Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid versus Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen .
Published on August 22, 2023
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA, BHA and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid 12 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid 12 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid 12 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
Salicylic Acid 2% • Water • Butylene Glycol • Nigella Sativa Seed Extract • Isopentyldiol • Sodium Polyacrylate • Lactic Acid • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil • Niacinamide • Polydextrose • Caffeine • Maltodextrin • Xanthan Gum • Allantoin • Ceratonia Siliqua Gum • Sodium Hydroxide • Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract • Agar • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder • Glycerin • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract • Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract • 1,2-Hexanediol • Caprylyl Glycol • Sodium Levulinate • Glyceryl Caprylate • Tocopherol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract • Disodium Phosphate • Polysorbate 60 • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Gellan Gum • Sodium Anisate • Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract • Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract • Azelaic Acid • Corallina Officinalis Extract • Curcuma Longa Root Extract • Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract • Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil • Sodium Phosphate • Sebacic Acid • Limonene
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.
Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.
Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.
It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.
In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.
While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.
If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.
Learn more about Salicylic AcidKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 1.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 1.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 2.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 2.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 4.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 10.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 5.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 3.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 7.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 17.
Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 8.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 21.
Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.
Hydroxyethylcellulose helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.
This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.
Learn more about HydroxyethylcelluloseKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 10.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 8.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolKiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid contains this as ingredient number 11.
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen contains this as ingredient number 26.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid 12 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid 12 ingredients
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Pimple Patch with Salicylic Acid 12 ingredients
MichelleR
Absolute perfect formula. It doesn't burn, and I wake up to results. Its too sticky to wear under makeup. I haven't tried it during the day or over...
Absolute perfect formula. It doesn't burn, and I wake up to results. Its too sticky to wear under makeup. I haven't tried it during the day or over makeup. But I love that it is clear. I highly recommend this product over any pimple patch. Pimple patches in public look awful! It's like wearing pajamas or a bonnet in public, save that for home!
Hero Cosmetics Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen 46 ingredients
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