9 Acne Patches To Help Fight Mask Acne
Combat maskne problems with these hydrocolloid pimple patches that can be discreetly worn under your mask
It's almost been a year since wearing a mask to go outside became part of our daily lives. While we've been quick to get used to it, this is not the case for certain areas of our skin, which bear the brunt of all the humidity, chafing, irritation and more from wearing a mask. This results in a breakout of acne, which many call 'maskne' for short.
Instead of treating your spots with acne-busting benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which should only be applied at night, we have a new suggestion: hydrocolloid pimple patches! Discreetly worn under the mask, these patches absorb impurities under the skin to reduce inflammation and reinfection. They also act as a buffer to prevent your mask from irritating the spot.
Check out nine of our top picks to try them out:
K-beauty brand CNP’s translucent patches zap pesky zits by combining exfoliating salicylic acid with toning tea tree oil and hydrating grape seed extract.
This cult-favourite is one of the highest-rated pimple patches on Amazon with a near perfect five-star rating and for good reason. Made with soothing and calming centella asiatica, COSRX’s patches accelerate the healing of maskne while protecting skin from bacteria, pollutants and free radicals.
Pimples are just like wounds, and using a medical grade hydrocolloid patch like this one from Mentholatum helps to draw out impurities and keep the wound dry and sanitary. These dots are also ultra-thin (0.03cm), so you can wear them all day undetected.
Using a powerful combination of salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and hyaluronic acid, these dots from Peter Thomas Roth minimise redness and reduces swelling overnight without drying out skin.
If your complexion is on the sensitive side, consider a patch that is infused with skin-loving botanicals. Skyn Iceland’s patches are spiked with willow bark extract and cloudberry oil, ingredients that are prized for their soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Popular K-beauty retailer Olive Young has its own acne patch, called “Care Plus Scar Cover Spot Patch”. These patches are said to flatten even the most bulbous of spots overnight. It’s little wonder that Olive Young’s healing dots are completely sold out on its global website.
It’s icky but oddly satisfying when you peel off Derma Angel’s acne patch. Stick one on a pimple before bed and all the gunk gets sucked out overnight, leaving a milky residue for results you can see. Plus, the day patches in this set help to block out the sun’s harmful UV rays.
3M Nexcare takes the shame out of acne with its star and heart-shaped hydrocolloid patches. Even if you’re just wearing it around the house, you’ll certainly have more fun looking at it compared to an angry red zit.
Formulated with chlorhexidine acetate, these little patches speed up the healing process by keeping out bacteria.
Text: Letty Seah/Her World
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