For most of our adolescent and adult lives, at-home acne-treatment tactics have been limited to over-the-counter creams and doctor-prescribed topicals. But when you need to phone a friend to zap a pesky pimple and can't make it to a dermatologist to pull out the big guns (hello, cortisone shot), acne patches are the real MVP. The innovation has exploded in the skin-care world, and many brands have successfully been able to put the power of acne-fighting ingredients into teeny stickers that put the kibosh on your breakout.
When left on for a few hours, acne patches vacuum the gunk from a bulging whitehead and soothe redness and irritation from a painful bump. They're great to keep in the back of your skin-care cabinet for when those breakouts decide to set up shop on your face — and the best part? Most of them are made of transparent material, so you can treat your skin while you're at work or grocery shopping and no one will ever know.
To help enhance your emergency acne kit, we rounded up the acne patches Refinery29 staffers swear by, ahead, from five-dollar hydrocolloid stickers to our Beauty Innovator Award-winning system.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission. Check out the rest of the 2019 Beauty Innovator Award winners.
ZitSticka Killa Cube
"I’m one of the lucky ones who gets angry, hateful under-the-skin cysts and not cute, poppable whiteheads, which means most acne patches have the effect of putting clear stickers on my face for no good reason when what I really need is a cortisone shot. These microdart patches aren’t a replacement for a steady-handed dermatologist and a $30 copay, but they do far more to treat underlying mountain ranges than any other patches I’ve tried — or any other topical treatment, for that matter.” — Rachel Krause, senior beauty editor
ZitSticka Killa Spot Clarifying Patch Kit, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Dr. Jart Focus Spot Blemish Micro Tip Patch
"When massive, painful cysts start forming under my skin, I take pleasure in pricking them before they come to the surface. These patches from Dr. Jart have tiny micro tips that deliver vitamin B3 and hyaluronic to breakouts, so when you peel off your patch, they're virtually gone. If I have any redness or inflammation, it usually subsides after a few hours of parading around with one of these stuck to my face." — Aimee Simeon, beauty writer
Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Blemish Micro Tip Patch, $, available at Sephora
Peace Out Acne Dots
"I didn't believe in pimple-patch sorcery until a substantial whitehead popped up on my chin one day. I put it one of these patches on before bed and woke up with my pus-filled bump pressed into the sticker, and totally free from my face. I've used them ever since on different types of flareups, and I've never been disappointed." — Simeon
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots, $, available at Sephora
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Invisible Patch Set
"Why waste precious daylight hours that could be spent banishing a cystic breakout? I've been known to spend the entire day with one of these clear patches on, and they're so unnoticeable that I routinely forget it's sitting right there on my face. Like most hydrocolloid patches, they work by drawing out that white-ish pimple juice and, after a couple hours, work wonders to flatten and calm acne. Better yet, they keep me from picking at my skin and causing a scar." — Karina Hoshikawa, beauty & wellness market writer
Hero Cosmetics Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Invisible Patch Set, $, available at Anthropologie
Alba Botanica AcneDote Pimple Patches
"Beyond the gentle acne-fighting ingredients like tea tree oil and salicylic acid, these patches are all about getting the most bang for your buck: The teeny box is home to 40 stickers that absorb gunk and soothe inflammation. It's gentle on your checking account, too, at only $6.99 a pop — because acne care shouldn't be expensive." — Simeon
Alba Botanica Alba Botanica Acne Pimple Patch - 40ct, $, available at Target
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