 24 hours: the dull, congested superficial layer is cleared, and the fresh skin beneath it becomes visible. Mild flaking over days 2–5 is this process completing — not damage, but delivery.
The micro-channels maintained by embedded spicules create a 48–72 hour pathway for active ingredients to reach the dermis — far deeper than any topical application ever achieves. Brightening serums, barrier actives, anti-inflammatory botanicals, or targeted treatment complexes applied during and after the session continue penetrating through open channels long after the appointment ends. The aftercare you apply at home for the next two days is not surface moisturisation — it is transdermal delivery.
The treatment continues
after you leave.
Most aesthetic treatments are complete when the session ends. Spicules are still working two days later. Understanding this timeline is what separates clients who think "nothing happened" at hour six from those who understand what they are experiencing.
Spicules are worked into the skin. Channels form. The skin flushes mildly — a sign the stimulation process has begun. The surface instantly appears more luminous. Actives are applied through open channels.
The inflammatory signal is active. Mild warmth, tingling, or itching is common — and is confirmation that the spicules are working. Growth factors are being recruited. Collagen synthesis is underway. The skin may look pink. This is correct.
Accelerated cell turnover produces visible flaking as the old stratum corneum sheds. This is the most commonly misunderstood phase — it is not a reaction, it is the treatment delivering. Actives applied at home penetrate through channels that are still open. Do not exfoliate. Let the skin complete the process.
Flaking resolves. The renewed skin surface is visible — clearer, more even, and more radiant than before. The deeper collagen response continues maturing over the following weeks. This is when clients typically tell us they wish they had booked sooner.
The aftercare you apply at home during this window is not optional maintenance — it is part of the treatment. We provide a specific aftercare protocol with every session, and the actives you apply in days 2–4 are entering the dermis through channels that are still open. Your home routine in this window is transdermal therapy, not skincare.
"Most treatments are finished when the session ends. Spicule therapy is still working two days later — in your skin, while you sleep. That is a fundamentally different relationship between a treatment and its outcome."
Not all spicule formulations
are created equal.
The marine spicule category has grown quickly, and formulation quality varies considerably. The difference between a generic spicule application and a targeted clinical protocol is not subtle — it determines whether the treatment is a surface glow treatment or a genuine skin intervention.
Every concern.
Most spicule products on the market offer a single formulation — spicules suspended in a carrier serum, applied uniformly to every skin type and every concern. The spicule mechanism works regardless: channels form, collagen is stimulated, skin renews. But the active compounds delivered through those channels are generic — formulated to do nothing specific for acne, or pigmentation, or sensitivity, or barrier compromise.
The result is a reliable surface glow and some degree of collagen induction — which is genuinely useful. What it is not is targeted. Oily, acne-prone skin does not need the same active environment as barrier-compromised sensitive skin. Pigmentation does not respond to the same signals as congestion. A single formulation cannot address these distinctions, no matter how well it is applied.
for every concern.
We use a clinical spicule range — selected on the recommendation of our Israeli master trainer Miryam Zaretski — that offers distinct, targeted formulations for different skin concerns and types. The spicule mechanism is identical across all of them. What differs is what travels through the channels those spicules create: the active compounds, the serum environment, and the signals sent to the tissue in the 48–72 hours the channels remain open.
This is the distinction that matters clinically. For acne, the formulation delivers sebum-regulating and antimicrobial actives through channels to the follicle. For pigmentation, brightening and melanin-modulating complexes reach the dermal-epidermal junction. For sensitive skin, barrier-restoring and anti-inflammatory ingredients penetrate without surface application limitations. The same open channel — profoundly different outcomes.
Each formulation pairs the spicule bio-microneedling mechanism with a specific active environment — treating the channel as a delivery vehicle, not just a stimulation tool.
Sebum-regulating + antimicrobial actives delivered to follicular depth
Melanin-modulating complexes reaching the dermal-epidermal junction
Collagen-signal actives + peptide complexes for structural density
Barrier-restoring ceramides + anti-inflammatory botanicals, no surface limitation
Hyaluronic acid complexes + humectants at dermal depth for lasting moisture
We remain brand-agnostic in how we speak about our technology — because the formulation matters far more than the label on the packaging. What we use was chosen by our Israeli master trainer and selected because no other spicule range offers this depth of targeted protocol options. If you are curious about the specifics, ask us at consultation — we are always happy to explain exactly what is going into your skin and why.
