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Shrinking the size of acne is as easy as slapping on a sticker. When zits start rearing their ugly heads, pimple patches remedy ready-to-pop pimples. Rather than squeezing and tugging at skin to no avail, acne patches contain and ease breakouts into healing. The spot treatment typically comes in translucent dots that are virtually invisible, which means you can hop on a call or venture out on an errand — all the while discreetly ridding blemishes.
In helping you sort through the best pimple patches for your needs, our editors put together a list of top picks, which includes products tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute as well as recommendations from board-certified dermatologists and estheticians.
Our top picks:
These acne products are much newer to the scene, but their common hydrocolloid ingredient traces back to early wound care. Hydrocolloid patches keep moisture in and bacteria and dirt out, according to GH Chemist Danusia Wnek. When applied to skin, it helps soak up "any pus leaking from the blemish and help protect from picking at it," she adds. That can lessen acne scarring, discoloration and the risk of infection. Some even include skincare ingredients like salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to really drive out blemishes.
Starting out, it's tricky knowing when to apply a pimple patch or which works best for your acne concerns. To answer those pressing questions, we consulted skincare experts to provide valuable insights and share the pimple patches they recommend.
1
Best Overall
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original (36-Count)
Dermatologists and estheticians alike rely on the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch for its pimple healing. Its hydrocolloid dots prompt quick results in about six to eight hours. Simply stick atop ready acne (a.k.a., it has a firm white head or has just popped), and the patch helps "draw out excess fluid and prevent you from picking at your pimples," says board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D.
While ridding stubborn acne, the patch simultaneously quells inflammation, adds licensed esthetician Rianna Loving. Hero Cosmetics also has Mighty Patches for Nose Pores that target blackheads and whiteheads and an XL Mighty Patch Surface to tackle large areas like the cheek, forehead or back.
Another favorite among the skincare experts we tapped, the Peach Slices acne patches resolve pimples in as little as a few days. Not to mention, it comes with 60 dots (in three different sizes) for just $10.
The brand's trio of targeted treatments cater to day-to-day blemishes, deeper acne and discoloration, says board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, M.D. One GH editor applied it in hopes of healing a prematurely popped pimple. To her amazement, it drastically curbed redness and irritation overnight.
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3
Best Extra-Strength
ZitSticka KILLA ACNE Extra Strength Patches (4-Count)
Now 52% Off
When those particularly pesky breakouts require a stronger hand, the ZitSticka packs a swift blow. The treatment patch uses several teeny tiny micro-needles to deliver the one-two punch of exfoliating salicylic acid and hydrating hyaluronic acid deeper into skin. (Heads up: You may feel a slight prick when you apply.)
"Once you wipe the area with the provided cleansing wipe, you apply the micro-needle patch onto the blemish," says Wnek, who calls the ZitSticka her favorite. "I leave it on my pimple overnight and find that it definitely helps treat and calm the spot when I wake up in the morning."
4
Best for Size Variety
COSRX Acne Pimple Patch (96-Count)
These acne patches from K-beauty brand COSRX (which we love for its snail mucin) come with a hydrocolloid dressing that can help reduce blemishes. Not only will the patch facilitate wound healing, but it will also protect the skin from picking and scratching, thus reducing the potential for acne scarring, says Dr. Garshick. Thanks to the pack's three sizes of small, medium and large dots, you can tackle all sorts of acne — big or small.
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Peace Out goes beyond traditional pimple patches with their retinol-infused acne dots. These patches not only provide a quick fix for acne but also incorporate the benefits of retinol. The vitamin C derivative helps lighten hyperpigmentation and promote faster cell turnover for clearer pores.
Plus, the patches are formulated with salicylic acid for enhanced acne-fighting benefits, while aloe vera leaf extract offers a gentle yet effective treatment for blemishes, per Dr. Camp. For larger blemishes, Peace Out Acne also offers jumbo-sized patches.
Winning a 2023 Beauty Award, this Band-Aid hydrocolloid patch impressed our pros and testers alike with its effective blemish banishing. It absorbs fluid around breakouts, forming a seal that helps affected areas heal.
“These stayed put and deflated pimples and calmed redness overnight — no other patches come close,” according to one GH tester. Plus, our Lab data analysis confirmed that pimples showed a statistically significant reduction in size on day four post-treatment.
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It's likely you've seen someone on the street wearing these starry pimple stickers. Rather than an invisible adhesive, these take the patch less traveled by embracing the statement accessory with confidence. "I like to wear these stylish patches during the day or night," praises Loving. "These are pimple patches you can wear to look and feel cute while still healing your skin." It's even conveniently packaged in a refillable yellow compact complete with a mirror inside.
