April 27, 2018
If you read my previous post regarding hydrocolloid bandages, you know by now how effective theyare againstwhiteheads, popped pimples, and cystic spots. They work by drawing out the infection deep within the surfaceand absorbing all the acne-causing bacteriain its path. The result? The blemish is greatly reduced insize andinflammation is completely gone.Clear, soothed, blemish-free skin; what more can we ask for?(To read the original blog post all about the science behind hydrocolloid bandages click here.)
Previously I reviewed theNexcare hydrocolloid bandages,I've been using them fora whileandI absolutelylovethem. However,with all the acne patches on the market I wondered if there was something else better out there or- if they were reallythatdifferent after all. That’s when I got the idea, why don't I test out themall and see which isbest? Surprisingly, they're quiet vastly different.
After scowling theinternet for a few hours, I found that several patches that continued to show up time and time again. These four patcheswere all highlyrated andrecommended by the beauty community so, I decided to test them out myself.The four different brands of acnepatches I decided to give a whirl atare:
Acne Cover Patch: Best for Daytime Wear
Creator:Avarelle
40 Patches
11.99 USD
Pros: Contains tea tree and calendula oil,variety of patch sizes, thinnest patch, blends in seamlessly with the skin, great for daytime wear.
Cons: Leastabsorbent, on the pricey side.
Overall Experience: I found that theAvarelle patch was best to wear during the day. I would typically put one on in the morning and then remove it at night (replacing it with another moreabsorbentpatch). I like these the most for daytime wear because they're the absolute thinnest and blend in seamlessly to anyskintone.It's almost impossible to seethese to the naked eye, unless someone is super close to you, like inches away. I felt like I couldgo out in public with these and not feel ridiculous compared to the thicker yellow colored bandages.
Unfortunately, I don't feel like these are very absorbent compared to the other bandages but they do protect the wound fromany excess bacteria and help to encourage quicker healing. I don't mind the price tag on these because they come with 40 patches, are infused with tea tree and calendula oil, and have a huge range of patch sizes. TheAvarelle Acne Cover Patch isdefinitely hands down myfavorite if you're wanting to wear a patch during the day.
Acne Absorbing Covers: Most Absorbent
Creator:Nexcare
36 Patches
6.99 USD
Pros: Price is on the cheaper side, variety of patch sizes,mostabsorbent, good for nighttime wear.
Cons: Thickest, doesn't blend into the skin, yellow orange tint.
Overall Experience: These were the very first patches I triedandddddd.. I still love them! I'vefound that these are by far the mostabsorbent out of all of the patches. However, this also means that they're the thickest and slightlyoff colored due to the hydrocolloid content.They definitely stand out if you're trying to wear them during the daytimebut they'reabsolutelyperfect for night time wear!
These are fairly sticky. They'll stay on but they're not going to pull at your skin or leave an irritation mark, they've got just the right amount of staying power.If you're looking for a patch that will absorb the most acne causing bacteria in its pathtry giving theNexcare Acne Absorbing Covers a try.
Acne Pimple Master Patch: Best Deal Overall
Creator: COSRX
24 Patches
4.99 USD
Pros: Cheapest in price, variety of patch sizes, second thinnest, can find cheaper bundles on amazon
Cons: Least sticky
Overall Experience: These are pretty good! They're a mash between the acne cover patch byAvarelle and the acne absorbing covers byNexcare. They've got theabsorbency of the acne absorbing covers but the transparency of the acne cover patch. They're the second thinnest, and thoughyou can see them they're not super noticeable. They blend into the skin and absorbwell at the same time. Not to mention, these are the cheapest at around $5 a box.
The only downside with the patches is that they don't have the greatest staying power. I found that sometimes the edges would pop up throughout the day but it wasn't anything terrible. You just have to push it down occasionally to makesure it stays. The COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches are definitely overall the best deal!
The Mighty Patch: Longest Wearing
Creator: Hero Cosmetics
36 Patches
12.99 USD
Pros: Patches are all one size, medium thickness (not too thick, not too thin)
Cons: Most expensive in price, yellow tint, too sticky
Overall Experience: My initial reaction was thatthese are extremely smooth to the touch. Compared to all the other patches, these definitely have a different feel which is what makes themstandout the most.Now, this can be a good thing or it can be a bad thing. The smoothnessmakes themkind of matte appearing against the skin which is nice. But,I really couldn’t stop touching my face because I wanted to feel the texture of the spot. Luckily, I wasn't rubbing my handsall over my face, but because the texture is prettydifferent compared to the other hydrocolloid bandages I've triedit's definitely something you've got to get used too.
If you're looking to wear a hydrocolloid spot for a few days, theMighty Patch by Hero Cosmeticsisgoing to be your go to. They've got incredible staying power; lasting all day through a sweaty workout and a steamy shower, it was nice that I didn't have to keep pressing the bandage down or checking to make sure it was still there. However, this stickiness comes at a price. I foundevery time I went to take the patch off that it pulled at my skin and was slightly uncomfortable. Sometimes the patch even left a mark from irritation. I get thewholesticky thing they're going for, but it was just a bit too much for my super sensitive skin!
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