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As someone who is obsessed with skincare and constantly chasing porcelain skin, I don't mind splurging on products I don't need in the name of self-care — and lemme just tell you how those Target/Sephora/Ulta runs start to add up REAL QUICK.
BUT, with all my spending, i've found that you don't need to drain your account to have nice skin. As a matter of fact, MOST of my favorite skincare products are budget friendly. If you're looking to save your coins AND keep ya face (and body) poppin', don't worry, I got you. Check them out below.
P.S. — they're all $10 or less!
FOR THE FACE
1. TEA TREE OIL.
Tea tree oil can range anywhere from $5 to $10, depending on the brand you use. It is a longstanding natural remedy for acne and acne causing bacteria. A simple google, or Pinterest search can give you more than enough info on how great this stuff is if you wanna know more — or you can just believe me when I say it's the BOMB (definitely look it up regardless. I'm no expert, I just know a lil sumn'). If you have sensitive skin and can't handle harsh ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide — which is found in a lot of products for acne prone skin — tea tree oil can be an effective, more natural alternative.
I personally prefer to use it as a spot treatment and/or a toner. For a spot treatment, I apply it to my problem areas straight from the bottle, using a cotton ball or q-tip. If you want to use it all over your face as a toner, it's best to dilute it with water or witch hazel first to tone it down a bit.
Which brings me to my next fav...
2. WITCH HAZEL.
I've been using witch hazel for YEARS and it's never let me down. Witch Hazel — like tea tree oil — can be a great alternative to toners with stronger chemicals. It is a natural astringent and can be used to treat acne, eczema, redness, puffy eyes, ingrown hairs, improve skin texture, and SO much more.
As mentioned before, if you can't handle the potency of tea tree oil on it's own, witch hazel can be used to dilute it OR as a toner by itself.
I use it to improve the texture of my skin (get rid of little bumps) and in between products — for example, before applying acne medication — because it also restores the skin's ph levels. This is important because products are best used/most effective on balanced skin. An imbalance could make your face an open door to more acne causing bacteria.
3. ROSEWATER.
Rosewater is one of those things that I pick up on and off, but every time I start using it again I can't remember why I stopped. So here it is on the list, because I do actually love it. Rosewater can be used to treat sunburn, prevent acne, soothe irritated skin, control oily skin, shrink pores, but my favorite — and the reason I use it — is for glowy skin! ESPECIALLY in the summer time. It makes my skin look SUPER radiant without drying it out too much.
***Bonus: Rosewater can also be used in your hair as well!
4. AFRICAN BLACK SOAP.
People RAVEEEE about black soap. I personally have never used it, but my mom and several other people close to me have used/do use it and they love it. It's all natural, affordable and based on research — super effective.
5. AVEENO DAILY MOISTURIZING LOTION.
This has been one of my staples for YEARS. I don't even know any of the specifics of what it claims to do, all I know is that it works and I can't get away from it. My mom put me on this — as recommended by her dermatologist — and now I buy it religiously. It's great for sensitive skin and it moisturizes my face without the feeling of being greasy. I have oily skin, so that's really important for me. It's also good to use on your whole body, but I mostly use it on my face.
6. CETAPHIL DAILY FACIAL CLEANSER.
If you're into skin care, you've probably heard of or used this cleanser at some point or another. This product is also one of my ole'faithfuls. My skin can be very irritable and sensitive to different things, especially if I'm using new products, so I keep this around just in case I need something gentle to use.
7. FACIAL CLEANSING PAD/BRUSH.
Girl, ya hands is nastyyyy. Stop putting them on your face. No, but really, if you don't have something to clean your face with — get it nowww. Sponges and brushes are good to have to gently exfoliate your skin without being too abrasive. They also give you a deeper cleanse as opposed to what you can do with your hands alone. You don't have to spend alot of money on them either. I have in the past and in my experience the more affordable products work just as well as the expensive ones.
FOR THE BODY
1. SUGAR SCRUBS.
I mean... who doesn't love a good scrub? This is my quick fix for soft/smooth skin. Pro tip — exfoliate with a sugar scrub BEFORE you shaving. It makes your skin BABY soft and gives you a much closer shave. You can DIY your own if you have time. There's plenty of recipes on Pinterest for that. OR you can buy them pre-made from a store. A long time fav of mine is Tree Hut's Shea Sugar Scrub. They come in a ton of yummy scents too — Coconut Lime, Tropical Mango, and Brown Sugar are my favs — and you can find them at Walmart for cheap. They're also available at Ulta if you prefer to shop there.
2. COCOA BUTTER + COCONUT OIL.
#IYKYK. This has been a staple in my house since I was a little girl and now that i'm older I know why. Stretch marks were never a problem for me until I started gaining more weight. I didn't mind them anywhere else, except my thighs. Truly hate to see it. We all know they're quite normal, but if you're like me and want to reduce their appearance in certain areas, then Palmer's is the go to. Stretch marks form as a result of the skin stretching too quickly, so you can't technically "stop" it, but you can improve your skin elasticity by staying moisturized. I use palmers as a moisturizer first, and then go back over it with coconut oil. The coconut oil also also helps with "chicken skin" or the tiny little bumps that you find on the back of your legs sometimes.
DASSIT SIS.
If I can come up with anything else, or forget something, I'll share it later. If you have affordable options for skincare that you know of and love — share it with the gals in the comments!
xo,
Syn