The advent of microneedle technology has transformed the landscape of active delivery to the skin, whether it be drug molecules or cosmetic compounds. Although microneedles were initially invented and used in esthetic treatments, this technology has received much attention due to its ability to pierce the stratum corneum and create microchannels for the delivery of active compounds. This opens many more possibilities for delivering large molecules or active compounds that penetrate the skin poorly due to unfavorable properties. Since the early use of solid microneedles or microneedling, the evolution of microneedle design has taken place for cosmetic delivery, especially with polymeric microneedles. The versatility of polymeric microneedles, especially the dissolving type, allows advancements in the fabrication of microneedles to meet the needs of cosmeceutical applications. The popularity of microneedles has also extended to the development of nanoneedles that target the cellular level, which is unattainable with microneedles. Although the use of nanoneedles in cosmetic delivery is still new, their potential for intracellular delivery is attractive. © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.