10 Under $10 - My favorite skincare products that are $10 or less

Skincare can feel like it deserves its own expense line in your monthly budget. When I first got into skincare and skincare blogging while I was in college, I did not have the budget to be spending the coin I do today (s/o to that corporate money, okay!) to test out products and find dope shit that works for me. Here are my favorite cheap, but effective, skincare items that don’t break the bank. Items marked ** can be found on my Amazon storefront.

1. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel Cleanser ($8) ** - This cleanser is phenomenal for oily and acne prone skin. The gel texture is great for sensitive skin types as well. It’s gentle, non-stripping, and very effective at regulating oil control and clearing acne. Key ingredient Zinc PCA is the key acne fighter. Zinc is great for oily and acne prone skin as it reduces sebum production and supports a healthy skin barrier (which is necessary when fighting acne). This cleanser also features citric acid which helps gently exfoliate and serves as an antioxidant with anti-aging properties as well.

2. COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser ($9) ** - This is the perfect cleanser for dry and sensitive skin babes. Also great for the times you’ve accidentally impaired your skin barrier and are dealing with some form of skin sensitivity. It’s super gentle and hydrating. Key ingredient betaine salicylate, a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) similar to salicylic acid, improves skin tone, treats hyperpigmentation, and improves collagen production. This cleanser also features soothing allantoin, perfect for reducing redness and inflammation while repairing your skin barrier. Overall, it’s a safe daily cleanser that can be used both day and night.

3. Elf Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm ($10) - Double cleansing is a great way to tackle texture aside from it’s primary function of properly removing makeup, sweat, SPF, and oil. This is a cleansing balm you’ll use at night before you cleanse with your normal cleanser. This cleansing balm’s gentle, but effective, formula is safe for all skin types. It features hyaluronic acid for a hydration boost, ceramides for skin barrier repair, and peptides for aid in collagen production. You don’t need a lot for it to be effective, the jar will last you. A great investment for some cheap double cleansing action.

4. The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($7.99) - This is my favorite hyaluronic acid serum on the market. You would use this after you cleanse and tone and it can be used during the daytime and night time. Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant (moisturizing agent that helps your skin retain moisture) that’s naturally found in your skin. It’s responsible for holding water and helps our skin look plump and moisturized. The hyaluronic acid our skin naturally produces decreases as we get older, so boosters like the Inkey List’s are great to keep that moisture going. Note! - You must apply hyaluronic acid on DAMP/MOIST SKIN for it to work properly. It needs water to bond to in order to deliver the hydration. Applying it on top of a hydrating toner is a great combination. The Inkey Lists’ Hyaluronic acid is lightweight but powerful. Its thin texture layers well over any toner and under any additional serums without product piling.

5. The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum ($6.99) - Niacinamide was the ingredient of the year in 2020 and rightfully so. It’s a multi-benefit antioxidant (if you smoke or live in a polluted city, aka the majority of us, you need those in your regimen) that hydrates your skin, regulates oil production, and evens out your skin tone. This is great for oily and acne prone skin and it’s hydration benefits works great for dry skin types as well. You’ll apply this after you cleanse and tone your skin. You can use this daily, both day and night. Inkey List’s niacinamide serum also features 1% hyaluronic acid for a hydration boost and binding agent for moisturization. Their serum is lightweight and doesn’t pile under additional products.

6. The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm ($9.99) - Probably one of my favorite cleansing balms, ever. First of all, it’s 5 ounces which is HUGE! In terms of it’s effectivity, this is a great cleansing balm for dry and sensitive skin. This formula features 3% oat kernel oil, a non comedogenic (meaning it doesn’t clog pores) oil that reduces the appearance of papules and blackheads, nourishes the skin barrier, and works great at soothing eczema too! This balm also features 1% colloidal oatmeal which is a great redness and inflammation fighter.

7. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA ($8.90) - Alpha arbutin is a plant derived skin brightening powerhouse ingredient. It is a tyrosinase inhibitor, meaning it blocks tyrosine (an amino acid that aids in melanin production) from working, thus stopping hyperpigmentation (excess melanin production) in its tracks. It’s amazing for evening skin tone and clearing hyperpigmentation. The Ordinary’s is my favorite affordable alpha arbutin product, it’s lightweight (no product piling!) and gentle. It also features hyaluronic acid for a hydration boost. I use this at night, 2-3 times a week after I cleanse and tone my skin.

8. The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA ($6.80) - This is my favorite product from The Ordinary. Mandelic acid is truly that girl. It’s my go to exfoliant. Mandelic acid is a getle but mighty alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from almonds that boosts skin cell turnover, brightens hyperpigmentation and evens skin tone, improves skin texture, AND FIGHTS ACNE. AND. FIGHTS. ACNE.. Mandelic acid regulates oil production, unclogs pores, and reduces inflammation - your acne prone skin will love her. The Ordinary’s mandelic acid is gentle, featuring hydrating and skin soothing glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, and very effective when treating acne and hyperpigmentation. It has a very watery viscosity, so be careful not to accidentally use too much - a little will go a long way. I use this at night, 2-3x a week, after I cleanse and tone my skin. It’s very lightweight since it’s so runny, and it works best when it’s followed up with hydrating serums and moisturizers.

9. Simple Skincare Replenishing Rich Moisturizer ($9.29) - This is the perfect moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin types, or when you need to repair your skin barrier. This daily moisturizer features allantoin, bisabolol, and glycerin for redness relief, calming inflammation, and strengthening your skin barrier, and providing hydration. It’s super lightweight, so oily skin types would love this too, and it’s fragrance and dye free so it’s eczema safe as well.

10. Hero Cosmetics Mighty Acne Patch ($6.99) - Acne patches are my shit! Especially since COVID (thank you maskne). These are hydrocolloid patches that absorb excess oil, dirt, and fluid from affected areas while serving as a protective covering so the pimple doesn’t get affected by friction against your mask, dirt from you picking at your face, etc. They go on invisible so you can wear them day and night, completely undetected. In a few hours you’ll see a white dot letting you know it has done its job. These also work great on ingrown hairs, getting all that excess sebum out the hair follicle.

Skincare doesn’t have to be bank breaking for it to be effective. Hopefully your skin loves these cheapies, but goodies, as much as mine does!

Cheers,

Kahina