The Best Affordable Skin Care Routine For Every Skin Type

This post shares everything you need to know to build your ideal affordable skin care routine. Plus, we’ve included suggested products for each skin type so you can build your entire routine for $30 to $70.

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Skin care can be really overwhelming these days. There’s so much information available yet it somehow seems to contradict itself.

Plus, do I really need that $100 moisturizer?

The answer is no. Although skin care can be complicated, it doesn’t have to be. 

In this post, we break down the basics of skincare so you can be an informed consumer. We help you to understand your skin type, the skincare ingredients to look for, and recommend affordable products for you. 

Table of Contents

The Importance of Skincare

Skin care has been in the limelight recently and the industry has been majorly booming. 

But do we really need it? 

You might be thinking “people seemed to do just fine in a time before all these fancy products.” 

Well, here’s my controversial opinion, if you’re not using any skincare and you’re happy with your skin, then you don’t need it! (Except sunscreen, everyone needs sunscreen.)

But, if you have skin concerns you would like to resolve, skin care is your golden ticket! 

Our skin is the body’s largest organ and is the protective barrier against the outside world. Proper skin care helps the barrier remain resilient and healthy. 

Through adopting an effective and affordable skin care routine, you can combat skin cancer, signs of again, dryness, and any other skin concern you may have. 

Skin Care Myths

In the ever changing world of skin care, there’s a lot of information that isn’t based on science and facts. There are lots of smart marketers out there trying to sell magic potions in a bottle.

The truth is, skin care is powerful and can help to solve your skin care woes, but nothing is magic. 

Here are some common skin care myths to keep in mind:

• Expensive products guarantee better results: One of the more prevalent myths is that money can buy quality. However, the truth is that there is little correlation between the price tag and the product’s effectiveness. Many luxury products priced above $100 are using basic ingredients like petroleum jelly. Educate yourself as a consumer so understand what to look for.
  
• Fragranced in skin care products is harmless: Fragrances are very commonly found in most products but both synthetic and natural fragrances irritate the skin. Even if you don’t see redness or irritation, it might be causing damage to the skin over time. You don’t need to completely avoid fragrance but when possible purchase the fragrance-free option and ditch the highly-perfumed options.
  
• Clean beauty: This is a recent trend that really gets under our skin. Many brands are promising “clean” products for an extra markup but what does “clean” even mean? Well, it’s a completely unregulated term meaning that brands are using it to mean whatever they want. In fact, some ingredients condemned by the clean beauty community are being replaced by “clean” alternatives. But these alternatives are often less regulated and can cause more harm to the skin such as essential oils. Always do your research, read ingredient lists, and consider consulting with a dermatologist or skincare expert when in doubt.
  
• You need a product for every concern: In the past couple of years, 10-step skincare routines have become all the rage. But the best products combine ingredients synergistically, meaning the ingredients make each other stronger when they are together. Look for effective formulations and keep your routine simple. It’s better for your face and your wallet.

The Basics of Building a Skin Care Routine

No matter your skin type, the building blocks of a good skin care routine are the same. Although the endless options may seem overwhelming, there are only a few core products you need for an effective and affordable skin care routine. 

We’re going to call the first category “The Basics.” You’ll want to include these three core elements in almost every routine despite your skin type or goals. Although each product is fairly commonplace, there are tons of varieties available and that’s where you’ll want to get specific on choosing products that are right for you. Not all cleansers are the same. 

The Basics:

1. Cleanser: Throughout the day, our skin is exposed to pollutants and dirt. Cleanser helps remove these and prevents acne, irritation, and inflammation. A good cleanser can help in maintaining the skin’s natural pH balance, ensuring it remains healthy and balanced.
   
2. Moisturizer: Moisturizers help the skin to lock in hydration and maintain a good balance of water in the skin. They help aid the skin’s natural skin barrier to keep out environmental stressors. 
   
3. Sunscreen: There is a lot of mis-information out there but let’s be clear, everyone needs sunscreen every single day. It’s the primary defense against harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause cancer and lead to skin damage. 

