Are hydrocolloid spot patches a good way to target spots, or are they just a marketing gimmick? I tested a range of pimples patches on my acne-prone skin to find out.
According to consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk, who specialises in acne treatment, hydrocolloid is the most important ingredient when it comes to spot patches. The substance forms a gel when mixed with water, and it’s often used in wound healing, as it creates a moist environment. They can “help by absorbing fluid [oil, sebum, dirt] from spots and creating a protective barrier, which speeds up healing and stops you picking – a big culprit for scarring”, explains Dr Kluk.
Spot patches “work best for open, surface-level pimples like pustules, papules, and open whiteheads, where there's a visible head”, says plastic surgeon Dr Lydia Ioannidi. Dr Kluk added that “they can help speed healing” of small superficial spots, but also recommends using them in conjunction with your daily routine or other acne treatments, rather than replacing them.
According to Dr Ioannidi, it’s best to apply them on freshly cleansed and dried skin, before any other skincare or make-up. “If possible, use tweezers to handle the patch, keeping your fingers away from the sticky area,” she adds.
With all that in mind, I’ve spent the past two months testing spot patches to find the 10 that impressed me the most.
How I tested
I consulted Dr Kluk and Dr Ioannidi to understand everything there is to know about spot patches, including the type of ingredients to look out for, how best to apply them, how to make them as effective as possible and why they can be beneficial in your skincare routine. Beyond this, I tested a broad range of spot stickers to find the ones that are best for various scenarios, from those that can be worn under make-up to options suited to cystic spots.
For context, I have acne-prone skin and have a strong understanding of the skincare that should be used on this skin type. I wore each spot stick for a minimum of eight hours a day over two months. My testing criterion involved assessing a number of different factors, listed below:
- Changes in skin: Crucially, I considered how my spots and blemishes looked before and after applying the spot stickers. To really get an understanding of their performance, I took before and after photos that I later analysed, noting any key improvements. I favoured the spot stickers that were quick to change the appearance of my spots.
- Formula: I analysed the ingredients list of each of the spot stickers – it’s worth noting that some brands include a variety of ingredients in their spot patches, which is a plus. I also assessed how sticky each patch felt on my skin, favouring those that felt as though I wasn’t wearing anything.
- Ease of application: Keeping Dr Ioannidi’s comments in mind (using tweezers to handle the patch), I considered how easy each patch was to apply.
- How they stayed on: Of course, I wanted stickers to stay on my face and not move around, particularly when testing overnight. Similarly, I assessed whether it could be worn during the day and under make-up.
I found that the best pimple patches were those that reduced the size of my blemishes and irritation.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
As someone with acne-prone skin, Fani Mari has tried and tested the best skincare for reducing spots and irritation. She has a genuine passion and interest in finding the products that work. Beyond this, she has also consulted countless experts on how best to look after acne-prone skin, so she knows the ingredients to look for and the skincare routine to follow. For this review of the best pimple patches, she’s used her knowledge to find the ones that actually work.
The best pimple patches for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Hero Cosmetics mighty patch original: £6.39, Boots.com
- Best budget buy – Cetaphil gentle clear pimple patches: £8.50, Boots.com
- Best for wearing under make-up – Garnier pure active invisible pimple patches: £7.99, Boots.com
- Best for cystic spots – Carbon Theory supacylic hypa dart microdart patches: £7.95, Boots.com
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Hero Cosmetics mighty patch original
Best: Spot patches overall
Quantity: 24
Ingredients: Medical-grade hydrocolloid
Why we love it
- Stick well
- Work well overnight
- Other versions for daytime or body acne also available
When testing, I found Hero’s mighty patch the best pimple patch. Owing to their thickness, I’d recommend wearing them overnight for around six to eight hours. While I slept, they absorbed all the gunk out of early-stage spots and whiteheads. I also found them to be effective even before a whitehead came up.
They’re practically see-through, and I could hardly feel them on my skin. But even better, I found them to have great staying power, remaining in place even after a full night’s sleep.
I tested the thicker original patches, but you can also buy a thinner daytime version (£7.99, Boots.com), as well as a larger version (£11.99, Boots.com) suitable for body acne or larger breakouts, which I’m sure would be just as effective.
