There’s so much complexity that comes with skincare. First off, there’s the annoying, pesky, and sometimes painful acne. Then there are all the other additional things you wouldn’t have expected, like the red flare-ups, the post-acne scars, and so much more.
On top of it all, it feels like the internet is throwing every skincare terminology around and social media is pushing every skincare product into our faces. Quite frankly, it gets a bit overwhelming. It’s hard to figure out what the right needs for your skin are, let alone if they really will work for you or not.
That state of confusion led me to try out so many different types of skincare products without even knowing what was right for me; I actually ended up cycling through dozens of different brands at a time.
That was until I came across Hero Cosmetics. I have personally been using just Hero Cosmetics’s products for about a year now- nothing else. Although it sounds pretty wild to say that I just stick to one brand and just a few products that I can count with just my two hands, making my skincare routine much simpler has ultimately been so much better for my skin. My skin has actually never been more clear and feels more clean, and I couldn’t be more obsessed with Hero Cosmetics.
The Korean skincare-inspired brand has become my absolute go-to and essential on the bathroom shelf because it checks all the boxes I’m looking for in products I’m going to apply to my face. Hero Cosmetics is incredibly affordable (at around $15 USD to $25 USD, these products will not break a teen’s wallet) and is made with clean ingredients I can comfortably trust.
“Our approach is: whatever we make needs to work with your skin, never against it. So we restrict over +2,400 ingredients that could cause irritation; we call it being consciously clinical,” says Hero Cosmetics. “It’s this thought that leads us to innovate away from the stripping and the purging and into new territory – a gentler territory that gives you back control over your skin.”
There’s no need to overcomplicate things when it comes to the essential three- as they say, less is more, and the combination of the Clear Collective products truly is amazing. My skin has never felt more healthy, and I couldn’t be more obsessed.
The Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser is the perfect foaming cleanser that will quickly become your must-have. With a jelly-like consistency with little exfoliating particles that are gentle and won’t tear down your skin, but rather melt away all those grime and dirty particles deep in the skin pores, this cleanser will leave your skin feeling cleaner than ever.
Plus, it’s pretty good at washing away makeup, too, which is always a plus.
I never realized how important toner was until I tried out the Balancing Capsule Toner. This ultra-hydrating toner formula is for right after you’ve cleansed the face. Applying this toner gives your skin an extra boost of added moisture, and sets it all for the following hydrating creams to lock in the moisture to the skin.
I stopped using this toner for just one day, and the difference in what it did to my skin’s hydration was so noticeable that I immediately started it back up again. Never underestimate the toner!
Out of all the moisturizers I’ve tried (and believe me, I’ve searched far and wide trying to find a good fit for years), the Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer might just be my favorite one. It’s an incredibly simple moisturizer, but that does not necessarily equate to bad or basic. It’s rather that it’s made with all the essential ingredients and blocks out the unnecessary.
I love how lightweight it is, and it’s so easy to tap into the skin and even use it as the gliding cream for when you massage your face in the morning. The Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer keeps it minimal and healthy, and I truly couldn’t love it more.
I’ve been struggling with a lot of dark circles from late nights and early mornings lately, and the Bright Eyes cream has been such a huge help.
This illuminating eye cream instantly brightens the dark circles with a powerful combination of niacinamide and a luminizing tint. I just love how easily it glides onto the skin and how quickly it absorbs.
The eye cream formula is also incredibly lightweight, and pairs well with concealer. As Hero Cosmetics suggests, “try storing Bright Eyes in your fridge to up the chill factor”-- the start to the mornings can’t get brighter than that!
The Mighty Patch Invisible+
We have those moments when we have pimple emergencies- but the Mighty Patch Invisible+ can fix it discreetly.
This incredibly thin patch is basically invisible- hence its name. This patch is pretty much a sticker that you just stick onto the pimple. After about 6-8 hours, the patch will absorb all the gunk in the pimple, and after that, all you have to do is peel it off.
The magic behind the patch is all behind its special hydrocolloid ingredient. Hydrocolloid is a gentle fluid-absorbing gel that’s medical grade, allergy-tested, and compatible with even the most sensitive skin. Plus, the patch won’t leave behind a sticky residue or hurt when you peel it off!
My favorite part about the patch? It’s subtle, so no one can see you have a patch on– and it’s pretty quick to get rid of the pimple in a way that won’t leave scars. Best of all, it actually works!
The Rescue Balm
Popping the pimple is easy, but what comes after is the hard part. It’s so important to be careful so that you don’t leave scars, but the Rescue Balm makes it easy.
The Rescue Balm is specifically designed for right after you pop a pimple, or when you have blemishes left over from acne. This white, creamy ointment works quickly to get your faded blemishes back in order.
This formula is designed for 4 post-blemish issues: red spots, bumps, scaly patches, and dark marks. I love how it’s so rich and thick, and it’s the perfect hydrating cream to layer onto your skin overnight.
Right after applying the cream, I noticed immediately in the morning how much more calmer my skin looked. I genuinely have never tried another cream that’s healed my acne marks faster than the Rescue Balm, and it’s now become an absolute staple.
The Rescue Retinol
Retinol is an ingredient term that’s gotten quite a traction on social media, and it’s well worth the hype.
Having never tried retinol before, I was pretty nervous to try starting this new ingredient to my skincare routine, but it’s made a huge difference in how much more glowy my skin looks throughout the day– and I haven’t gone back.
This lightweight balm-like cream is made with a retinol blend, squalane, and Rescue Balm Complex to make for a powerful combination that reduces post-blemish marks and textured skin. And the best part- it really does work. My skin feels so much more smooth, youthful, and awakened in the mornings.