The next category is “The Boosters.” Boosters are stronger, more specific formulas that help you target specific concerns. There are all kinds of different boosters available but we’ll explain the most common ones here. 

The Boosters:

1. Actives: Actives is a catchall term that refers to active ingredients, or ingredients that are particularly powerful. Check out the section “The Powerful 5” for more info.
   
2. Serums: Serums are like the cocktails of the skin. They are carefully designed with a combination of ingredients to offer targeted solutions such as brightening, exfoliating, hydrating and so on. 
   
3. Toners: Toners are just like serums but are typically slightly less strong and are more watery in texture. You can look for all the same things in a toner as you can in a serum.
   
4. Occlusives: This booster is particularly important for our dry skinned friends. You may have heard of the term slugging recently. Occlusives are products that form a physical barrier or seal on the skin to prevent water loss. They help to lock in the benefits of the skincare products applied before them.

How to Build An Affordable Routine

Building an effective and affordable skin care routine is totally doable no matter your skin type. We have a couple of tips to help you out:

• Keep It Simple: Buy simple effective products and try to limit your routine to six products maximum. Anything more risks going to waste or even irritating your skin.
  
• Stay Consistent: Speaking of irritating, constantly testing out new products is not great for the skin. Try to only introduce one new product at a time and give it two weeks before adding another. Our skin loves consistency so if you find something that works, stick to it.
  
• Keep Away From Trends: There are new skin care trends emerging everyday. They can be exciting and often feel like if you just bought that one product, it would fix all your problems. But the truth is, the skincare industry moves slowly. Try to distinguish between marketing and real innovation.
  
• Only Use What You Need: It’s easy to use way more product than we need. As a general rule of thumb, use about a quarter size of cleanser, a dime size of moisturizer, and a pea size of anything else. Steer clear from one time use products like masks and skincare tools like jade rollers (they don’t contribute to long-term changes.)
  
• Use What You Have: We all have that area of half empty bottles of beauty products but don’t be a victim to replenishing before your need to. Try to use up a bottle before switching it up or repurchasing. Skin care products go back in about a year so they are meant to be used up not stored for later.

The Powerful 5: The 5 Skin Care Ingredients You Should Know About

You don’t need to know everything about cosmetic chemistry to be an informed consumer. Keep it simple and stick to understanding these 5 power ingredients that have transformative benefits. Although not all the ingredients are great for all skin types most of them treat multiple concerns. 

1. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, meaning that it reduces oxidation in the skin (this is what causes signs of aging). It fights free radicals and has the power to brighten the skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and stimulate collagen production. Also known as Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid.
   
2. Retinol: Retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that accelerates cell turnover meaning that it promotes the production of new cells while reducing old ones. The effect? It combats signs of aging and reduces acne. Also known as Retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin.
   
3. Niacinamide: This powerhouse is a form of vitamin B that does all kinds of wonders for the skin. It helps to strengthen the skin barrier, reduces inflammation, minimizes the appearance of pores, balances oil production, and helps to reduce hyperpigmentation.
   
4. BHA: Also known as Salicylic acid, BHA is an oil-based chemical exfoliate that penetrates inside the pore to exfoliate away old skin cells. It’s great for treating acne, skin texture, and is anti-inflammatory. 
   
5. AHA: Similar to BHA, AHA is a chemical exfoliant but it works harder on the surface of the skin. It’s the go-to if you want to have the glow from within look. Also known as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and alpha hydroxy acid. 

Identifying and Understanding Your Skin Type

Knowing your skin type is foundational for building the right routine for you. Each skin type has unique needs and understanding them will make a world of difference when it comes to finding the right solutions and products. 

One of the easiest methods for determining your skin type is the “bare-faced test.” Start with a clean washed face. Do not apply any products and wait one hour. At the end of the hour, examine your skin in the mirror. Look at the different regions and see if there are any differences. 

It’s also a great idea to consult a dermatologist! 

