Cheap Skincare Products for the Broke

If you are blessed with radiant skin, brighter than my future, this blog post is not for you. If you suffer from dry or oily, acne-prone, sensitive, or blemished skin, unfortunately I understand, and I am here for you. Let's pretend we are blessed by the gods and goddesses of skincare!

I will make recommendations for cheap products you can buy, home remedies (including DIY treatments), and everyday tips you can do to prevent and treat acne and other nuisances. 

All the products I am listing below can be purchased from Amazon. These are Amazon's pricing. These products can be found in many other places, but I find that Amazon generally has really good prices, and it's especially convenient. 

What skin type do you have?

First and foremost, you need to acknowledge your skin type. There are basically four different skin types: dry, oily, normal, and combination. 

  1. If you have dry skin, your complexion may seem rough or dull, skin is more likely to flake because of the lack of moisture, and your skin may be itchy or scaly. Dry skin can be made worse in the sun with heat or even in the winter months and can also worsen with inadequate skincare products and moisturizers.
  2. If your skin has an overproduction of sebum, or oil, you have oily skin. Oil causes the pores on your face to clog, therefore causing pimples and acne. On top of pimples, you may have large pores, blemishes, and blackheads. This can be made worse with age, weather, wrong skincare products, or hormones.
  3. Normal Skin is a term used for balanced skin, it is not overly dry or oily. Just because you may have normal skin, it doesn't mean that you can't have acne, blemishes, or other skin conditions. There are things to get that skin looking fabulous too.
  4. Combination skin is pretty straightforward, it is a combination between dry and oily. The forehead, nose area, and chin may be a little oily while the rest of the face is dry. This skin type can also change with the time of the year, perhaps being more oily at one time and more dry at another. 

Disclaimer: Though I recommend using the following products, they are just examples of brands and specific products you can use. You can use one or the other, or even one at a time to ease into it. But if you want multiple skincare treatments at the same time, I would suggest getting products from the same brand so as not to irritate your skin.

Dry Skin

You need to make sure that you are nourishing your skin with products that are hydrating, cleansing, and/or exfoliating. You also don't want products that are too harsh on your skin and can irritate or dry out your skin even more.

Here are some brands and products I recommend to treat dry skin and acne:

Though Hyaluronic Acid is found in many skincare products, our bodies have it naturally! Hyaluronic Acid or HA promotes healthier skin by binding to water to retain moisture. It also helps heal wounds faster by regulating inflammation levels as well as having antibacterial properties. Natural aging and exposure to ultraviolet radiation can decrease HA levels so it's not a bad idea to have Hyaluronic Acid in skincare products. Many even take HA as a supplement.

Additionally, Salicylic Acid is absolutely amazing for acne. It sheds dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin and reduces inflammation or redness. It's a fantastic agent to prevent acne and pimples from forming and speeds healing. Look for skincare products with Salicylic Acid because not only does it help with dry skin, it helps with all skin types.

Oily Skin

It's important to have oil-free products so it doesn't contribute more to the problem. However, not all the oil is bad, if your face is stripped of its oil, your skin will become dry and flaky so skincare products that remove the surface's excess oil, dirt and grime without over-drying is what we are going for. There needs to be a balance. In order to achieve this balance, you can use toners to restore pH levels to the skin instead of using products with alcohol in them. Alcohol will dry out the skin. Additionally, charcoal masks can be used to draw out dirt and bacteria. After using products to cleanse dirt and excess oil, make sure to follow up with a moisturizer. Even with oily skin you can't escape moisturizing. And let's be honest, why would you want to? Moisturizer is a miracle.

Here are some products I think are great for oily skin:

Witch Hazel is a 100% natural facial toner. The one suggested above is alcohol-free with aloe vera so it is hydrating as well as leveling your skin's pH levels. 

Niacinamide is a B-3 vitamin, a nutrient that helps with the treatment of acne and eczema. Niacinamide builds keratin, which is a protein that can help keep skin firm and healthy. It minimizes pores, regulates oil, and reduces redness.

Zinc works as an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory, and wards off acne. It can help heal and rejuvenate your skin to avoid acne flare ups.

All in all, say goodbye to oily skin!

