20 Best Drugstore Skincare Products to Revamp Your Routine
Are you looking to revamp your skincare routine? In this post, we’ve rounded up the 20 best drugstore skincare products that you should try.
You know all those ridiculously expensive skincare products you’ve been spending your money on? Well, it turns out that there are a ton of affordable options out there that work just as well! Sure, all that fancy packaging looks pretty on your bathroom counter, but it’s not really giving you anything that affordable skincare products can’t deliver.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with splurging once in a while, but wouldn’t you rather blow your budget on that designer dress you’ve been eyeing?
These products are super effective, very affordable, and fuss-free. From face-saving acne products to anti-aging facial oils, these are the 20 best drugstore skincare products to revamp your routine right now, without blowing your budget!
The Best Drugstore Skincare Products To Try:
1. Makeup Removers
Burt’s Bees Micellar Towelettes | Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
If you’ve sworn off cleansing wipes because they’re so harsh and drying for the skin, you’ll be happy to know that these Burt’s Bees Micellar towelettes have been infused with rose water and are super soft and gentle on the skin! On those nights when you’re just too tired to do a full cleanse, these wipes are an easy solution without the guilt.
On days that you have more energy to properly care for your skin, micellar waters are incredibly convenient for removing makeup and refreshing the skin. Garnier makes one that’s a cult-favorite and super affordable. It’s great for cleansing the skin, removing makeup without tugging or scrubbing, and swiping away dirt and oil.
2. Cleansers
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser | Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Cleanser
There’s no reason to spend big bucks on a high-end facial cleanser! With all honesty, you could probably buy anything from CeraVe and not be disappointed with the results, but if we had to make a choice of what cleanser to get, it would be the Salicylic Acid Cleanser for normal and acne-prone skin.
All of CeraVe’s products are non-irritating, non-comedogenic and contain ceramides, which are lipids that form a part of your skin barrier. The added salicylic acid helps to gently exfoliate the skin, leaving it more radiant than before.
If you have dry skin, The Cult Classic Cleanser by Tula is your go-to. This gentle cleanser contains probiotics, lactic acid and superfoods, which leave the skin glowing and ready for the next steps in your skincare routine.
3. Toners
Thayers Witch Hazel Toner | Pixi Glow Tonic
Toners often get tossed aside in favor of serums and moisturizers, which can contain more exotic and interesting ingredients and promise better, more immediate results. In all fairness, if you want to simplify your skincare routine or cut back time on it, the first thing to take out should be your toner.
However, this doesn’t mean that toners don’t have any use – they most definitely do. Pixi’s Glow Tonic is a cult-favorite, award-winning toner that contains glycolic acid which gently exfoliates the skin, leaving a glowing and radiant complexion.
It’s especially wonderful for people with acne-prone skin and for people looking to delay the signs of aging (glycolic acid, lactic acid and other AHAs and BHAs are amazing for anti-aging thanks to their chemical peeling/exfoliating properties).
Another cult favorite is Thayers Witch Hazel Toner with rose petals, which is known to be soothing and anti-inflammatory. Another bonus of this product is that gives the illusion of smaller pores, making it perfect to be used under makeup.
4. Serums
The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum | Honest Beauty Pure Retinol Serum | CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
Face serums are typically applied after cleansing the skin, but before applying the moisturizer. Serums are applied with the goal of penetrating the ingredients of the moisturizer directly into the skin.
They can either be oil-based or water-based. They’re also super concentrated and powerful – which is why they can be a bit pricey.
Thankfully, there are now affordable but high-quality serums on the market. The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum is a classic cult favorite among The Ordinary products.
It’s a water-based face serum that containes 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc, all for $5.90! Best part? Niacinamide is a hero ingredient that fights dark spots, redness, minimizes the sizes of your pores and most importantly, regulates oil production.
The Honest Beauty Pure Retinol Serum is a little bit on the pricier side, but it is well-loved by women for a good reason. It contains retinol and hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin, even out texture and tone, and above all, reduce the appearance of fine lines. Like The Orinary face serum, it is also cruelty-free!
If retinol is not something you want to try out, you can always go with CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum. It contains 10% L-ascorbic acid which is the purest form of Vitamic C, all while providing antioxidant protection against environmental damage, as well as helping your skin produce more collagen.
This vitamin serum also contains ceramides to help restore and maintain your skin’s natural barrier.
5. Moisturizers
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion | Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer
For the love of all that’s holy, please never skip on your moisturizers. Your skin will thank you. It’s the final step in any skincare routine, and it helps lock in everything that you just applied before that.
Moisturizers are hydrating and give your skin a much-needed perk-up. Plus, they help maintain your skin’s moisture barrier and prevent trans-epidermal water loss, which helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles as you age.
