Trying to maintain your best skin without breaking the bank is getting more difficult every year. The skincare industry is booming, with new products appearing on the market every week.
We all want to look younger, and when we hear about new ingredients that can diminish the appearance of wrinkles and smooth skin tone, we want to try them. Then there are our clean beauty favs we just can’t be without, say nothing of the new makeup trends.
After a while, it can all get to be too much, with our bank accounts showing the scars. We’re here to help. If you’re trying to keep yourself on a beauty budget, we’ve got suggestions on where you can save money and still look your best, and where you should splurge to keep your skin as healthy as possible as you age.
Where to Save on Your Skin Care and Makeup
1. Cleansing Wipes
If you use one of these per day, which is normal, the costs will add up quickly. This is one place you can cut back. Stick to affordable towelettes that you can get at the department store—just try to find those that are biodegradeable and have natural moisturizing ingredients in them so they won’t strip your skin of its natural oils.
2. Sunscreen
Sunscreen is important, but it doesn’t have to be super expensive. Look for a formula that has zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, with an SPF of 30 or more, and you’re good to go. Also, look for one that is labeled non-comedogenic to make sure it doesn’t clog your pores.
There are many foundations out there now that offer sun protection as well, which means you can buy just one rather than two products. Just make sure the SPF is 30 or higher, and it’s best if it comes from zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Some foundation primers now offer protection too.
3. Mascara & Blush
Most of these solutions are quite similar, so if you’re on a budget, go ahead and get a department-store brand. It will likely work just as well as those that cost $40 and up.
Blushes also have minimal effect on your skin, so there’s little reason to spend a lot on them. The main thing you’re after is a little color, so look for the options that are non-drying and will complement your complexion.
You can save a bit more if you like by using your lip color for your blush as well. Just put a little on your finger and tap it along your cheekbones. Do make sure that its non-comodegenic so it won’t clog your pores.
4. Makeup Remover
Eye makeup remover can help get those last traces of eyeliner and mascara off your eyes, which is important for the health of the skin, but you don’t need to spend a lot on a fancy makeup remover. You can use straight coconut oil if you like, or choose an economical store-brand makeup remover that’s moisturizing. Most of these will have moisturizing ingredients like aloe and glycerin.
5. Cleanser
Cleansing is one of the most vital steps in your skincare routine, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. That’s because good quality cleansers are more plentiful these days then they used to be. Look for a basic, gentle cleanser that removes makeup and cleanses skin without stripping natural oils. The best way to test it is to see if your skin feels tight after cleansing. If so, try another cleanser until you find one that leaves your skin feeling comfortable.
Where to Splurge on Your Skincare and Makeup
While low-cost products will work in many instances, when it comes to those products that stay on your skin long-term, that’s where you want to be sure you’re getting quality solutions.
1. Moisturizer for the Face
This product goes on your skin every day and stays there for hours. That means you need something with quality ingredients that will help you fight aging. Department store brands are often filled with petrolatum products, preservatives, and fragrances that over time, can dry out and damage your skin.
We recommend our Calming Moisture for the face, as it contains the ingredients you need to tame inflammation and deeply hydrate. It also contains beta-glucan to help promote collagen production and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Anti-Aging Serums
Serums usually contain more concentrated ingredients than other skincare products, because they’re meant to target specific needs. That means they’re also more likely to be more expensive.
Here’s where you want to splurge to help keep your skin looking its best. Look for ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, vitamin C, tea extracts, niacinamide, retinoids, hydroxy acids, and coenzyme Q10. All of these have a role to play in delaying the look of age. Then buy from a reputable company that avoids toxic ingredients.
3. Night Eye Cream
The eyes, unfortunately, are usually where we notice aging first. The thin skin around the eyes is quick to degrade and show fine lines and wrinkles, and then there’s the sagging and puffiness too.
Using a quality eye cream over the years can help you avoid some of these issues. Whereas you can use a regular moisturizer during the day, your eye night cream should be one that will give you noticeable results. Look for formulas that improve elasticity, moisturize, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Foundation
Foundation provides the base for makeup, and without a good one, nothing else will look right. Foundation also sits on your skin all day long, which means you want one with ingredients that are good for your skin—not one that will be drying and damaging.
In addition to getting the right shade for your skin—which is the key to good-looking makeup—look for formulas that are hydrating and protecting. Many foundations these days help protect skin from the sun and also contain natural moisturizers, antioxidants, and vitamins to help nourish the skin.
5. Treatment Masks
You can save on some masks, depending on what you need them for. If you just need to extract impurities or excess oil, for example, a simple, inexpensive clay mask can do the job. But if you want to really help your skin recover and rejuvenate, it’s best to use a quality mask, and these may cost a little more.
Let’s say your skin is breaking out and inflamed, and nothing you’ve done has helped. A quality mud treatment may help heal problem skin, for example, and is likely to contain alpha-hydroxy acids to help exfoliate and leave skin smooth and soft along with some charcoal to absorb toxins and oil.
If your skin has been dry and dull lately, on the other hand, a quality overnight hydrating mask may be just what you need to get it back on track. These typically include natural oils and extracts that penetrate deeply so you wake up with plump, refreshed skin.
What are your favorite products to splurge on?