"No heat. No energy. No thermal risk. Spicule therapy is safe for every skin tone — including deeper tones where laser and plasma protocols require the highest degree of care."
Equally safe and effective
across all skin tones.
One of spicule therapy's most significant clinical advantages is its complete absence of thermal energy. No heat is generated, no photothermal response is triggered, and there is no risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from thermal stimulus — the most important consideration for clients with medium to deep skin tones (Fitzpatrick III–VI).
Technologies that rely on laser, plasma energy, or radiofrequency require careful calibration for darker skin tones to avoid PIH — and in some cases, certain protocols are simply not indicated. Spicule therapy has no such restriction. The mechanism is entirely mechanical and biochemical: spicules create channels, actives are delivered, collagen is stimulated. Skin tone is clinically irrelevant to the mechanism — and safety is equal across the spectrum.
For our clients with deeper skin tones who want targeted pigmentation treatment without thermal risk, spicule brightening therapy is not just a safe option. In many cases, it is the most appropriate first-line choice.
Who spicule therapy is
right for.
is the right first choice.
- Active acne, congestion, and post-acne scarring — including sensitive acne skin
- Pigmentation, uneven tone, or dullness — especially in deeper skin tones where thermal risk matters
- Sensitive, reactive, or barrier-compromised skin that cannot tolerate plasma or high-intensity microneedling
- Those who want meaningful collagen induction with minimal visible downtime
- Clients maintaining results between plasma or microneedling courses
- Anyone wanting to experience active transformation without energy-based technology
- A first skin intervention — establishing renewal before introducing deeper modalities
or part of a composed programme.
- Standalone treatment course for mild to moderate concerns — 3–6 sessions every 2–3 weeks
- Maintenance between plasma or microneedling sessions — sustaining renewal without re-traumatising
- First step for clients whose skin needs preparation before more intensive modalities
- Brightening adjunct for pigmentation clients using plasma for anti-aging simultaneously
- Recovery support after more intensive treatments — the targeted actives penetrate while the skin is renewing
- Combined in a session with SonNext ultrasound for enhanced active penetration
Targeted protocols
for every concern.
Each protocol begins with the same bio-microneedling mechanism. The targeted formulation, the actives delivered through open channels, and the aftercare protocol are what differentiate them — and what make each one genuinely specific to its concern.
from within the follicle.
Active Clearing — Spicule
Spicule bio-microneedling with an acne-targeted formulation: channels are created through the follicular opening, and sebum-regulating and antimicrobial actives are delivered directly to follicular depth over 48–72 hours. Active breakouts are cleared from within — not suppressed at the surface. Congestion is loosened. The follicular environment is reset. Safer for sensitive acne-prone skin than almost any alternative, because there is no heat and no mechanical aggression.
Course: Every 2–3 weeks; 3–6 sessions for full clearing
Pairs with: NOVA Dual Plasma Acne Reset for comprehensive clearance
are a natural match.
Most acne treatments work at the skin's surface — acids, retinoids, and topicals that modulate the follicular environment from outside. The follicular wall, however, is not easily reached topically. Spicules create direct channels to the follicular level and deliver actives there — in the environment where bacterial colonisation, sebum accumulation, and keratin plugging actually occur.
No heat is involved, which makes this protocol safe for sensitive and reactive acne skin that often flares in response to energy-based treatments. The mechanical exfoliation also addresses the surface congestion that contributes to closed comedones — clearing the follicular opening so that subsequent sessions can reach deeper each time.
without thermal risk.
Intensive Brightening — Spicule
A brightening formulation paired with bio-microneedling — creating channels that deliver melanin-modulating and brightening actives directly to the dermal-epidermal junction, where pigmentation is actually formed. Sun-induced discolouration, post-inflammatory pigmentation, and uneven skin tone are addressed from within the tissue rather than from above it. Safe for all skin tones, including those for whom thermal brightening protocols carry PIH risk.
Course: Every 2–3 weeks; 4–6 sessions for full tone correction
Pairs with: SonNext pre-treatment for enhanced penetration depth
falls short — and spicules don't.
Pigmentation forms at the dermal-epidermal junction — below the epidermis, beyond the reach of most topical brightening ingredients regardless of concentration. Vitamin C, niacinamide, kojic acid, and tranexamic acid are all clinically effective melanin modulators. Applied to intact skin, most of their activity is spent at the epidermal surface.
