- Value: 16/20
- Functionality: 19/20
- Ease of Use: 16/20
- Aesthetics: 17/20
- Effectiveness: 18/20
- TOTAL: 86/100
As someone who’s struggled with acne since I was a teen (I have the scars to prove it), you’d think I would know to keep my hands off the whiteheads. Or at least try every possible acne cure known to man as soon as they hit the shelves. But alas, I’ve remained a shameful picker and a popper for years. That is, until my pandemic-induced acne got out of hand.
Sometime in early April I decided it was time to wrangle my stress breakouts and retire those harmful habits. So, I got my hands on the Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Micro Tip Patches and wow did they get the job done.
The first time I used them, I’ll admit I totally jumbled the application process. Each of the little patches (they come in sets of six) are individually wrapped and as soon as I opened the first one, I put my fingers directly in contact with the sticky side of the patch. That, my friends, is a big no-no. The first step in the application process reads: “Open the pouch and carefully remove patch from tray. Remove the white film. Do not touch the center of the patch.”
So, that patch went in the trash and I started over. This time, I successfully applied it to a pulsing pimple above my eyebrow and I felt a satisfying ‘pop’ as I did. The center of each Dr. Jart+ patch features a cluster of tiny micro needles that safely and hygienically pop whiteheads, similar to what your derm does with a bigger, more painful needle. To clear the inflamed skin, the patch delivers 65 percent hyaluronic acid, vitamin B3 and peptides deep into the skin. The combo of ingredients regulates sebum—helping you avoid future breakouts—while clearing existing zits.
It’s recommended to wear these for a minimum of two hours, but since they’re not totally clear, I apply mine at night before the rest of my skincare routine and wake up in the morning, excited to peel it off. While you shouldn’t expect this patch to magically clear 100 percent of your pimple, you will see an improvement in redness, inflammation and overall shrinkage with one patch. If you’re dedicated enough to apply it two nights in a row, your zit will easily become a thing of the past. To be honest, I’ve even used mine on a cyst that I wholly blame on maskne and it was strong enough to penetrate it and obliterate it—no painful prodding on my end.
Once I was through with my first round of Dr. Jart+ Focuspots, I decided to test out a more budget-friendly pimple patch—since $18 a pop isn’t exactly cheap, considering one pack only lasted about three weeks. However, the cheaper option did absolutely nothing to clear my pimple and it came with a warning to avoid using it on cysts. So, yeah, I swiftly returned to my preferred, more expensive treatment. Hey, at least I can justify the price since these Dr. Jart+ patches actually, truly work.
