ICYMI, pimple patches are sooo hot right now.
Thanks to the gorg world ofK-beauty(skin care and makeup stuff hailing from South Korea), many brands are pumping out these fierce little patches — and word is they can really help you kiss unexpected/annoying zitsgoodbye.
We wanted to learn , so we chatted with a couple of dermatologists —Dr. Beth Goldstein, a board certified derm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina andDr. Emily Wood, a board certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas — about what kind of acne and whichskin typesthey work best on, whichingredientsto look for, and how to use ’em.
Keep reading to get the scoop and check out our list of the most popular pimple stickers.
Best pimple patches
How to choose the perfect acne patch for you
Here are some important things to consider and some things you may be wondering about when shopping for acne patches.
Determine what type of acne you have
Goldstein tells us acne patches work best for superficial red or pus-filled bumps, including inflammatory papules and open and closed comedones (akablackheadsandwhiteheads).
Acne patches might not work well for deep, inflamed cysts since the ingredients are less likely to penetrate that deeply into the skin.
Keep an eye out for these all-star ingredients
A lot of acne patches are 100 percent hydrocolloid, but others are loaded up with other anti-acne or anti-dark-spot ingredients that can give thema serious boost.
Hydrocolloid is best for those pus-filled bumps we mentioned (because they literally suck all the gunk out), but other ingredients can go to work on other types of acne and post-acne woes.
Hydrocolloid gel
When you think “acne patch,” this is prob what you’re thinking of. Wood says almost all acne patches are hydrocolloid gel, which helps speed upwound healing.
The thick protective layer it creates is also ideal for preventing picking andprotecting lesions from UV exposure, which can lead to dark spots.
Goldstein also says it can help reduce inflammation. While a lot of acne patches include this ingredient solo, there is someevidencethat hydrocolloid on its own isn’t enough to kick zits to the curb.
Salicylic acid
A popular chemical exfoliant, this little “peeling agent” is anevidence-based triple threat: It’s a powerful anti-acne ingredient, helps reduce redness and inflammation associated with acne, and reduces post-acne scarring andhyperpigmentation. Wood says acne patches with salicylic acid can help penetrate your pores to heal a painful red pimple.
Hyaluronic acid
This ingredient has an impressive resume.Researchshows thathyaluronic acidis pretty dang good at regenerating skin, stimulating collagen production, and hydrating. All these traits make it an A+ choice for moisturizing and soothing skin that’s going thru it (aka breaking out).
Niacinamide
This one is popular, too, thanks to its solidscience-backed benefits. It can reduce acne-related inflammation and give you a hand with uneven skin tone, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.Niacinamidemay evenprevent overproduction of sebum, which means it can help out folks withoily skin.
Tea tree oil
You’ve probably heard of this one by now. It’s anatural anti-acne fave, known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects as well as for uncloggin’ pores, reducing redness, and promoting the healing of current breakouts. Wood tells us acne patches withtea tree oilare antimicrobial and soothing too.
Witch hazel
This is abotanical anti-inflammatory(it comes from a flowering plant) that can help you fight off pimples. It can (temporarily) tighten up pores, take down puffiness, and help improve skin texture. Wood sayswitch hazelcan help calm red, irritated pimples (nice!).
Tranexamic acid
If you’re constantly dealing with post-acne hyperpigmentation or melasma, this is for you. This guy helpsdiminish discoloration, brighten up skin, and fade acne scars. Wood says it’s also helpful for preventing and treating dark spots — especially for those with darker skin tones.
Kojic acid
This is a proven skin lightener that can help get rid of things like scars, sun damage, and age spots. This basically means it’s a skin hero for folks concerned about acne and signs of aging. It has antimicrobial properties too.
Even in small concentrations, it may help fend off aslew of typical bacterial strains. In other words,kojic acidcan help out with acne from skin bacteria.
This is considered the granddaddy of them all. You’ve prob heard ofretinol or retinoidsby now. This powerful ingredient is known for its work on (to name just a few)acne, wrinkles, and sunspots. Wood points out that acne patches withvitamin Aencourage fastercell turnover.
This potent antioxidant is known for neutralizingfree radicals(sh*t created by our bods when we expose them to stuff like pollution and UV rays).
Vitamin Chas so many benefits to brag about, so we’ll name a couple big ones: Itreduces signs of premature skin agingandhyperpigmentation, and OFC, has benefits for acne and acne scarring (it’s an anti-inflammatory that can help out with acne, reduce redness, and improve skin texture).
How we chose the best acne patches
As we mentioned, most acne patches contain the same key ingredient (hydrocolloid gel), but some include other helpful acne-battling ingredients too — plus, they come in different sizes and styles (from a slew of different brands), and some are thicker or thinner than others.
This is how we picked our patches:
Pricing guide
Only the Greatist: The 13 best acne patches
Best overall acne patches
Peace Out Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots
Wood says these are a great option, with salicylic acid to help clear out pore congestion and vitamin A (retinol!) to encourage faster cell turnover. Plus, these have a touch ofaloe vera, which is atried-and-trueskin soother and wound healer.
These guys are pretty large, BTW. So if you’re looking for a subtle sticker, this is not your best bet.
