9 Best Pimple Patches We Tested for Every Type of Breakout

It’s the skin-loving extras in CeraVe’s Blemish Patches that set them apart. Alongside classic hydrocolloid, you’ll find niacinamide and ceramides to soothe and hydrate while tackling breakouts. They’re nearly invisible on skin and, according to the brand, start shrinking zits in as little as three hours.

“I was extremely impressed with these little patches after the first few times I tried them,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “They’re just the right amount of sticky where they stay in place, but they don’t leave behind a weird residue when you take them off hours later. I love that they can be worn overnight, and they’re subtle enough to be worn under makeup too. I noticed a massive difference in a breakout after using them for two nights—the area was flattened, and less inflamed and red.”

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid, ceramides, niacinamide
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 22

You know those horrible, deep, and painful pimples that form beneath the skin? The kind that, no matter how much you poke, prod, or treat, just won’t budge or stop growing? Well, I get at least one of those every month just before my menstrual cycle—sometimes,a few additional ones on my jaw—and nothing, and I mean nothing, has stopped them from getting worse, except for ZitSticka’s Killa Microdart Patches.

“I discovered these holy grail stickers whilst on a desperate Reddit query for anything that might keep hormonal breakouts at bay,” says Glamour contributor Danielle Sinay. “One user’s post about them was so convincing, I decided to give them a try—it said something like, ‘These are the only patches that make a difference in my cystic pimples.’ Months later, I wish I saved her username so I could thank her, because same! I’ve ordered and reordered more times than I can count because they really do stop those underground breakouts in their tracks, something I never even realized was possible. Cystic acne, you’ve met your match.”

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid, niacinamide, salicylic acid
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 4

These ultrathin pimple patches were created by a dermatologist and are suitable for sensitive-skin types thanks to their gentle ingredients. They have a blend of hydrocolloid and bakuchiol to help minimize redness and irritation, and to flatten stubborn raised spots.

“I was thoroughly impressed when trying these gentle patches,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “They’re superthin, which makes them great if you’re looking for something that’s near invisible, and they stick on well, even if you toss and turn or sleep on your stomach like me. They do a great job of sucking up extra oil, and my pimple reduced in size after just two uses. I like that these also mattified the area too—my skin looked a lot clearer and more even-toned. They also come in a pack of 36, which is great for the value.”

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid, bakuchiol
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 36

Peace Out’s hydrocolloid acne patches are more than a cult favorite—it seems like everyone, no matter the skin type, loves them, thanks to their gentle formula, ease of application, and ability to suck up extra oil and sebum thanks to the salicylic acid—plus retinol to help address dark spots. The healing qualities of hydrocolloid make skin look calmer and more even-toned after application too.

Skin care expert and content creator Matt Woodcox feels the same way. “These are the best pimple patches ever,” he tells Glamour. They contain acne-fighting ingredients, so they not only help eradicate the zit, but they also keep that area healed, he says.

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid, encapsulated salicylic acid, retinol
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 10

“These patches are a go-to for calming angry, lurking pimples before they fully surface,” explains Dr. Gohara. “The ultra-thin hydrocolloid helps reduce inflammation without irritation, especially for sensitive skin types. Because the pimple is deep, we do not want to irritate surface skin.” These are an excellent drugstore pick too, and with 24 patches per package, you’re getting great value for your money. Wear these for eight hours to squeeze every last drop out of the healing process, and every last drop out of your zit.

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 24

Got hormonal acne? Yeah, me too. “These use tiny microdarts to deliver acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide deeper into early-stage pimples—especially helpful for hormonal spots that are just starting to form below the surface,” Dr. Gohara says.

Former Glamour commerce director Shanna Shipin is a fan. “Like washing your face with a physical exfoliator, these microneedle patches are great for people who like to feel their skin care working,” she says. “For me, these work best on larger cystic bumps that are just starting to form—they even stay put over the big boys that get super angry and inflamed.”

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid, salicylic acid
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 8

Summertime back sweat often means body breakouts that go way beyond what a little pimple patch can handle. Enter Rael’s Miracle Patch XL Spot Control Cover. These oversized patches tackle wide areas of acne—whether it’s on your chest, back, or arms. The hydrocolloid draws out oil and gunk while protecting the area from irritation and chafing, so your skin can heal in peace.

• Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid, salicylic acid
• Shape and color: Round and transparent
• Number per pack: 6