This is a post I’ve been meaning to write ever since I’ve started Chasing Elixir, and it’s about The One. The One is a skincare item that nothing else can replace nor compare with in awesomeness, and that I can/will never live without. It is an item that should be available worldwide, and everyone needs to have it in their beauty drawer/cabinet/walk-in closet.
The One is… 3M Nexcare Acne Dressing!!! *cue suspense revealed music: da-dum-DAHHH*
Nexcare Acne Dressing is made of Hydrocolloid dressing, which is an opaque dressing used in medicine to provide a moist wound-healing environment, while protecting from contamination. It comes in various shapes, mostly circles, to assists in the healing of pimples by sucking out the pus and protecting from getting further inflamed.
I stockpile this little beauty by the dozens, and use it every time I suffer a full-blown pimple breakout or milia. It comes in packs of 18-72, and is sealed in a plastic sleeve plus a film at the back.
Before applying the acne dressing, you need to ensure that the area you’re applying to is clean and dry. It’s also the most effective when the wound is open. So for a pimple, wait till it’s ripe for squeezing (ie. when you can see a bit of white under the skin), and pop it until the pimple, pus and blood is almost all gone. For a milia, use a clean blackhead extractor or round end of a clean hairpin to squeeze out the congestion (disinfect the apparatus with some alcohol).
Now we move to the graphic step-by-step account of how the Nexcare Acne Dressing performs its magic – word of warning: DO NOT READ ON FULL STOMACH!
I suffered a major chin pimple a couple of weeks ago. It started way underneath my skin like a sore red bump, and finally reared its white head a week later. At which point I squeezed the sucker out (wrapped my fingers with cleansing wipes, and using an outwardly pushing motion) – it was a momentous occasion as the pimple popped and splattered onto my bathroom mirror… SO SO GOOD!!!!
Taking out a new pack of Nexcare Acne Dressing, I first remove the clear film on the back and take an acne dressing of the size that is bigger than the pimple (in this case, the bigger circle). Each pack comes with a tweezer for this, but I find it easier to peel the dressing off with my fingernail. Then I simply stick the acne dressing onto what is left of the pimple.
You can see that whilst the sticker is clear-ish, it’s by no means invisible. So I only have this on at home or running brief errands. The best thing to do is apply this before bed time, and leave it on overnight. The dressing is breathable, and leaving it on overnight maximises its pus sucking power!
Now I need to give you another word of warning – DO NOT READ ON IF YOU HAVE ANY FOOD IN YOUR STOMACH.
Once on the skin, the Nexcare Acne Dressing starts to absorb all the secretion from the skin – which is all the pus and inflammation from the popped pimple. The amount of secretion depends on the size of the pimple/congestion. As my chin pimple was of the gigantic proportion, the secretion is no short of epicness in a hugely gross way.
3rd warning… THINK BEFORE YOU READ ON.
Ewwwwww!!!! The next morning the acne dressing has absorbed a pile of pus from the pimple – so much so that it has almost come off the skin! After removing it, I apply some AHA serum and mineral makeup for work.
I continue to apply a fresh acne dressing on the area every night until the pimple is all gone and the area is completely flat. Then I deal with the hyperpigmentation with L’Occitane Precious Cream.
As the Nexcare Acne Dressing also protects the skin from contamination, I also use it over whiteheads, and minor congestions to stop them from becoming infected pimples. Sometimes I go months without needing any, and sometime I churn through them by the packets since 1 sticker only covers a small area.
3M Nexcare Acne Dressing is available in pharmacies Asia-wide. For non-Asia residents you can purchase them from reputable Ebay sellers – expect to pay around AUD$5 for a packet of 36.
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Eeep gross yet awesome and amazing, I need these just in case
Jade: Glad you enjoyed it!
That wasn’t gross at all!
Yolanda recently posted..Review: SAX Cosmetics Rich Lip Colour Lipsticks in Soft Rose & Plum Spice
Yolanda: You have a much stronger stomach than me – I struggled even editing the photos!
Aww man I was expecting poo or blood or even splattered pus on the mirror (oh so good and satisfying!). Child’s play lah
On a more related note, bugger I forgot to buy this when I was in Malaysia!!!! >.<
Tine recently posted..New Year Giveaway: And We Have A Winner!
