5 Sticky Bras That Actually Work

We all know the feeling when we find the perfect dress, but are then struck with the question: “What bra do I wear?” Sometimes, going braless isn't an option, and looking for the right bra for a backless, low-cut, or strapless dress can feel impossible — especially if you still want to feel supported. But, with new adhesive technologies, you can find the best bra for every piece in your closet.

Whether you have a small bust or large chest, everyone wants a bra that will stay hidden, stay in place, and be just plain comfy. The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab found the best backless, adhesive bras from brands with excellent lab performance and tons of rave reviews from testers and real consumers. Feel supported and keep your bra out of view with these top backless and sticky bras in 2021.

Sticky bras are basically a necessary harmful. They are painful to take off, not friendly to sensitive skin, and sometimes make your ’fit look worse than if you just went braless. That said, if you want to wear stuff with cool necklines but don’t want your nips to pop out or your chest to feel totally unsupported in thin or semi-sheer fabric, things your boobs have to get sticky. Wardrobe malfunctions are le worst, which means we’re forever in search of the perfect sticky bra.

Wing-shaped cleavage booster.

With no crazy tabs sticking up toward the collarbone, this bra can easily be worn with most neck , including sweethearts, strapless, backless, and some plunges (not too deep, though, or you’ll see the closure in the center).

Circle-shaped cleavage booster.

Similar in shape and vibe to the winged contraption above, this minimal sticky bra has a rounded shape and center closure that is supposed to create that cleave. Cosmo staffers enjoyed that this one didn’t have any gimmicks, like laces or tabs, to it—it was easy to slap it on and it stayed right where they put it all day long.

Petal-shapes lifters.

It works well for strapless, slight plunge, and backless designs, but I wouldn’t go full J.Lo’s green dress with this on. One reviewer noted she may have needed a larger-than-usual size, so keep that in mind.

Why are so many sticky bras petal-shaped? Ain’t nothing natural about flower-outlined nipples, but I digress.They have a definite pink color to them, so don’t expect that to blend in with the rest of the skin on your mammaries.

These work well with anything that isn’t sheer or strapless, due to that blush shade and tab situation. So, stick with backless pieces and low-cut necklines for this one unless you want to cut off the tabs.

Nipple covers.

They come in three different matte skin tones in a finish that doesn’t reflect light (unlike the fabric petals you often see out there), so you don’t have to worry about the flash from that group dinner pic accidentally highlighting your choice of underthing.

Because they’re basically pasties, you can pretty much wear them with any type of complicated outfit, from totally sheer styles to strapless, low-cut, and backless ones. See what our reviewers had to say below!

Bunny-shaped lifters.

Like the bunnies above, these also cover nips and lift the breasts—and they do it a bit better, according to Cosmo staffers. They reported that these teardrop-esque adhesives really helped give them a nice shape in plunging styles, like blazers worn without tops underneath.

They’re relatively see-through, but calling them invisible is a stretch for anyone with a darker skin tone, for whom these would absolutely show up as lighter than the rest of the chest. Last thing: These also only come in one size fits all, so if you have significant cups, these may not work as well.