Delivered through spicule channels, these same actives reach the DEJ directly — where melanocytes that have overproduced pigment actually reside. The brightening outcome is not brighter because the formulation is stronger. It is brighter because it reaches the right layer. Over 48–72 hours of open channels, that delivery is sustained and compounded with each session.
What a course looks like
in practice.
Spicule therapy is most effective as a programme — each session building on the renewed tissue from the last, with targeted actives compounding their effect.
Spaced to allow full cell cycle completion between sessions — the skin renews, the collagen matures, and the next session builds on improved tissue. Too frequent and the skin cannot complete its renewal; too sparse and the cumulative effect is lost.
Most concerns show meaningful improvement after 3 sessions; full correction of established pigmentation, acne scarring, or laxity typically requires 5–6. Your therapist will assess progress after each session and advise on when the optimal outcome has been reached.
For clients on plasma or microneedling programmes, spicule sessions between courses sustain skin renewal without re-traumatising tissue that is still in recovery. The targeted actives delivered in the 48-hour window support the ongoing collagen programme between more intensive sessions.
Questions about
Spicule Dermal Therapy.
Is it the same as microneedling?
Related — but not the same. Conventional microneedling uses a mechanical device with metal needles to create channels at a precise depth in a single pass. Spicule therapy uses tens of thousands of microscopic marine needles that embed in the skin and remain active for 48–72 hours, creating a sustained collagen stimulation signal and an extended active delivery window that no single-pass device can replicate. The collagen induction mechanism is similar; the delivery window and channel density are fundamentally different. Both have a place in a well-designed programme — they are not substitutes for each other.
Is the flaking normal? Should I moisturise or exfoliate?
The flaking that occurs on days 2–5 is a completely normal and expected part of the treatment — it is the accelerated cell turnover completing, and it means the therapy is working correctly. Do not exfoliate, use retinoids, or apply active acids during this window. Gentle cleansing, a calming moisturiser, and SPF are your protocol for days 1–5. Any actives your therapist has recommended as part of your aftercare kit should be applied as directed — they are entering the dermis through channels that are still open, and they are part of the treatment, not just skincare.
Is it safe for sensitive skin?
Yes — and it is frequently the best option for sensitive skin that cannot tolerate energy-based technologies. Spicule therapy generates no heat and no electrical or light energy; the mechanism is entirely mechanical and biochemical. For sensitive or reactive skin, we use the barrier-repair targeted formulation which pairs the bio-microneedling mechanism with anti-inflammatory and ceramide-rich actives. Clients with eczema or rosacea should discuss their current skin state at consultation before booking, as active flares may require a modified approach.
Is it safe for darker skin tones?
Yes — completely. Spicule therapy involves no thermal energy and therefore carries no risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from heat stimulus. This makes it one of the safest collagen induction options for clients with medium to deep skin tones (Fitzpatrick III–VI). For darker-toned clients seeking brightening treatment, the Radiance Reset spicule protocol is frequently the most appropriate first-line choice — delivering brightening actives through channels to the dermal-epidermal junction without the PIH risk that thermal brightening technologies carry.
How is your formulation different from other spicule products?
Most spicule products offer a single formulation applied to all concerns. The range we use — selected on the recommendation of our Israeli master trainer Miryam Zaretski — offers targeted formulations for different skin concerns: acne, brightening, anti-aging, sensitivity, and hydration. The mechanism is identical; what differs is what the channels deliver. This means that for acne-prone skin, the actives reaching the follicle are antimicrobial and sebum-regulating — not generic serum. For pigmentation, melanin-modulating complexes reach the DEJ directly. We remain brand-agnostic in how we speak about technology, but we will always explain exactly what is going into your skin and why at consultation.
Can spicule therapy be combined with other treatments?
Yes — and this is one of its strengths. SonNext ultrasound before a spicule session primes the tissue and activates microcirculation, enhancing the depth to which actives penetrate through spicule channels. Between plasma or microneedling courses, spicule sessions sustain the renewal programme without re-traumatising recovering tissue. For clients building toward plasma for the first time, a spicule course is often an excellent preparation — establishing the skin's renewal habit and improving tissue quality before the more intensive protocol begins.
Ready to let the ocean's
oldest microneedles do their work?
A consultation will identify which targeted formulation is right for your concern, whether SonNext enhances your outcome, and how your 48-hour window should be managed for maximum result.