Five things do the work.
Everything below is on the box and on the INCI. We're describing what each ingredient is and what it's for — not promising you a number.
Hydrolyzed Sponge (spicules)
The needle. Microscopic silica structures that condition the surface of the skin as you massage them in. This is the tingle — and it should stop after a few minutes.
Sodium DNA (PDRN)
The repair signal. A DNA-fragment ingredient, salmon-derived, widely used in Korean regenerative skincare. It's in the same cream as the spicules rather than a separate serum, which is the entire point.
Copper Tripeptide-1
The differentiator. A copper-bound peptide used for skin-quality support. Check the spicule product currently on your shelf — it almost certainly doesn't have this.
Centella Asiatica + Madecassoside
The reason you're not red at 7am. Both are calming ingredients, and the madecassoside dose here is deliberately high because the tingle needs somewhere to go.
Ceramide NP + Panthenol
The barrier. Ceramide NP is one of the lipids your own skin uses to hold itself together. Panthenol supports it. This is the step most spicule products sell you separately.
Niacinamide
3–4%. Well-studied, well-tolerated, does a lot of quiet work on tone and barrier function.
Full INCI: Aqua, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium DNA, Copper Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Disodium EDTA.
Everyone opens the skin. We close it again.
Spicules are the easy part — plenty of products have them. The question is what goes into the channels once they're open, and what rebuilds the barrier afterwards. Here's the composition, side by side.
| Formula | Typical spicule serum | The Resurfacer |
|---|
Comparison based on publicly published ingredient lists as of the date shown on this page. Composition only — we make no comparative performance claims. Check any competitor's INCI yourself; we'd rather you did.