Reviewers call these dots miracle workers, saying they’re absolutely devoted to ’em. They say these patches reduce pimple timelines by a lot — some even say they totally flatten pimples in just 2 days.
Best-rated acne patches
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
Say hello to the highest-rated pick from K-beauty.
These patches have more than 27K Google reviews and, amazingly, most reviewers rave about how well they take the “gunk” out of zits. These are supposed to be non-drying, and they come in a variety of sizes, which is a biiiig plus.
It’s shocking to find a well-rated product at such a low price point too. And it includes 24 patches per package — no skimping out on you here.
The main all-star here is hydrocolloid dressing, which speeds up healing. These patches also contain mineral oil, a controversial ingredient (but stillconsidered safe) that can helpmoisturizeyour skin. The other ingredients are mainly to help them stick to your face.
Bonus: These are fragrance-free and made without:
Best acne patches at Target
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original
This popular patch uses the main acne patch ingredient we’ve pointed out — hydrocolloid — to grab the gunk out of yourblemish.
The brand says these are UV sterilized, and they come in easy-to-peel perforated sheets. They’re simple AF (the only ingredient is hydrocolloid) and should work for all skin types. But if you’re looking for an acne patch with a power boost from other ingredients, this ain’t it.
Google reviewers are happy campers — one even says these are better than the COSRX patches. But one reviewer with sensitive skin says they had a reaction, which could be because these patches don’t contain any soothing ingredients.
Best acne patches for dark spots
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Micropoint for Dark Spots
These guys are considered post-blemish patches, which aim to help with the marks acne can leave behind.
These have tiny little microneedles that help the ingredients absorb deeper into your skin (don’t worry, tho — they’re not literally needles, so they don’t hurt). The brand says the needles dissolve as you wear the patch.
Wood likes this pick because it contains tranexamic acid,which, as we mentioned, can be helpful for those who are prone to hyperpigmentation. Wood adds that it’s also beneficial for preventing and treating dark spots — especially in people with darker skin tones.
We love that it also includes extra dark-spot-fighting ingredients like niacinamide,vitamin C, andglycolic acid— analpha hydroxy acidthat helps exfoliate dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother skin.
Best acne patches for preventing hyperpigmentation
ZitSticka HYPERFADE Dark Spot Microdart Patch
Similar to Mighty Patch’s patches for dark marks, this pick is a patch with dissolving “microdarts,” which are designed to melt within 2 hours of application.
Wood points out that these patches contain a nice blend of tranexamic acid and kojic acid to help prevent hyperpigmentation. You’re supposed to stick one of these on once your zit is 100 percent gone to help prevent dark spots from forming.
We’re jazzed that they also havehyaluronic acidfor moisture, niacinamide to soothe and reduce redness, and everyone’s fave, vitamin C, for a blast of brightening and antioxidant benefits.
These are also made without:
Best acne patches for deep blemishes
ZitSticka KILLA Kit Deep Zit Microdart Patch 8-Pack
Wood is a fan of this blend of ingredients: salicylic acid to clear pore congestion, niacinamide to calm the skin, and hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. The hyaluronic acid, she adds, is nice to offset the drying effects of salicylic acid.
These are supposed to be deep-divers — microdart patches for targeting those deep, hard-to-reach zits.
Another cool addition: These come with a pack of little towelettes that you use to prep the area for application. They contain more salicylic acid, tea tree oil, andvitamin E. But the towelettes do contain alcohol, which can be drying for some peeps.
As with the other patches on our list by ZitSticka, we appreciate that these are fragrance-free and also free of:
Best acne patches for under makeup
Peach & Lily Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots
Looking for some patches you can snag at the drugstore and stash undermakeup? These should do it!
These patches are on the thin side and should be translucent enough to disguise under your fully done-up face. The low price tag has us pretty shook, too, especially since there are 30 stickers in the package.
More perks: These have no sulfates, fragrances, alcohol, formaldehyde, dyes or colorants, parabens, mineral oils, silicones… the list goes on.
They’re also gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified!). These contain only hydrocolloid, so if you’re looking for a mix of skin-happy ingredients, this is not your best bet.
Best non-hydrocolloid acne patches
Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots
This high end option includes the all-stars we’ve been gushing over: salicylic acid,tea tree oil, and hyaluronic acid.
They are admittedly more expensive than others on this list, but to be fair, the package includes 72 dots, and that’s a lot more than the other guys.
Salicylic acid and tea tree oil go to town on your pimples while hyaluronic acid hydrates and offsets potential irritation from the acne-fighting ingredients.
Two callouts: Hydrocolloid does not make an appearance in these patches, so you might not get that super satisfying gunk spot when you take one off. And they contain alcohol, which can be irritating for sensitive anddry skintypes.
Most Google reviewers sing the praises of these patches, but some say they didn’t see results for their blemishes. Also, some report that the patches don’t stay on so well.
Cutest acne patches
Starface Hydro-Stars
These Insta-friendly patches (actual cute little stars!) use just hydrocolloid to help soak up fluid, lower inflammation, and shrink zits overnight.
