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Medical Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist, podiatrist or a medical professional. All the information in this blog post, are things I have discovered through my own experiences. For serious skin or medical conditions, please consult a medical professional first.
Pimple Patches
Pimple patches or, as I like to call them, pimple stickers! Pimple patches are used to patch over pimples that you get from acne. These are initially from Korean skincare but are now available in Western skincare too. The most popular ones are for whiteheads. They’re like hydrocolloid bandages, but smaller, so they fit right over the pimple. Most pimple patches will use the same hydrocolloid ingredient with other stuff added. I came across pimple patches for the first time in college, and they have been a complete game-changer for my skincare. Middle-school me would have loved this product! They’re great for healing my pimples and stopping me from touching or scratching. To be honest, all of these products are very similar and don’t have much of a difference, but there are a lot on the market, so I will give you more details on each one.
Do pimple patches work on blind pimples?
A blind pimple is basically a pimple under the skin that you can’t really see but can feel and it tends to be painful. Some people do use hydrocolloid patches on these but I recommend using a pimple patch with micropoints like the Hero Cosmetics Micropoint for Blemishes. I have easily bought over 10 of these because I run out so quickly! But these are a great product to use for blind pimples and then I recommend following up with any hydrocolloid patch. You can check out more ways to fix blind pimples here.
How long does it take for a pimple patch to work?
There is no perfect answer to this question because it all depends on the state of your pimple. It’s often recommended to wear a patch overnight or for 6-8 hours and then remove the patch. After one patch, you should be good, but some pimples may require another patch, and then you would repeat this process. Personally, I found that most pimples only need one patch but there’s always the occasional exception that would need more. Worst-case scenario, it would take 2-3 days.
Do Pimple Patches Really Work?
YES!!! Pimple patches have never let me down. You just need to make sure you are using them right and use additional skincare for the best results. Whitehead = hydrocolloid patch, and Blind pimple = micropoints patch. And it’s so satisfying to take it off and see the results. Here are some of my before-and-afters with different patches.
How to Use a Pimple Patch?
Make sure you wash your hands and your face! After doing so, take out a pimple patch and apply it directly to the blemish. You can use your fingers to apply it or use a tweezer. I normally use my hands, but if you’re using a tweezer, make sure it’s a clean tweezer. Then, after applying, continue with the rest of your skincare. I recommend applying the pimple patch before moisturizing so the patch can stick better. However, if you have dry skin, you should probably apply a little moisturizer and then use a pimple patch. Otherwise, it might be a bit painful to take off if your skin is dry. Make sure you press down on it a little after you apply it to prevent it from falling off. Also, make sure you get it in the right spot in the first place, as transferring them can be tricky. Wait 6-8 hours or leave it on overnight. Then take it off and throw out the pimple patch, don’t reuse it! There’s probably a lot of bacteria on it, so please throw it out. As mentioned earlier, I always recommend following up with Hero Cosmetics’s Rescue Balm after you take off the patch.
Applying a pimple patch is the same process whether you’re using a hydrocolloid patch or micropoints. However, you don’t need rescue balm for the micropoints. You may need a hydrocolloid patch afterward if a whitehead forms.
Do Pimple Patches leave scars?
The patches themselves will not leave scars, but the pimple might. You might see a little circular mark from having the patch on, but this usually goes away pretty quickly. That being said, your pimple itself can leave a mark or a scar behind. This has nothing to do with the patch. I always recommend following up with the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm after you take off the patch. This helps soothe the skin afterward and heal better. If you have dark spots, then you can use the La Roche Posay Melasyl Serum. (great for people of color)
COSRX Acne Pimple Patches
These are some great pimple patches from a Korean brand called COSRX. I have gone through so many of these, and they come in a resealable pouch, which is super helpful. They do come in varying sizes of circles, which can be great or not so great. The smaller-sized circles are great for bringing less attention to your face and for smaller pimples. However, these tend to fall off more easily.
