If you’ve got an annoying blemish that you need to banish pronto, my review of the Madecassoside Needle Spot Patch from A’PIEU will hopefully help you find out more about the perfect product.

You may know I’m no stranger to using acne patches but it’s the first time I’ve used any with needles in them. Actual needles. I won’t lie, I’ve been scared of these because of the needle element but I couldn’t resist stocking up in South Korea. I actually found these when I waited to pay for my (rather large) selection of K-beauty goodies at Chicor in Gangnam. I’m not even sorry for a last-minute splurge.

Spot patches with needles… sounds scary!

I’ll admit that I love cute beauty product packaging like the popular Tony Moly Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack but I still appreciate sleek, modern packaging. Presented in a chic resealable packet, they’re in an inner plastic container to make them even more hygienic.

These patches aim to flatten blemishes and bring them to a head while supporting the skin’s barrier with a protective film. As it states on the label, these hydrocolloid micro needle patches only contain a couple of ingredients, including a whopping 92% sodium hyaluronate and 5% madecassoside. Madecassoside helps soothe inflammation associated with acne and sodium hyaluronate repairs skin and prevents acne scars forming.

A fun way to banish blemishes

Considering these spot patches are a bit more expensive than other brands on the market, I’m a bit disappointed you only get 10 patches in each packet. There are 24 different sized patches in the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch kit. While we’re comparing, I think it would be better for the A’PIEU patches to come in a variety of different sizes so you can treat great big whopping spots as well as smaller (but still bothersome) blemishes like whiteheads.

As a devotee to the aforementioned COSRX patches, I feel guilty for trying another brand. It’s a small price to pay for being a total K-beauty addict. I’ve been saving these for a mammoth blemish and sure enough two hormonal beasts cropped up underneath the surface of my chin a couple of weeks ago.

Being irritatingly close together, it was a little tricky to ensure both were covered equally by individual patches. Once I got the hang of the fiddly application (you need to peel off the plastic and white seals while being careful not to touch the needles), I overlapped two patches, ensuring the needle parts fully covered everything nasty.

Good riddance to bad spots!

To enhance their magic spot-sucking powers, you need to lightly press the needle area once they’re on. Not going to lie, the tingling sensation feels really weird. They adhere to my face well but they stick better if it’s a flat surface. Whenever I use them on the curve of my chin, I gently press the outer corners to make sure they’re stuck down properly.

The first time I used them I was anxious they were going to fall off and that I’d find them on my pillow. Thankfully, this never happens with these patches. Provided you apply them to clean skin, they’ll stay on for the suggested 8-12 hours. I prefer using them overnight.

When I gently peel them off, I see visible white gunk in the used patches (sorry!) so I know they’re working. Unlike with the COSRX patches, these leave the spot area dry, which I’m not sure I like because it means I have to hydrate that area more to stop my skin looking flaky underneath my foundation.

However, I really love these needle acne patches. The mammoth spots I first targeted with these were dramatically reduced. The angry red swelling disappeared and my skin didn’t feel as sensitive or painful to touch. I honestly didn’t think they’d work so well on spots without a head. While they won’t replace the COSRX ones, I’ll definitely buy these again!

Discover how I use a soothing cleansing oil to care for my sensitive skin and check out my review of the Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil today!

A’PIEU AT Chicor, approximately £7