I tried one of Korea's most in-demand beauty treatments in the world. Here's what I discovered after four days
They say beauty is pain - but a little-known Korean skincare treatment proves otherwise.
Enter spicules: the tiny but mighty K-beauty secret behind that flawlessly glowing, glass-like complexion.
The latest buzz in skincare isn't an injectable per se... it's a million microscopic, needle-like structures designed to refresh your complexion with a treatment that works beneath the surface for a visibly smoother finish.
Sourced from hydrolysed European freshwater sponges, each spicule is packed with skin-loving proteins, minerals, and silica that naturally stimulate skin regeneration.
These tiny powerhouses work on the skin's surface to smooth texture, even out tone, refine pores and boost radiance - while delivering active ingredients like peptides and niacinamide for helping skin appear more radiant and refined over time.
With no fancy gadgets - just minimal downtime and real results - the spicule treatment, delivered through a rich cream using a precise dot-application method, has been making waves around the world as the next big thing in skincare.
For those looking to tap into K-beauty treatments, you're in luck - INSKIN COSMEDICS has brought the latest skincare obsession to Australia as the exclusive distributor of Dr.esthé, one of the leading cosmeceutical brands, developed by 100 Korean dermatologists.
Elise Wilson, Daily Mail's senior lifestyle reporter and beauty expert, was invited to trial the DR SPI-CURE at the INSKIN COSMEDICS HQ in Sydney's Olympic Park to see if it lived up to expectations.
'If you've ever wondered what it feels like to have a million microscopic needles worked into your face… let me tell you - it's prickly, but it's absolutely worth it,' Elise says.
So how does DR SPI-CURE work? It's a professional in-clinic treatment for $250 lasting 40 minutes - perfect if you want a facial between work hours, are prepping your skin for a major life event or simply need some TLC for your complexion.
The treatment begins with a deep double cleanse using Dr.esthé 's milk and gel cleansers, packed with skin-loving botanicals, probiotics, ceramides and minerals to purify and prep the skin.
'After a deep cleanse and thorough skin consultation with the therapist, I shared that my main concerns were fine lines and a stubborn patch of congestion around my nose,' Elise explains.
'So we decided this targeted spicule facial (DR SPI-CURE) would be my best bet.'
The microscopic European freshwater spicules are then massaged and pressed into the skin. This step smooths rough texture, reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, decongests pores and kickstarts rejuvenation from within.
'Think of it as a controlled micro-exfoliation, but without the harshness,' Elise says.
'The treatment itself lasted around 40 minutes, with the spicules massaged into my skin for about five minutes in slow, circular motions. The sensation was definitely prickly - like very fine sandpaper - but not painful.'
To calm and restore, a cooling pearl sheet mask infused with mineral-rich glacial water, hydrating proteins, and soothing botanicals is then applied, instantly reducing redness and deeply hydrating
What are spicules and why Dr.esthé?
Spicules are microscopic, needle-like structures derived from hydrolysed freshwater sponges.
Each spicule is packed with skin-loving proteins, minerals, and silica that naturally stimulate skin regeneration to improve texture, tone and overall skin health.
Dr.esthé 's spicules are meticulously purified through a multi-stage process to ensure exceptional quality, safety and consistent performance.
Supported by a world-renowned pharmacist and created in collaboration with a team of 100 dermatologists, the Korean brand expertly combines natural ingredients with active ingredients to deliver cutting-edge professional skincare treatments.
To calm and restore, a cooling pearl sheet mask infused with mineral-rich glacial water, hydrating proteins, and soothing botanicals is then applied, instantly reducing redness and deeply hydrating.
The treatment is then completed with a customised layering of targeted serums and creams designed to enhance skin health and lock in the glow.
'My therapist applied a rich moisturiser to lock everything in,' Elise explains.
'When I looked in the mirror, my skin was slightly flushed, almost as if I'd just finished a workout.'
Leaving the clinic was only the beginning of Elise's post-treatment journey.
The spicules are expected to stay in the skin for up to 48 hours.
'The aftercare was strict: I wasn't allowed to wash my face until the next morning, and even then, I had to pat it dry after the shower and gently press on my skincare products so I wouldn't disturb the spicules still working away in my skin,' she says.
While the DR SPI-CURE treatment wasn't painful, Elise says she could feel the tingle on her face over the next couple of days.
On her first night, she slept on her back - something she recommends to anyone getting the DR SPI-CURE treatment - as she found the spicules made her skin a 'little sensitive against the pillow'.
She decided to skip makeup entirely the following morning as she could still feel the 'prickly' sensation on her face.
'By night two, the feeling had faded significantly and I could wear makeup again,' Elise says.
'And by day three, I noticed light shedding around my chin and nose. The prickly feeling was gone entirely by then though.'
