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What are your must-have affordable skincare products?
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Hand Cream, Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover!
— Christine
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The original Nivea cream (the stuff in the blue metal tin, made in Germany), Ombra Melfett cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula and Glysomed hand creams, Garnier Micellaire water. Oh, and good old-fashioned Vaseline.
In my attempts to be cruelty free I find this super difficult at times- but I love glossier (which is sort of affordable), Yes To makeup wipes (preferably the cotton ones) and the Mario Badescu sprays.
Cerave’s line of face cleansers; O’Keefe’s Working Hands Hand Cream; Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover; Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Bath and Body Works body cream, they have so many coupons and specials that you can stock up without spending a lot, and the formulation keeps my skin feeling nice and soft in the winter.
Pond’s Cold Cream, because…I mean, it’s a staple for a reason. Everyone’s granny used it and I find that it really does take off my makeup. I buy the jumbo tubs for like, $7.
The Ordinary’s Buffet is like, $14 (affordable as skin care goes, imo) and I’ve seen a big difference in my skin. Definitely worth it!
Does Chap Stick count? I don’t like a lot of balms, except for Chap Stick. I could slather that on my dry lips all day long.
Original Sarna anti-itch Lotion for dry winter skin . Neutrogena Body Oil . Also , Kiehl’s Hand Salve and Lip Balm . These are the reasonably priced products that are must haves for me to get through the New England winters .
The Ordinary Rosehip Seed Oil
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalene and also the 2% Emulsion
The Ordinary Niacinimide + Zinc
This is my exact Ordinary routine too! The niacinamide and retinoid are the only skincare items I replace religiously when I run out. I notice a huge difference in my skin when I don’t use the niacinamide in particular.
I seriously adore so many of their products! I just ordered the Retinol 0.2% in Squalene to see about making the slow transition to pure retinol, but the Retinoid is honestly so great as it is! I also like the Alpha Lipoic Acid, and im starting to gel with the Lactic Acid 10% more now. I adore this brand, and Deciem as a whole!
Anything Cosrx. The low pH cleanser, aha/bha toner, bha power liq, snail 96, galactomyces, centella etoh free toners. Of course, the Ordinary products are even better priced: the buffet, argiriline, and matrixyl/ hyaluronic are ok now. Being oily/dehydrated/aged, the more bang in a water based formula the better. Pretty much Cosrx for antiacne and Ordinary for anti-aging products. But i’m really thrilled by differin, which is a tad more pricey. Still use some Paula, but there are more affordable options.
Thank you for reminding me, KJH: The Ordinary! Their products have been game-changers in my skincare regimen. Cannot go without Buffet, Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane, Rosehip Oil, Marula Oil. Going to add Hyluronic Acid next, since it’s not as easy to get my favorite night moisturizer, Hada Labo Plumping Gel Cream Moisturizer.
Try an Asian marketplace near you. The one near me is nominally Chinese, but their skin/hair/bath dept has predominantly Japanese, some Korean, and a small representation of Taiwanese, predominantly sheet masks. Many times I find things that would have to be Amazoned there. They always have Hada Labo, Sana, Kose in vast quantities. Even found my almost HG mascara, Isehan Heroine Make there. I like the HL oil cleanser…and think I should be less on the HG trail, than the road to least expensive effective. The surgery cost for Patticake was very high, and there’s no guarantee of keeping a job at my age. So HL it will be. Liked ya, Nooni, but….
Liquid Neutrogena Facial Cleanser, and Trader Joe’s “Enrich” Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15- my face doesn’t tolerate chemical sunblock and this is the only lotion that doesn’t give a greasy white cast and actually moisturizes my skin. I wish they would offer an SPF 30, though
Good tip. Is it titanium/zinc? I get massively done in by chem sunscreens. Was just there this am, but just for treats:dog and Bamba peanut snacks. Mmmmm.
Looking at the bottle, it’s actually 6% Octinoxate, 3% Zinc Oxide… so I guess that makes this not truly a mineral sunscreen? I don’t have any moral issue with chemical sunscreens, they just make my eyes sting and water something fierce- but I have never had a problem with this one and I’ve used it for years. In any case at $3.99/ 4oz, it’s low risk!
Yes To Tomatoes charcoal mask.
Burt’s Bees brightening face wash, refining cleanser, coconut foot cream, renewal eye cream, & renewal day lotion.
Tree Hut coconut lime body wash & body lotion.
Well, since *all* of my skincare is “affordable”, and most of it actually comes from my local health food market, there are quite a few items on my list:
* Alaffia Everyday Coconut Face Wash; $8, and lasts 3-5 months, depending on season/current routine.
