Microdarts, microcones, microneedles—the skin-care shelves are suddenly full of sharp-sounding instruments. The best microneedle patches, in particular, utilize tiny, dissolvable points to usher ingredients deeper into skin, theoretically yielding better results. Inspired by transdermal drug delivery (which sends prescription medications into the body through your skin), these innovative products now infuse the technology with pimple patches and wrinkles patches, according to Claire Chang, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City for a treatment like no other.
Vogue’s Favorite Microneedle Patches
Best Overall
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Microneedle Eye Patches
Jump to reviewBest for Acne
Hero Cosmetics Micropoint Acne Patches for Blemishes
But are they really better than your standard topical serum or cream? “There is some legitimate benefit, particularly for very targeted concerns,” says Dr. Chang. However, it’s not the microneedles themselves, but the combination of these sharp darts and the occlusive nature of the patches that can improve your skin. “The patch occludes and protects, preventing picking and sealing in actives,” says Sarah Sung, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle. “There’s real value in something that protects your skin from fidgeting fingers.” For that reason, they can be helpful for treating budding acne cysts that are deep within the skin, early fine lines, and even acne scars.
But beneficial as they may be, they’re still not a replacement for an in-office procedure like, well, actual microneedling. “Are they replacing lasers or injections? Definitely not,” says Dr. Sung. “But as an at-home boost: yes, they can add meaningful, albeit modest value.” With that, here’s what dermatologists consider worth your while.
In This Story
Best Overall: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Microneedle Eye Patches
PCA Skin
Hyaluronic Acid Microneedle Eye Patches
- Why We Love It: These under-eye patches are studded with over 1,200 microneedles, which help deliver hyaluronic acid beyond the outer layers of the skin—and they’ve earned stamps of approval from both Dr. Chang and Dr. Sung. Each microneedle features “four forms of hyaluronic acid plus brightening extracts to hydrate and visibly soften crepey under-eye skin,” says Dr. Sung, who recommends it as an occasional rescue or pre-event treatment when you need immediate plumping and refreshment. That makes them helpful for those with crow’s feet and general dryness alike.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, daisy flower extract, copper lysinate
- Best For: Crow’s feet, dry skin, puffiness
- Size: 4 treatments
Best for Acne: Hero Cosmetics Micropoint Acne Patches for Blemishes
Hero Cosmetics
Micropoint Acne Patches for Blemishes
- Why We Love It: For those fielding breakouts, keep these hydrocolloid patches on hand to halt any new arrivals. They “combine microneedling with acne-fighting salicylic acid and hydrating hyaluronic acid, which may be effective for early acne lesions and acne blemishes,” says Dr. Chang. They’re ideal for early cystic or “underground” pimples beneath the skin, which is why it’s worth using them at the first hint of a bump. Doing so “often shrinks the lesion and prevents picking,” says Dr. Sung.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, salicylic acid, willow bark extract
- Best For: Early-stage pimples, cystic acne
- Size: 8 patches
Best for Sensitive Skin: Some by Mi Micro Pin Spot Patch
- Why We Love It: Though they’re made to address breakouts, Some By Mi’s patches are surprisingly gentle, thanks to a hyaluronic acid coating on each needle. You’ll also find “niacinamide, salicylic acid, and centella asiatica to target early acne and calm inflamed skin,” says Dr. Chang. The niacinamide and centella asiatica (also known as cica) are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, which can help quell redness and minimize sensitivity.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, salicylic acid, centella asiatica
- Best For: Red or inflamed acne, sensitive skin
- Size: 9 patches
Best for Dark Spots: Peace Out Dark Spots Microneedling Dots
Peace Out
Dark Spots Microneedling Dots
- Why We Love It: Acne-minded patches have paved the way for those addressing the resulting acne scars and dark spots. The microneedles embedded in these patches “deliver tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and licorice directly into a stubborn spot to speed fading a little more effectively than a surface cream,” says Dr. Sung, who recommends using them consistently over a few weeks for isolated post-inflammatory marks. The combination of actives is noteworthy: They work in slightly different ways to slow the pigment production process, thus evening out skin tone over time.