She began to see noticeable results within four days.
'It was day four that sold me - my skin was glassy,' she explains.
'Dewy, plump, and smooth, my makeup went on like a dream. I stuck to very gentle skincare for the full five days post-treatment, patting everything on carefully to make sure I got the maximum benefit.'
Elise was invited to trial the DR SPI-CURE at INSKIN COSMEDICS HQ in Sydney's Olympic Park
Elise says the best results develop gradually over the next few days, as she noticed her skin looking more radiant with time.
'This is one of those facials that keeps on giving - you actually see more results in the days following than immediately after,' she says.
For anyone curious to try DR SPI-CURE, Elise says: 'If you can handle a bit of prickliness and some downtime from your usual skincare routine, it's a glow-up well worth the wait.'
Michelle Sciara, the national education manager of INSKIN COSMEDICS, says DR SPI-CURE is a great alternative to skin needling, also known as microneedling, a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that involves using a device with fine needles to create tiny punctures in the skin.
'Spicules penetrate the skin in a similar way to needles, but where it's different to needles is that it creates a sort of mass activation,' Michelle tells Daily Mail.
'It's like a wakeup call for your cells, that's what we call it. Needles are much larger, they create very specific trauma channels that target different layers of the skin.
'Whereas because we're using millions, and depending on the treatment that we choose, it's either one million or five million spicules.'
Michelle says the DR SPI-CURE treatment supports the skin's renewal process for a fresher, more refined appearance.
While the DR SPI-CURE treatment wasn't painful, Elise says she could feel the tingle on her face over the next couple of days
In an exclusive partnership with Dr.esthé, INSKIN COSMEDICS offers two signature spicule treatments for Australian clinics - DR SPI-CURE and PEEL-N-GLOW.
Delivered in a 40-minute session, PEEL-N-GLOW contains five million ultra-fine spicules and offers two treatment options: one designed to brighten and visibly even skin tone, the other to help clarify the appearance of congested skin.
Both treatments are infused with pearl powder, pearl extract, volcanic ash and clinically active ingredients to gently exfoliate, and enhance overall skin texture and radiance.
'What excites me most about Dr.esthé 's spicule treatments is how they perfectly combine scientific innovation with practicality,' Maria Enna-Cocciolone, founder and CEO of INSKIN COSMEDICS, says.
'They're advanced, results-driven, affordable and incredibly easy to integrate into the clinic. With no devices and minimal downtime required, these protocols deliver impressive resurfacing and rejuvenation outcomes.
'We're proud to offer these treatments alongside face-to-face training and certification to ensure clinics feel confident in their delivery and most importantly, see real results in their clients' skin.'
Elise Wilson's review on DR SPI-CURE treatment
I tried a Korean spicule facial that leaves your skin prickly for days – here's exactly what happened…
If you've ever wondered what it feels like to have a million microscopic needles worked into your face… let me tell you - it's prickly, but it's absolutely worth it.
I recently booked in for the INSKIN COSMEDICS DR SPI-CURE treatment.
After a deep cleanse and thorough skin consultation with the therapist, I shared that my main concerns were fine lines and a stubborn patch of congestion around my nose. So we decided this targeted spicule facial (there's a choice of two versions) would be my best bet.
If you're not familiar with spicules, they're microscopic, needle-like structures sourced from hydrolysed European freshwater sponges.
They work by gently penetrating the skin's surface delivering active ingredients like peptides and niacinamide deep into the skin.
Think of it as a controlled micro-exfoliation, but without the harshness.
The treatment itself lasted around 40 minutes, with the spicules massaged into my skin for about five minutes in slow, circular motions.
The sensations was definitely prickly - like very fine sandpaper - but not painful.
After that, my therapist applied a rich moisturiser to lock everything in. When I looked in the mirror, my skin was slightly flushed, almost as if I'd just finished a workout, and that 'heated' sensation stayed in the skin for the first night.
The aftercare was strict: I wasn't allowed to wash my face until the next morning, and even then, I had to pat it dry after the shower and gently press on my skincare products so I wouldn't disturb the spicules still working away in my skin.
I could still feel the prickly sensation all of the next day, so I skipped makeup entirely.
On the first night, I'd recommend sleeping on your back as the spicules are a little sensitive against the pillow.
By night two, the feeling had faded significantly and I could wear makeup again.
And by day three I noticed light shedding around my chin and nose. The prickly feeling was gone entirely by then though.
But it was day four that sold me - my skin was glassy.
Dewy, plump, and smooth, my makeup went on like a dream. I stuck to very gentle skincare for the full five days post-treatment, patting everything on carefully to make sure I got the maximum benefit.
This is one of those facials that keeps on giving, and you see more results in the days following than immediately after.
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