As a city girl with oily skin, I consider pimple patches a handbag essential. For the uninitiated, they’re small hydrocolloid stickers that can be placed over a blemish to draw out excess moisture and bacteria from your pores, all while promoting a healing environment by reducing inflammation.
Pimple patches first exploded all over social media feeds a few years ago, with the American brand Starface spearheading the rise. Thanks to the endorsement of A-listers like Florence Pugh, Anne Hathaway and Willow Smith, having one of the brand’s star-shaped stickers on your face became something of a status symbol. I was recovering from a particularly bad bout of teenage hormonal acne at the time, and swiftly became hooked.
As I got a little older, though, I occasionally felt self-conscious walking around with neon stickers plastered on my chin. Thankfully, I discovered that drugstore brands such as Cetaphil cater to such moments, with clear pimple patches. In 2026, there are more options than ever – including plenty of playful new versions from Hailey Bieber’s Rhode, K-Beauty brand Anua and the original Starface.
This month, spot stickers by Australian brand The Breakout Hack will land in the UK at Boots. Its Princess Treatment Pocket Patches come in chunky mirror cases, and include gingham heart, teacup and bow designs. “We’ve seen pimple patches evolve from being something people wanted to hide, to something people are now actively accessorising as part of their look,” founder Rachael Wilde tells British Vogue. “Acne can feel heavy and emotionally draining, so we’re always looking for ways to bring a sense of fun and lightness.”
Shop some of Vogue’s favourite pimple patches below.
