We tested popular nipple covers to see which ones work best — our top picks are reusable for months and painless to peel off

I'm a small-chested person, so underwire support has never been a priority. I detest wearing a bra if I don't need to, so instead I'll wear nipple covers. Even if you do have large breasts, you'll find nipple covers 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 ones that stayed put all day (even while sweating) and were still easy and painless to peel off.

The best nipple covers we tested:

Best overall: Cakes Body Sticky Cakes Circles

I tried the Grippy Cakes in "itty bitty" and the Sticky Cakes in "OG" — both of which worked great, even if the OG were too wide on me. But the medical-grade adhesive of the Stickies really made a difference in how well they stayed put, so the Stickies win out as the better option for most people.

There was a few instances where I genuinely forgot I had them on. Even when I sweat in them, the glue didn't get tacky or itchy.

They're supposed to be good for up to 10 wears. For $33 a pair, though, I've been able to squeeze a few more in by washing and storing them correctly. I've yet to see their long-term potential, but when I'm not wearing them, 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.

However if your skin is super sensitive, you may not like the Sticky Cakes. In that case, go with the Grippies instead. They cling to your skin without an adhesive, and still feel secure to sweat in. They also last longer because they don't rely on glue to stat 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

Best runner-up: NOOD No-Show Nipple Adhesive Covers

I wore NOOD 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

Best lifting: NOOD No Show Extra Lift

After trying and loving NOOD's standard nipple covers, I wanted to see how their lifting counterpart worked. These 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

Best boob tape: Threads Lifting Breast Tape

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

Best budget nipple covers: Intimissimi Silicone Pasties

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

How we tested to find the best nipple covers

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.

After conducting in-depth research of the best nipple covers on the market, we selected four standout sets for at-home testing. We wore them in real-life situations (such as a dinner date in warm weather and fitness classes) to see how they stuck in sweaty and humid conditions. They passed the invisibility test if they were impossible to see under sheer, white, and tight-fitting clothing. We also gently hand-washed our nipple covers with soap and water to see how well they retained their stickiness after they'd air dried.

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