My Favorite Skincare Products Under $20

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Good skincare products don’t have to cost a lot of money. I tell this to people who come to me for skincare product advice and their first thought is that “I don’t want to spend too much”. Who does? These days, shopping on a budget is my norm. Searching for skincare that works for me and is budget friendly took me some time. Not only are the products I mention below budget friendly, they work well and are great for most skin types.

Let’s Start with Cleansers

A good facial cleanser is essential to your skincare routine. My personal belief is that your facial wash should be the least expensive product in your stash. Why? Because you’re washing your face and rinsing it down the sink, why spend a lot of coin on something that’s not staying on your face? Again, inexpensive doesn’t mean poor quality. E.L.F Cosmetics Super Clarify cleanser is a perfect example of this. The cleanser boasts the key ingredient of niacinamide (vitamin B3), which help with correcting an uneven skin tone, unclogging pores and diminish dullness. This cleanser is great for removing makeup and excess oil as well and it retails for a whopping $6.00 https://shopstyle.it/l/bCLNS

Next up is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser. Neutrogena is top notch with their skin and body care, there is not much from this line that I don’t absolutely love, this cleanser is no exception. Not only is affordable, retailing for $11.99, it has one of my favorite ingredients, hyaluronic acid. According to Paula’s Choice” hyaluronic is a humectant, meaning they draw water from their surroundings” Basically, it’s a hydrating ingredient, and we all know how important that is. The Hydro Boost cleanser is gentle enough for sensitive and is great for removing excess oil, dirt and makeup. https://shopstyle.it/l/bCLMC

Serums, Treatments and Toners

When it comes to dropping a coin on skincare, I recommend spending it on a good serum. I spoke about how important skin serums are in a previous post, you can read it here:

First up is the Hyaluronic Acid from The Ordinary. This is a good serum for day or nighttime use, its lightweight and provides the moisture to replenish the skin after cleanser. This little bottle packs a punch and retails at just $6.80. https://shopstyle.it/l/bCLM0

Something new to my stash that I absolutely love is from Bliss. The Bliss Clear Genius Clarifying Toner and Serum is the creme de la creme of drugstore serums. As the name suggests, it is a toner and serum all in one and it has some great ingredients such as a niacinamide, salicylic acid and witch hazel. This product is so moisturizing and with the two in factors of a toner and serum combined, you get double the benefits without breaking the bank. This retails for $18.00 https://shopstyle.it/l/bCLMn

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is like manna from heaven. This treatment has saved my skin from blackheads, clogged pores and dull skin for many years now. This treatment boasts the healing ingredient of salicylic acid which is a natural exfoliant. This is good for day or night use after your cleanser and toner. Shop this product here: https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-perfecting-2pct-bha-liquid-exfoliant/201.html

I still get acne once a month, as you learned from my Adult Acne post. When I get a zit, I’m able to stop it almost immediately with ZapZyt acne treatment gel. This is a spot treatment for acne and a little dab will take the redness out of your zit and shrink it down as well. This retails for about $4.99 and can be found at Walmart and Walgreens.

Moisturize and Hydrate

Moisturizers are great to splurge on if you have it. I love a thick, emollient packed moisturizer just as much as the next person, but my wallet does not. So, I looked for some that would not hurt me too bad in the pockets and surprisingly, there were more than a few.

First is another favorite from E.L.F. The Holy Hydration line was introduced last summer, and the daily moisturizer is fantastic for every day use. It has the ingredients listed above such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and squalane. It retails for $12.00 https://www.ulta.com/holy-hydration-face-cream?productId=pimprod2003504

I need a good night time moisturizer and I found one in the ACURE Brightening Night Cream. This is an intense and heavy cream, and a little goes a long way. It has echinacea, argan and evening primrose oil as its key ingredients. This moisturizer works well for calming my skin after I’ve cleansed and toned and restores the moisture after wearing makeup all day. It retails for $18.99 https://shopstyle.it/l/bCLNc

The Ordinary’s Rosehip Seed Oil is the oil that I use to help with my hyper-pigmentation. Rosehip oil has tons of benefits that go beyond just moisturizing. It helps to brighten and exfoliate (gently) the skin and it boosts collagen to help skin look plump and healthy. This wonderful oil is something I use at night as it is too heavy for me in the daytime. It retails for $9.80 https://shopstyle.it/l/bCLNa

I hope this guide was helpful for you, this is just the tip of the ice burg when it comes to affordable skincare. As usual, I encourage you to do your research and make sure the products you choose are right for your skin. Always seek the advise of a professional if you have detailed questions.

Happy Shopping!

LYDIA MARIE