My affordable skincare picks – all under $20 !
Written By Jenny Wu on
I know many of my recent product features have been on the pricier end, so today I want to share some of my favorite affordable skincare products, all which are under $20 except for one, but you’ll see why soon. Anyways, no more babbling, on to the stars of this post!
First & second cleansers
This is one category I’m typically reluctant to spend $$$ on (though I’ve made a few exceptions lately) and my daily staples are actually all on the lower price range, but still fantastic. Bioderma Sensibio* ($14.9) is my favorite of the 3 versions, removing makeup gently without stripping the skin or leaving behind any residue.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser ($18) is slightly pricier, but it’s my all-around favorite cleanser in terms of ingredients and general usage experience. Literally, no complaints with this one. A more affordable albeit boring option, the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a great choice, and you can read my full here. For traveling or during the summer, I like the DHC Face Wash Powder* ($12.5) which leaves my skin fresh and soft. A little goes a long way with this!
Mists & toners
I feel like it’s almost a crime that I didn’t include one of the Hada Labo toners, but it’s been literally 10 years since I last used them, so there you go ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But for a just as affordable option with great ingredients, I’d recommend the iUNIK Rose Galactomyces Essential Toner* ($16.97). It’s hydrating and gentle on the skin, plus it’s lighter and less sticky than the Klairs Facial Preparation Toner ($16.76), which is still awesome btw and I’ll always keep repurchasing.
Last but not least is another must-have in my routine for layering and adding lots of hydration – the La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water ($17.98), which contains a buttload of trace minerals and nutrients for the skin. Plus this huge bottle lasts forever!
Not pictured: the Naruko Rose & Botanic HA Jelly Lotion ($9.99) which I’ve reviewed previously and now kind of miss. The texture and scent was just lovely.
Need more inexpensive options? 5 skincare brands with affordable + effective products
Serums & oils
Facial oils are notoriously expensive, but the Andalou Natural 1000 Roses Moroccan Beauty Oil ($13.9) is such an affordable + fabulous option with great ingredients (rosehip + cranberry seed + pomegranate seed oils), and it smells like roses + vanilla!
For more options, I highly recommend the Trilogy No.1 Limited Edition Sampler Set* ($25) which gives you the chance to try 5 different oil blends. I know that’s more than $20, but at $5/5 ml bottle, it’s a steal compared to the same-sized Odacite oils. My favorites are the No.15 LE Beauty Oil and the Very Gentle Restoring Oil, both of which I’ve been using for a month now and there’s still more than half a bottle left of each!
An affordable serum I’ve been enjoying lately is the iUNIK Propolis Synergy Serum* ($15.98), which contains 70% propolis extract and 12% sea buckthorn fruit extract. It reminds me a lot of the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum ($18.76) in that both feel very comfortable on the skin and help improve overall skin health in the long run.
And no, I’ve never tried any of The Ordinary serums, so that’s why they’re not on this list, and yes, I’m probably the last person on earth who hasn’t tried them yet.
Not pictured: Skin Actives Cranberry Moisturizing Serum* ($14), Collagen Serum ($16), and Every Lipid Serum ($20). If you can get over the plain packaging, these are some seriously wonderful serums, and you can read my review here & here.
Use one of these sheet masks in lieu of your serums: $2 indulgences – my top 5 affordable sheet masks
Lotions & creams
I’ve raved about the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 ($14.99) multiple times already, and it’s the one I always bring with me when I travel.
The iUNIK Beta-Glucan Daily Moisture Cream* ($11.99) was surprisingly pleasant to use, especially during the day. It’s lightweight, oil-free, and contains great ingredients like beta-glucan, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
The Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask* is currently out of stock, but on sale it’s $18 and one of the best brightening products I’ve ever used. I’ll spare you the swooning, which you’ll find plenty of in my reviews here and here.
Not pictured: The Naruko Rose & Botanic HA Hydrating Cream ($18.99), which I’ve reviewed in details here. This also has an interesting texture that melts into water when you massage it in.
Honestly there are days where I’ll use exclusively these products, and my skin is just as happy with them as it is with my high end lotions and potions. For me these affordable options are excellent for maintaining the skin’s health, and I’ll rotate in my more expensive & potent products when I think my skin really needs help.
Hope you’ve found this post helpful, and let me know if you have any affordable products you swear by!
Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.
Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨
Comments & Questions
Linda Libra Loca
I have a few affordable products I swear by as well, the Bioderma one and the klairs ne among them. Other than that I like quite a few bits of Aldi skincare, Lacura. Very affordable, but good ingredients.