* Alaffia Every Day Face Scrub; $8, and a tube lasts me about a year, as I only use it when I wear heavy foundation and/or sunscreen.
* Coconut Oil, Witch Hazel, and various facial oils from Desert Essence.
* Coppertone Clearly Faces SPF 50; $12, and plays nicely with every base product I’ve tried it with, and eliminates the need for a primer.
I have Normal/Dry skin, am not particularly “sensitive”, and get 1-2 blemishes a year (if that), and I don’t have any fine lines/wrinkles, so these are what work for me.
Scinic Honey AIO.
Aritaum Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask.
Any Korean formula lip balm.
Sheet masks (65 cents each).
Gold Bond Strength and Resilience hand lotion, generic argan oil, Thayer’s witch hazel, Cloverine Salve (with socks on at night for my feet), EOS Sweet Mint lip balm.
I must have a tub of CeraVe Moisturing cream in my bathroom, on the stand next to the couch, and in my travel bag. This is a great body, hand and face moisturizer with ceramides and hyaluronic acid that works on sensitive skin. It is my go-to for soothing my legs after shaving and to apply before Retin A on my neck. My neck cannot tolerate prescription strength Retin A without a barrier. In fact, my neck cannot tolerate most face creams. This is the one. I even got my son-in-law started on it to help protect their faces from harsh winter weather.
I also swear by CeraVe PM Facial Moistuzing Lotion which has ceramides, niacnamide and hyaluronic acid, all very essential for good skin care. You can spend $50-$200 on face lotions that aren’t this good for your skin. We always have at least three back-ups on hand, as this is the moisturizer my husband uses, I reach for it fairly often, and I like to be able to give a bottle to anyone looking for a good, non-greasy moisturizer that works well for sensitive skin.
Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash. This has been my go-to daily face wash for approximately the past 15-20 years. I have combination skin and I need a product with salicylic acid to keep the oil from enlarging my pores. I’m sure there’s better products out there, but they say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Maybe slightly up in price but still on the lower end of the price spectrum is Clinique’s Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser Mousse (the pink one). I use this as my first cleanse everynight to remove sunscreen and face make up (eye makeup and lipstick are always removed first with Lancome’s Bi-facil). The Clinique reps taught me to use this primarily as a first-step cleanser and to follow with a cleanser of my choice, and so this is how I’ve always used it. I keep one in the shower and by my sink, and buy them six at a time.
My go-to body moisturizer has been Lubriderm Advanced Therapy, which like Netrogena Oil Free Acne Wash, has been a staple for the past 15-20 years.
I was actually glad to have some affordable must have products, as my general skin-care items are mostly more moderately priced (Retin A, vitamin C serum, eye creams, and all my Drunk Elephant loves).
Seconding the CeraVe cream! I’ve been using it for years and nothing works as well as this does for me at combating dehydration. Works great as a first step in fixing up dried, cracked hands, too! I do two layers of the CeraVe, let them both sink in, then a thick layer of Aquaphor, then I put plastic gloves on and let it all kinda stew for an hour while I play video games. Hands are always good as new after that.
Okay Tammy. I’m stopping tomorrow and buying CeraVe. You’ve convinced me. They really should pay you a commission, lol.
Simple Exfoliating Wipes, Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser, Equate (Walmart brand) Baby Oil with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E, Suave Skin Solutions Revitalizing Body Lotion, Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion w/ Sunscreen SPF 15, and good old coconut oil!
I know for a fact that there are others lurking in plain sight, but these above are the ones that readily came to mind.
Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil, Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic and Retinol eye gel and face serum, Tatcha Rice Enzyme Exfoliating Powder, Sunday Riley Good Genes, Nuxe Reve de Miel Face Cleanser and Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm, Neutrogena Sesame Seed Body Oil and Drunk Elephant Sakura Baby Facial.
Deborah and I have the same definition of affordable, lol!
Wait a minute, the Nuxe Reve de Mille cleanser and Neutrogena Sesame Seed body oil are pretty affordable, LOL !!!
Wait a minute, the Nuxe Reve de Miel cleanser and the Neutrogena Sesame Seed body oil are pretty affordable, LOL !!! I suck at affordable!!
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I can’t speak to the Nuxe, but Neutrogena is affordable. I’m only laughing at the rest of it because I love some of those items myself but know that a lot of people wouldn’t call them affordable. They are glorious though!