Got a big meeting but woke up with a massive zit? Don't fret: These Rael Miracle Patches are nearly imperceptible when wearing them. Loving attests: "They are invisible, so no one can tell you are wearing a patch." That's all thanks to the hydrocolloid patch's clear, matte finish and extra thin outer edge that lays flat on skin. Best of all, it costs under $17 for a pack of nearly 100 covers. Just note that it takes a few days to totally squash a pimple, according to Loving.
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9
Most Gentle
Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots (12-Count)
Available in two dot sizes, these translucent patches from Peter Thomas Roth contain a combo of salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid (to prevent drying) and tea tree oil, which the brand claims tones skin. Dr. Garshick recommends it for reducing breakouts while tampering down excess irritation.
One acne sufferer applied it on a blind pimple — these commonly flare up in oily skin types as zits that form under the skin (and don't have a visible whitehead or redness), causing pain and inflammation. "Overnight, this brings it to a head and gets rid of it so fast!" the online shopper says. "Usually, it would take a week or more for one of these breakouts to go away on its own, but with these, it speeds the process up so much!"
How we chose the best pimple patches
Choosing the best acne products for your skin can be a round of roulette. To jumpstart your search, we've consulted dermatologists, estheticians and our Good Housekeeping Institute experts. Their recommendations and personal testing led us to a curated selection of effective acne products on the market.
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What to look for when shopping for the best pimple patches
We tapped Dr. Garshick and Dr. Camp when considering what acne-fighting ingredients to keep top of mind when shopping:
✔️ Hydrocolloid: Most pimple patches are hydrocolloid because it absorbs excess fluid, oils and impurities with its "vacuum-like" technology. It works to "draw out fluids and, in effect, shrink the size of the pimple," says Dr. Camp.
✔️ Salicylic acid: The beta-hydroxy acid gently exfoliates skin, then removes oil in clogged pores, thus diminishing the appearance of blemishes.
✔️ Hyaluronic acid: After all that acne fighting, this skincare ingredient keeps skin hydrated by attracting and retaining water molecules, according to Dr. Camp.
✔️ Niacinamide: A vitamin B complex, niacinamide is commonly used in skincare products and is notable in pimple patches for its calming properties.
Are pimple patches good for your skin?
Yes! "Pimple patches can be helpful to reduce breakouts as a spot treatment but also because it covers the breakout," explains Dr. Garshick. We know absentminded picking, squeezing or popping pimples can lead to worse scarring and inflammation, so a sticker helps keep your nails off while it actively fights acne.
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What is the difference between hydrocolloid and salicylic acid?
Hydrocolloid patches hail all the way back to wound care (think bandages). As an acne patch, it helps absorb any pus leaking from the blemish. It's why you may see a patch turn from clear to white. Dr. Garshick says these hydrocolloid patches treat cystic, inflamed breakouts by tampering down inflammation and soaking up fluid. "Even spots that have already been picked at can benefit from a patch like this to help speed up healing as it creates a moist environment for the wound to heal in best."
Salicylic pimple patches work best for whiteheads and blackheads since the active helps unclog pores and dry out the pimple itself, she says. They even have micro-needles to drive the active ingredient deeper into skin. Both act as a cover to keep bacteria and dirt out, according to Wnek.
Do acne patches work on blind pimples? When are they most effective?
Once angry pimples reach a visible (white) head, it's the most effective time to cure breakouts. "Blind, or deep, pimples can be treated with pimple patches, but they may not respond as well," says Dr. Camp. "The treatment of deeper or cystic acne may require the use of medications or a cortisone shot."
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How do you apply a pimple patch?
Always apply a pimple patch on clean, dry skin, after you've cleansed your skin in the morning or evening. It can be used overnight or during the day and left on for a period of time to help reduce the appearance of a breakout, says Dr. Garshick. Wnek adds: "It is also best practice not to use acne spot treatments and these pimple patches together since it can possibly cause excessive redness and irritation."
Meet the experts
- Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She also works as a clinical assistant professor at Cornell University.
- Brendan Camp, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist of MDCS Dermatology in New York City.
- Rianna Loving is a licensed esthetician and the owner of Organic to Green Spa in Los Angeles.
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Why trust Good Housekeeping?
In writing this guide to the best pimple patches, GH Chemist Danusia Wnek contributed recommendations and insight on how to properly use acne stickers based on years of expertise in the beauty industry and personal use. She develops and oversees the testing of skincare product categories in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, utilizing both lab instrumentation and consumer feedback to recommend the best products on the market.
Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin collaborated with GH's beauty experts and consulted dermatologists to answer FAQs about pimple patches.
Jacqueline Saguin
Jacqueline (she/her) was a commerce editor for Good Housekeeping from 2021 to 2024. Prior to joining GH, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
