By: Clare Daly
IT’S THE POP CULTURE FOR US
Popping pimples is addicting, I get it. It’s taken over my TikTok feed (and my thoughts) like wildfire. Extraction satisfaction from the faces of strangers might be more bingeable than the new season of Bridgerton. Don’t tell the Viscount, but the instant gratification from seeing goo fly across the room is too good to pass up.
On any given day, my FYP is flooded with videos from professionals and amateurs alike, poking and prodding at all types of skin to an audience of millions. The hashtag #pimplepopping has over 15 BILLION views on TikTok, and nearly 170,000 posts on Instagram.
After consuming all this content, I find myself a bit of a Gen-Z Carrie Bradshaw, thinking out loud: Is popping pimples really that bad? And if not, what's the best way to pop a pimple?
HYDRO HISTORY
Did you know? Hydrocolloids are cousins of one of the world's oldest skincare solutions. Believe it or not, the National Library of Medicine says that the ancient Egyptians dressed wounds with grease and honey under gauze, which inspired the gelatinous adhesives of today. The hydrocolloid used in zit removing patches was invented in the ‘80s, and often relied on animal-based sources for its rejuvenating jelly.
Nowadays, many pimple patches and blister bandages have steered toward vegan or plant-based alternatives like pectin, carrageenan, and agar. The bright idea to use hydrocolloid in skincare was first pioneered in Korean beauty in the 90s. Our classic hydrocolloid, GOO GETTER, made her debut in 2020, and 88% of trial participants found that their affected skin returned to normal— without any lingering redness or scabbing.
If you haven’t heard, FACE MAP made her debut just days ago. She wasn’t dropped at ZitSticka by a stork, but she was developed by the big-brain scientists on our team. FM tackles serious sectors of spots via bigger hydrocolloid sheets that hug the contours of your cheeks, chin, forehead, or any other attention-seeking zitty zones. Made of the same science-backed, skin-loving, Korean-inspired ingredients as GG, but in a bigger size! How 시원한!
ONCE YOU POP, YOU CAN STOP
The bad news: It is that bad. Bummer. The good news: There’s a better way! If you’re wondering just what to do after you pop a pimple, I’ll tell you. Hydrocolloid bandages and patches are the move for post-pop care. Sometimes the temptation is just too great, and that’s okay! These acne spot treatments work like a second skin by tricking your brain and body into thinking your zit patch is a natural scab.
Once you put a patch on, the ingredients swarm the squashed spot and lock in hard-working fluids like salicylic and hyaluronic acids for peak damage control. Using this magic method, your skin regenerates faster, extracts grime easier, and forms a moist (sorry!) home for your popped pimple to recover. GOO GETTER and FACE MAP also form a convenient barrier between your zit and outside stressors (like your fingers and your environment), to ensure things stay smooth.
TRIED AND TRUE
Hydrocolloids have been trusted by clinicians, dermatologists, and other skin pros for years. Jordyn Oakland, a licensed esthetician, says,
“Hydrocolloid dressings have been used in the medical field for decades. What they do is create an occlusive environment to help with the renewal process, aka, getting our skin back to its former glory, stat.”
She continues, “This allows our exposed wounds—yes that includes pimples!—to be protected to kickstart a safe healing ground: Think a “faux layer” of skin that helps our own skin to safely and quickly repair itself with less chance of scarring.”
Oakland says that FACE MAP “creates a physical barrier so you pick the patch first while speeding up the regeneration of breakouts, while simultaneously avoiding germs from your fingernails.” So true! No matter how often you scrub your hands, germs and oil can linger and infect your skin. Avoiding touching an inflamed area, even if the temptation is unbearable, keeps your face as flawless as can be.
MAP YOUR PATH TO CLEAR (WITH FACE MAP)
If you’ve got clusters of clogged pores, your skin needs a bit more coverage than just one spot. That’s GOO GETTER’s specialty, and we wouldn’t want to steal her spotlight!
FACE MAP is a set of clinically approved surface area patches that use the same iconic ingredients as its small-but-mighty sister, but this new skin saver specializes in large-scale suckage. FACE MAP is built with super sucking power for absorbing excess oil, unclogging parties of pores and targeting tired, textured skin. This suite of super-sized hydrocolloid patches will be the best thing on your shelf, and you can thank us later.
Shop FACE MAP here.
