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TL;DR
Earning perfect scores in all categories, our pick for the best pore strip is the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose, a single-ingredient solution to clogged pores that won’t irritate the skin. If you're looking for a pore strip with soothing ingredients, we recommend Starface Lift Off Pore Strips, which contain aloe vera and witch hazel.
Besides late-'90s nostalgia, one of the main draws of pore strips is that they're incredibly satisfying to use. The adhesive patches stick on your nose, chin, or forehead and remove any excess oil, dirt, or gunk when you peel them off. When used correctly, pore strips can be super helpful when dealing with blackheads.
However, not all pore strips are equal. We tested dozens of pore strips to see which ones unclogged pores without causing pain or redness. In addition to performing our own tests, we tapped board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara, M.D., to get the 411 on all things pore strips. Here are the six best pore strips that provide a pleasant peel-off experience without irritation.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Nose
Effective and feels comfortable on the skin
Nonirritating
Only one ingredient
Almost too sticky
Amount: 10 strips | Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Hero Cosmetics is known for its iconic Mighty Patch zit stickers, and the Mighty Patch Nose is similarly heroic. The patch's hydrocolloid gel absorbs excess dirt and oil overnight, trapping gunk and refining pores while you sleep. Best of all, you can quite literally see the results—the strip turns white as it unclogs your skin.
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Mariah, tester with oily skin: "This product has become part of my weekly routine to unclog pores. I run very oily, particularly on my nose, so this has really helped with impurities. My nose looks noticeably clearer. I also like that it's an overnight patch because I can put it on and forget about it."
Best for Sensitive Skin
Starface Lift Off Pore Strips
Aloe vera and witch hazel soothe skin
Doesn't cause irritation
Affordable and easily accessible
Didn’t lift every blackhead
Amount: 8 strips | Key Ingredients: With hazel, aloe vera, allantoin | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Founded by beauty editor Julie Schott, Starface made waves with its decorative star-shaped pimple patches, which can also help give your nose a little TLC. The Lift Off Pore Strips remove blackheads and go deep to cleanse the skin using the effective ingredient trifecta of aloe vera (moisturizes and calms skin), witch hazel (reduces irritation), and allantoin (hydrates and soothes the skin). To apply, start with clean, dry skin. Then, wet your nose before applying the patch, sticky side down. Leave on for 15 minutes or until the strip feels dry, and gently peel off before you go about your day.
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Cheyann, tester with dry skin: "This product performs very well. It grabs a significant amount of whiteheads, both small and deep, after each use. It leaves my nose feeling soft and smooth."
Best With Retinol
Peace Out Pores Oil-Absorbing Nose Strips
Retinol helps shrink pores
Immediate, noticeable results
Painless removal
Retinol may irritate sensitive skin
Amount: 4 nose strips, 4 chin strips | Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, retinol | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This set of oil-absorbing pore strips is infused with hydrocolloid polymer technology that extracts dirt, blackheads, and dead skin cells from pores, helping minimize their appearance. Additionally, the strips contain retinol, which helps minimize and refine the look of pores (though it may irritate very sensitive skin). To use, cleanse your skin as usual, apply a nose or pore strip sticky-side down, and press for 10 seconds. Leave on for six or more hours, then gently remove the strip. Peace out, blackheads!
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Leslie, tester with normal skin: "It felt comfy on my skin, and it removed some blackheads as well as excess oil. Removal was painless, and there was no irritation or redness."
Best for T-zone
TonyMoly Tako Pore One Shot Nose Pack
Strip covers entire T-zone
Removes oil and sebum well
Leaves the skin soft
Only one strip per pack
Amount: 1 strip | Key Ingredients: Taurine, Madagascar mud, Dead Sea salt | Cruelty-Free: Yes
TonyMoly definitely wins for cutest packaging, but more than that, these Tako Pore One Shot strips are perfectly shaped to tackle your T-zone troubles. These strips contain Madagascar mud and Dead Sea salt to purify skin, with the powerful mask extracting deeply embedded skin impurities over a larger surface area. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes or until the sheet is completely dry before gently removing it by lifting the outer edges.
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Alyssa, tester with oily skin (not shown): "These pore strips have helped me to cut down on the mud masks I normally use. I'm also finding that my makeup applies more smoothly in my T-zone because it removes blackheads well."
