The 16 Best Derma Rollers for Your Smoothest Skin Yet

We love a good at-home beauty treatment—especially when it involves skincare. Over the years, we’ve tried everything from dermaplaning to pore vacuuming in the pursuit of a smooth, glowy complexion. One we’ve yet to experiment with? Derma rolling. Although hundreds of tiny needles may seem like the last thing you want to put near your face, derma rolling, also referred to as microneedling, has shown promise for a plethora of skin benefits, from rejuvenation to acne treatment. We turned to two derms to see what all the hype is about—and whether it’s safe.

Derma rollers are handheld tools that use tiny needles to puncture the outermost layers of your skin. This creates a controlled injury, prompting your body to start healing and resulting in smoother skin (more on that in a sec). Though they're traditionally administered as an in-office treatment by a trained practitioner, derma rollers have become a popular choice for many at-home users, too.

“A derma roller works by breaking the top layer of a person’s skin in order to build collagen and elasticity,” explains Jeanine Downie, a board-certified, New Jersey-based dermatologist and co-host of TheGist.

“This minimally invasive technique involves passing a series of very fine needles over the skin, creating micro-injuries, which trigger new collagen and elastin synthesis as the skin begins to naturally repair itself,” adds Dendy Engelman, M.D., of Shafer Clinic in New York. “These micro-injuries also create channels that allow the active ingredients from your skincare products to penetrate deeper into the skin, resulting in better product efficacy.”

Though microneedling can certainly improve the appearance of some scars and wrinkles, according to Engelman, there are limitations. “It only works on more superficial scars and wrinkles, and does not work on the deeper scars," she says.

Sure, they look intimidating (kinda like a mini medieval torture device, TBH), but they can be safe to use at home, depending on how you use them—and how often. “In my opinion, they can be harmful if used aggressively," Downie says. "I’ve seen a lot of infections and spread of cold sores that end up causing scarring in some cases. But when people use them once a month lightly and do not have unrealistic expectations, they are fine to use."

Engelman adds: “Piercing the skin by any means creates an open channel...thereby increasing your chances of getting an infection. ... If you’re doing it at home, make sure to use sterile tools every single time.”

There are many types of derma rollers on the market, all of which have different benefits. Here are a few things to consider:

• Needle Type: The vast majority of derma rollers come with either titanium needles or stainless steel ones. While titanium is more durable and has longer-lasting sharpness, stainless steel is more sterile and sharper overall. Either way, both materials will perform as intended.
  
  Needle Length: Most derma rollers available for home use range from .25 millimeters (mm) to 1mm. In general, the shorter the needles, the gentler they are and the more often you can use them. A .25mm derma roller, for instance, can be used every other day, while a .5mm device should be used around once a week. One millimeter derma rollers should be used every two weeks.
  
  The length of your needle may also be determined by your skincare goals . Smaller needle lengths are ideal for enhancing the absorption of products, while longer lengths are needed to help with dark spots, wrinkles and scarring. Use your best discretion, and make sure to give your skin a break between sessions.

Begin with a clean face (you don't want any makeup, dirt or surface oils that could potentially clog or infect your pores when you create these micro-channels on your skin). We would also reiterate Engelman’s earlier point about using a clean tool. Sterilize the needles using isopropyl alcohol (80 percent or higher) and give them adequate time to air-dry (usually between ten to fifteen minutes) before every use. If you don’t have alcohol on hand, you can also submerge the roller head in boiling water for five minutes. (Again, let it air-dry before you get to rolling.)

When you're ready to start, choose a section of your face to concentrate on and roll your tool there vertically six to eight times in the same direction, lifting it between each pass. One you’ve covered your whole mug, repeat the process, except this time, roll horizontally. “Don’t apply too much pressure," advises Downie. She adds: "Use [it] intermittently, do not use [it] when you have active cold sores or acne breakout and avoid the area around your eyes entirely."

Ready to roll? Here are the 16 of the best derma rollers for every skin concern and budget.

• Best Derma Roller for Beginners: Linduary Skincare Micro Derma Roller
• Best Multi-Purpose Derma Roller: Jenny Patinkin Derma Roller
• Best Derma Roller for Fine Lines: ORA Face Derma Roller
• Best Micro Derma Roller: StackedSkincare Micro Roller
• Best Cheap Derma Roller: Cosmedica Derma Roller
• Best Derma Roller Set: Skin Gym Micro Roller Set
• Best Derma Roller for Acne Scars: Sdara Derma Roller
• Best Titanium Derma Roller: Dermaroll by Prosper Beauty Derma Roller
• Best Derma Roller for Hydration: Koi Beauty Derma Roller
• Best Wide Derma Roller: Lolysenta Derma Roller
• Best Derma Roller for Sensitive Skin: Kitsch Derma Roller
• Most Ergonomic Derma Roller: Akiyro Derma Roller
• Most Splurge-Worthy Derma Roller: StackedSkincare Derma Roller
• Best Body Derma Roller: ORA Body Derma Roller
• Best Lip Derma Roller: Skin Gym Lip Derma Roller
• Most Hygienic Derma Roller: Equate Derma Roller