Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm for acne-prone skin
Panthenol
Beta-Glucan
Oligopeptides
Copper Tripeptide-1
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea ButterAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate moisturizing and skin treatment for your combination skin, as glycerin and panthenol hydrate and support barrier repair, while oligopeptide-32 and oligopeptide-29 aid in skin repair and reduce inflammation for your acne and blemishes.
- The formulation provides relevant benefits for your skin concerns, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your combination skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsThis post-blemish recovery cream is widely praised for significantly speeding up the healing process of popped pimples and picked skin, often reducing recovery time from a week to just a few days. Users with acne-prone and dry skin report that it effectively soothes inflammation, eliminates scaly dry patches, and minimizes redness. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. Some users find the tube small for the price.
Highlights
Accelerates healing Mostly Mentioned
- “closed a deep sore in a week”
- “recovery time is a quarter of usual”
- “scab formed and fell off in 3 days”
- “heals popped pimples overnight”
Eliminates dry patches Often Mentioned
- “instantly smooths scaly texture”
- “no more crusty post-acne marks”
- “hydrates the flaky skin around blemishes”
- “melts into dry spots perfectly”
Soothes redness Often Mentioned
- “calmed inflammation almost immediately”
- “redness visibly reduced by morning”
- “takes the angry red look away”
- “soothes irritated torn up skin”
Small size Often Mentioned
- “expensive for such a tiny tube”
- “wish it came in a larger size”
- “15ml runs out too fast”
- “pricey per ounce”
Little goes long way Sometimes Noted
- “tiny rice-sized amount is enough”
- “tube lasts for months”
- “don't need much to cover spots”
- “small tube but very concentrated”
Greasy finish Sometimes Noted
- “looks oily on the skin”
- “too shiny for daytime wear”
- “leaves a greasy film”
- “better for night use only”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “clogged pores in surrounding area”
- “caused tiny whiteheads next to spot”
- “too heavy for my oily skin”
- “broke me out in new spots”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “didn't notice a difference in healing time”
- “worked same as regular moisturizer”
- “did not help with old scars”
- “saw no results after a week”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, target.com, cvs.com, herocosmetics.us, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm work for acne-prone skin?
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing hydration and helping calm blemishes while posing virtually no risk of irritation. However, because it lacks sufficient ingredients for oil control on combination skin, acne-prone skin needs products with targeted oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight hydrators to keep shine and breakouts fully in check.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this moisturizing treatment a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and panthenol help hydrate and support the skin barrier, while oligopeptides aid in skin repair and help calm breakouts. To work best for acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs ingredients that provide optimal oil control.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Panthenol do for acne-prone skin?
Panthenol helps acne-prone skin by soothing redness and supporting the skin barrier while keeping skin hydrated. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to calm angry spots without clogging pores.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Beta-Glucan do for acne-prone skin?
Beta-glucan helps keep acne-prone skin calm and hydrated while supporting barrier recovery after treatments. It is unlikely to irritate dry or sensitive areas and may improve skin recovery.
Food Science & Nutrition, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Products of this type work best for acne-prone skin when they include ingredients that soothe blemishes and control oil.
Can I use this moisturizing treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing treatment with retinol by applying the moisturizer after your retinol to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. This type of product for acne-prone skin needs soothing ingredients and balanced moisture that supports healing without adding heavy oils.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment as part of your evening routine to help soothe and repair your acne-prone skin. Daily application is unlikely to cause irritation due to its safe formula, though this product of this type needs extra oil control ingredients to suit your skin type optimally.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this moisturizing treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment is unlikely to cause irritation due to its very safe ingredients, but because it leaves a greasy finish and lacks oil control, acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients that hydrate without heavy heavy butters.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This product works for acne-prone skin, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on combination skin, and a product for this skin needs balancing ingredients and oil-absorbing agents.
Is this moisturizing treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022Topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin caused no significant reduction in erythema or objective improvement in wrinkles compared to controls, but significantly increased patient satisfaction regarding overall skin quality.
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006A novel regimen combining a hydroxy acid-based scrub and copper tripeptide serum significantly reduced adherent scalp flaking by 61.24%, increased hair density by 12.48%, increased hair thickness by 25.36%, and improved scalp skin hydration by 76.24% in adults with mild to moderate dandruff over 15 days.
Cureus, 2024The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Panthenol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Beta-Glucan, Oligopeptide-32, Oligopeptide-29, Allantoin, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tocopherol, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Pantolactone, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Trihydroxystearin, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate Polyhydroxystearate Sebacate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Zinc Oxide, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Propylene Carbonate, Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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