Shop COSRX Pimple Patches on Amazon.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Patches
The first pimple patch I ever tried out was from Hero Cosmetics. I saw their pimple patches at Target one day, and that’s how I first tried them out and became obsessed. As mentioned earlier, I did purchase a ton of COSRX pimple patches because they were low-priced. However, I switched back to Hero Cosmetics pimple patches because these are FSA-eligible. This means if you have a pre-tax spending account like an FSA account or an HSA account, you can purchase eligible medical products. These patches count as eligible through certain retailers. I have also found these patches more readily available at retailers than COSRX patches.
Shop Hero Cosmetics Pimple Patches on Amazon
Peace Out Skincare Pimple Patches
These pimple patches from Peave Out Skincare are the reason I knew pimple patches existed. As explained earlier, I grabbed the Hero Cosmetics patches from Target to try pimple patches for the first time. However, my plan for that day was actually to go to Sephora and buy these patches. I ended up trying Hero Cosmetics pimple patches first because they were cheaper, and I ended up making a trip to Target. I got samples of these through Peace Out Skincare, so I got to try them out. They are very similar to COSRX and Hero Cosmetics, but the main difference is that they have additional skincare ingredients like salicylic acid, retinol, and aloe vera. Those additional ingredients can help heal your skin better.
Shop Peace Out Skincare Pimple Patches on Amazon
Neutrogena Pimple Patches
For some weird reason, I did not know these existed for a long time. They are definitely a newer product in comparison to Hero, Cosrx, and Peace Out. When I first bought these, I grabbed them at CVS because I ran out of pimple patches. What I like about these is that they come in small, separate sheets. So if you are traveling or sharing these with someone, you can easily have smaller quantities. They also come in a Sensitive version. And I have tried a sample of the sensitive version, but did not see a difference between the two. They both seemed to work the same. However, the sensitive version is supposed to be easier to pull off, thus aggravating the skin less. Overall, I do like this and I would shop these when you have a coupon or sale on Neutrogena products.
Shop Neutrogena Pimple Patches on Amazon or Shop Neutrogena Sensitive Pimple Patches on Amazon
Cute Pimple Patches from Starface
If you are looking for some fun or cute pimple patches, I definitely recommend checking out the brand Starface. They make fun star-faced pimple patches in a bright yellow color. These work just like the other patches; they’re just different in their shape and color. Starface is focused on acne positivity, which is why they have a more fun approach to their pimple patches.
Shop Starface Star-Shaped Pimple Patches
When to use Pimple Patches?
If you have a whitehead on your face, then this is when you need a pimple patch, which is a hydrocolloid patch. If it’s under the skin and it’s painful, then it might be a blind pimple, and you should use a patch with micropoints. If it’s neither of these, then pimple patches will most likely not work for you.
Where to buy pimple patches?
These are available at so many stores now, and they’re sold by many brands. You can find them on Amazon, Target, Sephora, Ulta, Walmart, CVS, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and more! If you’re looking for in-person options, I have seen them at CVS, Target, Sephora, Ulta. Check online to see what’s available in your local store.
[…] have an entire detailed blog post on pimple patches for whiteheads, so please read this for all the details. They’re honestly all very similar; it’s just […]
[…] Apply a whitehead patch. […]
[…] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mighty Patch Original is now my go-to when I see a whitehead on my skin. Younger me needed these in her life so badly, but I’m glad I at least found them in college. I used to use COSRX pimple patches because those are cheaper by unit count. However, I switched back to Mighty Patch because these are FSA-eligible. All the patches are the same size, and they work great. Just apply it to the pimple and take it off 6-8 hours later. I often leave them on overnight or put them on in the morning and take them off in the evening. They do stick well to the skin, and I have never had any issues with them coming off. To help it stick better, use them before moisturizer and after you cleanse, so the skin is clean and dry. If you are interested in comparing other pimple patches, read my blog post on pimple patches. […]