from sudden blemishes, and now I can’t live without them. I always make sure I’m fully stocked up with acne patches, and never forget to bring a sheet for sleepovers. ACROPASS takes this holy grail for acne-prone skin to the next level with its patented microneedle technology. Eager to learn how a microneedle patch would work, I tried the brand’s Trouble Cure Set for acne, its Soothing Q Set for insect bites, and the Line Care Set that targets wrinkles.

What is microneedling?

The word “needle” may trigger thoughts of pain or acupuncture, but microneedling has nothing to do with those concepts. Known as Microcons, the microneedles used by ACROPASS are made from soluble substances and are just 1/4 the width of human hair, meaning they won’t inflict any pain or injuries to skin. They help to inject potent ingredients into skin directly for speedier and more effective absorption. The microneedles are evenly dispersed at the center of the patch and surrounded by hydrocolloid that seals in moisture and wards off bacteria.

Application

The application method is almost the same as ordinary acne patches. To use, clean the area of concern, making sure it’s free of sebum, moisture or skin care products that may prevent the patch from sticking well. Remove the two backing films from the patch without touching the microneedles in the middle, and gently press onto skin. After two hours, carefully peel it off without tugging skin, and voila, your acne is flattened if not gone! The best part? It works also on cystic acne with closed pores!

Microneedle Patches vs Ordinary Acne Patches

Microneedles inject ingredients rather than absorb pus the way standard patches do. In the end, instead of seeing a dot of swollen hydrocolloid in the middle, you’ll find the microneedles have dissolved and disappeared, leaving just the plastic behind. These patches have weaker adherence to skin than regular patches. Even though Trouble Cure and Soothing Q are twice as large as conventional acne patches, they stick less well and tend to slide off after the microneedles have dissolved into skin. They’re also thicker than usual acne patches, so I wouldn’t wear them on the street or under makeup. I usually use them at home or under a face mask.

Trouble Cure Set JUMBO

This jumbo set comes with 22 pieces of single packaged wipes and patches. There’s also a regular version comprising of six wipes and patches. The alcohol wipe contains tea tree oil and salicylic acid to soothe, disinfect and exfoliate skin, but all I felt was the alcohol. It has a strong alcohol smell and creates a slight burning sensation, so I suggest to thoroughly clean your face with your usual cleanser instead of the wipe if you have sensitive skin.

Each patch contains 24 perfectly aligned microneedles at the center. Potent ingredients including hyaluronic acid, oligopeptide-76 and niacinamide penetrate into skin via the microneedles to foster skin recovery. The backing films are easy to remove. There was no tingling when I pressed the patch against skin. Instead of leaving it overnight like other acne patches, I usually removed it after two hours, as any longer and it would have slid off.

Soothing Q Set

Each packet consists of two pairs of banana-shaped patches, which are similar to eye patches in size and shape. Each patch contains 80 microneedles enriched with collagen, ascorbyl glucoside (which converts into Vitamin C in the body) and three types of hyaluronic acid, as well as acetyl octapeptide-3 to stimulate collagen synthesis and firm skin.

Wrinkles have always been an issue for my dry skin, especially now that I’m in my 30s. Instead of placing patches directly under the eyes, I positioned them at the corners of eyes and mouth where my wrinkles are most obvious.

Line Care Set

Each packet consists of two pairs of banana-shaped patches which are pretty similar to eye patches in size and shape. Each patch contains 80 microneedles enriched with collagen, ascorbyl glucoside (which converts into Vitamin C in the body), three types of hyaluronic acid, as well as acetyl octapeptide-3 to stimulate collagen synthesis and firm skin.

Wrinkles have always been an issue for my dry skin, especially now that I’ve passed my 30s. Instead of placing the patches directly under the eyes, I positioned them at the corners of my eyes and mouth where my wrinkles are most obvious.

Efficacy

Out of all three, Trouble Cure is undoubtedly the one worth investing in. It’s a lot more effective than ordinary acne patches, which often require three to four pieces to heal cystic acne. On my first trial, it flattened a brewing pimple overnight.

Effects of the Soothing Q and Line Care are less obvious. Soothing Q should not be used as a substitute for Trouble Cure even though it’s half the price.

Verdict

Some may say these patches are too expensive, but as someone who continuously suffers from cystic acne, I’d say the Trouble Cure’s worth it. Just get the jumbo instead of the regular packet – it’s more economical and comes out to just around US$1 per patch! While ordinary acne patches cost less, they’re far less effective. You’ll see the difference once you try it! I only wish the packaging could be less bulky and more eco-friendly. The alcohol wipes are also arguably unnecessary and may irritate skin.

Microneedle is a very promising technology, and I hope to see more ways to utilize it.