If you’ve been on the internet lately and you have an interest in skincare, you’ve probably heard of the Korean pimple patches. These tiny patches are meant to dry out blemishes overnight, block bacteria from entering open skin and protect your skin from infection. The patches contain hydrocolloid acid, which help pull oil out of the blemish.
I have pretty normal skin, but I do tend to get breakouts once in a while if I’m stressed, not eating right or get lazy about my skincare routine. I can’t say I’ve ever had horrible acne, but if you have a few breakouts here and there, these patches are perfect for you.
I bought my patches from COSRX, a brand that is popular for their patches. Each pack is about $5 on Amazon.com and contains 24 patches in three different sizes. The patches are also FDA approved as wound protection. The instructions on the back of the patch are in Korean, so unless you are fluent in Korean, I would recommend reading them online. COSRX makes two different types of these patches, the first of which is the “Advanced Healing” patch. These patches are slightly opaque and are meant to prevent scarring. The other type is the “Ultra Thin” version, which is clear and meant to be worn under makeup. Both contain hydrocolloid to protect and heal acne. COSRX recommends using the patches when there is pus is visible.
I decided to go with the “Advanced Healing” version because this is the version I had seen the most on the internet. After promising reviews, I decided to give it a shot. Most people in the review sections recommended putting a patch on before bed and leaving it on overnight.
At first, it was a little challenging to get the patch positioned. Since it is pretty opaque, it was hard to get the blemish in the direct center of the patch. You are supposed to use a patch large enough to completely cover the blemish, so keep this in mind when you are trying it out. After repositioning the patch a few times, I was happy that it was still sticky after multiple tries. I also made sure to apply the patch before putting on moisturizer because I was scared it wouldn’t stick. The product comes in a resealable zip-lock pouch and the patches themselves stick to the plastic sheet where you peel them off, so you don’t need to worry about contamination.
Since I’m a pretty restless sleeper and I had re-stuck the patch to my face multiple times, I was nervous about its staying power. It not only stayed on through my tossing and turning, but it worked. You could visibly see the oil pulled from the blemish on the patch when I took it off. You know that satisfied, but gross feeling you get when examining your used pore strip. This is that feeling. The part of the patch covering the blemish had turned white and the blemish itself was smaller and less irritated. What was an inflamed volcano the night before had transformed into a miniscule red dot. The blemish was completely gone within the next couple days and had left no scarring or red mark. Here is a close-up photo of the patch on my cheek:
While most reviewers said they only use the patches at night, a few said they sport it during the day. The patch is a light tan color, so if you have fair skin, you could probably get away with wearing the patch without people noticing. Some reviewers said they cover the patch with makeup, so I decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, putting makeup on the patch somehow make it more noticeable on my face. I have a lot of freckles, so I assume that without makeup, the edges of the patch were hidden. When I tried covering it with foundation and concealer and my face was a solid, unified color, it made the circular edges stand out even more. I would say wearing makeup with the patches, at least for me, is a no-go.
Overall, the patches work great and have since earned a rightful place as a staple in my personal beauty routine. These little powerhouses are lifesavers if you have acne. My only suggestion to COSRX would be to create a sheet mask out of the same material for those really bad breakouts. Just think of how satisfying that would be.