I Tried Every Product From Hero Cosmetics—These 7 Transformed My Acne Routine
There's more to the brand than the iconic Mighty Patch.
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For most of my life, I lived in pure and utter bliss, because I didn't really struggle with acne. Sure, I'd get the occasional breakout, but I could stick on a pimple patch and call it a day. But that was the before times. Because once I hit the ripe age of 26 and switched my birth control, everything changed, and deep, cystic acne became my new norm. Since then, I've had to develop an acne skincare routine filled with all the best pore de-gunking and inflammation-soothing ingredients. The star of the show has been one specific brand: Hero Cosmetics.
You're probably familiar with the Mighty Patch—Hero Cosmetics' first-ever innovation that has gone viral 10 times over—but the brand has dozens of other products designed to address acne and help you feel more confident in your skin. This includes spot treatments, clarifying face washes and toners, post-acne dots meant to fade dark marks, and so much more.
Over the past month and half, I put the entirety of Hero Cosmetics' line to the test (no, fr, everything) to find the best of the best. I thought I needed the strongest acids to dry the hell outta my face to cure my acne, but I'm keen on the gentle approach now, thanks to Hero. Peep the seven standout products I'll be using until the end of time now:
Why we love Hero Cosmetics so much:
- Hero Cosmetics revolutionized acne care with the Mighty Patch (bringing a Korean skincare mainstay to the U.S. market) and has been creating new formulas designed specifically for acne-prone skin ever since
- Their products treat, heal, and prevent acne so you can feel confident in your skin—but they also don't demonize or fear-monger, knowing that acne is totally normal and natural
- Along with crafting spot treatments, they also have expanded their line to include face washes, toners, moisturizers, and sunscreens, all in non-comedogenic, acne-friendly formulas
- All products are extremely affordable—nothing is over $25!
- Everything is made with clean ingredients and abides by Cosmo's clean standards.
Pros
- Super easy to use
- Each pack comes with a ton of dots
- Stays on well, according to testing
Cons
- The patches themselves are only one size (womp)
The Mighty Patch was Hero Cosmetics' first-ever product, and in my humble opinion, it's still the best (I said what I said!). Made from hydrocolloid, a medical-grade bandage that was first used to help wounds heal faster, these little dots help suck out the excess fluid around your pimple and also create a protective barrier to stop you from picking at your skin. I'm prone to poking at zits—I literally can't help myself—and gently sticking one of these dots on prevents me from prodding while also making the zit pretty much disappear in six to eight hours. Genuinely, I have to keep a pack on hand at all times.
- Number of patches: 24, 36, 72
- Key ingredient: Hydrocolloid
- Usage: Place one on whiteheads and leave on for six to eight hours
One Cosmo reader says: "The Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patches have done wonders for my acne spots and blemishes. It is so quick and easy and clears them up completely."
Pros
- Undetectable (IRL and in photos)
- Helps to hide your zit and reduce picking
Cons
- They're not as sticky as the original patches, so there's a very (slight) chance they'll fall off
I've never been confident enough to wear those fun, brightly colored pimple patches in public. Heck, even the OG Mighty Patch is a bit too visible for me. On the days when I don't want to cake makeup over a brooding zit, I place one of these on and completely forget about it. No joke, they're totally invisible—like so invisible that I don't even notice I'm wearing one until I take my makeup off at the end of the night. They're especially great for special events when you don't want to aggravate your pimple. And yes, they're even undetectable in pictures.
- Number of patches: 39
- Key ingredient: Hydrocolloid
- Usage: Place one on whiteheads and leave on for six to eight hours
One Cosmo editor says: "I don't always want my pimple patch to be seen by the general public, which is when I go in with one of these. They sit flat against my skin to help make my pimple look a bit less inflamed too, so double win." – Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30
Pros
- Goes completely clear once you blend into your skin
- Green tint helps even outs redness
- Dries down to a matte finish, which oily skin testers love
Cons
- Leaves a bit of a white cast on deeper skin tones
Sunscreen is the number one most important skincare product you could ever use. Seriously, ask any dermatologist. That said, so many formulas can feel sticky, gloopy, and clog pores. That's not the case with this weightless SPF. The airy, non-comedogenic formula was specially made for those with acne-prone skin. It smoothly glides onto your complexion and totally disappears to give you a matte finish. I couldn't feel it three minutes after application (for real). I also love how the slight green tint neutralizes any redness.
