Like most women over 40, I have mixed feelings about my complexion. I love my pores (they’re practically nonexistent), tolerate the fine lines around my eyes (I have to look pretty closely in the mirror to see them), dislike all the redness on my nose and cheeks (there’s lots), and full-on hate the brown splotches that are becoming all too prominent (like Lady Macbeth, I often use profanities to describe my spots).

So when I read all the rave reviews about microneedling—which entails rolling a gadget embedded with tiny, thin needles across your skin to create plumper, brighter, smoother skin—I volunteered to try it.