Pimple Patches Are Your Maskne Savior
I tried every pimple patch on the market, here are the best ones.
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
If you aren’t #blessed like some people who have experienced clearer skin during quarantine, I feel you, I see you, I am you. I used to be a pimple patch skeptic (do they actually work?) but my skin was so bad during the first few months of quarantine, I was willing to try anything. Turns out, pimple patches not only work, but are also perfect for acne in post-shelter in place life.
Patches are made from a material called hydrocolloid, which is super breathable, biodegradable, and keeps out bacteria for reinfection. People typically use them to prevent picking at blemishes, but in these unprecedented times, they’ve taken on a new role: protecting pimples from the rough material of reusable face masks. On top of that, pimple patches work best on white heads A.K.A. maskne.
Ahead, the best pimple patches on the market.
We love and stan Julie Schott, former ELLE.com Beauty Director and mastermind behind Starface, an acne-positive skincare brand. These adorable Hydro-Stars stay on your face all day, whether you're eating, sleeping, or sweating, while absorbing stubborn pus from pimples. Plus, they just dropped new Rainbow Hydro-Stars (!!) with all net proceeds donated to the Black Led Movement Fund and the Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQ+ youth. Buy, buy, buy!
The brand behind IG's favorite bandages have entered the acne patch game. Face Savers are made with protective hydrocolloid to promote faster healing and come in a cute reusable tin, just like Welly bandages.
It’s gross but satisfying when you peel off a Mighty Patch. Stick one on a blemish before bed and all the pus gets sucked out overnight, leaving a white residue on the sticker (gag) for results you can see. Plus, they don't ever come off and are so comfortable. Most mornings, I forget I'm wearing a patch and wash my face. Even then, they don't budge!
Don't let these adorable flower patches deceive you. Created by model Charli Howard, Squish Beauty's vegan acne stickers are effective at healing blemishes, while staying cute for the 'Gram.
If you suffer from cystic acne, these micro tip patches penetrate skin and dissolve overnight to reach the root of breakouts. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin B3 are key in reducing pigmentation and blemishes.
Using a powerful combination of salicylic acid, vitamin A, and aloe vera, these healing dots reduce redness and swelling overnight, while hydrocolloid protects blemishes from reinfection.
This drugstore pick has sold over 30 million patches and for good reason: The K-Beauty dots are drug-free and non-drying, and work to absorb gunk in blemishes for noticeably smaller pimples. They also come in three different sizes to tackle areas big and small.
ELLE.com Beauty Director Chloe Hall swears by these cult-favorite pimple patches, which are not only effective, but easy to buy in bulk on Amazon in packs of 4 or 6. At 24 patches a pack you’ll have…a lot of pimple patches. (I suck at math, that’s why I’m a writer.)
ZitSticka KILLA Kit by ZitSticka, Pimple Patch, 8 Patches and 8 Priming Swabs
We all know the horrible feeling of a burgeoning, tender zit. Luckily, ZitSticka stops an early blemish straight in its tracks, thanks to microdart technology. These tiny tips reach deep with targeted ingredients like hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide.
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