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, tranexamic acid, ferulic acid
- Best For: Acne scars, dark spots
- Size: 12 patches
Best Drugstore: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Non-Invasive Targeted Patches
Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Non-Invasive Targeted Patches
- Why We Love It: A retinol serum or cream is good, but a retinol patch might be even better, since it can seal the vitamin A derivative into skin. “These wrinkle patches are a great drugstore choice as they contain collagen-promoting retinol, firming peptides, and hyaluronic acid,” Blair Murphy-Rose, M.D., previously shared with Vogue. The retinol itself is time-released for a longer-lasting effect, better allowing them to smooth wrinkles and fine lines, and their shape makes them versatile: You can apply them between the brows, around the eyes, and laugh lines.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid
- Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet
- Size: 6 patches
Best for Wrinkles: 111Skin Wrinkle Erasing Retinol Patches
111Skin
Wrinkle Erasing Retinol Patches
- Why We Love It: Designed for overnight wear, these wrinkle-smoothing patches “deliver concentrated retinol directly to targeted areas, promoting cell renewal, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles,” board-certified aesthetic injector Dr. Akis Ntonis previously told Vogue. Their slightly curved shape allows you to apply them to crow’s feet, nasolabial folds, frown likes, and elsewhere on the face, and they’ve been shown in clinical trials to reduce smile lines and deep eye wrinkles.
- Key Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, peptides
- Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles
- Size: 3 treatments
Best for Ingrown Hairs: Fur Ingrown Microdart Patch
- Why We Love It: Microneedle patches are also coming for your bikini line, where they can make quick work of ingrown hairs and errant bumps. After all, “In most cases, ingrown hairs will clear up without treatment,” celebrity esthetician Kristin Gunn previously said. “That being said, just about any product used for acne would work on an ingrown hair.” So it stands to reason that these patches, infused with a blend of salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and soothing cica, will help free trapped hairs from skin, leaving it smooth and comfortable.
- Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, cica, licorice root, hyaluronic acid, trehalose
- Best For: Ingrown hairs, body blemishes
- Size: 6 patches
Everything You Need To Know
Do microneedle patches actually work?
Microneedle patches, which are intended to shuttle active ingredients into deeper layers of skin, can indeed work to address wrinkles and pimples alike. “They use tiny, dissolvable needles to deliver active ingredients just below the outer layers of the skin, where they can work more effectively,” says Dr. Chang. “Once in the skin, the microneedles dissolve while releasing beneficial ingredients.”
The thinking is simple: “The microneedles help slightly increase depth of penetration, and the patch itself creates a gentle occlusive seal that further enhances absorption,” she says. However, it’s helpful to be realistic—just as with any topical product, results can take time, and they won’t necessarily deliver the dramatic transformation that actual microneedling can.
What to Look for in a Microneedle Patch
For one, consider your concern. Dr. Sung recommends matching the patch to the problem. “The microdarts are just the delivery system, so start with proven actives,” she says. “For acne, choose salicylic acid with niacinamide; for dark spots, look for niacinamide, tranexamic acid, or arbutin.” For fine lines, meanwhile, she recommends retinol or peptides (or both) paired with hyaluronic acid, which offers more immediate plumping effects.
Next, look for individually sealed patches, which can keep the microneedles dry and sterile, “and select a shape that adheres well to the area you’re treating—small rounds for pimples, strips for the forehead or crow’s feet,” says Dr. Sung.
Finally, make sure you’re using the right type of patch at the right time. For instance, plain hydrocolloid patches—without any microneedles, cones, or darts—are ideal for superficial whiteheads, whereas “true microneedle patches are more appropriate for early cystic lesions, targeted hyperpigmentation, or localized fine-line work,” says Dr. Sung.
What are the disadvantages of microneedle patches?
For one, microneedle patches are single-use products and may not be as economical as a topical serum or cream, “so I’d reserve them for stubborn spots or occasional SOS moments rather than daily use,” says Dr. Sung. She also advises patch-testing (easy, in this case) if you have sensitive skin. “Because they boost delivery, they can irritate sensitive skin or provoke reactions to adhesives,” she says.
How long should you leave a microneedle patch on?
Thanks to the microdarts, “you can get a lot of impact in a short amount of time,” says Dr. Sung. It ultimately depends on the exact product and formula, but some are effective in as soon as two hours.
However, more time wearing a patch doesn’t always mean better results, particularly if you’re using a patch with an exfoliating acid like salicylic acid. In fact, “leaving a patch on substantially longer than the recommended time may increase the risk of irritation and sensitivity,” says Dr. Chang. So read the directions and stick to them as closely as possible.