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regeneration Lotion SPF 50, and the Aveeno Positively Radiant 60 Second In-Shower Facial. I like these three better than more expensive brands. I use the Olay Regenerist every single morning. It’s a moisturizer and sunscreen in one, and it helps my foundation go on more smoothly too. I use the Garnier Micellar water along with the Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing balm (my new discovery) every night. I live in Minnesota, and my skin is dry 6 months of the year. This combo is really gentle on my skin.
Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream as a body cream. It has mineral oil in it so I would never use it on my face. The Ordinary niacinamide and hyaluronic acid serums. Several things from Timeless, which seem affordable when compared to comparable products. Before I decided to buy only cruelty free products, I bought Garnier micellar water, Biore sunscreen, and cleansers from Neutrogena. I am currently searching for CF alternatives.
Neutrogena Hydro products (remover wipes, cleanser, water/gel moisturizer, sheet masks), Oil-Free Liquid Make-up Remover, Shea Moisture African Black Soap, Clean and Clear Persa Gel for acne
Melazepam azelaic acid cream has been a game changer for my skin! It’s kind of chunky and not very cosmetically elegant, but it’s working SO well for my hormonal acne! I think i have very slow skin cell turnover, because my skin gets congested and acneic if I even look at it funny, but it’s not particularly oily or dry. It does get dehydrated, and I think the dead skin just sits there and clogs things up. The azelaic acid moves things along quickly without irritation, as long as I sandwich it between generous sprays of Mario Badescu rosewater spray! it’s been a blessing so far and it’s only like $15 on Amazon.
You might like the Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension. But I agree with the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ school of products. I use the OAAS , when I can physically, 3x/week.
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Scrub!
The Ordinary 5% Caffeine eye serum at under $7 Cdn has been a great find. It really does decrease the size of my hereditary under eye puffiness. Another game changer has been Pixi Glow pads. Maybe they wouldn’t be considered really inexpensive, but they are the highest concentration of Glycolic Acid we can get in Canada and make my skin feel so smooth.
OTC Hydrocortisone cream for my cystic acne.
Argan oil from the Vitamin Shoppe or Trader Joe’s.
La roche Posay and Cera ve skin care and cleansers. I buy the very moisturizing products in winter. Also has spf variety for during day time. Love the La Roche face non foaming cleanser for winter.
Baby shampoo and jojoba oil.
Olay Regenerist face cream. Eucerin ointment (the one in a jar for my hands and feet). Working in healthcare and using harsh antibacterial soap is terrible for my hands. Wal-Mart brand face wipes that are a dupe for Olay wipes. Chapstick 8 hour. The Ordinary Buffet, hyalauronic acid, and Matrixyl.
The ordinary goodies, Cosrx cleanser, k-beauty toners are amazing, hada labo face products, soap and glory body care are gooood. 🙂
There are plenty of affordable skincare options these days that are of excellent quality. My favourites are:
Swisse Sweet Almond Cleanser and Essano’s Rosehip Cleanser (cruelty free and easily available in Aus at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse and often on sale)
Physicians Formula Argon Oil, Swisse Argon Oil, Sukin Greens Chia Seed Oil and Goodness (an NZ brand) Chia Seed Oil
Moisturisers – Swisse Hibicus Moisturising cream for day/night, Olay Regenerist
Sunscreen – Nivea 50+ and La Roche Posay’s Ultra Light 50+
Trader Joe’s Nourish All-In-One Facial Cleanser, and Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer, Pond’s Cold Cream, Trader Joe’s a Midsummer Night’s Cream Moisturizing Cream Extra Dry Formula, Trader Joe’s Shave Moisturizing Cream in Honey Mango, Soap and Glory Rich and Foamous, Clean on Me, and Sugar Crush body washes, Vaseline,
Trader Joe’s scrubs and lotions for body. I love their body butters (not the coconut though). I love their tea tree products too.
Alba, Avalon Organics, Giovanni all make a good natural product.
I just for my first Ordinary haul so I can’t say yet.
Acure Organics has a few nice things too.
Neutrogena is a go to for retinoids if I’m on a budget.
Makeup wise, NYX for sure. I’ve never purchased any other cheaper drugstore products with such consistent quality.
Sonia Kashuk facial oil and brushes.
Pretty much anything I have from The Ordinary. Cetaphil’s Daily Hydrating Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid. Vaseline (great for everything from cuts and scrapes to overnight treatment for dry eyes & the skin around them). CeraVe Healing Ointment for when my skin gets so dry it’s painful.