Normal Skin

It's easy to find products provided for normal skin. In fact, a lot of the products for dry skin work for normal skin types as well. Normal skin is defined as well-balanced skin. The T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) may be a bit oily, but overall sebum and moisture is balanced so the skin is neither too oily or too dry. People with normal skin type should still opt for skincare products that maintain that balance and bring out the best in their skin. That includes cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and wearing sunscreen just like with any other skin type.

Everybody's skin is different and what you may like will definitely be different so look around and find what works for you. There are a lot of products that help with acne if you're struggling with that.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is frustrating and trying new products is risky. If you react poorly to a product, you want to fix it or calm it down with another product and it can often become a domino effect. It can be a painful and slow process. Sensitive skin type is when the skin tone is uneven, it can be itching, drying, redness, burning, or you may suffer from eczema. It's important to pay attention to the ingredients. More natural products are the way to go.

Unfortunately, skin care for sensitive skin is generally more expensive because it is more specialized, but I will list some cheaper options that work.

Sensitive skin really is something you have to struggle through to find what works for you. If I were you, I would do more in depth research to find what you like and what you think would work for you. 

Combination Skin

Combination Skin is referred by skin that is oily on the forehead, around the nose, and the chin area but is dry everywhere else. This skin type is difficult to treat because you want products that balance both ends. It can worsen with hormones and is effected by genetics. Toners will restore the pH balance to help reduce your skin’s overcompensation for too much or too little moisture. Soap-free cleansers is much better than other cleansers that contain too many ingredients or chemicals. Gentle exfoliants will uncover new skin without any old oil and gives your skin a chance to breathe. 

DIY Skincare!

Here are some ingredients you can use in place of other skincare products if you don't want to spend more money. 

  • Tea Tree Oil is a miracle worker for redness and inflammation. It also aids in preventing acne and fading acne scars and dark spots. You can mix just 1-2 drops of tea tree oil with a toner or a moisturizer before bed and leave it on overnight. You can also just put a drop directly onto your skin. You can use this daily.
  • If you don't want to pay for an exfoliant that might not even work as well as you want, you can use baking soda mixed with a little water to get rid of dead skin cells and act as an anti-inflammatory. You can use it as a scrub or a mask. Alternatively, put sugar, coconut oil, and your favorite essential oil (I suggest something like tea tree oil) in a bowl and use it on your face, lips, or even your legs. Don't leave it on though, sugar and coconut oil will clog your pores.
  • Get boiling water and a towel, put your face over the water and cover your head with the towel. Let the steam hit your face for about 5-10 minutes to open up all your pores. You can do this right before cleansing. After cleansing your skin, splash your face with cold water or run an ice cube over your skin to close the pores again. 
  • Ice cubes not only close your pores so that bacteria doesn't get in them, but it helps reduce the swelling of pimples and assists in healing it.
  • Petroleum Jelly is my favorite thing ever! It is a great moisturizer for skin. It retains moisture in your skin, doesn't clog pores, and you can use it to remove makeup or even to help grow your eyelashes and eyebrows. Vaseline is my holy grail and has saved me a lot of money. I highly suggest looking up the benefits of petroleum jelly, you won't regret it.

Tips for Clear Skin

  • DRINK WATER - Just do it, I promise you it makes a difference.
  • Try not to touch your face, your hands are nasty.
  • At the end of a shower, use cold water to close pores so it's harder for bacteria to invade your skin.
  • Avoid a lot of sugar, maybe ditch the coffee - I know I'm sorry.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Change your bath towels and pillow cases often - you can flip your pillow over every night so you're not just sleeping on one side and you won't have to change the case as much.
  • Wash your face at least twice a day, once when you wake up and once before bed. If you sweat, wash again.
  • Don't stress too much, it's okay.
  • Avoid popping pimples.
  • Wear SUNSCREEN, it will save your skin in the long run. - I'm looking at you fellow fair-skinned people.
  • Exfoliate.
  • If you wear makeup, wear the kind that won't clog your pores.

If you are a popper, make sure to pop your pimples safely. You can use extractor tools to prevent scarring and the spreading of bacteria as you rid of your pimples. Make sure to clean the tools before and after with rubbing alcohol.

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