Yahoo Lifestyle We tried the most viral rated pimple patches on the market to give you a ranking of the very best
Pimple patches, spot stickers, blemish pads; Call them what you will, just know that these bad boys are a game-changer when it comes to tackling zits.
If, like me, you're skin is more on the dry side, but you still get the odd whitehead or red hormonal chin spot, it can be hard to know how to treat it. Some products designed for acne can be overly harsh, especially on sensitive skin – that's where pimple patches come into play because they directly treat the blemish, rather than drying out your entire face. And not only that, but they speed up the healing process so your spot doesn't hang around until your next period.
Plus, if you're prone to getting regular spots and don't want to cover them with makeup, spot stickers are a fun way of concealing your blemish. Just take Kiko Kostadinov's Fall/Winter 2024 Paris Fashion Week showcase as a prime example. The models wore the Starface Earth pimple patches and they looked as chic as ever! Pimple? No, ✨artistry✨.
It might sound ridiculous but Starface's products actually take that all-too-common spot dread away. As you may have guessed, their stickers are star-shaped and packed with hydrocolloid – a wound dressing that promotes healing. Their signature colour is yellow, but they also come in glow-in-the-dark, cyber silver, and multicoloured designs. Fun, right?! So, if you've never considered taking a spot selfie before, you will now.
Then there are brands like Zitsticka, whose clear patches are covered in micro darts which inject ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide into the heart of the spot to stop it before it erupts.
Not sure which to go for? Fear not because to help you figure out what spot sticker is best for you, we've tested them all to give you our ranking of the best ones on the market.
The Pimple Patches
Aside from their super cute smiley design, what I love about the Restored pimple patches is their durability.
Confused, much? Well, being the dainty stickers that they are, some patches do inevitably move about in the night. Not to mention they're flimsy and fiddly on application.
However, these babies stay put throughout all 8 hours of my beauty sleep and feel rich with goodness (read: hydrocolloid and 1 per cent salicylic acid).
In just one use, results were achieved on spots ready for banishment, aka, pus was percolating… aka, they had a ‘head’. Gross, I know, but this means the fluid inside your zit can be absorbed properly by the stickers hydrocolloid. Truly, restorative (sry).
£9.00 at restoredskincare.co.uk
Pimple Patches 72 Pack of Hydrocolloid Patches
Let's get one thing straight, pimple patches are pimple patches. In all honesty, there's not much to it when it comes to reinventing this wheel.
However, what we do look for when scouting out the best of the best blemish stickers is bang for your buck... read: we're in a cozzie livin' crisis, bbs! And Glacia really does provide that with a whopping pack of 72 hydrocolloid patches (that also range in three sizes) for just £9.99. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Good skincare need not be spenny!
Not only are their hydrocolloid patches affordable, but they're also free from harsh chemicals, fragrance, alcohol, parabens and phthalates. Plus (because yes, there's more), with an added blend of oils including tea tree – which is a natural antiseptic – and calendula, these patches guarantee a reduction in redness, swelling and inflammation, as well as a fast-track healing process.
Killa
When it comes to technology, Zitsticka most definitely wins. Unlike other spot stickers, Zitsticka's clear circular patches are covered in self-dissolving micro darts, which directly inject a hit of salicylic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and sodium hydroxide into your spot, effectively killing it at an early stage.
These guys work best on early spots before they (for want of a better word) erupt. So make sure you slap one of these on as soon as you feel that all-too-familiar tingle.
The only downside to ZitSticka is the excess packaging. For hygiene reasons, each patch comes with a cleaning swab which are all packaged separately.
Spot a Spot Blemish Patches
After having tried out *all* the spot stickers (trust me, she's a well-versed beauty journo), Cosmo's former Senior Beauty Writer, Charlotte Bitmead claims these to be the best ever! Bold statement, we know... Find out more of her thoughts with her very-own in-depth review.
