As with the previous option, these also focus on salicylic acid and aren't quite as thick or absorbent as the hydrocolloid patches. Still, they're very effective. Thanks to zit-zapping ingredients like salicylic acid and tea tree oil (and our new favorite, bakuchiol), these nifty little patches help seriously shrink and speed the healing process for your breakouts.
These thicker hydrocolloid acne patches pack quite a wallop: They really work overtime to draw out all of the impurities from your skin, making the healing process that much faster. They're not clear, which makes them a touch more conspicuous — but they really do soak up pus and oil very quickly.
According to Fashionista, this is one of the original pimple patch options, dating all the way back to 2006. Well, there's a reason they've prevailed so long: they get the job done. While not of the hydrocolloid variety, these acne patches use tea tree oil and salicylic acid as an effective spot treatment. And at $5 for 96 patches of various sizes, they're a pretty good deal too.
While these are certainly one of the pricier options (at $19 for 20 dots, they're about $1 per sticker), it's tough to argue with the results. These pimple patches combine the best attributes of some of our faves, using a two-pronged approach that includes spot-treating ingredients (like salicylic acid and vitamin A) with hydrocolloid technology. Sorry, but these work — maybe you can just save them for extra special occasions?
In a pinch? Trying to save some cash? Maybe a little of both? Well either way, if you're feeling up to a little DIY, you can always buy regular blister bandages and cut them up yourself (you can even follow Reddit's genius advice and use a hole punch to get just the right size). These work just as well as any of the fancier options on the list — the only drawback is the extra step of cutting the bandages. Just be sure to look for the magic word "hydrocolloid" — often, you'll find them in the form of blister bandages, though they also have them for wound care.
