For gorgeous skin ballin’ on a budget

While many people think you need to pay exorbitant prices in order to have a great skincare routine, many of the ingredients listed in those products are contained in other products right up the street from you at your local drugstore. Sometimes, those drugstore products are even better than the overpriced products you can pick up at a name brand retailer. Then you get sucked in to believing you need all these other accessory products to have a “proper” skincare routine. Well I’m here to tell you that you don’t. We’re going back to the basics with this drugstore skin care routine.

Cleansers

This cleanser is great if you suffer from acne prone skin or are suffering from maskne. It contains 10% benzoyl peroxide which is the highest strength benzoyl peroxide that you can get from over the counter. It also contains glycerin and sodium PCA which act to naturally moisturize the skin. As well as, glycolic and lactic acid to gently exfoliate the skin. I personally have found this cleanser to be the most effective for my drugstore skin care routine. This cleanser comes in as a steal as just $9.48 on Amazon.

Cerave’s hydrating facial cleanser is a great option for those with skin on the more dry side. What’s great about this particular cleanser is that it contains three different ceramides which help keep your skin hydrating and help to get a healthy skin barrier. It also contains lipids naturally found within your skin barrier to help protect your skin against any antimicrobials as well as hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate your skin. This cleanser rings in at $14.47 on Amazon.

Treatments

Differin’s 0.1% adapalene gel is a product you will have to work and give some time with, but once I started seeing results I never went back! It is the first over the counter retinoid strength treatment that not only treats acne, but fine lines and wrinkles as well. And as I always say, it’s never too early for anti-aging. It is non-comedogenic and fragrance free, so it is safe for most skin types. However, as I said earlier, you have to give this product time. When you first begin to use it, your skin will peel for the first two weeks or so because of the sheer strength of the product. If your skin is on the sensitive side, I would recommend to layer this over your lotion first as a way to get your skin acclimated to the product. After about a week or two, begin layering it after cleansing. It is recommended to use this product every night and at least a month to start seeing results. This treatment comes in at $12.88 on Amazon.

Now this is one of my holy grail products! The Ordinary’s Niacinamide contains 10% pure niacinamide and 1% zinc PCA. It is a high strength vitamin and mineral formula which works to quickly and effectively reduce hyperpigmentation. It also helps to fight against fine lines and wrinkles and in building keratin to help keep your skin tight and healthy. This must have stable product is just $12.50 off of Amazon.

Lotions

Cerave’s Moisturizing Cream is great for those with drier skin or even for most people during the winter months. It contains three essential creaminess to help protect the skin barrier. It also contains glycerin and hyaluronate to moisturize the skin, pure vitamin E that works as an antioxidant in photo protection again UVB’s. And finally, it contains phytosphingosine which is a type of lipid which works as a part of the skin’s natural defense mechanism. At just $16.08 for 19 ounces, you’re really getting the most bang for your buck.

Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost face lotion is a water gel based cream that works amazing for oily prone skin or for those summer months. Its main ingredient is hyaluronic acid that is able to hold 1000x its weight in water to keep your skin hydrated. It works as a gel to quickly dry on your face while keeping the amazing benefits of using an actual cream. When using this product make sure to have damp skin before putting it on, otherwise it can dry out your skin by pulling the water directly from your skin. This cult classic comes in at $17.54 on Amazon.

Sunscreen

Black Girl Sunscreen is HANDS DOWN the best mineral sunscreen I have found on the market and it can be found right at your local drugstore! Its mineral and fragrance-free formula make it safe for all skin types, but what really makes this sunscreen so unique is that it has ZERO white cast. This is almost unheard of for a non-tinted mineral sunscreen. If you prefer your sunscreen without a sheen, they even make it in a matte version. What’s even better yet is that they packed this formula with beneficial ingredients for your skin. It contains aloe vera juice which acts as an anti-inflammatory and moisturizer. Sunflower oil to protect and enhance the skin barrier. Avocado oil and cacao seed butter which contain antioxidants and fatty acids to protect and moisturize the skin. And finally, jojoba seed oil which acts as to protect and moisturize the skin barrier. Only downside to this sunscreen is its only SPF 30 and I would prefer for it to be at least an SPF 50. The girl rings in at $24.19 on Amazon.

La Roche Posay’s Annthelios Light Fluid Sunscreen comes as a SPF 60 formula which we love! It is formulated to be light-weight and non-greasy on the skin. It is fast absorbing due to its runnier consistency and dries down in a nice matte finish. We also love this sunscreen because it is water resistant up to 80 minutes which makes it great for the summer. It contains broad spectrum protection and is oxybenzone free (a known chemical sunscreen ingredient to cause a plethora of problems for humans). This sunscreen comes in at $29.99 on Amazon.