So, it’s only a few days into fashion week and some of us (ahem) may have made the not-so-clever decision to break out some new kicks. Yes, I’m talking about myself again, and yes, I have new battle scars to prove it. There are days and days and days of things to come, and, sure, I could wear flats, but now even my flats hurt, because I have these painful spots from one pair of heels that shall remain nameless (because I still love them and will wear them once they’re broken in, or you know, I am). But I will not go quietly into the night! Band-Aid(s) ** *** to the rescue. But which kind? The drugstore next to The Gloffice (aka ITG HQ) was overrun with options: medicated or unmedicated? Clear or classic? Cynthia Rowley prints?! So I decided to try a few and reveal the results in the likely event you should ever befall the same fate (and if you never do, TELL ME YOUR SECRETS).

1) Band-Aid Activ-Flex Premium Adhesive Bandages: These advertise 360-degree flexibility that ‘moves with you,’ which is an attractive proposition-- I move a lot. They have a lighter-beige center part that's supposed to be placed over the blister to form a protective bubble over it, or the wound, if you have one, and they sort of attach to your skin in such a way that you really can’t remove them until it’s healed, or you run the risk of ripping your skin off. So that’s not great, because bandages get sort of disgusting around the edges most of the time no matter what you do and I'd prefer to change them, in that case. HOWEVER, it was a great shield between my heel and my heels. So, mixed results. Best for serious wounds. Unless of course, that wound needs stitches, in which case, why the hell are you in the drug store? Get thee to l'hôpital, toute de suite!

2) Band-Aid Water Block Plus Clear: The top of this box assures me, “You’re going to be just fine! (TM)“ which is not something I thought you could trademark, but is nice to hear anyways, even if it’s on the top of a bandage box in the)“First Aid' aisle at Duane Reade. I like these because they’re clear and feel like they have slightly more 'grip' than the classic beige. But they're still too flimsy for the job.

3) Band-Aid by Cynthia Rowley: This happened. One of the designs is just teeny-tiny Cynthia Rowley looks in two rows, like a run-of-show screenshot. There’s one that looks like it's covered in sequins, one that looks like lace, and one that looks like gemstones and gold chain. Cynthia! You clever minx. The only issue I had with these was that, well, they’re not that great—other than visually, which is sort of apropos for Fashion Week, so, you’ve been warned.

4) Help: I have a blister: I am fond of the Help brand, because, how cute. “Help! I have a headache.” “Help! I cut myself.” “Help! I can’t sleep.” “Help! Help!” See? Cute. Their blister bandages are made out of Hydrocolloid. The box explains this “is usually used in hospitals for serious things like third degree burns and leg ulcers. But you shouldn’t feel guilty about using it on something as small as a blister. There’s enough hydrocolloid to go around.” Even more charming? The individually wrapped 'plasters' say “I have a blister on my large body part,” or “I have a blister on my small body part.” I mean, come on. Who is not charmed by that! They care about the size of your body part(s). The smaller one feels exactly like an Activ-Flex, but it's thinner, has a uniform shape, and lays flatter on the skin. WINNER, KIDS!

So go forth, and be healed. Or, find better shoes. Let me know how it goes.

—Alessandra Codinha

** *** Note: Band-Aid is a brand, not a type of product—think Xerox: copy machines :: Kleenex : tissues :: Q-tips : cotton swabs...not to get all standardized-testing on you. With one exception (Help), the bandage strips above are all made by Band-Aid (TM). They've got quite the monopoly. Fun fact: in the UK, people call them)“plasters.”