Simple. I think? Cera Vé facial wash. Big jar Cera Vé moisturizer (next time I’ll get with the pump more hygienic) but i always wash my hands before using it or any makeup and has been no issue. The night moisturizer also. Great products and never causes a breakout. Also been trying Yes to Coconut as face moisturizer and like it a lot! I either use CeraVé or Yes to Coconut under foundation and it applies so smooth. For melea breakouts (i tend to get under face and neck I suspect must be from spf?) I sometimes use the Neutrogena bar soap. Also in the shower I’m using L’Oreal Revitalift facial scrub. Before bedtime I follow with L’oreal Serum/glycolic (red/white pumps) inside bottle and their glycolic pads I notice a difference right away. It brightens and clear my skin. I have dry/normal skin and rather sensitive so I’ll use for an entire week then take a brake and just cleanse and moisturize. On & off. I have my self doubts on scrubbers (and this one is very gently) but I think all those scrubbers I have used actually make me brake out more especially on my neck. Not sure. Wonder if others have had same reaction? My dermatologists won’t prescribe the aha again my prescription has expired although I had two refills and I don’t want to go near a hospital with this flu season going on so nasty. Also the expense of seeing the doc. plus prescription. I’m going to give Differing a try but those little melea are tough to fight they won’t ooen unless you poke them last time the doc. removed some and they returned. Well see?
Witch hazel as makeup remover & toner! Very affordable and accessible.
Yes!
Cerave PM moisturizer and cleanser for normal to dry skin. Amlactin for the body. The ordinary products, Muji face milk moisturize. Aquaphor for lips.
The Ordinary Vitamin C in Vitamin F and the Retinoid 2%. LOVE ❤️ this company! Whole Foods Body Wash and body creams,
Cetaphil for dry and sensitive skin! I’ve used it as a mild and gentle cleanser every morning for over 30 years. And, although there is a glut of so-called sensitive skin cleansers available, Cetaphil is the only one that doesn’t dry or irritate my skin. I also love Palmer’s balm (the one that comes in a tub) for my nails, hands, and lips and Palmer’s lotion for chapped skin anywhere. When I first slather it on, I smell like a Hershey bar ? By the time I’m dressed, though, the smell is gone and I’m ready for my perfume du jour. Palmers and Cetaphil are dirt cheap but are pure gold in my skin care arsenal.
Vaseline for my lips
Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Neutrogena Hand Cream (great on feet too)
Cerave Eye Repair Cream
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion (legs)
Cocoa Butter body lotion – I use it on my face as well.
CeraVe Baby Moisturizer! (8 fl. oz for ~$10.00, (price may vary) Walgreens, CVS, Amazon, etc.) This is literally my life-saving moisturizer. It has quite a few powerhouse moisturizing ingredients (Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), Vitamin B-3 (Niacinimide), Ceramides 1/3/6-II, etc.) and it doesn’t have any parabens, sulfates, phthalates OR fragrance. Additionally, upon further research, none of the ingredients scale higher than a 4 on the EWG website. (EWG = Environmental Working Group, a website that assesses the risk factors associated with a large variety of ingredients; I use this resource to research cosmetic ingredients in my makeup/skincare products.) I just picked up more today and my skin drinks this stuff up like a super fruit smoothie! It doesn’t break me out (However this product does contain 1% Dimethicone so if you are sensitive to silicones, you have been warned) and even does the opposite — I find when I have this regularly in my routine (day and night application) that my usually oily skin feels slightly more balanced, my breakouts are reduced significantly and my moisture levels are maintained, no matter WHAT season!! This is my must-have.
The Ordinary and Facial oil Blend that I make on my own- jojoba oil+ Rosehip + lemongrass oil . I am thinking of adding Marula oil to it.
Weleda Skinfood – is the best multipurpose healing ointment. I use it in chapped lips and dry skin on my face.
A Bankers Secret Top to Toe oil – gorgeous oil I found in Vietnam that’s a mixture of several floral and herbal oils. It’s light and readily absorbed and can be used in everything from cuticles to hair to face.
-Neutrogena Sesame Body Oil and Body Lotion – I have been using this duo since 1985!!!
-I also love Eucerin Intensive Repair Rich Body Lotion.
-L’Occitane Shea Butter products for face and body; the range is extensive, affordable, and smells incredible.
Vaseline, for eye makeup removal. Anything by the brand Balance Me, which I have to order online, because their products work and never irritate my skin or eyes.
I absolutely love Carmex Lip Balm, Garnier Micellar Oil and Bioderma Sébium Purifying Micellar Cleansing Solution.
I always have to keep Aquaphor on hand!! It’s a must have for any stubborn dry patches!