Often, an pimples emergency isn’t something to be grateful for, however Ju Rhyu credit just a few unhealthy breakouts for her virtually in a single day enterprise success.
The founding father of Hero Cosmetics, the skincare model that vows to be your savior within the wake of pimples issues, describes her profession path as undoubtedly not being “straight and linear.” Rhyu lately informed Fortune it wasn’t till she was recruited for a job in Seoul, South Korea, that she found the massive enterprise thought that may launch a skincare line targeted on a constructive method to troublesome pimples.
The Mighty Patch permits wearers to embrace their zits and forgo the disgrace generally related to a foul breakout. The small patches—roughly 0.47 inches in diameter—have a clear look, permitting for wearers to cowl their blemishes at evening and even in public. They’re a discrete different to different options for masking pimples, corresponding to make-up which may draw extra consideration to the face.
“I all the time joke that I labored at a number of the world’s greatest manufacturers—Kraft Meals, Mondelez, American Categorical, and Samsung Electronics—after which ended up beginning an indie skincare model,” she mentioned.
At 35 years previous, whereas working at a company advertising and marketing job for Fortune 500 large Samsung, Rhyu was affected by a bout of unhealthy breakouts when she observed one thing odd: Her coworkers have been sporting hydrocolloid patches plain on their faces—within the workplace.
Puzzled, Rhyu requested why her colleagues have been overtly sporting Band-Help-like squares and rectangles on their cheeks and chins, one thing she’d by no means seen in the US. Their easy rationalization? Taming a pimple.
“I went to a pharmacy, I attempted one, and it modified my skincare routine as a result of it really works so significantly better than something I had used earlier than,” she recalled. “I put it on at evening, and by morning, it received all that gunk out.”
That gunk—a mix of micro organism and lifeless white blood cells—is commonly what offers pimples their distinguished look on the face. Having the ability to do away with it in a single day is a recreation changer for many who take care of pimples, because it usually results in damaging results on self-worth.
The expertise jumpstarted the younger entrepreneur’s “training” in skincare. After making an attempt “each single risk on the market” for pimples aid–together with dermatologists, toothpaste, and sticky pink lotions–Rhyu set her sights on revolutionizing skincare, beginning with the Band-Help aisle.
Capitalizing on her company background, Rhyu started strategizing methods to deliver her thought to market alongside her two co-founders.
“One of many shopper behaviors I observed was that the hydrocolloid-patch format was truly already round for fairly a very long time, however they have been within the Band-Help aisle,” she mentioned. “There was nothing, at the moment, within the magnificence part.”
In 2017 the trio determined to bootstrap their enterprise, combining $50,000 of their very own cash as an alternative of in search of buyers; one thing that was “very in opposition to the grain” on the time. Nonetheless, after a profitable launch of the Mighty Patch on Amazon—through which their unique stock bought out in simply 90 days—Ryhu and her staff have been prepared for mainstream success.
By 2022, the model had garnered over $100 million in gross sales, and agreed to be acquired by Arm & Hammer, Nair, and OxiClean mum or dad firm Church & Dwight for $630 million.
“I by no means in one million years thought that Hero can be as profitable as we’re,” Rhyu mentioned.
Publicity to cultures across the globe not solely impressed Rhyu’s enterprise, it’s been a relentless theme all through her time as chief govt officer of Hero Cosmetics. After leaving Seoul in 2014, Rhyu ultimately relocated to Paris for six years, the place she continued to run her New York Metropolis-based firm.
“I’ve been touring so much for the previous six to seven years,” she mentioned. “Once I was residing in Paris, I used to be doing three weeks in Paris, one week in New York, so I used to be undoubtedly a professional.”
The CEO lately determined to maneuver again to the U.S., settling in Los Angeles. Whereas she’s nonetheless residing in a special timezone than Hero’s HQ, it doesn’t make her any much less concerned.
She says her key just isn’t work-life steadiness, however work-life integration.
“It’s actually nearly discovering a schedule that works for you. It’ll be totally different for everybody,” she mentioned. “I don’t suppose we are able to count on anybody to be on on a regular basis, 24/7.”
The founder gave Fortune an unique take a look at her every day routine, which kicks off vivid and early at 6 a.m.
With good skincare, comes nice diet
6:00 a.m.: As quickly as she rises, Rhyu prioritizes breakfast “it doesn’t matter what.” Her typical morning meal contains two eggs and a bit of toast alongside a cup of espresso. Following breakfast, she completes her morning skincare routine, which includes a fast rinse off with water adopted by a Vitamin C serum and sunscreen.
Because the work day has already began for her colleagues in New York , Rhyu journeys to her desk and jumps straight into work, catching up on emails and getting ready for the day.
8:00 a.m.: Now well-caffeinated and caught up on the information of the day, Rhyu begins taking Zoom calls with colleagues, which differ by day.
“Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I might have anyplace from three to 5 conferences a day,” she mentioned, including that Mondays and Fridays are “much more clear.”
12:00 p.m.: Round midday, Rhyu breaks for lunch, a meal she all the time prefers to arrange for herself.
Put up lunch if she doesn’t have conferences, the CEO dedicates this window for catching up on work or private wants.
“It’s after I’m doing my considering work,” she mentioned, including she usually reserves the time for duties which can be “just a little bit extra annoying, however I’ve the time and I’ve the silence to give attention to it.”
3:00 p.m.: After lunch, Rhyu heads out to train with a private coach on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The entrepreneur lately bought a reformer pilates machine, which she makes use of on her off-days.
“I attempt to incorporate walks as a result of we dwell in LA and the climate is actually nice.” she mentioned.
6:00 p.m.: After ending up the remainder of her work day, Rhyu eats dinner and spends time along with her husband.
“We’ll pull up Netflix or we’ll pull up a film,” she mentioned. “We simply attempt to watch one thing that type of helps us wind down for the evening.”
As for her nightly skincare routine, Rhyu all the time double cleanses (a tip she discovered whereas in Korea) utilizing Hero’s Dissolve Away Cleaning Balm and Tatcha’s Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder. She follows this mixture with a retinol or a hydrating serum.
“All in all, it would take me like 5 or 10 minutes,” the skincare CEO says.
9:30 p.m.: The very last thing Rhyu does earlier than falling asleep? Studying just a few ebook pages, a staple in her routine that helps her nod off.
“I attempt to be in mattress round 9:30/10:00 p.m. after which I’ll go to sleep shortly thereafter.”
