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Pimple patches are the easy way to get rid of zits overnight

Easy and effective!

By Helen Wallace

woman-examining-pimple-on-her-face-pimple-patches

Ever woken up and looked in the mirror only to be confronted with an enormous pimple that has appeared overnight? You are not alone. And while many people think that acne is something that we leave behind in our teenage years, people of all ages can – and do – still suffer from the occasional breakout. Having a good skincare routine can help to keep them at bay, but for when that fails, there are pimple patches. 

Related: 5 tips from Dr. Pimple Popper that guarantee a flawless face

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Pimple patches hail from Korea – the land of good skin and cutting-edge skincare technology – and they are slowly but surely making their way into the mainstream. But what exactly are they?

Usually, in the shape of small, round stickers, pimple patches are hydrocolloid patches that gently absorb excess fluid, including pus and oil. Most people use them by sticking them onto thoroughly cleansed skin and leaving them for at least two hours, but they can also be left to work their magic overnight. They are also spiked with other acne-busting ingredients, such as salicylic acid, and soothing ingredients so that you wake up with a spot that has reduced in size and is less red and inflamed. 

Related: What causes adult acne – and how to treat it

Another upside to pimple patches is that they prevent you from touching your zit and spreading bacteria, making it the perfect choice for pickers. Now you can ditch the old-school toothpaste method for good!

Want to shrink a spot fast? Here are the pimple patches we recommend:

1. Patched up

These microneedling skincare patches target pimples in their development stage, helping to flatten them before they develop

Vice Reversa Pimple Patch

Because of the (painless) microneedles, these pimple patches are able to penetrate into the skin and zap that zit before it gets any bigger

R380 Dermastore SHOP NOW

2. Budget buy

This pack contains 48 patches with tea-tree and salicylic acid to clear unwanted spots

Cettua Spot Clear Patch

Stick one of these patches over a zit and you will get a concentrated dose of pimple-fighting ingredients that will leave skin clean and clear

R45 Takealot SHOP NOW

3. Keen on K-Beauty

One of the most popular brands of pimple patches in K-Beauty circles, this import diminishes the appearance of acne in just a few hours

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

These mini acne patches work miracles overnight – apply one of them to whiteheads or pimples and it will suck out all the gunk and flatten pimples by morning

R85 Glow Theory SHOP NOW

Image: iStock/Moyo Studio

ALSO READ:

Dr. Pimple Popper-approved ingredients to treat blackheads

How to get rid of butt and back acne for good

Your skincare-ingredient guide

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