A microneedle injection apparatus comprising an inverted actuator. The apparatus can include a housing having a base and a cavity, and a microneedle array holder configured to hold a microneedle array within the cavity of the housing. The microneedle array holder can be movable between a retracted position, and an extended position. The apparatus can further include an actuator movable with respect to the housing and the microneedle array holder between a first position and a second position to cause the microneedle array holder to move from the retracted position to the extended position. At least a portion of the actuator can be located on a skin-facing side of the apparatus (e.g., adjacent the base of the housing) and can be configured to be moved from the first position to the second position in response to the apparatus being pressed toward the skin surface.