- Skin type: Acne-prone skin
- Key ingredient: Zinc oxide, green tea extract, bisabolol
- Size: 69 oz
- Usage: Smooth on skin as the last step of your routine in the morning daily
One Cosmo editor says: "Behold: The perfect everyday sunscreen for anyone dealing with sensitivity *and* breakouts. It's zinc-based with an airy, lightweight texture, so it soaks into skin in seconds. I never experience that thick, greasy feel that some SPFs can create." — Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
Pros
- Use a mix of actives to lighten and brighten dark spots
- I can see a difference overnight
Cons
- I wish more than eight came in a pack
Sometimes the intrusive thoughts win, and I end up popping my zits (don't tell my derm). I realllllly need to learn my lessons because every time I do that I end up with an acne scar. That's when these patches come to the rescue. Each dot has 395 itty-bitty micropoints that contain tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C to lighten and brighten those dark spots. And omg, do they work. I'll wear one patch overnight and notice a difference by morning. After using two or three, the mark is almost completely gone. I've definitely gotten better about picking fresh zits, but when I succumb to the temptation, at least these have my back.
- Number of patches: 8
- Key ingredient: Tranexamic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C
- Usage: Place on freshly cleansed dark spots and leave on for six to eight hours
One Cosmo editor says: "These dark spot patches aren't the best choice for all-over discoloration or melasma, but they're excellent at treating isolated dark spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. And unlike many patches I've tried in the past, these ones actually stick to your skin without having to constantly press them down." — LB
Pros
- Treats zits without drying out skin (bless!)
- Contains soothing ingredients to calm skin
- A trifecta of acids target early stage pimples before they get bigger
Cons
- You really have to whack the pen first use to get the gel to come out (it's not that intuitive)
I've always strayed away from spot treatments because, without fail, I'd wake up the next morning with dry, scaley skin... and the pimple still there (cue my crash out). This is the only spot treatment I've ever tried that ~zaps the zits~ without drying out my face. I attribute it to the aloe-infused gel formula that's powered by a potent—yet gentle—blend of 2 percent salicylic acid, lactic acid, and azelaic acid to help exfoliate skin and get rid of a pimple. Oh, and the little blue capsules floating in the gel contain tee tree extract to calm skin, too, minimizing irritation.
- Skin type: All
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, azelaic acid
- Size: 0.34 oz
- Usage: Dab on top of a pimple (it's that easy)
One Cosmo editor says: "I keep a tube of this at my desk at all times—legit just picked it up rn, lol—to dab onto zits midday whenever I feel a flare coming on. The salicylic acid really helps gently exfoliate, and it dries clear, so it doesn't affect my makeup either." — BG
Pros
- Balances, clarifies, and softens skin
- The gel-cream texture feels cooling upon application
- Feels extremely lightweight and sinks in immediately
Cons
- Not hydrating enough for very-dry skin
Justice for this moisturizer! It doesn't get nearly enough attention—and it deserves it all. Formulated with a prebiotic sugar complex that feeds the good bacteria in your skin (science!), it clarifies and softens your complexion to keep it happy and clear while also hydrating with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
- Skin type: Oily and acne-prone skin
- Key ingredients: Prebiotic sugar complex, sage extract, ceramides, hyaluronic acid
- Size: 2.36 oz
- Usage: Apply daily in the morning and evening
One Cosmo editor says: "The gel-cream texture feels incredibly refreshing and leaves behind a lit-from-within luminosity. I have normal-dry skin, yet I use it about two times a week to ensure my skin stays balanced." — Mary Honkus, beauty contributor
Pros
- Helps acne heal quicker
- Only need to use a teensy dot
- Minimizes redness, dryness, and uneven texture
Cons
- I wish it came in a bigger tube (I want to stockpile this, because I love it so much)
Sooo, you popped a zit. I promise, it's actually not the end of the world, so long as you have this antioxidant balm on hand. Consider this your post-zit recovery bandage that reduces redness and irritation and ensures the spot heals quickly. You only need a small dab on an angry zit to speed up the reparative process. Keeping the area protected and hydrated will help your skin go back to normal. In just two to three days, you'll never even know that a pimple existed.
- Skin type: All
- Key ingredients: Panthenol, beta-glucan, vitamin E
- Size: 0.507 oz
- Usage: Apply directly on zits after using a patch
One Cosmo editor says: "If you want to speed up the recovery process, look no further than this cream. It kick-starts your skin’s healing, reduces the likelihood of scarring and bumpy textures, and tones down any redness and flaking. I even use it after plucking or shaving to stop any potential irritation." — Olivia Truffaut-Wong, editor
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including ranking the best Supergoop! sunscreens and settling the debate between CeraVe and Cetaphil. She's an authority in all beauty categories and takes pride in her skin. For this story, she tested every product from Hero Cosmetics to find the top formulas that everyone should store in their vanities.
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