If you’re looking for a lightweight facial moisturizer that you can wear overnight, then the CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is for you.
It contains three essential ceramides, and also hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to help calm the skin and regenerate while you’re sleeping. Additionally, it’s also oil-free and fragrance-free.
For a facial moisturizer that you can wear throughout the day, the Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer contains SPF 15 sunscreen so it can hydrate and also protect your skin from sun damage at the same time. It features a non-greasy formula so you can wear your makeup on top of this moisturizer.
6. Scrubs
L’Oreal Paris Pure-Sugar Scrub | Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub
When choosing the right face scrub, it’s important to note that harsh scrubbing can cause micro-tears on your face. To avoid that, you should choose facial scrubs that are gentle and don’t contain large beads.
How often should you exfoliate? The most common advice among dermatologists would be 2-3 times a week, so as to not over-scrub your face. However, as little as once a week is completely fine, especially if you’re using harsh ingredients like retinol and chemical exfoliants (like the Pixi glow tonic) in your everyday skincare.
The great benefit about scrubs is that they can help clear out clogged pores and provide your face with an instant glow. Not only that, scrubs can help increase cell regeneration on your skin, therefore allowing facial products to fully absorb.
The L’Oreal Paris Pure-Sugar Scrub is made with a blend of three pure sugars that will melt into your skin, and it contains finely ground Kona coffee for effective exfoliation. To top it all off, it has coconut and almond oils. All of these amazing natural ingredients so you can achieve baby soft skin.
When it comes to ultra-gentle skin products, Cetaphil automatically comes to mind. They’re widely known for having products perfect for every skin type.
If you have sensitive skin, the Cetaphil Extra Gentle Saily Scrub is great for providing exfoliation while still being gentle. This 3-in-1 formula cleanses skin of dirt, oil and impurities, exfoliates and nourishes skin with a vitamin complex and skin conditioners to leave skin touchably soft.
7. Masks
Honest Beauty 3-In-1 Detox Mud Mask | Que Bella Cooling Avocado Clay Mask
If you have some free time while doing your skincare routine and you want to indulge, then facial masks are a perfect choice. Whether it’s a sheet mask, a peel-off mask, a mud mask, or an overnight mask – nothing screams indulgence other than devoting a long period of time to your skin.
The Honest Beauty 3-In-1 Detox Mud Mask is an activated charcoal mask that helps soak up excess oil and minimizes pores. It contains Jeju volcanic ash, activated charcoal, and white bentonite to draw out impurities, and it also has manuka honey and shea butter to make the skin feel smooth and rejuvenated. The best part? This works for all skin types!
Another clay mask worth mentioning is the Que Bella Cooling Avocado Clay Mask. This avocado mask contains shea and cocoa butter, which is great for replenishing your skin! Pro tip: put this mask in the fridge to cool it before applying it to your skin for an extra soothing effect!
8. Facial Oils
Pixi Rose Oil Blend | Honest Beauty Facial Oil
If the words “oil” and “face” throw you off, we’re here to prove to you that facial oils are actually super beneficial – and yes, all skin types can use them. They keep your skin balanced by complementing your natural oils and help regulate your sebum production: also known as your face’s natural oils.
Rose oils are one of the most preferred essential oils for the skin, which is why the Pixi Rose Oil Blend is perfect if you want your skin to look dewy and rejuvenated. Along with rose oil, this blend is also infused with pomegranate seed oil and rosehip oil to provide maximum radiance to you skin.
Another facial oil that skin enthusiasts swear by is the Honest Beauty Facial Oil. This oil is lightweight, and it’s packed with avocado oil, apricot oil, perilla seed oil, chia seed oil, jojoba oil, and topped with rose, ylang-ylang, and clove oils for fragrance. Seriously, facial oil is PACKED with so much organic goodness!
9. Face Mists
Thayers Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera & Coconut Rose Facial Mist | Honest Beauty Calm & Go Face Mist
Face mists are not only hydrating, but they’re also soothing. They provide instant relief if your face feels dry, and in some instances, face mists can also be used to set makeup. Face mists are packed with antioxidants to provide nourishing benefits to your skin.
If you want to a facial mist that’s one-time big-time, you might want to go for the Thayers Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera & Coconut Rose Facial Mist. Witch hazel contains a lot of benefits, such as relief from itching, swelling, and other skin irritation along with aloe vera and coconut rose. This facial mist also contains caffeine, which is perfect to stimulate blood flow to the skin.
The Honest Beauty Calm & Go is another great product that contains provitamin B5 for added soothing, and shea butter for nourishing the skin.
We hope that you found your new holy grail product from this list of the best drugstore skincare products! If you’re still looking for more new must have products, check out the posts below!
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