Let’s break down the most common skin types: 

Normal

Normal skin is well-balanced when it comes to oil and moisture levels. Choose gentle skincare products and don’t add in anything too strong that might damage your well-functioning skin barrier.

Affordable skin care routine for normal skin: 

If you’re not experiencing any skin concerns, keep your routine as simple as possible. Your body is doing a great job on its own and you don’t want to throw things out of balance. Stick to a simple pH balanced moisturizer, a light yet soothing moisturizer, and a strong sunscreen.

This routine consists of just 3 products and comes in at about $35.

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Dry

Dry skin is characterized by a feeling of tightness or visibly dry and flaky patches. If you have dry skin, focus on adding additional moisture to the skin and locking it in. Avoid drying and irritating ingredients. 

Affordable skin care routine for dry skin: 

With dry skin, the name of the game is gentle hydration. This routine consists of a gentle, protective cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. You’ll boost your hydration through the addition of a niacinamide serum and seal in the goodness at night with a basic petroleum jelly to slug with.

This routine consists of four products and comes in just under $55. Some of the product sizes are quite large so this routine should last you quite a while. 

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Oily

If you find yourself shiny and oily a couple of hours after washing your face, you have an oily skin type. Focus on using lightweight products and use ingredients that can help with oil production such as exfoliants and niacinamide.

Affordable skin care routine for oily skin: 

When it comes to building a routine for oily skin, look for stronger cleansers, and lighter moisturizers and sunscreens. We add in an exfoliating toner as well as swapping out a traditional PM moisturizer for a retinol to help balance the skin over time . Try not to over do it with drying products because over drying your skin can actually lead to more oil production.

This routine consists of four products and will cost you about $50. 

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Combination

If you have combination skin, it is just what it sounds like. You might find that you are dry and flaky around your mouth but oily with clogged pores on your nose. Focus on skin barrier repair so that you can nurture your skin back to a state of balance. 

Affordable skin care routine for combination skin: 

Combination skin can be a bit tricky so you’ll need to experiment a bit to see which combination of products works best for you. Here we mix gentle hydrating products with a couple of skin-balancing power hitters like niacinamide and retinol. Because we’re adding in these effective and powerful formations, we’re opting for a more wallet friendly cleanser and sunscreen.

This skincare routine is composed of four products and comes to about $60.

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Acne-Prone

If you’re faced with regular breakouts, clogged pores, and inflammation, you have acne-prone skin. This can be super frustrating but keep up your hope because there are so many effective acne solutions available. We will make recommendations here but it’s best to speak to a professional. 

Affordable skin care routine for acne: 

When it comes to acne, there are a couple of ingredients you want to be sure to incorporate like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene (similar to retinol.) In this routine, we incorporate all three but it may be too strong for you. Start with one and build from there. Over stripping or drying the skin can actually make acne worse.

This routine packs in all the powerhouse ingredients bringing it to just under $70. But as we mentioned, start with one and go from there. 

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Hyperpigmented

Maybe you had acne in the past, or have dark spots from previous sun exposure. If you find yourself with uneven skin texture, brown spots, or redness, you might have hyperpigmentation. The good news? You can even out skin tone quickly with effective products. Look for vitamin c serums, niacinamide, exfoliants, and retinol (but not all at once!)

Affordable skin care routine for hyperpigmentation: 

This routine is a powerful combo for fading dark spots. If you’re consistent with this routine, it won’t take long before you start seeing the results. 

Even with five products, this routine comes to $55. However, it might be worth a small splurge to get a high-quality vitamin C serum. It’s a bit more expensive but this option is the best quality for money available. We’ve given you both options below. 

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We hope you found these affordable skin care routines helpful! 

Here’s your reminder to start small. You don’t need to buy a brand new routine to see changes. Start with one product and go from there! 

We’d love to know about your skin care journey in the comments below. 

More ideas you’ll love:

• Ultimate (Science-Backed) Morning Skincare Routine for Your 30s
• Affordable Nighttime Skincare Routine For Women In Their 20s
• 13 Common Skincare Mistakes That Might be Ruining Your Skin

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Posted By: Victoria · In: beauty