We could go on and on about the glories of Korean skin care products, but for the time being, let’s just reaffirm how much we love the best pimple patches, some of which have thankfully made it to the United States while others are being created by American companies. We simply apply a pimple sticker on top of your pimples rather of popping and picking at them, which could lead to acne scarring. You can cure your breakouts whenever the hell you want by wearing the smallest, most transparent patches during the day. Instead, sleeping at night is the ideal time to treat hormonal acne or pimples in complete secrecy.
These acne stickers won’t dry out and crack your skin like some spot treatments. According to Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, the majority are small, circular hydrocolloid bandages that absorb fluid from the pimple. Now get this: There are stickers made with incredibly thin microneedles that penetrate the skin even farther to deliver acne-fighting chemicals to your toughest, most difficult breakouts.
According to Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and associate clinical professor in the department of dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center, acne stickers also have the added benefit of preventing you from irritating your skin by picking at zits. We personally are appreciative of that benefit alone. Picking a pimple “increases the irritation and can impede the healing process down,” says Dr. Tanzi, thus avoiding this is crucial. Moreover, there is an increased risk of infection and scarring.
Sponsered1
If you can see the procedure taking place, you’ll know the patch is working: The skin (where your zit once was) flattens down and loses its redness as the clear area gets white and enlarges. Peel it off after a few hours (or a good night’s sleep) to expose the accumulated muck. Trust us when we say it’s oddly satisfying. Just be certain to use the patch only on clean skin, immediately following a thorough cleansing and before using the rest of your skin-care regimen.
In light of all of this, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best, most reliable acne patches from well-known manufacturers including Cosrx, Hero Cosmetics, and Peace Out. You’ll thank us later if you always have one or more of these top-selling products with you (by your bedside, in your backpack, etc.).
ZitSticka Killa Kit
Sponsered1
The first product from the Australian skin care company ZitSticka was a pimple patch coated in evaporating microneedles that were stuffed with anti-blemish substances like salicylic acid, niacinamide (commonly known as vitamin B3), and hyaluronic acid. Even while they now offer a variety of skin care products, such as a hybrid SPF designed for skin prone to acne, it’s safe to say that the original patch is still the company’s biggest seller.
To apply, clean the inflamed region with the provided washing cloth before gently applying the Killa Kit patch to your skin. For best results, leave it on for at least two hours (or overnight). This will reduce blemish size, redness, and swelling.
Peach Slices Deep Blemish Microdarts
Sponsered1
Before Peach & Lily presented us to the Glass Skin Refine Serum, a reader favorite, the well-known K-beauty retailer debuted Peach Slices, a cost-effective line. As hydrocolloid stickers go, the original Acne Spot Dots were on the thinner side, making them easy to wear all day without being noticed. As a result, they quickly became a popular favorite.
But, the Deep Blemish Microdarts are for you if you’ve ever dealt with difficult early-stage and below-the-surface pimples. As hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and cica provide moisturizing and soothing benefits, 176 small, painless spikes inject a cleansing mixture of salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and willow bark into the affected region to start the acne-healing process. And with that, a pimple can be stopped before it even dares to reach its height.
The Dark Spot Microdarts, as the name implies, target hyperpigmentation and are Peach Slices’ third variety of acne dots.
Sponsered1
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original
With 36 patches of the same circumference, The Mighty Patch successfully prevents you from picking at your face while absorbing oils and pus from whiteheads. Also, they have a matte finish, making them less noticeable when worn with matte foundation. For covert daytime wear, however, choose the Best of Beauty-winning Mighty Patch Invisible+, or choose a Mighty Patch Variety Pack to have the best of three sizes and finishes. One more point: these bestsellers are created without the use of gelatin because they are made using vegan hydrocolloid (as some stickers may still be).
Neogen Dermatology A-Clear Soothing Clear Spot Patch
Sponsered1
The A-Clear Soothing Clear Spot Patch from Neogen Dermatology is a member of the popular Korean brand’s A-Clear family, which is designed specifically to calm irritated, acne-prone skin, cure blemishes, and control sebum production.
These fragrance-free, waterproof patches aid in the healing of your pimples by removing excess oil and debris, protecting the affected region from further inflammation, and maintaining a moist environment that prevents scarring. All 24 stickers feature extremely thin, beveled edges for extra-strong adherence, and they are evenly distributed between 10-millimeter and 12-millimeter sizes.
Rael Beauty Miracle Patch Invisible Spot Cover
Sponsered1
With 96 Rael Beauty Miracle Patch Invisible Spot Covers, which come in 10-millimeter and 12-millimeter sizes and have a clear, matte texture that matches all skin tones, you can be ready for the long haul. Moreover, the edges of these hydrocolloid stickers are tapered to prevent slipping and sliding.
Place one on a developing pimple and wait four to eight hours (or overnight) for the patch to turn white. Afterwards, apply a moisturizer (such as Rael Cica Spot Corrector Cream) to hydrate the skin and stop the development of dark spots.
Welly Face Savers
Sponsered1
The nicest thing about Welly Face Savers is that each 36-patch pack comes in a cheerful, portable tin that makes it simple to find your patches whenever you need them. These clear dots function as they should and promote a moist, enclosed environment for breakouts to heal correctly. Please refrain from picking at them.
When you’ve used up your initial 36 patches, you can spend $15 to get a new carton with 60 patches in it. Moreover, Biggie Face Savers are available for bigger trouble spots like the chin, nose, or forehead.
Cosrx Clear Fit Master Patch
Sponsered1
The Clear Fit Master Patch is a more transparent variant that will appeal to fans of the original Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patches. The South Korean company developed a thinner, clearer version for daytime wear that is exceedingly simple to conceal with makeup, if desired.
