Great Skincare on a Budget

We've all been at the point where we had to sacrifice the quality of our skincare for the sake of saving money. Unfortunately it's not always possible to splurge for beauty.

But you don't have to anymore!

Here's a list of all my favorite cost-efficient skincare products. This list is by no means comprehensive, but I tried to think of all my holy grail items. If I missed any, feel free to leave your favorite budget-friendly skincare product recommendations in the comments!

The first things I use in both the morning and at night are my face cleansers. It's so important to find one that isn't too harsh on your skin because you're (supposed to) use them every day. That's why I love these:

I personally think cleansers are one thing that you can definitely get a drug store and not compromise the care of your skin. What you really need in a cleanser is something that is gentle, not too fragranced, effective at removing dirt and possibly makeup, won't leave your skin feeling like cling film after you've used it, and won't leave you looking like a grease ball at the end of the day.

These cleansers do exactly those things for a great price. When I tell you these bottles will last you at least three months (if you wash your face twice a day) they actually will. They smell really clean and fresh without being overpowering.They're also great as cleansers. They don't leave your skin feeling tight and dry (even though you're still supposed to moisturize after), and they get all of the crud off without abrasives. They're marketed for all skin types. I personally have combination skin and they both work great for me.

These brands have a lot of different products, too. I've tried a variety of their products, and they're all great and relatively cheap! Depending on your preferences and skin type (extra hydrating, foaming, non-foaming) you can find a product from their lines that you know will work and won't break the bank. That way you have extra money to spend on another skincare product you really want to splurge on. Or a chocolate bar.

Another drugstore find I really love is the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer ($13.79 for 4 oz). Although I tend to splurge on moisturizers and serums, I used this for a really long time and it always left my skin feeling soft and glowy. You can find it nearly anywhere if you're in a pinch for some moisturizer or even some sunscreen, as it also packs a little bit of SPF into the mix. Unless they've changed the formula, the moisturizer itself has a little bit of a sheen to it, hence "Positively Radiant" in the title. It works great under makeup and does everything a moisturizer is supposed to.

If you're not into the subtle glow, another great moisturizer sunscreen is the Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture ($8.69 for 2.5 fl oz). I personally prefer the one with sunscreen because SPF is always a great little add on that doesn't take an extra step in the morning. However, if you're going to be using this at night and aren't that concerned about sun protection, you might want to stick with the non-SPF versions. They're all in the same price ballpark, so either way you get a great deal.

This line has some of the best, budget friendly skincare that I've ever encountered. I know that's a bold statement, but it's not unfounded. Trust me.

This line has multiple different skincare products that all cost under $20. If you ever wanted to buy a special serum but couldn't afford the conventional ones, these serums start at $5.30 and the most expensive one is $14.80. Insane, right? You don't sacrifice quality for the price, either. After a couple of months using their products, my skin completely transformed. It felt more elastic, plump, smooth and looked more lively.

The only kicker is that I really only know of one place to get their products: Sephora. You can find them on Amazon for a crazy marked up price, but that takes away from the whole point of the product. That being said, they're almost always sold out at Sephora. So if you have a chance to grab their products before they run out, I say just pull the trigger and return it if you hate it (but you probably won't)!

Here are my favorites:

The No-Brainer Set ($29 for the following products - a steal!)
- Buffet Serum ($14.80 for 1 oz)
- Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion ($9.80 for 1 oz)
- Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA ($5.80 for 1 oz)
Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution ($8.70 for 8 oz)

The bottles may seem a little small, but the moisturizer and the two serums lasted me from the beginning of January until the Beginning of March, and I used them twice a day every day. I use the toning solution every other day at night and still have some leftover. They are so worth the money you pay!

When it comes to face masks, essentially any sheet mask you get is gonna be budget friendly. Here are some of my favorite brands:

FaceTory is a monthly Korean sheet mask subscription box. You get a bunch of masks for pretty cheap, and you don't have to shuffle through all the options for hours until you find one you like. You just get a surprise in your mailbox every month! You can buy individual masks from their website, or you can shop special or past boxes, like the All About Balance Palette or the Hello Moisture Palette that focus on one aspect of your skin, like moisture!

I also love the masks from The Face Shop. Most of the time, they have sales where you can get a bunch of masks for super cheap, so I usually stock up on those when the sales come around!

Finally, I've mentioned them before but the Tony Moly Sheet Masks are really great and relatively cheap, not to mention how cute the packaging is! They have a ton of selection too.

I know how hard it is to maintain your skin health on a tight budget, so I hope my past trials-and-successes have been helpful for you in some way or another. I'm sure I left some things out because there are so many products I have tried, but until I think of anything else, I'd love it if you shared yours! Happy skincare-ing!