Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
How to (Safely!) Apply Boob Tape
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, MD, recommends using the tape on clean skin. Dr. Ilyas also suggests avoiding alcohol, toner, or exfoliators on the chest 24 hours before application, as these ingredients can strip the skin and make it more sensitive. She explains you shouldn’t moisturize the area with lotion since it can make the tape less effective.
It’s important to keep the areola and nipple protected with non-adhesive padding because the skin is “thinner and far more sensitive than the rest of the breast,” she says. You probably have at least one helpful product lying around your house: Dr. Ilyas says cotton rounds, hydrogel pads, or even nursing pads do the trick.
How to (Safely!) Remove Boob Tape
Though boob tape isn’t necessarily that difficult to adhere to skin, the removal process is a whole other story. First things first, do not—and we repeat, do not—try to rip it off like a bandage, because it can cause unnecessary damage to the skin. (Also, it really hurts.) Instead, Dr. Ilyas recommends soaking a cotton ball or swab in body oil, olive oil, or Vaseline and then rubbing it on the end and under the free edge of the tape to loosen the adhesive. You can also soak the tape with warm, soapy water in the shower, which is especially helpful if the tape is difficult to remove.
Still won’t budge? “If the tape does not loosen, soak the tape with body oils or petroleum,” Dr. Ilyas recommends. “Apply a piece of plastic wrap to the surface to protect your clothes and surroundings from the oils.” Do this for 30 minutes, and then try to gently peel the tape. As a last resort, dip a cotton swab in nail polish remover and wipe that under the tape, but be careful—Dr. Ilyas says this can irritate the skin. (And if the tape still refuses to come off, head to a dermatologist for assistance in this worst-case scenario.)
Once the tape has been removed, it is critical to rehydrate your skin. “Hydrating the skin with an oil-based or petrolatum-based product as the tape is removed will help soothe and heal the skin,” Dr. Ilyas says. “Generously applying body oils or petrolatum after the tape is removed will help heal and restore the skin.”
In addition to Vaseline, Dr. Ilyas recommends Aquaphor, vitamin E oil, or any barrier cream. While boob tapes are great, she says you should avoid wearing them every day, as this can damage your skin. But for those nights or special events when you want to wear a super intricate dress, you can try one of these boob tapes.
Meet the experts
- Marlene Anzaldua, a stylist based in Chicago
- Melony Huber, a stylist and founder of clothing brand La Peony based in Los Angeles
- Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of AmberNoon based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best boob tapes, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists, estheticians, and brand founders. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