Buy now £6.39, Boots.com
Cetaphil gentle clear pimple patches
Best: Budget spot patches
Quantity: 24
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, cica, heartleaf extract
Why we love it
- Can be worn under makeup
- Additional spot-fighting ingredients
Take note
- On the thick side
It’s recommended to apply Cetaphil’s gentle clear pimple patches on early-stage spots as opposed to whiteheads, as they prevent spots from developing, so that’s exactly what I did during testing. I found that they worked in six hours, minimising the size and redness of blemishes.
I wore them during a workout and they stayed in place, so I can confirm that they are sweat-proof. And they can be worn under make-up, however, they are a little thicker than I expected, so they don’t appear completely seamless on the skin.
I’d recommend applying to your freshly dried skin as the patch won’t stick very well if there is any moisture, which was the case with all the patches I tested.
Buy now £8.50, Boots.com
Purifide power patch skin restore
Best: Spot patches for overnight use
Quantity: 23 patches, in two sizes
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, niacinamide, salicylic acid, zinc hyaluronate
Why we love it
- Fragrance-free
- Vegan-friendly
- Comes in two sizes
- Water- and sweat-proof
These power patch skin restore patches hail from Purifide, an acne-focused brand. They target whiteheads and are also packed with acne-fighting ingredients – niacinamide helps reduce inflammation, salicylic acid minimises sebum, while anti-bacterial zinc helps to calm the skin.
These patches can be worn during the day or overnight, up to 12 hours. I found that they work well even after the first use, minimising the sebum from spots after one night’s wear. I was impressed with how well these adhere to the skin, lasting well all night.
The patches come in two sizes and are relatively thin, meaning they’re generally discreet, even under make-up. Even better, you’ll be able to wear them to the gym as they’re water- and sweat-proof, which is always a plus.
Buy now £7.51, Superdrug.com
Garnier pure active invisible pimple patches
Best: Spot patches for wearing under make-up
Quantity: 22
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid
Why we love it
- Adhere well
Take note
- Unsuitable for larger spots
These Garnier pure active invisible pimple patches can be worn under make-up, thanks to their thin design. When worn properly, on clear and dry skin, I found they stuck well and lasted throughout the day, and didn’t lift when applying foundation or powder on top. If you’re not a fan of wearing a pimple patch in broad daylight, I tested wearing these overnight and they stayed in place well.
The brand says it takes eight hours for these patches to flatten and reduce the appearance of spots, which I found to be true. The only downside is that they’re not suitable for large spots.
Buy now £7.99, Boots.com
The Inkey List hydrocolloid invisible pimple patches
Best: Invisible spot patches
Quantity: 22
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, ectoin
Why we love it
- Thin
- Great ingredients
- Stick well
The Inkey List’s hydrocolloid invisible pimple patches are truly the best invisible spot stickers I’ve ever tried. The ingredients (salicylic and succinic acid) are fantastic for targeting spots, while the hydrocolloid smooths out whiteheads in a matter of hours.
I found that they work best at soothing medium-sized spots. I preferred to wear them overnight, but should you wish to wear them during the day, I found they decreased the size of whiteheads after just four hours.
As per Dr Ioannidi’s recommendation, I applied these using tweezers, and as they are so thin, I’d recommend you do the same.
Buy now £6.48, Boots.com
Dots for Spots pimple patches
Best: Spot patches for whiteheads
Quantity: 24
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid
Why we love it
- Sticks well
- Discreet
- Good price
- Thin edges
I have continued to repurchase these Dots for Spots pimple patches over the years. These hydrocolloid patches are impressive at sucking all the gunk out of a spot. Small in size and sticking very well, they provide adequate cover when worn during the day or night.
They work best for spots that have come to a head, and from experience, they take around seven to eight hours to work on whiteheads. They are just thick enough that you can easily apply them without tweezers (although to avoid bacteria, I’d recommend using them), but still camouflage well on the skin.
Buy now £4.66, Amazon.co.uk
Carbon Theory supacylic hypa dart microdart patches
Best: Patches for cystic spots
Quantity: 9
Ingredients: Salicylic acid, hydrocolloid, microdarts, glycerin
Why we love it
- For cystic and stubborn spots
- Good price point
Take note
- You may need more than one patch to target each cystic spot
Carbon Theory’s microdart technology targets whiteheads, cystic and stubborn pimples. The addition of salicylic acid also aids the spot treatment.
