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Illustration of the pack shape, not the real packaging.
Reedle Shot 300
VT's best-known 'microneedle' essence: tiny silica spicules coated with centella, in a niacinamide and adenosine base. The 300 is the stronger, every-third-night step up from the 100.
Buyer verdictWorth it if you want the famous prickly texture treatment and your skin is not sensitive. In Seoul it only beats Amazon per ml when Olive Young has it on promotion, which is often but not always.
- Key ingredient
- Cica Reedle (silica spicules + centella), Niacinamide
- Texture
- Thin, milky essence that prickles for a few minutes
- Routine step
- treatment · PM
- Korean pack
- 30ml (+3 x 1ml)
Overview
Key ingredients
- Cica Reedle (silica spicules + centella) Microscopic needle-shaped particles that prickle and help other ingredients in
- Niacinamide Fourth on the list; even tone and barrier support
- Adenosine Korea's recognised anti-wrinkle ingredient
- Centella compounds Madecassoside, asiaticoside and centella extract for calming
- Macadamia seed oil and 17 amino acids Soften the finish so skin feels less stripped
From the US, it's 13% cheaper in Seoul after tax and refund. From the UK, it's 18% cheaper in Seoul.
Seoul packs often add a bonus (+3 x 1ml); we don't count it in the saving.
What it is
Reedle Shot is the product that made VT Cosmetics famous outside Korea, and the 300 is its middle strength. It is a thin, milky essence that you massage into bare skin. Within a few seconds it starts to prickle, which is the whole point.
The prickle comes from what VT calls Cica Reedle: microscopic, needle-shaped silica particles coated with centella extract. On the Korean ingredient list they appear as silica, alongside centella extract and its active compounds. This is why you will see it described as “microneedling in a bottle”. That is marketing shorthand. The particles sit in the outer layer of skin for a while, where they create tiny channels that help the rest of the formula absorb. They do not pierce skin the way a derma roller does.
In Korea the 300 is sold as a 30ml bottle, and Olive Young usually adds three 1ml sample pouches. Amazon in the US and UK lists a 50ml bottle, so a straight bottle-to-bottle price comparison is misleading. Our price box compares per ml.
Who it suits (and who should skip it)
Good pick if
- You have normal, combination or oily skin that tolerates exfoliation well
- Your main complaint is rough texture, dullness or visible pores
- You’ve used Reedle Shot 100 for a few weeks and want a stronger step
Skip it if
- Your skin is sensitive, rosacea-prone, broken out or freshly sunburned
- You already use a retinoid or acid most nights and don’t want to cut back
- You dislike stinging; the prickle lasts a few minutes and can feel sharp
What the ingredients do
Cica Reedle does the physical work. The spicules cause the prickling, help the essence absorb, and leave skin feeling smoother as the top layer turns over. Because they are coated with centella, VT pairs the irritation with a calming ingredient from the start.
Niacinamide is fourth on the list, high enough to matter. It helps even out skin tone over time and supports the skin barrier. Adenosine is the ingredient Korea’s regulator recognises for wrinkle claims, and its presence is why the Korean bottle is registered as a functional cosmetic.
Centella compounds (madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and asiatic acid) are there to calm redness. Macadamia seed oil and a list of 17 amino acids at the end keep the finish soft rather than tight. There’s also a little propolis extract and sodium hyaluronate.
How to use it
VT Korea’s directions are specific. Use it every three days, in the evening, on a freshly cleansed and dry face. Take a small amount, about a pea size for the whole face, and massage it in with light rubbing motions until it absorbs. Then follow with a plain, moisturising cream.
The prickle usually fades within a few minutes. Avoid the eye area and lips, and don’t apply it over broken skin. Skip retinol, AHA, BHA and scrubs that night. Wear sunscreen the next morning, as freshly exfoliated skin burns more easily.
If you’re new to Reedle Shot, start with the 100 or use the 300 once a week for the first fortnight. More often is not better here.
How it compares
Reedle Shot 100 is the same idea with fewer spicules, gentle enough for daily use. It’s the better first bottle for most people. The 300 suits people who already know their skin handles it.
Against chemical exfoliants like the Medicube Zero Pore Pad or the COSRX AHA/BHA toner, Reedle Shot works physically rather than by dissolving dead skin with acids. Some people find it gentler on dryness and harder on sensitivity. Pick one approach per night rather than stacking them.
Is it worth buying in Seoul?
Only on promotion. The Korean bottle is 30ml and Amazon’s is 50ml, so the Seoul shelf price looks much cheaper than it really is. Per ml, the full Olive Young price is actually higher than Amazon’s. The sale price, which Olive Young runs often, brings it to a modest saving after the tax refund. Check the price box and its date before deciding.
If you just want to try the texture, the cheapest route is Daiso’s small 2ml-tube packs, which sell out regularly. If you already know you like the 300, buy the Olive Young bottle when it’s discounted, ideally with the bonus pouches, or simply reorder it from home. A single bottle lasts a long time at once every three nights.
FAQ
Does it really have needles in it?
Not real needles. The 'reedles' are microscopic silica spicules that VT coats with centella. They lodge briefly in the top layer of skin, which is what causes the prickling. They don't puncture skin like a derma roller.
How often should I use the 300?
VT Korea's directions say every three days, in the evening, on clean bare skin. The 100 is the version meant for daily use. Using the 300 every night is the most common way people overdo it.
What's the difference between 100, 300 and 700?
The number rises with the amount of Cica Reedle in the bottle, so the prickle gets stronger. 100 is the beginner and daily option, 300 the middle step and 700 the strongest. Most people should start at 100.
Can I use it with retinol or acids?
Not on the same night. The spicules make skin more reactive for a while, and stacking them with retinol, AHA or BHA is the quickest route to redness. Alternate nights instead.
Are the Daiso Reedle Shot packs the same thing?
Daiso sells VT Reedle Shot in packs of 2ml tubes, which are popular for trying it cheaply. Daiso editions can differ from the Olive Young bottle, so compare the ingredient list on the box before treating them as identical.
