KD—August 16, 2015
UPDATE: I've updated my rating from 3 stars to 5, because I really hate to be without these things now - I'll panic a little if I forget to bring them on trips away from home. No, they still don't heal acne, but if I've expressed a pimple (because I can't stop myself), these hydrocolloid dots provide a moist healing environment. My picked-at pimple will heal faster and won't get a dry scab, reducing any scarring. I get acne on my chest and shoulders in the summer for some reason, and these dots help hide the red blemish, and they blend in well. They work great on most of my face and for the most part aren't very noticeable, but I will say that near my chin and mouth where my skin has a lot of movement from me talking and smiling, the dots will wrinkle at the edges, making them very noticeable, so do keep that in mind. I did try the Nexcare brand of acne dots, and those have raised edges that are noticeable, and they also don't stay on well at all - each morning I'd wake up to find the acne dot had come off and was somewhere in the bedsheets or had restuck onto me elsewhere. These Cover-Dots don't have that problem at all, they stay on for 48 hours or more. Very happy with these Cover-Dots from SMARTMED. ORIGINAL REVIEW: Do these dots make my acne disappear? No. I can wear these for 24 hours and they stay in place despite my oily skin, but they don't make my acne go away, or suck out pus from an unpopped zit (ew, sorry I'm mentioning it) or anything. If a zit has been popped it does help the area stay clean so I'm not dabbing with a tissue every 2 minutes, and helps it heal that way. It also keeps me from picking at acne (which is a big problem for me) which is the main reason I use these. It's best to remove them after washing your face with warm water, it helps loosen the adhesive of the dot. I don't have any experience trying to cover these with makeup, as I just wear them around the house. So, an "acne cure"? Not for me. But it keeps me from picking at my face and that's a good thing (I'm my own worst enemy). Read more
Brittany B—December 11, 2015
I never really got acne as a teenager and thought that I had lucked out. Unfortunately when I was twenty-two and just starting grad school, the nightmare that is cystic acne began. It was so painful and I wished I had just gotten the non-cystic kind back when I was a teenager and everyone else had it. When it first started I would try to pop them, using my fingers or one of those pimple extractor tools. What a huge mistake, which left me punished by an even more disfiguring skin condition called impetigo. As a result, I started seeing a dermatologist. The dermatologist prescribed me a multitude of topical treatments, but nothing seemed to work. Right when my skin would start clearing up, a new cyst would pop up. I would try to schedule an appointment to get cortisone injections right when I felt a cyst forming, only to be told the soonest I could come in was a week later. For those that struggle with cystic acne, you probably know how these little cysts like to grow and conquer a huge portion of your face (forehead for me) as well as your self-esteem in the matter of days. So there was no way waiting days to get an appointment was an option for me. Especially when traveling where a dermatologist visit is not possible. However, I finally perfected a skin routine that keeps my acne manageable, and my skin looking great. It is not a cure to acne, but it has lessened the frequency and quantity of my acne and treats the infrequent cysts and blemishes that I do get with extremely fast results. 1. Every morning and night cleanse your skin with a non-exfoliating, gentle cleaner using just your clean fingertips and warm water. (DO NOT USE a washcloth, face brush/polisher, Konjac sponge, etc.). Let your skin air-dry. -I cleanse my skin with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, For all skin types 2. Then apply a small amount of acne spot treatment to your cyst or blemish. -I personally like Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Fast-Acting Salicylic Acid Acne Spot Treatment . 3. After the spot treatment is dry place the cover-dot over the blemish/cyst. -These things are great, however I think they are noticeable in public even if you try to cover them with makeup, which is why I only wear them when I am at home, sleeping, or on an airplane. -I also use these Cover-Dots for non-acne related skin irritations, like split lips I get from having chapped lips. 4. Wait about five minutes to make sure the adhesive bond between the Cover-Dot and your skin has formed. Then apply whatever moisturizer works for you over the rest of your face. -I personally like using Glo Therapeutics Oil Free Moisturizer or Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion . 5. When the Cover-Dot turns white or you need to be seen in public, remove the Cover-Dot. -I try to keep the Cover-Dot on for as long as possible so it has more time to heal and it comes off easily. 6. Repeat steps 1&2 (Face Cleanser and Acne Spot treatment gel). 7. Apply your moisturizer to your entire face (don't avoid the acne) 8. Next apply a sunscreen that works for you, making sure to avoid your eyes. - I hate using sunscreen outside of the SPF contained in my makeup because it makes me break out or it stings my sensitive skin, even the glorified EltaMD. If I'm not spending the day at the beach, I only use sunscreen as a spot treatment over my blemishes, acne scars, and smile line wrinkles. -The sunscreen I use is Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby Sunscreen . I'm sure there is a better sunscreen out there, but this one I know does not sting my irritated skin. 9. If you wear makeup, apply it now. -The makeup routine that works best for my acne troubles is as follows: I apply Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 30 . It is amazing. Because of the way this foundation fills in my pores and kind of has a priming effect, I apply concealer on top of it. I use a makeup sponge and apply Glo Minerals Camouflage Oil free Concealer Makeup or Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer over any blemishes, scars, marks that remain visible. Then I use bareMinerals Warmth as a cheek contour, bareMinerals blush, and bareMinerals mineral veil. 10. Spray your face with Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater for the finishing touch! -This step is especially helpful for me since it helps set my powder makeup. P.S. I have also tried the 3M Nexcare Acne Absorbing covers and Dream Dots, but these SMARTMED Cover-Dots are my #1. The Nexcare ones are much thicker and harder than these. The Dream Dots are similar to SMARTMED's Cover-Dots and I wouldn't say they are better or worse than the SMARTMED brand, but the Dream Dots are more expensive and only come in packs of 24 dots for $16.99, while you can get a 48 Cover-Dot pack for $15.75. P.P.S. I know my review was long, with lots of product recommendations, so I feel the need to let you know that I DID NOT receive any free product or compensation for this review. Read more
