By: Grace Cardinal
Whether first waking up or winding down for the day, a great skincare routine is sure to not only leave your face glowing but your soul too! For many, it can be overwhelming to sort through what products are on the market and know what’s good and what’s not. Whether you’re a skin-care expert looking for some new products or you’re completely new to the game, here are my top (affordable) recommendations for products sure to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
Elf Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm ($11) – The first, and arguably most important step, in beginning your skincare routine is making sure you have a makeup-free face. This is one of the best skincare and makeup removal products I have ever used in my life, and it’s worth every penny of the $11 (for a jar that will last you 3-ish months). A pea-sized amount of product paired with a damp washcloth or a Makeup Eraser will leave your face feeling clean, refreshed and makeup free in a minute or less.
Clean & Clear Facial Cleanser ($6) – While the Makeup Melter is amazing on its own, I prefer to use it with a face wash to ensure I’m starting with a clean base my other products can fully absorb into. Clean & Clear Cleanser is a great drugstore-brand face wash that effectively cleans my face without leaving any residue behind. This product is known for its Bursting Beads which are full of energy and vitamins, leaving revitalized skin behind. The brand also offers a variety of scents and sensitive-skin-specific face wash, depending on your needs.
PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash ($12) – If your face tends to be oily and acne-prone, PanOxyl is a great over-the-counter solution. Not only does it work great to dry up facial breakouts, but it works wonders on your chest, back or any other acne-prone areas you may struggle with. The active ingredient in this product is benzoyl peroxide, which some skin can be sensitive to depending on the strength of the product. It’s never a bad idea to double-check with a dermatologist before use to see what’s right for you.
Elf Keep Your Balance Toner ($8) -There are a lot of great toners on the market, MANY of which I have tried. It’s often hard to find one that doesn’t leave your face feeling immediately dried out and stripped. Recently, the one I’ve landed on is this Keep Your Balance toner from Elf, also part of their Holy Hydration! collection. Honestly, the brand’s entire Holy Hydration! line is full of great products (such as the aforementioned Makeup Melter) but often gets overlooked due to the frequent stigma that good skincare brands are never affordable. At $8, this Keep Your Balance Toner, with active ingredients of hyaluronic acid (the best!) and witch hazel, refreshes your skin and provides an amazing base for your other products to absorb into. While this is my pick from the brand, Elf offers a wide variety of toners depending on your skin’s needs.
Burt’s Bees Sensitive Eye Cream ($18) – While they’ve recently increased their price, this eye cream is still one of my top skincare picks. The bottle is worth the price increase and tends to last me between 4-6 months. Throughout the many brands I’ve tried, this is the only under-eye cream I felt both noticeably brightened and refreshed my under eyes. While I am biased towards the Sensitive Skin eye cream, they also offer a Firming and Renewal option.
The Ordinary serums ($10-$15) – I asked a few friends for recommendations for serum, as I feel it is the only part of my skincare routine I don’t completely have a tried and true product for yet. The winner came through clear: The Ordinary. These serums start under $10 and offer a few different options with a simple ingredient list. Their best sellers include their Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid serums, both of which are great active ingredients to look for in any skincare product.
IPKN Big Apple Sun Cream ($24) – Sunscreen is SO important to have in your skincare routine! If you gain one thing from this list let it be this: sunscreen will be the product to save your skin. It will prevent sunburn (obviously) but also skin cancer and premature aging (yes, that means wrinkles!) To get the best long-term results, you need to be wearing it EVERY day, rain or shine! There are a ton of amazing sunscreens on the market, and this one also comes from a friend’s pick. IPKN sun cream, SPF 50 is a smooth absorbing sunscreen that is easy to incorporate into any skincare routine. While it is the most expensive item on this list ($24 for 1.35 fl oz.) it’s worth the buy to keep your skin looking Jennifer Aniston-esque in the future.
Elf Holy Hydration! Face Cream ($13) – Onto moisturizer! While this is starting to sound like an Elf ad (I promise it’s not) they simply have high-quality products for really affordable prices! My pick is their Holy Hydration! Face Cream (with SPF 30). While the formula is a little thicker than other moisturizers, it absorbs well and doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue. The SPF in this product is a little added bonus in addition to the sunscreen already in your skincare routine. This is perfect for both morning and night use and each jar will usually last me at least a couple of months.
*Please note: while these items are all linked to the company’s websites, most of these products are available at Sephora, Ulta and Target as well!*