Both strips lifted sebaceous material from her skin, and were easily removed without redness or irritation. Our tester loved how smooth her skin felt after using the pore strip. We like that this strip targets all parts of the face that see excessive oil — the forehead, nose, and chin — and the low price doesn't hurt either.

This charcoal-infused strip from Ulta impressed our tester all around, especially when it came to the fit. " It's designed with small slits which allow the strip to fit snugly and contour my nose more than others," says our tester. "While wearing the strip, I felt no discomfort whatsoever. I could talk without noticing I had the strip on my nose. As I removed it, there was no discomfort at all," they add. Because the strip reached every angle, it pulled out small and large filaments alike on the top and sides of the nose, leaving our tester smooth and very satisfied. Plus, there was no redness — only a slight residue that easily came off with water. Overall our team loved how effectively this pore strip worked to remove oil and grime from pores. "I would use this strip again!" our tester exclaimed. "My nose and forehead both felt very smooth afterward. It's also fun to use because it makes a little octopus on your nose going up to your forehead." This unscented and playful pore strip is our favorite option for those on a budget. She appreciated how comfortable the strip was, and said it was "stiff, but not restrictive." The removal proved simple without any discomfort, redness, or irritation. Our tester noticed some residue from the charcoal, but it was cleaned off without issue. There were many filaments on the strip once removed, showing its effectiveness in pulling up dirt from the pores. Besides removing impurities in just 15 minutes, the strip also features a marine root-up complex that helps nourish, soothe, and shrink pores. Our tester did note that there was some residue left over after, but it was easy to wipe away revealing soft and smooth skin. She also loved how adorable the strip looked (like all TonyMoly products) — it forms a cute octopus on your face — making pore cleaning that much more fun. People who are allergic to adhesives, those that have sensitive skin, and those that are on an Rx retinoid are not good candidates for pore strips," says Dr. Patel, warning that substantial irritation or potential skin damage could occur.

Peels off painlessly

While we still think these pore strips stand out from the crowd, our team member who tested these out for a few months was not over the moon with the progress she'd hoped her skin would make while using these patches. While these certainly seemed to clean out her pores, there wasn't so much improvement in the size of them (she was hoping they'd shrink with continual use). She also felt that removing the strips in the morning was a bit more painful than the experience other testers had in the lab, which makes us think you don't need to leave them on for the full four to six hours recommended. There was residue left over on our skin after we removed these strips (but it could be easily cleaned) During its application, the strip became very tight on our tester's skin, which she said "was a bit uncomfortable" but let her know "it was working!" The removal process caused a tinge of pain when the strip was ripped off, but our tester said her nose felt "super soft after using the strip and definitely look[ed] clearer." She saw some redness after removing the strip, but "no major irritation." Our tester liked the feel of all three products, saying the nose strip has "zero feeling on your skin even though you know it is applied," and the acne dots blend into your skin and have zero irritation during and after use. While this kit is also in the pricier range, we believe the cost matches the value, and that those with oily and acne prone skin will benefit from this 3-in-1 system intended to stop acne before, during, and after it forms. With their advice, we compiled a list of 7 promising pore strips and sent nine testers to try them out in our lab and at home. Following the products' instructions, the testers rated each strip on ease of use, comfort, and efficacy. Hero's Mighty Patch for the Nose earned a perfect score and our Best Overall spot since there was no pain or irritation involved and it left our tester's skin poreless.

Using a pore strip is fairly straightforward — you put it on the desired area, wait the recommended amount of time, and then slowly pull it off and stare in wonder at all the gunk it pulled out. For the best results, board-certified dermatologist, Sandra Lee, M.D. (aka Dr. Pimple Popper) recommends taking a hot shower first to steam your face and loosen the gunk in your pores. You can also use a facial steamer. The application was somewhat intricate, but felt like a bandaid on our skin — noticeable, but not uncomfortable. Using hydrocolloid (a fluid-absorbing gel), this patch creates a barrier on the skin which traps oil and dirt around acne spots, and then lifts it from the skin when removed. The best part? The patch turns white as it pulls gunk out of your skin so you can see the results clearly. With all the beauty products that contain charcoal these days, it seems the ingredient and pore-declogging go hand-in-hand. "Because charcoal is highly absorbent, the idea is that when you put it on your skin, it will act as a micro sponge to trap the oil and sebum on the surface of your skin," says board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of BalmLabs, Robin Schaffran, M.D. Breakout Patch Classic Nose is a safe and gentle way to clear and smoothen the skin on the nose. Unlike traditional nose pore strips that may cause abrasion and damage to the skin, Breakout Patch Classic Nose works by absorbing impurities from the pores. It is formulated using hydrocolloid technology to keep excess oil at bay while helping to smoothen the skin. What is Breakout Patch Classic Nose used for?The Byrdie team carefully researched today's top-rated, best-selling pore strips before selecting 14 to try out first-hand. After inspecting the ingredients lists, intended uses, and guidelines, each option was applied according to the instructions. I have been using these strips on my chin once or twice a month since the last update and I have to say that my skin looks the best it ever has,” wrote one reviewer. “Once this product clears your skin, it keeps it that way!!” The Breakout Patch Classic Nose works to improve the appearance of the nose by gently removing excess oil and impurities from the nose. Hadley King, MD, FAAD, is a sought-after board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She specializes in cosmetic and medical treatments. We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

