Cover, Heal, Repeat: Exploring the Best Pimple Patches on the Market
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Jenna Mindel. Find her on Instagram at @jennamindel. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Last summer I worked at a summer camp in California and decided as I worked a few hours away from cell service and the “real” world, that I would give up makeup. As somebody with acne, this was intimidating, but I knew that it would be good for my skin to have a break. However, I did not necessarily want to show all of my pimples to the world, so I started wearing Starface pimple patches.
Since then, I have tried many pimple patch brands, because I’ve been intrigued about their varying effectiveness. While I do not have an answer for what is the best pimple patch brand, I can tell you the patches that’ll work for specific breakouts, my experiences with them, along with the price point.
Starface Pimple Patches
SHOP NOW – $26.99 for 96 count
You may have seen these patches before online (on Hailey Beiber in particular). I loved them because they added a little flair to my otherwise bare face, and they covered up what I was insecure about. These were my gateway into pimple patches, especially after I decided to take some time away from makeup.
I wore these particular patches often at my job at camp as a cashier, and I got a lot of feedback. I did have some folks (specifically old men) who would regularly tell me, “you have something on your face” because they thought it had ended up on there by accident. I also had a lot of folks (specifically jr.high and high school girls) tell me that my starface patches were cute!
I would not wear these patches if you have social anxiety, and the thought of people percieving you freaks you out (this is why I stopped wearing them). However, if you are feeling yourself, and just want to cover up a small pimple, this might be right up your alley. I noticed a positive difference in my skin after wearing these about half the time. They are not the most effective patch for anything more than a small blemish. I noticed they still helped a lot with keeping me from picking at my skin, even if they didn’t heal my acne every time.
For something like a concert where people have fun makeup, this would be perfect since you would not stand out much at all. If you love standing out, get these patches! They do cost a few more bucks than other patches, but you are paying for cuteness, so if that is important to you then splurge!
Mighty Patch by Hero
SHOP NOW – $11.97 for 36 count
I usually get my patches from target, but I am learning I need to order them on Amazon, they are a lot cheaper on here.
From now on, the patches we are looking at will be ‘invisible,’ circle patches. These have become more common over the past few years, particularly for those who are working remotely and may not want to put on a full face of makeup but want to cover up a blemish.
I have found these to be the most effective patch for bigger and deeper breakouts. I would not use one of these patches on a smaller pimple, since I believe other patches do a better job of that (Panoxel) with a lower price as well. This is a great option if you have a pesky breakout you need to cover up and heal quickly.
Curology
When I signed up for a Curology free trial, these patches were sent along with my prescribed moisturizer. I have continued using them. While they are not my first choice, I will grab them when I am out at Target and see that other patches are out of stock.
My main gripe with these, is that they do not work more effectively than other patches for a price point that is higher. They are a great option, but I would pick the Mighty Patch over these anyday.
Panoxel
I know I said I did not have a favorite but…these are my newest obsession. One of my bridesmaids showed me these the day before my wedding because I had some zits I was trying to get rid of before the big day. I used them the night before and the day of before I got ready, and they helped clear my skin. My favorite part about these patches is the price, they are a few dollars cheaper than other packs, and come with 40 patches. Basically, they have the best value.
This link takes you to a cool deal they have going on right now where you can try out their cleanser (which I have heard such good things about on TikTok) and their patches for $16! They also have an 80 pack for $17!
I also find that the two different sizes of the patches offered within each pack, (small and large), help target the varying needs I have when it comes to covering a pimple. I just bought my second box of these a few days ago and they have become a part of my nightly routine. I also will bring them out if I want to do a no makeup day and want to keep myself from touching my breakout. This is the main reason I wear patches, because they prevent me from touching my skin and causing more inflammation.
While I am not sure what your needs are for skincare, I hope my tips will help you pick the patch that is best suited for you.
I know this is not an exhaustive list, and there are many more patches for me to try, so what are your favorite patches? In your opinion, what is the best pimple patch brand? Let us know in the comments below!