This K-beauty classic has grown to become one of the top choices for acne patches, and this praise is well-deserved. No matter where you wear the hydrocolloid circles, they will stick to your skin. Devon Abelman, digital editor for Allure, claims that she wore them to a Korean day spa where they endured many sauna sessions. Despite their staying power, they’re nonetheless easy and pain-free to peel off. In accordance with the degree of coverage you require, they are also available in three different sizes.
Curology Emergency Spot Patches
Sponsered1
Use a Curology Emergency Spot Patch alone while working, running errands, or sleeping. You may also layer it under makeup with little to no sign that it is there. Any manner you choose to wear it, you’ll be prepared to deal with almost every unexpected flaw that arises. Did we mention that they are also sweat- and waterproof and very gentle on skin? They fulfill all of our requirements.
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots
The Peace Out Acne Healing Dots are flecked with 0.5-percent salicylic acid, which we all know by now is a breakout’s worst nightmare. While the classic acne-fighting ingredient rids pores of acne-causing bacteria and dirt, calming aloe vera leaf extract reduces the appearance of redness. Another notable ingredient is retinyl acetate (a very gentle derivative of vitamin A), which helps even out skin tone. You won’t be tempted to pop your pimples as long as these acne-fighting stickers — which won a 2022 Readers’ Choice Award — are around.
Sponsered1
The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patch
Since it launched the Soft Shield Pimple Patch in 2017, Soko Glam’s editorial blog The Klog has been around since 2013. It should come as no surprise that some of the greatest pimple patches available are made by K-beauty companies, but Soft Shield, which was developed by the same internal experts, estheticians, and chemists who made Good (Skin) Days, goes one step further. Because your sticker shouldn’t be coming loose after an hour, these practically undetectable vegan hydrocolloid patches feature beveled edges to guarantee the tightest fit.
Florence by Mills Spot a Spot Acne Patches
Sponsered1
It almost makes up for the fact that you have an unwelcome, nasty breakout on your face when your acne patches are shaped like clouds, butterflies, and whales. Almost. But here’s how it works: Tuscany by Mills With Spot a Spot Acne Patches, you can avoid picking at your pimples and making them worse while also controlling your pores and inflamed skin thanks to a potent combination of antibacterial tea tree oil and exfoliating salicylic acid. These hydrocolloid stickers do the damn thing when it comes to absorbing fluids from your zits and hastening the healing process—and they got a 2021 Best of Beauty Award, no less.
Starface Hydro-Stars
Although if Starface offers a Hydro-Stars product with salicylic acid, the original Hydro-Stars are deserving of attention. The 100% hydrocolloid Hydro-Stars are unapologetically brilliant yellow in color and, well, stars in shape. They are one of the few skin-care brands to truly make acne treatment look joyful and enjoyable (a big task, indeed). When you need to refill on a 32-pack of patches, you can save $4 by using the refillable compact, which even comes with a little mirror to ensure that you never have to second-guess where you placed your stickers.
Sponsered1
The Hydro-Stars Party Pack boosts the positive sentiments with four wonderful hues in case your skin care regimen needs even more color.
Acropass Trouble Cure
Hold on tight because we’re going to utilize the Acropass Trouble Cure to treat hormonal acne and cystic acne, which are deep, under-the-skin pimples that are particularly unpleasant and uncomfortable. A pad soaked in salicylic acid and tea tree leaf oil is used as the initial stage of this novel acne therapy to sterilize and cleanse the afflicted region. Simple enough. A microneedle pimple patch loaded with moisturizing hyaluronic acid to prevent dryness as well as niacinamide and peptides to boost collagen formation should be applied right after that.
Sponsered1
You’ll notice a flatter, less swollen area in the morning. Make use of the six swabs and six patches that are provided in each box. (Spoiler alert: That was all worthwhile.)
Alba Botanica Acnedote Pimple Patches
These potent patches draw out fluids and oils from stubborn zits by infusing them with anti-inflammatory witch hazel and tea tree oil. This speeds up the healing process by keeping the skin moist and preventing the growth of bacteria, including the kind that collects on your fingers when you’re tempted to pick at the zit. There are forty patches in each package.
Sponsered1
FaceTory Spot Fighter AM & PM Blemish Patches
It’s perfectly OK to want different versions of pimple patches for day and night. FaceTory gets it. The Spot Fighter AM & PM Blemish Patches come with 30 ten-millimeter AM patches designed with a beveled cut so they look near-invisible on the skin and 24 fourteen-millimeter PM patches made with 100 percent hydrocolloid for full, impurities-extracting abilities.
Mario Badescu Drying Patch
Sponsered1
The famously pink Mario Badescu Drying Lotion (which earned a Readers’ Choice Award in 2020) is certainly something you already know about (and adore). Imagine that mixture being made into a (clear) pimple patch so you may use it day or night to cure your blemishes. The board-certified dermatologist Mamina Turegano, MD, of New Orleans, Louisiana, says the Mario Badescu Drying Patch are “extremely mild.” Also, according to her, “it has salicylic acid to more effectively treat the pimple, which is also blended with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C to hydrate and soothe the blemish to minimize and inflammation or discolouration.” TL;DR It is an all-inclusive treatment for different skin types.
Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots
Although most acne patches themselves provide the mechanism (hydrocolloid) that draws out the icky stuff in zits, some — like Peter Thomas Roth’s Acne-Clear Invisible Dots — are also infused with additional blemish-busting ingredients. In these, you’ll find salicylic acid and tea tree oil, both of which are known to help clear acne, so you’re getting multiple layers of benefits.
Sponsered1
- Best Glycerin Skin-Care Products for Plumper, Softer Skin
- The 23 Best Facial Moisturizers for Hydrated, Healthy Skin
Sponsered1