This T-Zone-friendly strip effectively and comfortably pulled sebaceous materials from our tester's skin without issue. She said the "strips stiffened as expected" and she "could talk and emote without feeling uncomfortable or [being] aware of them." Whether you’re already a big fan of the brand’s iconic Mighty Patch or you simply want to clean up your nose pores, Mighty Patch Nose Charcoal is a popular ingredient for removing excess oil and impurities from the skin, and this pore strip does just that. Our tester said the strip "adhered to [her] nose very well" and that there are "slit cut outs that allowed for a more custom fit." She said, "The small slits allowed for the strip to fit snuggly and contour my nose more than other strips I've used in the past."

Perfectly on the nose

This 3-in-1 acne treatment kit works wonders on your skin, reducing the size and redness of pimples and lifting grime from your skin before new acne can grow. Our tester had a breakout forming at the time of testing, and noticed that the whitehead absorbing dot had completely absorbed the sebum surrounding the bump after three and half hours. "I'm confident it would have absorbed the sebum in the whitehead's center if I'd continued using the dot," he said. Another common ingredient in pore strips is charcoal, which is supposed to further help draw out oil and impurities from the skin. However, Dr. Schaffran says it's not clear how effective charcoal really is at absorbing oil. "There is little to no evidence to substantiate the claims that skincare companies are making about the use of activated charcoal in products." she says. While it is too early to confirm the benefits of charcoal, it is unlikely to be truly harmful. You can determine your own level of comfort with this ingredient. And if you’re worried about the patch irritating your skin like other pore strips might, stress no more. It’s made of 100 percent medical-grade hydrocolloid, which is drug-free, non-drying and compatible with sensitive skin. Below, hear more about the Mighty Patch Nose’s When your pores are having a bad day and are looking more noticeable than usual, the Mighty Patch Nose can easily draw out all the gunk from your pores, as seen in @itsdaraj‘s TikTok, which has garnered over 366,000 views. Simply put it on at night and peel the patch off the next morning to admire (or shudder at, depending on your threshold for gross things) the fabulous work it did, all while you were sound asleep. The TikToker says, “That is revolting in the best way possible,” as she pulls the patch off after wearing it overnight. Even without her removing it from her nose, viewers can see all of the white spots (a.k.a. the gunk) on the strip. Again, gross, but also super impressive. While your skin type may not directly contribute to a pore strip's efficacy, it can still play a role. For instance, many pore strips seek to pull oil and dirt from the skin, so if your skin is oily/combination type, you may find more gunk on your strip after use. Those with dry/normal skin may not have as much buildup, but it varies person to person. Of course, sensitive skin can affect your ability to use certain pore strips, so being mindful of products that cause redness/irritation should be front of mind.

Replying to @Brianna Messer try out the mighty patch nose hydrocolloid nose strip with me to clean out my pores! #nosestrips #nosestrip #nosepores #noseporecleaner #noseporestrip #noseporestrips #noseporestripsbeforesleep #porestrip #porestrips #porestripremoval #porestripsremoval #porestripchallenge #porestripnose #daraj #mightypatch #mightypatchnose #hydrocolloidbandages #hydrocolloidpatches #hydrocolloidpatch #hydrocolloidbandagechallenge #herocosmetics #cleanoutpores #cleanporesforlife #cleanpores #cleanporesforlife ♬ original sound – Itsdaraj | makeup & beautyNo. Pore strips won't make your pores look bigger, but they often don't work, so sometimes pores are simply getting fulleron their own despite using pore strips," says Dr. Schaffran.