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I can't recall what life was like before pimple patches, but I suppose it was a never-ending cycle of popping, picking, and peeling. Skincare products have evolved to address a broader range of issues, from inflammatory, severe acne to the dark marks left behind by those breakouts. However, very few treatments come close to the wonderful world of pimple patches. Because cream or liquid spot treatments might rub off during the day or overnight, pimple patches are an excellent option for a more targeted remedy to pesky breakouts. Why?

"They are designed to shrink the pimples quickly. They promote wound healing and also help prevent patients from picking or squeezing their pimples, which often makes matters worse and can lead to dyspigmentation or permanent scarring," Dr. Lauren Penzi, MD of MDCS Dermatology New York, tells ELLE.com.

However, pimple patches aren't a magic bullet and require some additional support—such as potent serums, full-coverage SPFs, and moisturizing moisturizers—to ensure all of their efforts aren't in vain. Ahead, shop the 17 best ones on the market.

Nobody has to know that there’s a giant zit dampening your mood. These patches from Mighty Patch are transparent enough (for lighter tones) to conceal your skin woes. Each patch is formulated with medical-grade hydrocolloid to suck the gunk out of your pimple to slow growth overnight.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I swear by these patches. I feel a pimple coming up, and I pop a patch on it, 8hrs later, gone.”

Thanks to these star-shaped patches, dealing with breakouts isn't as embarrassing. Starface's Hydro-Stars do the heavy lifting for you by drying out pimples and speeding up healing time, all while concealing your pimples with bright yellow stars that look so cute you'll forget what you're actually wearing them for. Plus, all your stars come in a compact yellow mirrored case that doubles as a holder for little trinkets.

A Starface reviewer said: "I absolutely adore my hydro stars! They really help keep my pimples under control and keep me from picking until my skin gets raw. Not to mention they are adorable!"

Pop on these “killa” patches at the first feel of an incoming bump. Formulated with both salicylic acid and niacinamide, your breakouts will be stopped in their tracks without leaving any unwanted signs behind.

An Ulta reviewer said: “I put this on a very painful under-the-skin abscess and it got rid of it in 2 days!!! 2 days! Absolutely amazing. Normally I am in pain for weeks waiting for it to come to a head or go away on its own. These are expensive but worth it.”

As the name suggests, "peace out" is exactly what these patches say to all incoming acne. Salicylic acid, aloe vera, and vitamin A are the star ingredients working together to heal your pimples

A Sephora reviewer said: “I love this product!!! I accidentally stumbled upon it in the store and it has been a game changer. I get pimples that look like boils and it completely reduces them and hardly leaves marks that I would get by popping them. So worth it!”

Breakouts vary in size, so Sweet Chef designed a set of patches that offer coverage to any size blemish—from small early pimples to large fully-formed ones.

Sweet Chef star rating: 4.9/5 stars

A Sweet Chef reviewer said: “These pimple patches came at the right time. I had been dealing with some breakouts and had a big painful one on my cheek. I used it continuously for a few days and it doesn’t hurt anymore and can tell it’s healing. I love the design on one of them and use those overnight. Also the bigger one works for cluster areas, which was helpful for my chin area. Overall, great product and love the size variety.”

PanOxyl’s Acne Foaming wash fans will love its overnight pimple patches, which continue the work of reducing breakouts by using hydrocolloid technology to dry out the pus found in pimples regardless of size or stage.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I’ve used every pimple patch under the sun and there are the best by far. They work better and faster than any other brand I’ve tried!!”

Neogen’s transparent hydrocolloid patches shield your breakout from water, dirt, and other threats on the outside while creating enough moisture underneath to minimize scarring.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I tend to scar easily when I get occasional acne. Putting these on ensures I don’t touch it throughout the day, it stays clean, and 9 times out of 10, it’s gone by the next day.”

Here’s the peel-and-go alternative to Mario Badescu’s fan favorite Drying Lotion. Unlike the lotion, these patches contain hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide to reduce the appearance of pimples and keep scabs and scars at bay.

An Ulta reviewer said: “I love these patches because they really work. I buy them over and over again and always will.”

The Miracle Invisible Spot Cover patches are super thin and transparent, so you can feel comfortable carrying on with your day without fear of your breakouts getting in the way. These patches work better for breakouts that have already surfaced, but Rael has a slew of other patch formulas for deeper, larger, darker spots.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I’m so glad I found this product. I have menopause acne that I can’t stop messing with lately. When I put these dots on a blemish, it keeps me from messing with it, and it heals it three times as fast as when it’s uncovered. I will be buying these every month now. So happy! Satisfied customer!”

