Three of the Good Patch products: Rescue, Dream and B12 Awake

We Tried It: The Good Patch

Last Updated: April 18, 2022

The Good Patch is a plant-based cure-all that’s discreet, easy to use, and effective for a host of everyday ailments. Grove writer Mackenzie Sanford put these skin patches to the test and gives us an in-depth look at the vitamin of the future.

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Is it just me, or do skin patches have a very sci-fi vibe? Like Dr. Who’s fix-it-all sonic screwdriver and the replicator from Star Trek that dispenses food, the skin patch seems like the kind of invention that could deliver images to our brains like a tiny transdermal TV or eliminate the need for trivial things like eating

But I’m getting ahead of myself. The Good Patch is the latest innovation in natural remedies to cure the aches that ail you. Hungover? Put a patch on. Can’t sleep? Slap a patch on your arm and call it a night. The real question is: do they work? I tried out three of Good Patch’s most popular offerings to see what all the hype is about.

What is The Good Patch?

The Good Patch contains high-quality vitamins and herbs to deliver a plant-based boost that helps heal life’s daily struggles. These skin patches, also called transdermal patches, work via nanotechnology to dispense all of those bountiful ingredients through your skin pores and into your bloodstream.

a hand holding up a package of The Good Patch B12 Awake patches

How do you use The Good Patch?

The Good Patch is super easy to use. All you do is peel the patch off the packet, apply it to clean, dry skin, and let the nutrients absorb. Each patch can be used for 8 to 12 hours — once you’re done, just peel it off and toss it in the trash.

Where do you put the Good Patch?

The Good Patch works best on a venous area — that is, an area of the skin where the blood vessels and capillaries are close to the surface. I tried mine on my wrist, chest, and abdomen, but I didn’t find that the placement made much of a difference — so place it wherever you find it to be most comfortable!

Venous areas include:

Wrist
Upper chest
Upper outer arm
Lower abdomen/hip
Top of the foot

The Awake Patch

Real talk: the world is a tiring place, and sometimes a full night’s sleep followed by two iced lattes just isn’t enough to get me through the day. Since I can’t have an IV drip of caffeine shooting straight into my bloodstream (how great would that be, though?) Good Patch’s Awake Patch is the next best thing.

Apply the Awake Patch whenever you need an energy boost — whether that’s first thing in the morning, during a post-lunch slump, or before you head out for a night of debauchery. When you’re ready to wind down, simply peel it off and relax.

What’s in it?

Caffeine: The Awake Patch has 31mg of caffeine — for reference, a cup of coffee has around 95mg, and black tea has about 47mg.

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 plays an important role in energy production, especially in people who are deficient in this essential vitamin.

Green tea: Green tea boosts energy, decreases anxiety, and increases dopamine — all of which may contribute to enhanced brain function.

So, did it work?

Yes! It took approximately 15 minutes to kick in, and then I zoomed through my day. I expected the too-much-coffee jitters, but it never happened — I just felt energized and alert for an entire eight hours. I even fell asleep without any problems — something that would never happen if I’d tried giving myself an energy boost with extra lattes or an energy drink.

Look like you got a full eight hours of sleep — even if you didn’t — with our guide to banishing undereye circles.

I’m a recovering ZzzQuil fangirl. That syrupy-sweet mouthfeel and TootsiePop flavor really do it for me on nights when I can’t sleep due to existential dread or too many cups of coffee. But after I found out the main ingredient in ZzzQuil – diphenhydramine – is linked to dementia with long-term use, I figured I should find a less terrifying sleep aid.

And that’s how I met The Dream Patch. Stick one on before you go to bed — or before naps – for a plant-based alternative to all the chemical-laden syrups and gummies saturating the market.

What’s in it?

Melatonin: Our brains naturally produce the hormone melatonin to help regulate sleep cycles.

Hops: Hops have been shown to have a sedative effect — aka, they make you sleepy.

Valerian root: Valerian root is commonly used in sleep aids for its ability to ease anxiety while promoting relaxation.

Black peppercorn: Black pepper can help relieve pain, and it enhances the absorption of other nutrients.

So, did it work?

In the name of a proper review, I waited until I was having an existential panic attack at 11pm to try out The Dream Patch. I won’t lie — the patch didn’t work as well as ZzzQuil. Did we really expect it to, though? I still fell asleep better — and more importantly, stayed asleep — than I would’ve without the patch. Bonus: It won’t give me dementia. Huzzah!

Get a good night’s rest with our guide to a better bedtime routine.

If you’ve ever read Harry Potter fanfiction, then you might be familiar with the Sober-Up Potion — a concoction that gets rid of hangovers. I often wish this was a real thing — and come on, we have self-driving cars and artificial hearts — shouldn’t we have instant hangover remedies, too?

Like magic, my wish was answered. If you went a little hard on the mango White Claws or indulged in one too many shots of Fire Whiskey, The Rescue Patch is for you. Apply it before you party or when you awaken the next day to stave off hangxiety.

What's in it?

DHM: The Rescue Patch contains 15mg of DHM, or dihydromyricetin, a known hangover remedy.

Green tea: Green tea is jam-packed with antioxidants that help offset the negative effects of alcohol.

Vitamin B1: Vitamin B1 has been shown to help repair brain systems damaged by alcohol.

Black peppercorn: Black pepper is loaded with antioxidants that can help protect against environmental damage and calm digestive distress.

So, did it work?

First, let me say that I’m a lightweight, and drinking four White Claws will keep me pretty close to the bathroom the next day. But after 15 minutes of wearing the patch (and guzzling a HydroFlask of water,) I felt well enough to run errands and get some mulligatawny soup from my co-op. Did I still feel hungover? A bit. But it was leagues better than it would’ve been without my little transdermal helper. Accio Rescue Patch!

Party too hard last night? Same.
Read our guide to natural hangover remedies to start feeling better ASAP.

The Good Patch FAQ

How long does The Good Patch take to kick in?

Generally, each patch took about 15 minutes to start working for me. The Good Patch says 20 minutes is average, but everybody is different, so it might take more or less time for the effects to kick in, depending on your physiology.

How many times can you use The Good Patch?

Each packet comes with four patches, and each patch is good for a single use. The Good Patch recommends using only one patch at a time.

Is The Good Patch waterproof?

No, The Good Patch uses a water-based adhesive, and if you get it wet, it may come off sooner than you want it to. Same if you’ve applied lotion or oil, too — your skin should be totally clean and dry in order for the patch to stick properly.

Are Good Patches safe?

The Good Patch is gluten-free, paraben-free, latex-free, cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested, and vegan! All the ingredients have been tested for quality and purity. But remember — these patches are not designed to treat or diagnose any illness. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about using The Good Patch.

About the author: Mackenzie Sanford is a writer and musician in the Midwest with Dramione recs if you want them.

We Tried It: The Good Patch