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Seen Unseen Pimple Patch

Name: Unseen Pimple Patch
Brand: Seen
Rating: 3.00 (1 reviews)

3.0 · 1 review

This blemish patch uses Hydrocolloid to cover open blemishes and absorb the fluid they release.

We independently verify ingredients, backed by peer-reviewed research. Suggest an update.

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What's inside

Ingredients List

Hydrocolloid

Bakuchiol

Antimicrobial

Hydrocolloid, Bakuchiol

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Key Ingredients

Benefits

Ingredients Explained

Hydrocolloid

Hydrocolloid is not an INCI ingredient. It's a soft, gel-forming material that got its start in hospital wound care.

A typical hydrocolloid layer is coated with a mix of gelatin, pectin, xanthan gum, carrageenan, and Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose (the parts that soak up fluid) into a sticky rubber base, and then pressed into a thin film backing.

When you stick it on an open or "popped" pimple, these polymers pull in the fluid and turn it into a gel. This helps keep the spot moist and creates a barrier against outside bacteria. Plus, there's some UV blocking as well so the spot is less likely to leave a dark mark.

The current research is small but encouraging. A 2006 study found hydrocolloid dressings on acne lesions:

A 2024 manufacturer study in 41 subjects aged 12-35 showed patches significantly improved the appearance of popped pimples by Days 1 and 4, with improvements in smoothness, crusting, redness, size, and dryness.

Another 2025 trial on a related hydrogel patch reported a 35% reduction in lesion size and a 44% improvement in lesion severity by Day 2 versus the control group.

Just remember patches mostly help surface whiteheads; they generally cannot treat blackheads and do not help deeper cystic or persistent hormonal acne. There are a few case reports that link rosin-based tackifier in some dressings to contact dermatitis as well.

Because it is a patch, there's no meaningful "usage percentage".

The adhesive itself is usually 50-70% hydrocolloid powders with the rest as elastomer.

Learn more about Hydrocolloid

Bakuchiol

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Emollient

Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant from the seeds of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. It has antimicrobial, emollient, skin conditioning, and antioxidant properties.

You'll likely see it called a "retinol replacement" but the two are technically not related. This is because bakuchiol is able to flip many of the same switches in your skin cells to tell them to:

1) produce more collagen (type I, III, and IV)
2) activate the same genes retinoids do

Unlike retinoids, this ingredient will not increase photosensitivity and is safe to use during pregnancy (but please still check in with your doctor!).

The flagship clinical trial from Dhaliwal et al. 2019 found 0.5% bakuchiol (twice daily) and 0.5% retinol (once daily) reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation equally, but bakuchiol had significantly less irritation.

Systematic reviews also back this up:

Bakuchiol is comparable to retinol for photoaging but with better tolerability. It also has mild antibacterial properties against Cutibacterium acnes and antifungal activity in vitro against Candida and dermatophytes.

The reason bakuchiol works well is due to its structure; it is a meroterpene phenol, or a hybrid molecule. The phenol half acts as an antioxidant while the terpene half is fat-loving. This helps the molecule slip through the skin barrier.

This ingredient is usually used between 0.5-2%. Only one case of contact dermatitis has ever been reported for this ingredient.

Learn more about Bakuchiol