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If you want to start microneedling at home, prep is everything. In this post, I’m going to walk you through everything I do to prepare for a session. I’m also going to share all of my favorite products and supplies (with links!) so you have everything you need.
What you'll need to microneedle at home:
Gloves
Super Sani cloth wipes (germicidal, disposable, medical grade) for disinfecting your workspace
Alcohol (70%)
White Rabbit cotton pads
A clean bowl
A brush, for applying slip serum
Your slip serum(s)
Your Dr. Pen device and cartridges
Numbing cream (I use J-Cain 10.56%)
Magic Molecule hypochlorous acid spray
You can find most of the items on this list (minus the numbing cream!) in my Amazon storefront.
Now, here's exactly how I prep for an at home microneedling session, whether I'm working on my face, arms, legs, or stomach.
Step 1: Set Up a Clean Space
The very first thing I do is put numbing cream on the area I'm treating and let it sit while I prep my space and supplies. Before I even pick up my device, I make sure my space, my tools, and my skin are completely clean.
Start by putting on a glove and grabbing two Super Sani wipes. These are medical grade, which is exactly why you don't want to touch them with bare hands. Use them to wipe down the surface where your clean tools are going to sit. Let it air dry on its own, don't wipe it dry, don't rush it.
Once that area is dry, wash your hands and get a clean towel out. This is non-negotiable every single time I microneedle.
Step 2: Clean Your Tools
Using a White Rabbit cotton pad and alcohol, clean the inside of your bowl first, then the outside. Gloves are optional here. I usually skip them for this step, but that's personal preference.
Next, clean your brush the same way. If you're wondering whether I reuse brushes: yes, usually two or three times before they start to wear out. After each use, I wash them with Dawn, let them air dry, then soak them in alcohol and let them air dry again before the next session. If it's a brand new brush, a simple alcohol wipe-down is enough.
Set your clean brush on your clean space. Then wipe down your Dr. Pen device with alcohol and place it on the clean space too, along with the cartridge you're using (I'm using a 12-pin cartridge here).
Step 3: Prep Your Serum
With your bowl and brush clean, pour in your slip serums. I use two, a thinner one first, then a thicker one to adjust the consistency. Twist your cartridge into place on your device once your serum is ready.
Shop my favorite sterile skin boosters.
Step 4: Prep Your Skin
Now it's time to prep the actual area you're treating. Wipe off the numbing cream completely with a wet washcloth.
Clean your hands with alcohol, then take a fresh White Rabbit cotton pad with alcohol and clean the treatment area thoroughly. I always shower beforehand and skip lotion that day, so my skin is already as clean as possible going in.
Once you've cleaned the area with alcohol, follow up with a spray of Magic Molecule hypochlorous acid. This is an extra step to make sure any remaining bacteria is taken care of. Let it air dry completely.
Once it's dry, you're ready to microneedle!
And that's my full prep process, start to finish. Now, it’s your turn!
Ready to microneedle at home?
I created this guide to take the confusion out of at-home microneedling. We'll walk through everything I wish someone had handed me before my first session, including the products I use, how I prepare, my step-by-step routine, and aftercare.
What You'll Get
A full breakdown of what microneedling actually is, and how it supports collagen and elastin production
A depth guide by treatment area (forehead, cheeks, eye area, neck, chest, and more), plus my personal depth limits
A complete safety section, including who shouldn't microneedle and special guidance if you're prone to melasma
A pretreatment checklist (what to pause, and when, before your session)
My full supply list, with direct links to everything I use
A cartridge and needle-depth guide, plus numbing cream safety information
Step-by-step workspace setup, sanitation, and skin prep
My complete face, neck, and chest routine
Day-by-day aftercare, from treatment night through day seven
A full breakdown of what's normal to expect during the healing week
This is a digital guide delivered immediately after purchase. No physical products are included. This guide is intended for educational purposes only and is not medical advice; always follow proper sterile technique and consult a healthcare provider with any safety concerns specific to you.
Educational Disclaimer
I am a registered nurse, but I am not acting as your healthcare provider. This guide shares my personal at-home microneedling routine for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not individualized medical advice and does not establish a nurse-patient or other professional relationship.
Affiliate Disclosure
This guide contains affiliate links and discount codes. If you make a purchase through one of my links or use one of my codes, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
If you’re not sure where to start and want to learn more about microneedling at home, check out my beginner’s guide to microneedling.
In it, you’ll find everything you need to take the confusion out of at-home microneedling.
I share all the information I wish someone had handed me before my first session, including the products I use, how I prepare, my step-by-step routine, and aftercare.
Recommended Products
Educational disclaimer: I'm a registered nurse, but I'm not acting as your healthcare provider here. This is my personal at-home routine, shared for general educational purposes only. It isn't individualized medical advice, and it doesn't create a nurse-patient relationship. Always do your own research and talk to a provider before starting any new treatment.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, or use one of my codes, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share brands and products I've researched and use myself.