This isn’t just about cheap skincare. Because, let’s be honest, you can get cheap drugstore products anytime, and they’ll be rather decent. They’ll very likely have a wishy-washy mix of emollients, humectants, and some antioxidants. Maaaaaayyyyyyyybe even some hyaluronic acid.
No, this is about the type of products that came up with The Ordinary, where products are single ingredient (or more!) delivery vehicles. These are the products like that I love. (With some Holy Grails thrown in that I buy again and again.) If you want to dip your toes into the waters of active skincare ingredients, here’re the cheap skincare favourites I recommend.
Cleanser: Renewing SA Cleanser (Cerave)
While a foaming gel cleanser will never be my cleansing go-to, Cerave’s cleansers are generally rather gentle. They’re also full of ceramides, niacinamides and hyaluronic acid. And then, there’s of course the eponymous Salicylic Acid, which makes the cleanser great for me after long days of mask wearing or after exercising. Cerave makes a ton of cleansers, from cleansing bars to foam to oil to lotions. If this one’s not your cup of tea, you’ll be able to find one that suits you.
8 fl.oz / 236ml are around €10.
Serums
Hyaluronic Acid Serum (The Inkey List)
I think that nearly all skintypes will appreciate a Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Hyaluronic Acid will give your skin a moisture boost (it really isn’t a humectant itself, but will attract and bind moisture), making it look smooth and plump. The one from The Inkey List does all that while being very pleasant: it’s not sticky, and sinks in quickly. (Initial review here.)
Daily Brightening Serum (Good Molecules)
If you suffer from outbreaks and uneven skintone, the Daily Brightening Serum will address that. It again has hyaluronic acid in its ingredient list, but also other brightening ingredients like arbutin and licorice root extract. Again, it has a lightweight, pleasant texture that is absorbed quickly and plays well with other skincare/makeup you layer with it. (Initial review here.)
30ml/ 1 fl/oz is $9 at Beautylish.
Treatments
L-Ascorbic Acid Powder (The Ordinary)
Both these products aren’t made for the skincare beginner. Do trust me with that. In the case of The Ordinary’s Vitamin C powder, it’s hellishly difficult to dose correctly: a store-bought Vitamin C serum will likely have a Vitamin C concentration between 10-20%. Nearly everyone will overdose when mixing the powder with a toner or serum. With Vitamin C, this matters: because of its low pH, it’s potentially irritating to a lot of skintypes. If you’ve used water-based Vitamin C serums before and your skin has tolerated that well, you could try it, if you’re extra careful with the measuring spoon. (Initial review here.)
AHA 30% + BHA2% Peeling Solution (The Ordinary)
Again, the so-called “Vampire Peeling” from The Ordinary packs a serious punch. I’m told that dermatologists hate it with a passion, because clients come to them with skin wrecked by it. It’s only for skintypes that respond well to acids, have tolerated acids for a long time AND for users who treat it seriously. By that, I mean that you listen to your skin: you know that something that hurts doesn’t “prove its working!” but that you’re damaging your skin barrier. You’re also skincare-smart and know how to introduce a potent active to your routine: trying it once a week at first, and maybe not for the full 10 minutes. It has the strength of a chemical peel your derm does, so: proceed with caution. I use it once a week at most, and use a very pampering routine afterwards. (Initial review here.)
Mask: Kaolin Clay Mask (The Inkey List)
A very gentle clay mask for all skintypes. It’s an astonishing product, because it doesn’t dry down and has some moisturizing ingredients. If you’re breakout-prone, PMS, have maskne or oily skin, you’ll very likely appreciate the clean, calm skin feel this gives you. A very pleasant mask. (Initial review here.)
1.7 fl.oz / 50ml are €6.
Moisturiser: Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (The Ordinary)
With a texture reminding me of clotted cream, this is maybe the best budget moisturizer I’ve ever encountered for a laughable price. It’s extremely pleasant to apply and leaves just a tiny bit of tackiness behind – you’ll know you’ve used a cream. It’s by no means unpleasant, but maybe not the best under rich sunscreens.
And it packs and absolute punch when it comes to ingredients that’ll will hydrate your skin: not only glycerin, but different kinds of saccharides, urea, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and 11 amino acids for a healthy skin barrier. Even my moisturizer-adverse husband likes it. (It also makes for a phenomenal hand cream.)
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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