Often, an zits emergency isn’t something to be glad about, however Ju Rhyu credit a couple of dangerous breakouts for her nearly 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 zits issues, describes her profession path as undoubtedly not being “straight and linear.” Rhyu just lately instructed Fortune it wasn’t till she was recruited for a job in Seoul, South Korea, that she found the large enterprise thought that might launch a skincare line centered on a optimistic strategy to troublesome zits.
The Mighty Patch permits wearers to embrace their zits and forgo the disgrace generally related to a nasty breakout. The small patches—roughly 0.47 inches in diameter—have a clear look, permitting for wearers to cowl their blemishes at night time and even in public. They’re a discrete various to different options for overlaying zits, similar to make-up which might draw extra consideration to the face.
“I always joke that I worked at some of the world’s biggest brands—Kraft Foods, Mondelez, American Express, and Samsung Electronics—and then ended up starting an indie skincare brand,” she stated.
At 35 years previous, whereas working at a company advertising job for Fortune 500 big Samsung, Rhyu was affected by a bout of dangerous breakouts when she seen one thing odd: Her coworkers had been carrying hydrocolloid patches plain on their faces—within the workplace.
Puzzled, Rhyu requested why her colleagues had been openly sporting Band-Assist-like squares and rectangles on their cheeks and chins, one thing she’d by no means seen in the US. Their easy clarification? Taming a pimple.
“I went to a pharmacy, I tried one, and it changed my skincare routine because it works so much better than anything I had used before,” she recalled. “I put it on at night, and by morning, it got all that gunk out.”
That gunk—a mix of micro organism and lifeless white blood cells—is usually what provides pimples their outstanding look on the face. Having the ability to eliminate it in a single day is a sport changer for many who cope with zits, because it typically results in unfavorable results on self worth.
The expertise jumpstarted the younger entrepreneur’s “education” in skincare. After making an attempt “every single possibility out there” for zits aid–together with dermatologists, toothpaste, and sticky pink lotions–Rhyu set her sights on revolutionizing skincare, beginning with the Band-Assist aisle.
Capitalizing on her company background, Rhyu started strategizing easy methods to deliver her thought to market alongside her two co-founders.
“One of the consumer behaviors I noticed was that the hydrocolloid-patch format was actually already around for quite a long time, but they were in the Band-Aid aisle,” she stated. “There was nothing, at that time, in the beauty section.”
In 2017 the trio determined to bootstrap their enterprise, combining $50,000 of their very own cash as an alternative of on the lookout for buyers—one thing that was “very against the grain” on the time. Nonetheless, after a profitable launch of the Mighty Patch on Amazon– by which their authentic stock offered out in simply 90 days–Ryhu and her crew had 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 never in a million years thought that Hero would be as successful as we are,” Rhyu stated.
Publicity to cultures across the globe not solely impressed Rhyu’s enterprise, it’s been a continuing theme all through her time as chief govt officer of Hero Cosmetics. After leaving Seoul in 2014, Rhyu finally relocated to Paris for six years, the place she continued to run her New York Metropolis-based firm.
“I have been traveling a lot for the past six to seven years,” she stated. “When I was living in Paris, I was doing three weeks in Paris, one week in New York, so I was definitely a pro.”
The CEO just lately determined to maneuver again to the U.S., settling in Los Angeles. Whereas she’s nonetheless dwelling in a unique timezone than Hero’s HQ, it doesn’t make her any much less concerned.
She says her key will not be work-life stability, however work-life integration.
“It’s really just about finding a schedule that works for you. It’ll be different for everyone,” she stated. “I don’t think we can expect anyone to be on all the time, 24/7.”
The founder gave Fortune an unique have a look at her every day routine, which kicks off brilliant and early at 6 a.m.
With good skincare, comes nice vitamin
6:00 a.m.: As quickly as she rises, Rhyu prioritizes breakfast “no matter what.” Her typical morning meal consists of 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.
For the reason that 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 could have anywhere from three to five meetings a day,” she stated, including that Mondays and Fridays are “a lot more clear.”
12:00 p.m.: Round midday, Rhyu breaks for lunch, a meal she at all times prefers to arrange for herself.
Publish lunch if she doesn’t have conferences, the CEO dedicates this window for catching up on work or private wants.
“It’s when I’m doing my thinking work,” she stated, including she sometimes reserves the time for duties which can be “a little bit more annoying, but I have the time and I have the silence to focus on it.”
3:00 p.m.: After lunch, Rhyu heads out to train with a private coach on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The entrepreneur just lately bought a reformer pilates machine, which she makes use of on her off-days.
“I try to incorporate walks because we live in LA and the weather is really great.” she stated.
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 movie,” she stated. “We just try to watch something that kind of helps us wind down for the night.”
As for her nightly skincare routine, Rhyu at all times double cleanses (a tip she realized 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 might take me like five or 10 minutes,” the skincare CEO says.
9:30 p.m.: The very last thing Rhyu does earlier than falling asleep? Studying a couple of ebook pages, a staple in her routine that helps her nod off.
“I try to be in bed around 9:30/10:00 p.m. and then I’ll fall asleep shortly thereafter.”