Mighty Patch Original Spot Patches by Hero Cosmetics, Day & Night Time Acne Treatment, Clear Spot Remover Hydrocolloid Patches, Anti Acne Dots, Spot Treatment Pimple Stickers - 36 Patches
For the fans of degunking spot videos, these patches are oh-so-satisfying. The healing hydrocolloid stickers work like a magnet to draw out pus, leaving you with a flatter, less angry volcano by the AM. These pimple patches come in three different forms; original; invisible+; surface. The original (per the above) is great for nighttime wear while the invisible edition is perfect for disguised daytime treatment. The surface stickers, on the other hand, are a lot larger, and can be used to cover a wider surface area of the face and therefore, zapping multiple breakouts at once.
Plus with 36 patches priced at under a tenner, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck!
Hydro-Star Clear Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches
The latest spot sticker to join the game is Starface's all-new Hydro-Star Clear edition. Now available in two sizes – 16 classic [14mm] and 16 big [18mm] – the revamped design means that the stars are perfectly shaped to grip the contours of the face. Think: thicker and even more durable.
Plus, the rounded edges and clear hydrocolloid base blend seamlessly into the skin – all while absorbing fluid and shrinking the spot, ofc.
The bigger, the better, I say!
Salicylic Acid Fix Spot Patches
With 30 in a pack and priced at a sale price of £7.29, NIP+FAB's pimple patches are arguably the best value for money.
Although not reinventing the wheel (many in this lineup contain salicylic acid, as you've probably realised), these guys work to suck up all the 'gunk' by absorbing excess sebum and calming irritation.
Simple, yet effective!
Acne Pimple Master Patch
The inventors of our fave snail mucin skincare products, COSRX is a huge name in the Korean beauty world – so, you know they're a trusted source when it also comes to spot stickers.
The brand's offering is 24 different-sized patches (10 x 7mm, 5 x 10mm and 9 x 12mm) which promote healing and treatment of spots, whilst protecting it from further bacteria.
Emergency Pimple Patches
Members price: £12
Excuse my literality, but these patches really do hit the spot!
When it comes to BeautyPie, you can count on them for all the skincare goods that no doubt work. And these small but mighty patches are no exception.
Their key ingredients, salicylic acid, madecassoside and niacinamide make for purifying, soothing and a reduction in the appearance of redness.
Hydro-Stars® Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches + Case & Refill Duo
The OG spot sticker and most popular among celebrities (Justin Bieber, I'm looking @ you), Starface patches are not only beyond cute, but they also seriously speed up the healing time of my spots.
Created by former beauty director at ELLE magazine, Julie Schott, Starface uses an ingredient called hydrocolloid – a wound dressing – to speed up the healing process and fight infection.
Their reusable box packaging means that they will never get lost in your handbag (bc healing your spots on the go is chic, duh) and when you run out of stickers, you can simply purchase the refill packs.
Oh, and did I mention they're also available in a Hello Kitty design?
Pack of 24 Translucent Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch Spot Treatment Stickers
These may be one of the cheapest of them all but don't mistake their affordability for ineffectiveness.
Dots for Spots are available on Amazon and just like Starface, cover your spots in hydrocolloid, which promotes faster healing and won't dry out skin, causing further problems like your DIY toothpaste method.
Each pack contains 24 super-thin, transparent dots, which you could totally get away with wearing throughout the day, without anyone noticing.
Blemish banishing on a budget never looked so good.
Acne Dots
As its namesake suggests, we're bidding peace out to zits within just a few hours.
Blemish-blasting ingredients such as salicylic acid and bacteria-blocking hydrocolloid polymer technology make for not only clearing spots but promoting a clearer-looking complexion in the long run, too. A win-win.
Breakout Box 3-In-1 Acne Treatment Kit
Patchology's Breakout Box has every possible blemish crisis covered.
Containing 24 hydrocolloid dots designed specifically for whiteheads, 24 different-sized salicylic acid dots for other breakouts and 3 nose strips to tackle blackheads.
My only recommendation would be to skip the nose strips. As satisfying as a traditional pore strip is, they can actually do more damage and enlarge your pores even further.
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