AS a teenager, covering my acne involved a thick, green concealer and layers of Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse.
But Gen Z has a new way – spot patches.
We put three sets of spot patches to the test
This week, I put three to the test . . . 
Starface Hydrostars are a popular budget optionCredit: Supplied
Starface Hydro-Stars, £11.99 for 32: I went to New York last year and quickly lost count of the number of people I saw wearing these fun yellow stickers on their faces.
At first it was jarring, but I quickly adjusted and, quite frankly, wish I’d been able to do the same when my acne was at its worst.
I bought a pack.
While I’m not convinced they get rid of my spots any quicker than usual, they do shield spots from outside bacteria, stop me picking at my skin and cover blemishes far faster than make-up ever would.
Peace Out Acne Dots are by far my favouriteCredit: Supplied
Peace Out Acne Dots, £17 for 20: Having decided that spot patches were more of a distraction than a cure, these clever dots came as a huge surprise.
They are thicker than any others I have tried, which means they are not really suitable for wearing out and about during the day.
But they work so quickly you probably won’t need more than one night.
The hydrocolloid layer absorbs all the gunk from inside whiteheads, without causing scabbing or leaving a scar, like popping them would.
They are by far my favourite and well worth the extra outlay.
Zitsticka Killa are great for using while you travelCredit: Supplied
ZitSticka Killa, £27 for eight: These clever, spiky patches contain micro-darts which get into the spot and deliver ingredients such as salicylic acid and niacinamide, which help to unclog pores, so they work on a deeper level than most spot patches.
I love that each patch comes with a cleansing wipe so you know you are not trapping any dirt below the patch.
I was not sure about the darts at first.
They feel almost like pins pricking the skin, but there is no discomfort or pain.
The results were not as fast as I experienced with the Peace Out patches, but they are great for travelling, as they are individually wrapped.
Elizabeth Arden and Stanley have created a kit that hydrates inside and outCredit: Supplied
IN my favourite beauty collab of 2024 so far, Elizabeth Arden and Stanley have created a kit that hydrates inside and out – with £40 off.
The Ultimate Hydration Bundle, for £70 (worth £110), includes the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate drinks tumbler, the new Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturiser and more.
See elizabetharden.co.uk.