A few years ago, I struggled with the worst cystic acne of my life. At that point, clear, glowing, and radiant skin seemed like a pipe dream I would never achieve. If you've ever dealt with acne, I'm sure you can relate. Finding skincare products that work and don't anger your sensitive skin can be a long and frustrating process. And when blemishes do rear their ugly heads, you need to have a quick-clearing solution on hand that won't further irritate or dry out your skin.
That's where Hero Cosmetics comes in. The drugstore skincare brand offers effective acne solutions for less than the price of getting regular professional facials. Although I love getting the latter, facials aren't cheap, and it's nice to have something to use nightly at home to clear pimples in a bind. I'm always skeptical about trying new acne-fighting products because, as I said, my skin can be extra sensitive, but I decided to give this buzzy brand a go. Keep scrolling if you're curious about my experience testing a few of the brand's star products. I'm breaking it all down below.
I'll preface this by saying I'm not usually one to use things like drying lotions and pimple patches on my blemishes because I've never found ones that work and don't make things worse. My skin is sensitive and can definitely react to things, so I have to be careful about what I put on it. Due to this, I started to resonate with the "less is more" philosophy and would leave any active blemishes alone to let them clear on their own. However, now that I've tried a handful of patches from Hero Cosmetics, I can confidently say I've changed my tune.
The first Hero patches I tried were the original Mighty Patches, which are meant to be worn overnight. Anytime I struggle with a hormonal breakout, I would stick one or two of these on before bed and remove them in the morning. I noticed that when I used these on small blemishes, they would literally disappear by the morning. If I used them on larger cystic pimples, however, the zit wouldn't be gone but would be significantly reduced in size and would often be gone by the next day.
The Mighty Patch Invisible+ patches are designed to be worn while out and about without detection. I didn't wear these out since I work mainly from home, but I did stick one on during the workday, and no one gave me a questioning look during my Zoom meetings, so I'd call that a win.
Aside from the original Mighty Patches, these early-stage blemish patches were my favorite product of the bunch. Sometimes, I'll notice a red bump under my skin that looks like it will turn into a full-fledged zit. It doesn't always, but more often than not, it does. I'm so happy to finally have a solution for those. I tried these out on an early-stage blemish on my cheek, and it worked like magic. I woke up, and there was no scary bump. My skin looked even and, best of all, wasn't dry. That's something I loved about all the patches. Instead of drying your skin out as benzoyl peroxide (what I previously used to treat acne) would, these patches leave no area of your skin flakey or scaly.
Next, I tested out the brand's Rescue Retinol, which I absolutely loved. This is a great retinol for beginners or those with sensitive skin because it's effective but extremely hydrating. My skin has been extra delicate lately, so I was a little wary of starting a new retinol treatment, but this one is so gentle on the skin and really helped with dark spots and evening out my skin texture after just a week of use.
Speaking of dark spots, the brand was kind enough to send me its Lightning Wand to help some curb stubborn ones. I used this on a few dark spots that have lingered on one side of my face for a bit, and I definitely saw an improvement.
I love that the brand's sunscreen is also designed for acne-prone skin. This is a mineral-only formula that has a slightly green tint to it to help neutralize redness. It wasn't my favorite product of the bunch solely because it only offers SPF 30, and I like to use SPF 40+. But it does glide on really smoothly and doesn't pill under makeup, which is a huge plus.
More Acne-Fighting Products I Love
I'm not joking when I tell you this cleanser completely changed my skin in only a month. Before I started using this, I was so frustrated trying to find the right cleanser for my sensitive, dehydrated, and acne-prone skin. After a few weeks of using this, I breathed a huge sigh of relief because I'd finally found a cleanser gentle enough not to dry out my skin but strong enough to clear up my breakouts. It utilizes kaolin clay, tea tree oil, and glycerin to clear up acne without irritating sensitive skin. If you can't use harsher acne-fighters like benzoyl peroxide or strong AHAs like glycolic acid, I can't recommend this cleanser enough.
I've been using Symbiome's incredible products lately, and I have to say they're worth the splurge. The formulas have a minimal list of ingredients, which is fantastic for sensitive skin. Each of the brand's products, particularly this skin microbiome-restoring cream, give your skin a natural glow. The probiotics really help calm and restore the skin's natural defenses, so acne clears much quicker and breakouts eventually stop altogether. My skin is really sensitive, and this cream has worked wonders for me with the brand's other products.
Aside from Hero Mighty Patches, this is the only other spot treatment I've used that actually works. I never stop talking about how good Renée Rouleau's products are, and I never will because her line offers some of the most effective acne-fighters that aren't too harsh on your skin.
This toner from Epi.Logic literally does it all. It hydrates, clarifies, brightens, and protects. It's the perfect priming step in my routine, and it features calming ingredients like chamomile, aloe, and cucumber, which are great for acne-prone skin. Azelaic acid also helps clear blemishes without drying out your skin.
I love this gentle exfoliating mask from Cosmedix because it clears out congestion with cranberry enzymes and evens your skin tone with superoxide dismutase.
Up Next: My Facialist Friend Said These Random Finds Would Change My Skin—She Was Right