Tine: I don’t think anyone needs to be subjected to seeing blood & pus splatters on the mirror – this is a PG rated blog LOL!!! OMG can’t believe you didn’t get them from Malaysia – I get my mum to bring them back by the carton loads every time she goes back to Taiwan (and when I go I clear the stores out of them)
Agree with Yolanda & Tine – this wasn’t remotely gross. I demand to see pus and blood next time LOL.
I’m interested in it for milia – would it help extract milia or just help it heal over only? I have 2 of these buggers on my eyelid and I’ve been putting off squeezing them because they hurt so freaking much!
Ling recently posted..Mirenesse Tight Liner Hydra Gel Eyeliner In Sapphire Blue
Ling: Oh man you beauty bloggers are sick – showing (and seeing it, even though it’s mine) the pile of pus is already pushing my boundaries! For milia it helps to clear it like a pimple, without it becoming a pimple. So you extract it with your weapon of choice (extractor/hairpins are best), then apply the dressing over to suck out the rest – and then it’s gone!
Amazing. I need 1….not wait…. 3… Nope make it 4 stat. These just hit the top of my “oh my god I’m hyperventilating I have to get it now” list! As apposed to my “oh I must grab that a lunchtime” list.
Madam M recently posted..BANILA CO – GIVE ME YOUR HAND – WATERING HAND CREAM – SUGAR LEMON
Madam M: Definitely need more than 1 – I make sure I always have at least 2 packets on hand. Breakouts don’t wait!
Damn. I was hoping to see a shot of splattered pus on the mirror. Those are the best. XD
Celeste @ Becoming Beautiful recently posted..Happy Chinese New Year from Becoming Beautiful
Celeste: That’s too gross!!! I’ll twitpic next time – don’t want to scare off the non-BB readers!
love ur post, now I can’t be bothered to blog about it since you’ve done such a great job!!!
ponikuta recently posted..Pantene Clinicare Hydro Surge Revitalizing One Week Trial Kit
Ponikuta: Aww thanks – you need to blog about it too, so more people would know about this awesome product! And you can post a pic of the splattered pus – seems to be highly in demand
OMG this is the awesome thing that I am missing from my life!! I wish I stocked up on this while I went to Asia!! Might have to do some ebay searching! Are they legit on there though? Hope so, you’re like me, at times I can go pimple free for weeks and then bam it all comes at once or one humongo one at once.. in the most obvious area like nose or chin lol T_T Anyway great informative, graphic post! Love it!! x
しずか ♥ (heartofpearl) recently posted..Instagram Part VI & Facebook Page For Heartofpearl
Heartofpearl: Aghh I should have written it before you went! This is definitely THE number 1 thing to stock up on in Asia. I find the Ebay ones to be legit – but I do stick to the power sellers anyway (plus they would also have a whole lot of other Asian cosmetics I can haul at the same time
)
And glad it’s graphic enough for you
hehehe I remember you and Tine discussing this on Twitter! it’s nice that you have a tweezer that comes with the pack though, our local ones don’t have that. absolutely love the patches, I think it’s the fascination with the ickiness (plus they work like a dream!)
that said, anyone want me to bring over stock when I pop over to Melbourne in May?
beetrice recently posted..Getting Maudrey nails with help from China Glaze and OPI…
Beetrice: Yahaha it was your post that I tweeted! I do like the tweezer – even though I don’t use it for the dressing I use it, it’s a good option for people with no or very long nails. The ickiness definitely adds to the effectiveness
And I’d be very careful at the offer! You better be prepared to bring back cases of the stuff – the #MBBE are all mad for it!!!
LOL…I’d be most willing to play courier since my bag’s going to be pretty much empty going there anyway! I can be easily bribed in terms of pretty things…
beetrice recently posted..Happy Chinese New Year!!
Nice post, thanks for sharing this interesting beauty savior
looking forward to try this out!!
Helen Nguyen: Do try!!! So far my strike rate for recommending this product is 100% – EVERYONE I’ve rec’d this to loves it. If I can find a way to be its distributor, I would sure make a lot of money!