You’ll buy these for the pretty purple butterfly packaging, but the true staying power lies in the results. The formula features tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and salicylic acid to calm and exfoliate the skin.

An Ulta reviewer said: “I have never written reviews before, but I feel like I NEED to!! These work wonders! I will put one on a pimple (either fresher or picked at) and it will be completely gone the next morning. Definitely give it a try!”

When your pimple is baked and ready, allow these Alba Botanica patches to finish the job. They go on clear, contain fruit extracts and tea tree oil for fast recovery, and are designed to fit small and large zits.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I love these these little pimple patches! They work wonders with deep cystic zits that just want to linger. I like to put them on before bed and every time there’s significantly less inflammation. I currently am unable to use salicylic acid, so there’s not a lot of options. These are my go-to!!”

Here's a set of patches that work for most skin types, no matter if you're dealing with stubborn hormonal acne or ripe breakouts. The adhesive is strong, so the patch will stay in place.

Soko Glam star rating: 4.7/5 stars

A Soko Glam reviewer said: “I love using these when I feel my skin is breaking out or about to. The patch does a great job at protecting my skin and sucking our impurities. Great for travel too!”

If your skin attracts oil, CORSX’s pimple patches work to absorb it all to prevent future breakouts. The patches come in different sizes, so you can treat active breakouts all over your skin.

An Ulta reviewer said: “I love these. They’re great for any big acne spots. I just put them on overnight, and by the morning, the spot is pretty much gone, or at least much less inflamed. I would recommend these!”

Welly’s pimple patches are thin, discreet, and easy to remove. The patches allow you to forget about picking or troubling your bump, as the hydrocolloid bandages moisturize and heal the area.

An Amazon reviewer said: “These things are amazing. Whenever I feel a zit coming on, I put one of these on it before I go to bed, and most times, by morning, the zit is gone. I will always have some on hand.”

After getting your pesky breakouts under control, the last thing you want to deal with is more troubles around and on top of your nose. This kit not only provides the anecdote for blemishes around your face but also comes with nose strips to pull out any gunk and oil trapped in your nose.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I get these for my husband who had oily skin and some hormonal adult acne. We’ve tried other patches and ointments, but the stuff in this breakout box works better than any of the others we have tried! 10/10 would recommend and purchase again!”

When you begin to feel those uncomfortable, beneath-the-surface pimples yelling to escape, reach for the Peach Slices’ Deep Blemish Microdarts. Your breakouts will finally appear but won’t persist long, thanks to the salicylic acid and tea tree oil infused in each patch.

An Amazon reviewer said: “I wore one patch on a deep blemish overnight and kept it on for the full 8 hours. The blemish was gone and there was no redness nor irritation.”

These dots' three superstar ingredients—salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and tea tree oil—clear acne while calming overworked and irritated skin.

A Dermstore reviewer said: “These truly shrink pimples and keep them clean and un-irritated under my mask. They've significantly reduced the mask-induced pimples that keep coming up and decrease redness around them.”

As you browse the interwebs for pimple patches, you’ll notice one word appearing on every box: hydrocolloid. “Pimple patches contain hydrocolloid gel that has powerful wound healing properties. It acts to absorb excess fluid and remove excess dirt, oil, and sebum, which helps to quickly shrink the appearance of pimples,” Dr. Lauren Penzi, MD, explains. Of course, many patches are formulated with other familiar ingredients found in your daily skincare products.

“Some patches also contain specific acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid and tea tree oil. The patch helps to occlude these acne-fighting ingredients, which make them more effective, “she adds.

Like adhering a sticker to a computer or book, acne patches work similarly. However, you’ll need to prep your skin beforehand to ensure you’re getting the most out of your pimple patches. Dr. Penzi suggests applying acne patches at nighttime just before heading to bed.

“After removing your makeup, cleansing your face, and ensuring your skin is dry, apply the patch to your pimple. I recommend leaving it on for six to eight hours. Avoid wearing the patch for more than 12 hours, as this can lead to potential irritation,” she explains. Even though you want to suffocate the pimple as much as possible, it needs to breathe. “After removing the patch, I recommend again cleansing your face to remove any pus or bacteria,” she says.

“You can use acne patches as often as you like. I recommend first testing the product on your inner forearm to ensure you don’t have a reaction to an ingredient in the patch before leaving it on your face for a prolonged period of time. I also recommend reserving pimple patches for larger inflammatory papules and nodules,” Dr. Penzi says.

Dr. Lauren Penzi, NY-based board-certified dermatologist who specializes acne, rosacea, skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis, and hair loss.

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.