SCIENCE / THE FILM JUMP TO THE LAB FILE ↓

We describe the film, never the skin.

What the patch is made of, what it does on a spot, and what an independent lab and a toxicologist found when they tested it.

Spec sheet REF·1.1
Material
Medical-grade hydrocolloid
Film profile
0.03 mm — sub-visible edge
Adhesion
Synthetic-rubber seal, one clean peel
Absorption
Wicks fluid, holds moist seal
Cover
Clear film — shields the spot from picking
Skin types
Assessed for adult facial skin
92% saw a flatter blemish by morning
n=118, single overnight wear
0 added actives — no acids, no fragrance
occlusion only, nothing to sting
6–8 hr of wear per patch, then replace
per the safety report directions

Consumer perception study. Hydrocolloid supports the skin's natural barrier; it is not a medicated treatment. Not a substitute for prescribed acne care.

SCIENCE / THE LAB FILE TESTED 2026

Independent lab tested.
Toxicologist assessed.

Before a single box shipped, our acne patch went to an independent third-party lab for microbiology and heavy-metal testing, then through a full cosmetic safety assessment under EU rules. Here is what came back, in plain numbers.

0 of 7
Specified microorganisms detected
E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, Clostridia, bile-tolerant bacteria
6 of 6
Heavy metals within limits
Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, antimony, nickel
>100
Margin of safety on every assessed ingredient
EU method · 100 is the bar
3 yr
Shelf life
Tested batch: made Dec 2025 · expires Dec 2028
Microbiology FIG·01

Every microbe screen came back clear.

Tested to European Pharmacopoeia methods 2.6.12 and 2.6.13.

Total aerobic count <10 CFU/g
guideline ≤ 1,000

Under 10 is the lowest the test can count, and is reported as absent.

  • Total yeasts & moulds<10 CFU/g
  • Escherichia coliNot detected
  • Salmonella (in 10 g)Not detected
  • Staphylococcus aureusNot detected
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosaNot detected
  • Candida albicansNot detected
  • ClostridiaNot detected
  • Bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteriaNot detected
Heavy metals FIG·02

Six metals checked. All pass.

Each bar shows the result as a share of its limit. Five of six were below what the test can detect.

  • Lead0.083 / 2.0 mg/kg
    4% of the limit
  • ArsenicND / 0.5 mg/kg
    Not detected (<0.01)
  • CadmiumND / 0.1 mg/kg
    Not detected (<0.01)
  • MercuryND / 0.1 mg/kg
    Not detected (<0.002)
  • AntimonyND / 0.5 mg/kg
    Not detected (<0.05)
  • Soluble nickelND / 10 mg/kg
    Not detected (<1)

ND = not detected. A separate heavy-metal test reviewed in our safety assessment also came back within all six limits.

Safety assessment FIG·03

Assessed under EU cosmetic law.

A Cosmetic Product Safety Report reviewed every ingredient, the test results and the packaging. Conclusion: the patch meets the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 to be sold in the EU, and is unlikely to pose a significant health risk under normal, foreseeable use.

SIGNED OFFEuropean Registered ToxicologistFebruary 2026

  • No CMR substancesNothing classed as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction
  • No nanomaterialsNone in the formula
  • No fragrance allergensNone present, so none to declare
  • Not expected to irritate skinUnder normal conditions of use
  • Margin of safety above 100For every toxicologically significant ingredient
  • Assessed for heavy daily use6 patches a day, 8 hours each, every day of the year
  • Packaging checked tooMeets EU Packaging Directive heavy-metal limits
  • Made to cosmetics GMPISO 22716 certified facility, certificate valid to Oct 2028
Stability FIG·04

Cold, heat, light, cycles. Still to spec.

−10°CCold
Room+ light
48°CHeat
  • Held at each condition12 weeks
  • Hot–cold cycles (72 h each)28 cycles
  • Look, colour, odour, packagingMet spec
  • FormulaWater-free

Because the formula contains no water, a preservative challenge test was not required under EU guidance.

Batch timeline FIG·05
  1. DEC 2025Batch made
  2. JAN 2026Independent lab tests
  3. FEB 2026Safety assessment signed
  4. DEC 2028Expiry, 3 years on

Full ingredient list

  1. Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
  2. Mineral Oil
  3. Hydrogenated Poly(C6-20 Olefin)
  4. Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer
  5. Polyisobutene
  6. Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (antioxidant)

Six ingredients, listed from most to least. No acids, no fragrance, no added actives.

Directions & warnings FROM THE SAFETY REPORT

Use it the way it was assessed.

  1. Apply after cleansing and thoroughly drying the skin.
  2. No skin care under the patch; it can affect adhesion. Apply before skin care or makeup.
  3. Handle with clean, dry fingers or tweezers.
  4. Replace after 6–8 hours. Single use; do not reuse or wash.
  5. Avoid the eye area.
  6. Stop use if irritation or redness occurs. Consult your physician if irritation persists.
  7. Do not use if the seal is broken or damaged, or past the expiry date.
  8. Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat.

Figures above are from an independent third-party lab report (January 2026) and a Cosmetic Product Safety Report under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (February 2026), for the batch tested. These are safety and quality tests, not clinical trials of how well the patch works. Questions about our testing: hello@skinpatch.co