It’s Hollywood’s so-called beauty secret.

In 2020, the media went into a frenzy when Victoria Beckham revealed on Instagram that she was getting microneedling treatments from aesthetician Nilam Holmes. But what caught everyone’s attention was that she was doing it with SkinPen.

Olivia Culpo even partnered with the brand. Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Demi Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian are also known to be fans of microneedling.

What is microneedling?

Let’s be real. You probably wish your actual face looked as smooth and radiant as your filtered photos. In a world of heavy filters and AI editing, everyone wants that plump, flawless, glowing look in person.

But aging doesn’t wait. By your mid-twenties, your skin starts slowing down on collagen production, which is responsible for that firm, hydrated appearance. The result: fine lines, dryness and sagging.

Microneedling is one way to fight back. It’s a treatment that uses very tiny, sterilized needles to create micro-injuries on the skin. This encourages collagen production and helps with acne scars, large pores and dark spots. Think of it as helping your real face catch up to your beauty filter.

Microneedling has been around since 1995 and remains popular. The treatment is done in a clinic and begins with a numbing cream to make it more comfortable. You’ll look a little red at first, like you got sunburned, but then the glow comes through.

Is microneedling for you?

The real question is: Are you willing to get pricked in the name of beauty? Sounds a little stressful, if you ask me. But Ensorcell Beauty, a luxury clinic in Greenhills that opened last May, offers a more relaxed version of the experience.

I visited again recently to check out their new services, and yes, they now have the celebrity-favorite SkinPen. Clinic owner Chris Pino said they start the treatment with a lymphatic massage to help clients relax. Some media friends tried it and were so calm, they actually fell asleep.

And if you want to go full Kardashian, you can even add salmon sperm to the treatment. Yes, salmon sperm.

Salmon-sperm serum

It might sound ridiculous, but in the beauty world, nothing is too weird. Leech facials, snail slime masks, fire therapy, snake venom creams —salmon sperm barely raises eyebrows anymore.

To be clear, they’re not just smearing raw fish goo on your face. Salmon sperm contains a compound called PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), which is used in both medical and cosmetic procedures to help repair and regenerate skin.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Kardashians are using salmon sperm on their faces,” Pino shared. “When the salmon sperm facial went viral, we also introduced a salmon sperm skin booster. But ours is a medical-grade brand from Europe.”

She explained that when they first opened in May, clients were only getting microneedling.

“No skin booster or serum infusion yet,” she shared. “Microneedling alone is great, because it helps trigger collagen and elastin production. But for those with problem areas or who want extra glow, we now offer boosters like PDRN from salmon sperm. We also carry something called Restructure for PDRN.”

The SkinPen, approved by both Victoria Beckham and the US FDA, looks like a chunky purple pen. It has been trending since 2020 and arrived in the Philippines last year. If you’re anywhere near Greenhills and curious to try it — with or without the salmon sperm — Ensorcell offers both.

A session at Pino’s clinic costs P12,500. She recommends a minimum of three sessions to see results, followed by occasional maintenance.

If it helps you feel more confident, even without fame and red carpet appearances, then why not let the needles and salmon sperm work their magic?