After applying these patches to cleansed and dry skin, gently press down on the spot for 20 seconds. It’s recommended to keep the patch on for about four hours (applying a new one as necessary). I left them on for a few hours and found my spots were less red and sore. You can definitely notice the patches on the skin, but they are relatively thin and stick well.
They help reduce inflammation of under-skin spots, and I found they stopped pimples from progressing further, while kick-starting the healing process. Although some reviewers have mentioned the patches left a little redness and irritation after removal, I didn’t have any problems, but you may want to patch test on a different area before using these on your face.
Buy now £7.95, Boots.com
Starface hydro-star spot stickers kit
Best: Spot patches with a fun design
Quantity: 32
Ingredients: Hydrocolloid
Why we love it
- Come in a case with a mirror
Take note
- Not great sticking power compared to some other products
- Won't work on deep, cystic spots
Taking the form of small, bright yellow stars, Starface’s hydro-star spot stickers are the cutest-looking patches I tested.
Their sticking power is not the best, and the size may be a bit small if you need to cover a bigger spot. But they seem to be popular with celebrities, with the likes of Anne Hathaway and Hailey Bieber having been spotted wearing the brand’s star-shaped spot stickers. However, I found these patches only work for a short amount of time (about four hours), so I’d keep these for smaller breakouts as opposed to deep, cystic spots.
Buy now £11.99, Superdrug.com
Peace Out acne dots
Best: Purifying spot patches
Quantity: 20
Ingredients: Salicylic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera leaf extract, hydrocolloid
Why we love it
- Great ingredients
- Stick well
- Work within six hours
Take note
- On the thick side
Peace Out’s acne dots patches are on the thicker side, and although they didn’t seem to stick well at first, they stayed put throughout the day. You may not want to wear these patches out and about, as they are visible, but they work really well when it comes to removing sebum from whiteheads and protecting the area.
As well as hydrocolloid, salicylic acid is included to help clear sebum, while healing vitamin E and aloe vera leaf extract help to soothe redness and inflammation. Peace Out, a brand known for its effective acne-fighting products, delivers once again with these patches.
Buy now £13.60, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Zitsticka hyperfade dark spot microdart patch
Best: Spot patches for hyperpigmentation
Quantity: 4
Ingredients: Niacinamide, ascorbic acid, arbutin, tranexamic acid, glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) root extract, rosehip oil
Why we love it
- Targets pigmentation
Take note
- On the pricier side
- More than one patch needed to fade pigmentation
The ZitSticka patches were truly revolutionary when they first launched, as it was one of the first brands to create a microdart patch for spots. While the original ‘killa’ patch is still great for deep cystic spots, the ‘hyperfade’ version aims to target pigmentation, which I suffer from, after a breakout.
From ascorbic acid to niacinamide, the ingredients are fantastic for hyperpigmentation and wound healing. After trialling them, I found I needed more than one patch to diminish pigmentation, so you might end up needing a whole box for just one spot, which makes these a pricey option.
Buy now £12.00, Beautybay.com
Your questions on spot patches answered
What are the best spot patches?
There are some fantastic spot patches available on the market, for whiteheads, cystic spots and post-inflammatory pigmentation. For me, I found the best overall pimple patches are the Hero Cosmetics might patch original. They work even before a spot has come up, extracting the sebum from the skin. But they also do a great job at soothing whiteheads.
For deeper spots, the Carbon Theory patch is your best bet. To target pigmentation after a breakout, give the Zitsticka a try.
What should acne-sufferers look for when picking a spot patch?
Firstly, you need to understand the type of spot you are trying to treat and what patch may be more suitable.
While spot patches are generally well-tolerated and are suitable for all, people with sensitive or irritable skin may react to them, explains Dr Ioannidi: “If you know you have sensitive skin, it is always a good idea to do a patch test first.”
It’s important to check the ingredients if you have specific allergies, as quite a few brands contain ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
It’s worth keeping in mind that although spot patches can work well for the occasional breakout, or as a protective barrier, they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution for large breakouts or deeper acne, says Dr Ioannidi.
Looking for more recommendations? Read our review of the best moisturisers for acne-prone skin
