This depends on the type of pore strip. Hydrocolloid patches can be left on for several hours or overnight. However, traditional pore strips that attach to wet skin should be removed once they're completely dry and stiff—usually about 10 to 15 minutes after applying them.

Dr. Patel says that those with particularly oily complexions might benefit from charcoal, which can help minimize greasiness. However, she tells Byrdie that "a lot of added ingredients are just marketing." Adhesive While some people might be concerned that they will make pores look bigger with regular use, Stevenson said that the strips will not change the size of your pores and there's no evidence to show that they'll have that effect. How to apply pore strips Many pore strips are made of hydrocolloid, a healing substance that seals the skin absorbs fluids, and draws out impurities. Others contain a blend of hydrocolloid and other absorbent ingredients, like kaolin and lava clay. Some patches are infused with natural soothers, such as aloe vera and witch hazel. With their advice, we compiled a list of 7 promising pore strips and sent nine testers to try them out in our lab and at home. Following the products' instructions, the testers rated each strip on ease of use, comfort, and efficacy. Hero's Mighty Patch for the Nose earned a perfect score and our Best Overall spot since there was no pain or irritation involved and it left our tester's skin poreless.

Still, removal was virtually painless, and once she pulled the strip off, our tester's nose was gunk-free and oh-so-smooth. There was some minor redness shortly afterward, but her skin wasn't irritated. No. Pore strips won't make your pores look bigger, but they often don't work, so sometimes pores are simply getting fulleron their own despite using pore strips," says Dr. Schaffran.

Purvisha Patel, MD, FAAD, FASDS, FACMS, is a board-certified dermatologist, a cosmetic surgeon, and the founder of Visha Skincare. But even though they provide such a gratifying end result, we still can't help but question if they really work, and if they're safe for our skin. That's why we tapped two dermatologists, Dr. Julia Tzu, founder of Wall Street Dermatology in New York City and Dr. Mary L. Stevenson, associate professor at the NYU Langone Medical Center, to get the facts. What are pore strips and how do they work? Because you'll be using these all over your face, they should feel comfortable. "I'm used to strips that feel stiff and uncomfortable, but I would say this is a kinder, gentler pore strip," says our tester. "There was no redness, irritation, or tightness." Some pore strips can make you feel like a mummy, but our tester was able to talk and emote even with these on. She did slightly struggle with figuring out the correct placement on the forehead — the instructions could be clearer — but that was her only complaint.

Hadley King, MD, FAAD, is a sought-after board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She specializes in cosmetic and medical treatments. Besides removing impurities in just 15 minutes, the strip also features a marine root-up complex that helps nourish, soothe, and shrink pores. Our tester did note that there was some residue left over after, but it was easy to wipe away revealing soft and smooth skin. She also loved how adorable the strip looked (like all TonyMoly products) — it forms a cute octopus on your face — making pore cleaning that much more fun. The Byrdie team carefully researched today's top-rated, best-selling pore strips before selecting 14 to try out first-hand. After inspecting the ingredients lists, intended uses, and guidelines, each option was applied according to the instructions.