The Best Nipple Covers for Lasting, Sweatproof Comfort
When you’re a small-chested person, underwire support is less of a priority. Nipple covers — ones that actually stick while you sweat — are the preferred bra alternative. Even if you do have large cup size, you’ll find lifting boob tape can be useful for backless dresses and halter tops.
In either case, these nude pasties should sit flush against your breasts in a similar tone to your skin so that they’re invisible under your clothes. We tested different kinds of nipple covers to find which were the most comfortable, looking for pairs that stayed put all day (even in high dew points) and were still easy and painless to peel off.
The best nipple covers we tested:
CAKES Body Sticky Cakes Circles
The “Nip Nook” center makes these silicone pasties painless to peel off, while the medical-grade adhesive kept them in place all day — even in hot, humid weather.
NOOD No-Show Extra Lift
If you wear a 38B-36D and want nipple covers that give you a slight boost, this invisible set comes with easy-to-use pull-tabs to help you get the exact right placement.
Threads Lifting Breast Tape
This sweatproof lifting boob tape is made with hypoallergenic medical-grade nylon and adhesive. You can trim it so it hides under tops with plunging necklines.
How we tested nipple covers
We tested nipple covers for over a year in real-life conditions (such as humid summer weddings and and fitness classes) to see whether they were truly sweatproof. They passed the invisibility test if they were impossible to see under sheer, white, and tight-fitting clothing.
We both wear a size 34B bra, so we focused on testing stickiness over lifting abilities. We also gently hand-washed each pair with skin-safe soap and water to see how well they retained their stickiness after they’d air dried.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
After over a year of testing both the Grippy Cakes in “itty bitty” and the Sticky Cakes in “OG,” CAKES Body is our overall choice for nipple covers.
That said, the medical-grade adhesive really made a difference in how well they stay put, so the Sticky Cakes ultimately rank first. There have been a few instances where I genuinely forgot I had them on. Even when I sweat in them, the glue didn’t turn tacky or itchy.
CAKES Body nipple covers are supposed to be good for up to 10 wears. For $33 a pair, though, I’ve been able to squeeze at least 20 wears by washing and storing them correctly. I place them in the thin sheets of protective film that are included in the pack (don’t stick them to their hard covers — that will only strip the adhesive).
These nipple covers don’t get smelly as quickly as other ones that I’ve tried, which was also a major plus. To keep them clean, I rinse them in a bath of unscented antibacterial soap and warm water.
Another thoughtful detail of the Sticky Cakes is the small, adhesive-free centers called “Nip Nooks,” so your nipples don’t come in contact with the glue. This made them painless to peel off.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
CAKES Body Grippy Cakes Circles
These small nipple covers stay on without any adhesive, so even those with sensitive skin can wear them. They stay put and peel off painlessly.
The best non-adhesive nipple covers: If your skin is super sensitive, go with the non-adhesive Grippies instead. They cling to your skin and still feel secure to sweat in. They also last longer because they don’t rely on glue to stay sticky. The only drawback is that they slipped a little under loose tops, so I suggest wearing them with a fitted shirt.
My boobs are pretty small — ergo, less surface area to grip onto — so I prefer the “itty bitty” size. If you’re between a B cup and G cup, the “OG” and “Cakes Plus” are made for larger breasts. Regrettably there are only three skin tones to choose from, but as the start-up grows its reputation as “the internet’s favorite nipple covers,” I’m hoping it’ll broaden its selection. — Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews
Read more in our full CAKES Body nipple cover review.
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
I wore NOOD’s nipple covers at least a few times a week, and it took about 6 months before they started to lose their stickiness around the edges. In the meantime, I completely stopped wearing bras because these are so much more comfortable. Once they’re on, they’re on — and they don’t hurt to peel off in the slightest or leave leftover glue residue. The thin silicone is equally invisible under tight tops as it is under flowy, sheer fabrics.
They started to get slightly smelly after a few wears, so I just washed mine with an antibacterial Dial soap and let them air dry overnight before putting them on again. They come with two Saran wrap-like circles to stick them onto when not in use, which prevents them from picking up lint while in storage. If you know you’ll be sweating in these consistently, they might not last as long as 6 months. Still, they’re more reusable and come in more shades and sizes than your average drugstore store nipple covers. These are the only kind I’ve consistently repurchased since trying them the first time. — Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews
Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider
After trying and loving NOOD’s standard nipple covers, I wanted to see how their lifting counterpart worked. The No-Show Extra Lift covers look and work about the same as the original, but have an extra pull-tab on the top which you can lift and stick to the upper part of your boob to give them a slight boost. I’m a meager 34B and I didn’t notice a significant volume-enhancing effect, but their adhesive lasts long and the pull-tabs makes them easy to apply. For this reason, I consider these the best nipple covers for those who wear a 38B-36D and want something reusable with more support than a simple pasty. Anything larger will benefit from using a boob tape instead. — Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews
Threads
If breast tape seems intimidating to you, I get it. But after trying Threads’ version, I feel like this will definitely be my go-to “bra” when I’m wearing formalwear with a tricky neckline. It’s made with hypoallergenic medical-grade nylon and adhesive, which stretches up to 150% of its original length. This makes it very comfortable to wear and easy to shape to your body’s unique curves.
Admittedly, it takes a bit of practice to understand how to best lay the tape for your body shape and desired outcome, but once you get the hang of it, it’s super easy. At nearly 3 inches across, this sweatproof breast tape (available in beige, brown, and black) is wider than most on the market, which means you get better coverage with a single strip and you can use less tape overall. It also makes it more suitable for breasts of all sizes. If you’re especially sensitive around the areolas, I recommend wearing silicone pasties under the breast tape to for a smoother removal. NOOD also makes a citrus-scented “Boob Savior” adhesive remover that’s specially formulated to make lifting the tape easier. — Talia Ergas, freelance writer, Insider Reviews
Intimissimi
Once I tried a pair of Hollywood Fashion Secret’s Silcone Cover Ups that I’d hastily grabbed from a bin at Walgreens, I realized there had to be a better solution. I liked that they come in a compact case, but they weren’t reusable enough to warrant buying a second pair, as silicone takes an infamously long time to biodegrade.
Small but mighty, these 100% silicone stick-ons stayed put on my breasts throughout the day. They adhered nicely to my skin, but removing them was easy and completely painless. In between wears, I wash them with soap and water, and once they’re dry, they’re good as new. They’re under 2.5 inches in radius, which is smaller than the other stick-on nipples covers on our list. For this reason, they’re better suited as extra support worn underneath a non-padded undergarment or worn under breast tape. I wore them to a recent fitness class under my sports bra for extra coverage, and they kept me smooth and concealed as I worked out.
Unfortunately, these only come in one shade of beige, so we’d like to see the brand offer these in a more inclusive color range. However, if you plan to wear them under an opaque shirt and need something that’s affordable yet effective, Intimissimi is your best bet. — Talia Ergas, freelance writer, Insider Reviews
