Looking for the right specialized skincare products to use during your needling session? A skin booster could be just what your routine needs. If you're wondering what a skin booster is, think of it as an extra boost that hydrates, firms, and brightens while supporting your everyday skincare.
In this guide, we'll go over how to choose a bright skin booster, the benefits, where to apply it, and how to combine booster skin care with everyday skincare products for better results. Let's get right into it…
What Is a Booster?
A booster is a high-potency solution used when your skin needs extra support, targeting specific concerns like hydration, uneven tone, or loss of elasticity.
Stayve and Medisco Skin Boosters are specialized microneedling serums packaged in individual ampoules, designed to address various skin concerns such as uneven skin tone, acne, dehydration, and signs of aging. These concentrated formulations are specifically created for shallow-depth microneedling treatments (up to 0.5mm), making them ideal for safe and effective at-home use. Each single-use ampoule ensures maximum potency and sterility, delivering targeted active ingredients directly into the microchannels created during your needling session for enhanced absorption and results.
Choosing a Booster by Skin Type
Let's break down the options by skin type:
Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
Choose a lightweight formulation that contains either niacinamide or zinc, as they will help in regulating oil production and keeping your complexion clear. Just don't make the mistake of using products with heavy oils or comedogenic ingredients, as you want to avoid clogging your pores further.
Dry and Dehydrated Skin
Choose formulas with multiple weights of hyaluronic acid, plus ceramides and peptides. Apply after a moisturizing serum, then follow with a cream. A brightening skin booster brings life back to dull and dehydrated skin.
Sensitive Skin
It is recommended to avoid treating extremely sensitive or reactive skin where possible. For sensitive skin, choose minimal ingredient lists containing panthenol, centella, or oats. Patch testing is recommended before regular usage, and new products should be introduced gradually to maintain tolerance.
Combination Skin
Combination skin needs a balanced approach, since the T-zone often produces excess oil while the cheeks stay dry. Consider alternating between a lightweight, oil-regulating formula for the T-zone and a hydrating booster for the cheeks, or use a versatile all-over hydrator that won't overload oilier areas.
Mature or Aging Skin
Aging skin typically deals with multiple concerns at once — reduced elasticity, deeper wrinkles, and slower cell turnover — so a targeted, multi-action booster tends to work best. To increase elasticity and firmness, look for options containing peptides, PDRN, retinol substitutes, or antioxidants.
Boosters by Skin Type
| Skin Type / Concern | Booster Ampoule | Active Ingredient | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mature skin, fine lines, firmness | Stayve Salmon DNA Gold Ampoule | PDRN (Sodium DNA), Gold | Smooths wrinkles and boosts skin regeneration |
| Acne, breakouts, inflammation | Stayve AC Stem Cell Gold Ampoule | Acetylhexapeptide, Centella Asiatica, Gold | Calms inflammation and balances oil production |
| Uneven texture, wrinkles, anti-aging | Stayve Peptide Gold Ampoule | Gold, Adenosine, 7 peptides | Firms and lifts skin, reduces fine lines |
| Hyperpigmentation, dullness | Stayve Whitening Stem Cell Culture Ampoule | Niacinamide, Rice extract, Tomato extract | Brightens tone and fades dark spots |
| Dry, dehydrated skin | Stayve Aqua Stem Cell Culture Ampoule | Sodium Hyaluronate, Grape callus extract | Deeply hydrates and plumps skin |
| Sensitive, irritated skin | Stayve Citron & Calendula Ampoule | Citron & Calendula extracts | Soothes redness and evens tone |
| Barrier repair, microbiome imbalance | Stayve Microbiome Ampoule | Probiotic/microbiome complex | Restores skin barrier and balance |
| Aging, antioxidant protection, pigmentation | Stayve Idebenone Ampoule | Idebenone (antioxidant) | Fights free radicals and revitalizes tired skin |
| Loss of elasticity, neck/décolletage | Stayve Collagen Ampoule | Collagen | Restores firmness and elasticity |
| Deep hydration, anti-aging (new formula) | Medisco SkinBooster Hyaluronic Acid | 7 types Hyaluronic Acid, PDRN, Edelweiss, Glutathione | Delivers multi-layer hydration and radiance |
| Enlarged pores, congestion, acne (new) | Medisco SkinBooster Acne BHA | AHA, BHA, LHA, CICA-BIOTICS | Clears pores and refines texture |
| Advanced anti-aging, cellular renewal (new) | Medisco SkinBooster PDRN EXO | PDRN 5,000 PPM, Grape Exosomes, dual HA, AHA/PHA | Stimulates collagen and cellular renewal |
The five different kinds of ampoules can be tested and used based on different skin types. The selection of ampoules makes it convenient to teach students in beauty academies.It is more economical than purchasing each ampoule separately.
Choosing a Booster by Application Area
Stayve boosters are designed for versatile use across different facial areas. Select your booster based on the specific skin concerns present in each zone, rather than location-specific restrictions:
Eye Area
Choose hydrating formulas like Aqua Stem Cell Culture or Hyaluronic Acid ampoules for addressing fine lines and dehydration. Use gentle stamping motions rather than long strokes, and avoid getting too close to the eyes. The delicate under-eye skin requires light pressure and generous serum application.
T-Zone
For concerns like excess oil, enlarged pores, or shine, select AC Stem Cell Gold or other clarifying ampoules. Apply using gentle circular motions, as the nose area can be particularly sensitive.
Cheeks and Jawline
Address aging concerns, uneven tone, or loss of firmness with appropriate boosters like Salmon DNA Gold, Collagen, or Whitening Stem Cell Culture ampoules. These larger areas allow for smooth, even application techniques.
Full Face
Any Stayve booster can be applied comprehensively across the face, neck, and décolleté area. Follow the recommended treatment order: chin, cheeks, forehead, then nose.
Application Guidelines
- Use 12, 16, or 18-needle cartridges for optimal serum distribution and coverage
- Maximum needle depth: 0.5mm
- Avoid areas with scratches, eczema, or dermatitis
- If serum contacts the eyes, rinse immediately with water
- Use about 75% of the ampoule per session - this is typically enough to cover the full face
- Save any leftover product to use as a daily topical serum between microneedling sessions
- Store opened ampoules refrigerated and use within 14 days
Tips for Choosing a Booster
A few helpful tips to keep in mind:
- Tip #1. Match the booster to your skin's needs. Select serums based on whether your skin requires hydration, clarifying, firming, or brightening benefits.
- Tip #2. Check active ingredients for sensitivities. Review key actives to ensure they don't include known allergens or ingredients that have previously triggered reactions.
- Tip #3. Always perform a patch test. Even if the formula appears free of irritants, apply a small amount on the jawline and wait 24 hours before full-face use.
- Tip #4. Combine multiple boosters if desired. Stayve recommends and permits using different ampoules in one session to harness the benefits of each formula simultaneously.
- Tip #5. Use dedicated aftercare products. After microneedling, follow with specialized post-needling serums and creams designed to soothe, support the skin barrier, and enhance recovery.
Enhance Your Dr. Pen Treatment With the Right Booster
For guidance on booster skin care or safe microneedling with Dr. Pen, contact our team for tailored advice today!
