Time for a skincare routine update! Over the summer, I was traveling a lot and didn’t want to worry about my more expensive products spilling all over a suitcase or getting left behind somewhere – so I decided to put together a full budget-friendly skincare routine. Even when it’s not just for travel, I love to have options to bring into the mix whenever my budget priorities are elsewhere. I was really happy with all of these products, so I wanted to share them here in case you’re looking for something new! This routine includes pretty much the same steps as my other morning and night routines, but costs less. Like, a LOT less – it’s only $175.50 to buy everything on the list.
I’ll talk about the products first, and at the end I’ll include some morning and night routines!
My Affordable Skincare Picks
CLEANSE / NEUTROGENA HYDROBOOST HYDRATING CLEANSING GEL / $11.50
This cleanser is SO GOOD. It has a gel texture, but still feels really cushiony and soothing on the skin. I feel like it really gets my skin clean without drying it out – even if I’m using it at the end of the day to take off all of my makeup.
EYES / THE ORDINARY CAFFEINE SOLUTION / $7.50
So I took a look at the ingredients of my favorite eye products, and one of the ingredients they all have in common is caffeine, which can reduce eye puffiness and dark circles. This serum is all about the caffeine, and it’s a little hydrating to boot. I also like to use this with reusable eye masks to deal with puffy eyes.
VITAMIN C / MAELOVE THE GLOW MAKER / $30
I LOVE this Vitamin C Serum. I have tried so many Vitamin C serums, from the Ordinary to Skinceuticals, and this one is my absolute favorite. The texture is light and it’s just as effective as other serums I’ve spent a lot more money on.
MIST / MARIO BADESCU FACIAL SPRAY WITH ALOE, ADAPTOGENS, AND COCONUT WATER / $9
It’s totally not a necessary step in a skincare routine, but I do love a face mist. I want something that doesn’t have a lot of fragrance, feels hydrating without being oily or leaving a residue, and sprays a fine mist without soaking my face. This one checks all the boxes, and has some of the ingredients I love in more expensive mists I’ve tried, like aloe and hyaluronic acid.
HYALURONIC ACID / THE ORDINARY HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5 / $7.50
I like hyaluronic acid as a nice, light layer of hydration to plump up my skin before putting on a heavier moisturizer. This is a pretty simple formulation as far as hyaluronic acid serums go, but it is also effective! It’s a great product to experiment with if you’re wondering how a hydration serum would feel on your skin and fit into your routine.
MOISTURIZER / CERA VE PM FACIAL MOISTURIZING LOTION / $14
Ok, so this moisturizer says PM on the label but I actually prefer it for the daytime. Especially in the warmer months, it’s tricky to find a daytime moisturizer I really like. Skipping moisturizer and just using sunscreen leaves me a little dry, but if I use a remotely heavy moisturizer, my skin gets oily and my makeup falls off. This moisturizer has a nice, light texture that sinks right into your skin without feeling overly greasy once you add in sunscreen.
SUNSCREEN / INNSFREE DAILY UV DEFENSE SUNSCREEN / $15
I was surprised at how hard it was to find a sunscreen I really loved for less than $30! It’s a delicate balance of something that both feels good and looks good under makeup. Then, I FINALLY found this Innsfree sunscreen for $15…and it is AMAZING. Moisturizing and adds just a bit of a pretty sheen to the skin, without looking shiny or greasy.
FIRST CLEANSE / THE ORDINARY SQUALANE CLEANSER / $8
This cleanser is amazing at taking off makeup and sunscreen at the end of the day. I use a generous amount and rub it into dry skin before taking it off with a washcloth. If washcloths aren’t your thing, it also rinses off without residue!
EXFOLIATION / THE ORDINARY LACTIC ACID 10% + HA / $8
I find this gently exfoliates my skin and gives me a nice glow, without being irritating. It’s also a great place to start if you want to experiment with different kinds of alpha hydroxy acids to see what your skin likes!
RETINOID / MAELOVE STARGAZE OR MOONLIGHT / $30 & $37
I love Maelove Stargaze and Moonlight. They both have a retinoid as the active anti-aging ingredient, plus other hydrating and calming ingredients. The difference is that Stargaze has retinol as the active ingredient, which makes it a great place to start if you’ve never tried retinoid before or if you have more sensitive skin. Moonlight has retinal instead, so it has a little more oomph without a ton of irritation. You really can’t go wrong with either of these!
NIGHTTIME MOISTURIZER / LA ROCHE-POSAY TOLERIANE DOUBLE REPAIR FACE MOISTURIZER / $20
I always like to use a heavier moisturizer at night, and this one from La Roche Posay is PERFECT. It’s just a little more nourishing than the Cera Ve moisturizer, and locks in hydration for the night.
WEEKLY TREATMENT / THE ORDINARY AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION / $8
I like to use this mask once a week to do a deeper exfoliation and boost the process of clearing out pores, making skin smoother and brighter, and fading any dark spots. No matter what else I’m using, I always keep this mask in my skincare stash.
Affordable Skincare Routines
Those are the products – let’s talk about how to use them for morning and nighttime skincare routines.
AM SKINCARE ROUTINE
For mornings, cleanse with the Neutrogena, then use vitamin C, eye serum, facial mist, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer, and sunscreen, in that order.
PM SKINCARE ROUTINE
At night, start by using the squalane cleanser for the first cleanse, then cleanse again with the Neutrogena cleanser. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, use the Stargaze or Moonlight serums. On Tuesday and Thursday, use the lactic acid serum. On Sundays, use the Ordinary Peel as a weekly treatment. Always follow up with the La Roche-Posay moisturizer!
And that’s it – a routine that will keep your skin looking great without costing a ton of money!