Freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris underwater, the biological source of skincare spicules.

The Unexpected Truth Behind Skincare’s ‘Liquid Needles’

An ingredient called a spicule is becoming an increasingly visible addition to modern skincare lines. Frequently marketed under terms like “microneedling in a bottle” or listed on the back of packaging as “Hydrolyzed Sponge” or “Silica”, these are microscopic, needle-like skeletal fragments harvested from marine and freshwater sponges. When massaged into the face, these tiny …