I have a soft spot for products that promise pore and texture care, as long as they don’t make my skin angry. VT Reedle Shot 100 has been everywhere in Korea for a while, and there are two versions I kept seeing people talk about: the Daiso version and the Olive Young version.
Quick Korea shopping note: Daiso is the budget everyday store here, the place where you go in for one thing and somehow leave with cotton pads, snacks, and three random organizers. I had been using the Daiso Reedle Shot pretty consistently, but during an Olive Young sale, I finally bought the Olive Young version too.
So this is my VT Reedle Shot 100 review after actually using it in my routine: how it feels, how I use it, what I liked, and the one packaging detail that bothered me more than expected.
Heads up: this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.
Buying It During the Olive Young Sale
Olive Young runs a big sale every quarter, and that is usually when I buy products I already had my eye on. I bought this Reedle Shot 100 during that sale for 19,800 won.
That 19,800 won price was very much a sale price. On normal weeks, I would expect it to be higher, so if you’re shopping in Korea and you see it during a big Olive Young sale, that is the moment I would pay attention. Good timing matters here.
You can also buy the same VT Reedle Shot 100 on Amazon: Buy VT Reedle Shot 100 on Amazon.
What It Is and Which Strength to Choose
Reedle Shot is a booster essence for pores and uneven skin texture. The official VT page describes it as a Step Zero product, which basically means you use it first after cleansing, before toner, serum, or cream.
The part that makes it different from a normal watery booster is VT’s Cica Reedle technology. The product uses tiny Cica Reedle particles with ingredients like Centella Asiatica, hyaluronic acid, green propolis, niacinamide, and adenosine. Put simply, it gives a very fine prickly feeling, then the skincare you use afterward feels like it sinks in more easily. That’s the appeal for me.
Reedle Shot comes in different strengths, like 50, 100, 300, and 500. The bigger the number, the stronger the micro-needle feeling can be, so this is not the kind of product where I would tell everyone to jump straight into a high number.
Reedle Shot 100 is the daily-use one. VT also positions Reedle Shot 300 as an every-three-days option, so I would keep those stronger versions for later if you’re new to this kind of texture-care product.
If your skin is sensitive, start lower. Reedle Shot 50 makes more sense as a first step, then you can move up once your skin is used to the feeling. No rush.
How I Use It as Step Zero
The reason Reedle Shot feels different from other boosters is the micro-needle part. I use it as the very first skincare step after washing my face, before toner, serum, or cream.
When I use it this way, the next products feel different on my skin. Toner doesn’t just sit there looking wet, and serum feels like it settles faster. I don’t mean my whole face transforms overnight, but the routine after it does feel more effective. Subtle, but noticeable.
One thing I avoid: stacking it with stronger Reedle Shot versions in the same routine. VT also warns against using the different strengths together at the same time, and honestly, my skin does not need that kind of drama.
One Packaging Thing I Didn’t Love
This was the one detail I didn’t love. There isn’t a separate little cap over the pump opening, so the outlet stays exposed on top of the bottle. Because of that, I don’t like touching it directly to my skin.
The pump itself is convenient, but I can already tell it may be a little annoying near the end. With pump bottles, the last few uses are usually when the real patience test starts. Tiny thing, still annoying.
Texture, Application, and After-Feel
This is one pump on the back of my hand. The texture has a little bit of viscosity, but overall it is watery and runny. It is not a thick serum, and it spreads quickly once you start moving it around.
For the first try, I would start with one pump or even less. A little goes a long way. Not because Reedle Shot 100 is scary, but because the tingling is easier to understand when you don’t overdo it on day one.
It spreads smoothly, but I try not to rub it in like a regular lotion. I press and pat it in instead. The brand also recommends pressing with your hands until it absorbs, and that method feels better to me anyway.
The tingling starts almost right away. On my skin, it feels like a very fine prickly sensation rather than pain. I can notice it, but it doesn’t make me want to wash my face. If your skin barrier is already irritated, though, I would not test your luck with this.
Once it absorbs, the finish is almost not sticky at all. The tingling stays around lightly for a bit, but the surface doesn’t feel greasy or heavy.
The part I like most is what happens after. Toner and serum feel like they absorb better than usual, and with steady use, my skin texture looks a little smoother. It is the kind of change that makes more sense over time, not the kind where you wake up once and suddenly have a new face.
I also understand why people with pore and texture concerns keep buying this. It is not a magic eraser for pores, but it does make the skin surface feel more refined when I use it consistently.
My Honest Take
I like VT Reedle Shot 100, especially as someone who already got used to the Daiso version first. The Olive Young version feels like a full-size product I can actually keep in my routine, and I like using it before the rest of my skincare when my skin looks rough or dull.
The caveat is irritation. If your skin is sensitive, start with Reedle Shot 50, or use 100 less often at first. If it stings too much, reduce the amount and frequency. This is not a product I would use right after a skin treatment, on a damaged barrier, or on a day when my face already feels hot and annoyed.
For pore and texture care in one step, though, I get the hype. It is a formula I can see myself keeping in the routine, especially when my skin feels rough.
The Basics
| Brand | VT |
| Product | Reedle Shot 100 |
| Volume | 50 ml / 1.69 fl oz |
| Type | Step-zero booster essence |
| Main ingredients | Cica Reedle, Centella Asiatica Extract, Triple Hyaluronic Acid, Green Propolis Extract, Niacinamide, Adenosine |
| How I use it | After cleansing, before toner or serum. I press it in instead of rubbing hard. |
| Price in Korea | 19,800 won during the Olive Young sale when I bought it |
| Best for | Pore care, rough texture, and people who want their next skincare steps to feel like they absorb better |
| Be careful if | Your skin is very sensitive, irritated, freshly treated, or already stinging. Start low and reduce frequency if needed. |
Where to buy
- Olive Young (Korea) — I paid 19,800 won during the big sale. Regular pricing is usually higher, so sale timing matters.
- Amazon US — same VT Reedle Shot 100 available internationally. Buy on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Privacy Policy for details.
Last verified: June 8, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Leave a Reply