Affordable and Effective Skincare Essentials
The skincare industry or market is so saturated that blocking the noise and finding effective products is becoming increasingly difficult. However, finding effective budget-friendly products is even more challenging. As a college student with acne-prone and hyperpigmentation-prone skin, I understand how challenging it is to shop for skincare products without breaking the bank.
In this blog post, I’ll share some effective, budget-friendly skincare that I have tried, used and loved. These products do what they are supposed to do 🙂 Be it moisturizing or exfoliating, without breaking the bank. Plus, I’ll include a few honourable mentions!
A few things to note:
- I have combination to oily acne and hyperpigmentation prone skin. So, the products recommended would mostly be suited to that skin type.
- Whenever I see people recommending their favourite products, I always go, “Wow, the amount of product they have, they must be rich.” So, I want to clarify to anyone who has that thought – I didn’t buy all these products at once. I mostly saved up for months to buy new products and some products in different years. This is just a list of products of some products I have used over the years and found worthy of being repurchased or recommended.
Now, Let’s dive in!
CLEANSERS
This cleanser is one of my favourite cleansers out of all the cleansers I have tried. It’s super gentle, suitable for almost all skin types, fragrance-free, and non-stripping. I love using it as my daily cleanser because it leaves my face feeling soft, fresh and hydrated.
Also, for the price (of the 500ml), you get the bang for your buck; I have been using mine for 11 months!
As a person with acne-prone skin, I look for products with beneficial active ingredients to help manage my acne. I bought the acne control cleanser because it has 2% salicylic and niacinamide acid. It was a good cleanser, and I loved using it because it never left my skin feeling irritated despite having salicylic acid. The only reason I stopped using it was that I got a leave-on 2% exfoliant, as I explained in my night routine. This cleanser is a good option if you have acne-prone oily skin.
The Tiam cleanser was one of the first products that introduced me to Kbeauty. I bought it when snail mucin was so popular, and it worked well. The cleanser contains snail mucin and azulene, which helps provide calming, hydrating and skin-repairing benefits. The low Ph also helps reduce the risk of dryness and irritation. I never developed an irritation while using this cleanser, and it always left my skin feeling refreshed. It’s a great option if you have a sensitive or compromised skin barrier.
This is the only cleansing balm I use, and it’s so good that I’m not even thinking of trying another cleansing balm. I use the oat cleansing balm for double-cleansing at night, which is so good. It is perfect for calming irritated skin and does an excellent job of effectively dissolving makeup, sunscreen, and grime. I also love that it is very gentle and has never caused irritation or breakout on my skin.
Apart from being a cleanser, you can apply a layer on the skin and leave it for 10 minutes as a face mask!
This cleanser is great for acne! It contains 4 % benzoyl peroxide, which helps fight acne and prevent future breakouts. The formula is creamy, gentle on the skin, and less drying than the 10% or higher concentration. It’s budget-friendly and perfect for students looking for an effective, dermatologist-recommended cleanser to keep their acne under control.
MOISTURISERS
This is one of the moisturizers I bought when I was introduced to skincare, and I continue to purchase it. I love this moisturizer because it is lightweight and calming on my face. The niacinamide plus ceramides are also a bonus. As a person with a combination of oily skin, I love that it dries down nicely and doesn’t leave my face feeling oily. It’s the perfect moisturizer for summer.
I incorporated this moisturizer for winter months because the PM moisturizer was a bit light for winter, and I needed extra hydration. I love this moisturizer because it is well-hydrating and doesn’t feel heavy on my skin. My skin didn’t develop any reaction to it despite just using it every day without patch testing (don’t try that 😉 ), so that definitely made me like it more.
This is the newest moisturizer I bought recently, and I have been loving it. I bought it because I was looking for a similar alternative to the Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream for winter. So far, it’s been a lovely moisturizer. It has a thicker consistency than the Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream or any moisturizer I have used. Still, it spreads very well and doesn’t feel heavy. It is very moisturizing, and I love that it doesn’t leave my face oily throughout the day. I love it! It’s cheaper than Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream, but if you are not concerned about saving a few bucks, I’ll choose Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream.
TREATMENTS/ACTIVES
This was my first introduction to retinoids before using prescription retinoids. Although it was prescribed to me by my dermatologist, it’s an over-the-counter alternative to prescription retinoids. I loved it, and it worked really well for me in treating my hyperpigmentation and acne! Another alternative to the Differin Adaplane Gel is Effaclar Adapalene Gel. They contain 0.1% Adapalene, but they are made by different brands.
This serum is an excellent start for people with hyperpigmentation who want to start with an over-the-counter product. It’s a very lightweight, gentle, effective and affordable serum. It contains 3% tranexamic acid and 4% niacinamide, which effectively treat hyperpigmentation.
Note: This product might not be for you if you use prescription-grade treatment for hyperpigmentation. Stick to your prescription 🙂
Hear me out 🙂 Before using this, I used to think it was just way too overhyped because of the number of reviews and ads I would get about it. I watched reviews for months from dermatologists, content creators and buyers about how good the product is. I finally gave in and bought the mini size. Let me tell you, this product is worth every hype. As a person with acne-prone skin, I know about the benefits of BHA, and this product does that. I set my expectations low before using it so I wouldn’t be disappointed, and it’s been great so far! It’s lightweight and gentle. It is also affordable because the product lasts a long time. I’ve been using the mini size twice a week for the past 4 months, and there is much of it left in the bottle.
If you have acne-prone skin and are looking for an exfoliant, I highly recommend this!
Just start slowly so your skin can get used to the product.
SUNSCREENS
I have tried a decent amount of sunscreens and loved all of them.
This is one of my favourite Korean sunscreens! It moisturizes and doesn’t leave a white cast; it blends well on almost every skin tone. I love it so much because I do not have to spend minutes blending it in!
It also leaves a glowy finish and doesn’t pill. The glowy finish tends to be very shiny, and you might not like it if you have oily skin during summer, but it’s not that shiny during colder months.
This drugstore French sunscreen is so lovely! It is lightweight, affordable, doesn’t leave a white cast, doesn’t pill and has no fragrance. This sunscreen has a matte finish that gives a “natural” glow. The only downside is that it is not easily accessible (where I live), but try it out if you have easy access!
This is my current sunscreen, and I have been using it for about a year now. It is also from the same brand as the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel. They are very similar. The only difference is that this is way less shiny; it has an almost matte finish and gives a natural glow when applied. It also leaves a white cast on darker skin tones, which is a letdown, but overall, it’s a great sunscreen.
LIP CARE
The Lip Night Mask is a must-have for dry or chapped lips. Its rich, hydrating formula melts into the lips, delivering intense moisture overnight so you wake up with soft, smooth lips. It’s budget-friendly, and some say it’s similar to the popular Laneige Lip Mask because it is that good!
The Eucerin Aquaphor Lip Repair Healing Ointment is a lifesaver for dry, cracked lips. It creates a protective barrier to lock in moisture, helps with healing and prevents further irritation. I love the small, portable tube, which makes it perfect for on-the-go!
A product that is definitely worth a mention is VASELINE. It does not quite fit into the above product category, but its versatility makes it a skincare staple. It is excellent for sealing in moisture, making it a great option for dry lips and cracked skin or even as a barrier cream for sensitive areas. It’s also perfect for slugging (which I wholeheartedly use it for). It is a skincare hero that is affordable and multi-purpose.
Thank you for reading!
Do you have any affordable skincare staples you love? Please share them in the comments.
