How to use VT Reedle Shot: 100 vs 1000, how often, and what not to mix
VT Reedle Shot 100 is the gentle, entry-level strength meant for people new to spicule skincare, while Reedle Shot 1000 is the strongest version in the line and is meant only for people whose skin already handles lower strengths well. Start with 100 two to three nights a week, keep 1000 to no more than once a week to start, and never use either on the same night as strong acids or retinoids.
What a Reedle Shot actually is
Reedle Shot is a line of essences from the Korean brand VT Cosmetics. Each one contains tiny, needle-shaped micro-spicules suspended in a liquid essence. When you press the essence into your skin, the spicules create a light prickling or tingling feeling. VT positions them as a way to help the rest of the formula absorb and to help rough, uneven-looking texture look smoother over time.
The number on the bottle tells you where a product sits in the line. A higher number means a more intense product with a stronger tingle. It does not mean "better." The right strength is the one your skin tolerates comfortably.
Reedle Shot 100 vs 1000 at a glance
- Strength: 100 is the mildest in the line. 1000 is the strongest.
- Size: CICA Reedle Shot 100 comes in a 50 ml bottle. Reedle Shot 1000 comes in a 15 ml bottle.
- Supporting ingredients: The 100 version is built around centella asiatica (cica), a soothing botanical, to keep the experience calm.
- Feel: 100 gives a light tingle. 1000 gives a noticeable tingle.
- Who it suits: 100 is a first step into spicule skincare. 1000 is for experienced spicule users who want a more intensive texture product.
- Starting frequency: 100, two to three nights a week. 1000, no more than once a week.
How to use Reedle Shot 100
- Patch test first. Apply a small amount to one area, such as along the jawline, for a few nights before using it on your whole face.
- Use it at night. Cleanse, then pat your skin completely dry. Spicule products are meant for clean, dry skin.
- Press, don't rub. Put 2 to 3 drops in your palms and press them into your face. A light tingle is normal.
- Moisturize. Follow with a simple, calming moisturizer to finish.
- Wear sunscreen the next day. This matters with any texture-focused product. Reapply every two hours when you are outdoors.
- Build up slowly. Start with two to three nights a week. If your skin stays comfortable after a few weeks, you can add nights gradually.
How to use Reedle Shot 1000
- Only move up once lower strengths feel easy. If 100 still makes your skin red or uncomfortable, 1000 is not the next step.
- Use it at night, on clean, dry skin.
- Use a small amount. Press it in gently and avoid the eye area and lips.
- Keep the rest of the routine minimal. Follow with a calming moisturizer and skip other active products that night.
- Limit it to once a week to start. Watch how your skin looks and feels over the next two to three days before you use it again.
- Use sunscreen every morning, and reapply every two hours outdoors.
What is normal and what is not
A light prickling feeling while you apply the product, and for a short time afterward, is part of how spicule products feel. Some people notice it again when washing their face the next morning.
Stinging that keeps building, burning, swelling, lasting redness or peeling is not something to push through. Rinse with lukewarm water, stop using the product, and go back to a basic routine of gentle cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. If the reaction doesn't settle, check with a healthcare professional.
What not to combine with Reedle Shot
- Strong exfoliating acids (AHAs like glycolic acid, BHAs like salicylic acid, or peel pads). Keep them on different nights.
- Retinoids (retinol, retinal, or prescription retinoids). Use them on separate nights, and if your skin is sensitive, consider not using both in the same week while you get used to Reedle Shot.
- Physical scrubs and exfoliating masks. Don't scrub on the same night or the day before.
- Two strengths at once. There is no reason to layer 100 and 1000 together.
- Broken, sunburned or freshly waxed skin. Wait until your skin has fully settled.
Gentle products pair well. A simple hydrating serum or a plain moisturizer is a good partner on Reedle Shot nights.
Who it's for
- Reedle Shot 100: People with rough or uneven-looking texture, or pores that look more visible, who want to try spicule skincare without starting at full intensity.
- Reedle Shot 1000: Experienced spicule users with stubborn, rough-looking texture whose skin tolerates lower strengths without lasting redness.
Who should skip it
- Anyone allergic to bees or bee products. Both Reedle Shot 100 and 1000 list propolis extract, which comes from bees.
- Anyone with broken, sunburned, freshly treated or actively irritated skin.
- People with very sensitive or very reactive skin should skip 1000 entirely. They can patch test 100 carefully or choose a non-spicule option.
- Anyone currently using a prescription skin treatment should ask their prescriber before adding a spicule product.
- First-time spicule users should not start with 1000.
FAQ
Can I start with Reedle Shot 1000 if my skin isn't sensitive?
We don't suggest it. Even skin that handles other products well can react to spicules. Start with 100 and only move up if it feels easy over several weeks.
Should Reedle Shot tingle?
Yes, a light tingle is expected, and it is stronger with 1000. Burning, swelling or redness that lasts is not normal. Rinse it off and stop using it if that happens.
Can I use Reedle Shot in the morning?
Our product directions call for night use. Using it at night gives your skin time to settle, and you follow with sunscreen in the morning.
Can I use Reedle Shot with vitamin C or niacinamide?
Many people do. While you are getting used to it, keep Reedle Shot nights simple and add other products one at a time, so you can tell what your skin is reacting to.
How long does a bottle last?
That depends on how much you use and how often. Because 1000 is used sparingly and less often, its smaller 15 ml bottle is meant to go further than the size suggests.
Is it safe to use around the eyes?
Keep both strengths away from the eye area and lips, where skin is thinner.
Where to find them
If you're new to spicules, VT CICA Reedle Shot 100 is the sensible place to start. Reedle Shot 1000 is there for when your skin is ready for more. You can also browse our texture and dullness collection for gentler options. Both ship free within the US from our US warehouses.