Best for Entire Face
Formula 10.0.6 Down To the Pore Strips Pack
Comes with strips for the nose, chin, and forehead
Doesn't cause redness
Feel soft and comfortable on the skin
Didn’t remove all blackheads
Amount: 4 nose strips, 4 chin/forehead strips | Key Ingredients: Charcoal, Moroccan lava clay, kaolin, witch hazel, aloe vera | Cruelty-Free: Yes
K-beauty brand Formula 10.0.6 offers pore strips for your nose, chin, and forehead. The Down to the Pore strips use the combined power of witch hazel and charcoal to rid pores of oil and stubborn impurities. The application process is easy, and you only need to use a small amount of water as you apply. Upon removal, your nose will feel smooth and clear.
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Julia, tester with sensitive skin (not shown): "I would recommend these for those that want strips for all areas of their face. The box includes nose, chin, and forehead strips to help cover the most acne-prone areas. I think each strip pulls out a fair amount of dirt, and it's fun to use."
Best Multiuse
Patchology Breakout Box 3-in-1 Acne Treatment Kit
Comes with patches for acne and pores
Comfortable nose strip
Easy to use
Dots adhesive wasn’t as strong as we would have liked
Amount: 48 dots, 3 strips | Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, charcoal, bentonite, kaolin, witch hazel, aloe vera | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Everyone loves an all-in-one product, and this Breakout Box from Patchology is here for any unwelcome blemish or impurity you may notice. Gentle and effective anti-inflammatory ingredients (i.e., salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and more) meet simple pore care with this set of pimple patches and pore strips. The Detoxifying Charcoal Nose Strip is definitely the star of the show. Apply for 10-15 minutes and remove gently.
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Mandy, tester with acne-prone skin: "The nose strip is extremely comfortable. There's zero feeling on your skin, even though you know it is applied correctly."
What to Look for When Buying Pore Strips
- Ingredients: When in doubt, Dr. Gohara advises people to “opt for simple, nonirritating formulas without fragrances or harsh astringents that can dry out the skin.” Many pore strips are made of hydrocolloid, a healing substance that seals the skin, absorbs fluids, and draws out impurities. Others contain a blend of hydrocolloid and other absorbent ingredients, like kaolin and lava clay. Some patches are infused with natural soothers, such as aloe vera and witch hazel.
- Adhesive: Finding the perfect adhesive for a pore strip is a Goldilocks situation. “The adhesive should be strong enough to remove surface debris but not so aggressive that it damages the skin barrier,” Dr. Gohara says. “If it’s painful to remove, it’s likely too harsh.” (Note: Hydrocolloid is inherently sticky, which is why many pimple patches and pore strips are made from this substance alone.)
- Shape: When it comes to size and fit, you want to make sure that the pore strip primarily targets the troubled area. Dr. Gohara says a well-fitting pore strip should cover blackhead-prone areas without extending too far onto delicate skin. You may also choose pore strips that feature slits to bend it into place.
How We Tested Pore Strips
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Below are the features our editors and contributors evaluated to determine our top picks.
- Efficacy: One of the best parts of using a pore strip is the satisfaction of how much gunk is removed after use. We selected pore strips that delivered on their promises, observing how well each removed our blackheads and sebaceous filaments. We also considered which options reduced the appearance of large pores.
- Comfort: Pore strips can get a bad rap for discomfort, so we only selected options that didn’t feel cumbersome when applied. We also tracked how it felt to remove each strip, disqualifying options that were too painful or left skin feeling irritated.
- Irritation: While pore strips are effective, they can also irritate skin. We chose options that left minimal redness and discomfort behind.
Meet Our Expert
To gain more insight into what makes an excellent pore strip, we reached out to the following expert:
- Dr. Mona Gohara, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist. She is an associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Dermatology and is an EltaMD Advisory Board Member.
Why Trust Byrdie
Austen Tosone is a contributing writer for Byrdie and a content creator based in NYC. Whether she’s testing skincare, makeup, or hair products, Austen dives deep into the details, including ingredients, packaging, and customer reviews, to ensure she’s recommending the best to Byrdie readers.