Most Google reviewers love ’em, but some point out that these don’t work for their skin type or that they’ve tried better stickers.
These patches are vegan and cruelty-free. And they come in a fab little carrying case, which doesn’t hurt.
Best acne patches for sensitive skin
Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Blemish Micro Tip Patch
These patches are all about that niacinamide to clear up acne, moisturize, and brighten up dark spots. They also have hyaluronic acid for a big dose of hydration andcurcumintocalm down inflammation. This combo of ingredients should jibe well with sensitive skin.
They also use 65 percent hyaluronic acid “micro tips” (self-dissolving) that are filled with niacinamide andpeptides(hello,collagen perks!).
We admit they could give ya more patches per package, though.
Best drugstore acne patch
Rael Beauty Miracle Patch Microcrystal Spot Cover
If you’re trying to calm your skin TF down, consider these gentle, soothing patches.
The main fighters here are tea tree leaf oil and succinic acid, an anti-inflammatory ingredient thatcan help reduce acne. The addition of willow bark extract gives these an extra soothing (andpain relieving) boost. Top it off with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin and these are hella ideal for inflamed skin.
Reviewers with painful pimples say these make a huge difference — and quickly too!
The best part? These are available at Walgreens. 🙂
Best waterproof acne patches
NeogenDermalogyA-Clear Soothing Clear Spot Patch
Here’s another Korean patch pick that’s fragrance-free and waterproof.
Although these don’t have thousands of Google reviews (yet), most are positive. One reviewer calls them discreet and effective.
We appreciate that the package includes two sizes. Plus, the brand says the edges on these patches are designed to be extra-secure.
Guess what else? They’re also free of:
Best almost-invisible acne patches
The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patch
These Korean patches are supposed to be practically invisible.
They’re also vegan, non-drying, and made of hydrocolloid (and only hydrocolloid). They’re created with fancy edges meant to give you a snug feel — these babies aren’t going anywhere.
The affordable price point and number of patches per package are good by us too.
Psst… These are also one ofSoko Glam’sbestselling items.
Are acne patches the right move?
Wood says to think of acne patches as a special bandage to help open wounds heal faster.
“They are also helpful if you find yourself picking at your acne. Picking can lead toscarring, which can be difficult to treat,” she says. “If you are tempted to squeeze your pimples, simply place a patch over the pimple to help remind yourself not to pick.”
We know this is easier said than done, but we have to admit that stickers do help us avoid the temptation.
Acne patches also absorb excess fluid around the acne lesions and help decrease UV exposure, which can help prevent pesky post-acne hyperpigmentation.
Wood says acne patches can be helpful for the occasional unwanted pimple — but if your acne is not well controlled, it’s probs best to see a board certified dermatologist to talk about a customized treatment plan for your acne.
Tips for using acne patches
You can place acne patches either morning or night. Wood suggests leaving the patch on for 6 to 8 hours. She says, “I recommend applying after theskin is cleansedand is fully dry — acne patches do not stick to wet skin.” Good point.
She says to applymoisturizerto the surrounding skinafterthe patch is applied, since moisturizers can prevent the patch from sticking.
We also want you topatch test, bb. Before using any new-to-you product, like an acne patch, it’s best to test it for any allergic reactions or irritation that may pop up for your skin type.
So, before you stick one of these guys right in the middle of your forehead, hoping to blast away a zit, test it out on your inner wrist to avoid the possibility of a big ol’ mess later.
Frequently asked questions
Do dermatologists recommend pimples patches?
Both of our derms agree they work. Goldstein explains that they work to speed up healing, and Wood adds that they’re best for open pustules and papules. But if you have consistent breakouts, you should see a derm or go for a more effective routine for your acne type.
Do acne patches work on all types of acne?
According to Wood, they do not work well for lesions that are not open. Goldstein explains that deeper nodules and cystic lesions are unlikely to respond to this more superficial intervention.
When should I not use acne patches?
Wood says patches are pretty harmless overall, but if you have sensitive skin, you might have a reaction to the adhesive on the patch. Goldstein adds that if a lesion is actually an infection and not acne, a patch could make the infection worse.
If you’re unsure if what you’re lookin’ at is actually acne, make an appointment with a derm.
The bottom line
Acne patches are tiny little stickers that help speed up healing and prevent you from picking away at your pimple.
They don’t work for every acne type, though (read: unopened kinds), and they shouldn’t be considered a full-blown treatment plan for consistent acne.
But if you’re dealing with an occasional blemish, it’s pretty harmless (and fun) to patch it up, baby!
Our process and why you should trust us
We consulted with two dermatologists to get tips for choosing the best acne patches for different skin types and concerns. We used those tips to pick the products above.
Before writing about those products, we put them all through a thorough vetting process that checks for unsupported health claims (like “This acne patch gets rid of pimples in 10 minutes!”), shady business practices, and lawsuits concerning a company’s products. We also checked that the main ingredients in each product are evidence-based and actually do what the company says they do.
After wrapping up our recommendations and tips, we sent this entire article to a third medical professional specializing in dermatology (in this case,Clare Wightman MS, PAC) for review.
So basically, you’re able to feel good knowing that we put in WORK to get you these recommendations.