Anne|Linda, Libra, Loca
Jenny
Oh wow, we have an Aldi nearby, but I had no idea they had their own skincare brand too, will need to take a look the next time I'm there!
Linda Libra Loca
I guess, as with many Aldi products, it is repackaged skincare from other brands. Definitely read the ingredient list, there are many duds, but every now and again there are true gems. Sadly they usually don´t tend to be permanent.
Shireen
I just repurchased Bioderma Hydrabio and La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water and both are my holy grails. Other affordable products that I swear by are the same Klairs mask and WishTrend 5% Mandelic Acid Prep Water. I can't be without both too.
Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity
Jenny
Oh yes, I totally forgot to include my exfoliants in this post! The By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid Water is amazing!
Marina Rosie
Wow Jenny - your photography is simply stunning every time! xx Fabulous post as usual - I love to keep my skincare routine fairly affordable, so this has been bookmarked because there are some lovely bits I HAVE to try! x The La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water sounds amazing! x
Marina x
https://marinawriteslife.blogspot.fr/
Jenny
Aww thank you so much Marina! The cost of beauty products can definitely add up so it's nice to have affordable options in the mix. The LRP thermal spring water is so refreshing, I think you'll really like it!
Rizki Muhammad Ridwan
Yazz for Bioderma cz i'm using it for years and it's so amazing to clean up the face. Nice picks darling!
xx,
www.kikokim.com
Jenny
It really is, cleans so well and is so gentle!
Stephanie | theFantasia.com
Thanks for sharing your list!! I've been wanting to expand my skincare and take better care of my skin!By the way, your photos as always, are incredible <3
Stephanie | theFantasia.com
Jenny
Aww thanks so much Stephanie! Hopefully you'll find some real winners in here!
Hannah
I have a sample of the Glossier milk jelly, but I haven't used it yet! I don't have a lot of skincare products because I'm afraid to experiment too much and mess with my skin, and it takes a long time to see if there are any real good results, lol
Hannah
Floraful
Jenny
I definitely recommend trying that sample, it's such a great cleanser! I try not to use too many skincare products at once as well, otherwise my skin breaks out!
A Very Sweet Blog
Affordable skincare has really come a long way! I love the options. Excellent skincare system :D
http://www.averysweetblog.com/
Jenny
Thank you! I don't use everything in here in one routine, but I do like mixing these with my more expensive products! :)
Rowena @ rolala loves
I think most people's skincare routines have a mix of high and low priced products. We share some of the same favorites like the Bioderma Sensibio and DHC Face Wash Powder. I share the latter with my husband and it works just as well on his oily skin as on my dry skin. I was in love with the Glossier Milky Jelly when I first got it but lately it's fallen out of favor because I really like how the Lancer Polish and Cleanse have been making my skin look in the morning. Another cleanser I love is the Lagom Cellup Gel to Water Cleanser which is $17. It's like a hybrid double cleanser and it's great for morning use.
Jenny
Ooo a cleanser that works even better than the Glossier Milky Jelly? ???? I'm definitely intrigued now! Will have to check out both the Lancer and Lagom cleansers, thank you for the recommendations!
Élise Liddell
i have to be honest though, these are def not affordable for me hahaha but then again, stuff are always cheaper in the states than when imported to asian country. every time i walk by la roche posay counter, i can immediately hear the echo of my wallet crying so...yeah, i'm not interested in them at all. klairs, however, i'm interested. still, it's interesting to read about some brands i never knew before - like iunik, andalou and trilogy. i've said this before but imma say it again, i like how your blog introduces me to brands i didn't know before because i've never seen other beauty bloggers mention them :))
Jenny
Thanks! I try to introduce under-the-radar or up-and-coming brands as much as possible, as I'm sure there are tons of reviews for those well-known brands already ???? Unfortunately a lot of "drugstore" brands here are in a similar price range, and the ones that are dirt cheap, just plain suck ????
Sal UmmBaby
Aww yay! I love so many of these too and the rest you've mentioned I'm adding to my wish list ;) I love the DHC powder cleanser and am really enjoying the Glossier too. The Klairs toner is one that I can't live without xxx
UmmBabyBeauty
Jenny
So glad to hear that! :D The DHC powder is such a great cleanser, and so underrated!
Sam Hodgett
Such great picks and a reminder that I should rediscover La Roche Posay, I've been stuck on the Avene thermal spray and recently got a bunch of Uriage Skincare to test out, but after that I will definitely have a look at some of these
Jenny
I'm actually curious to try the Avene thermal spray and the Vichy one just to see what the differences are, though I have a feeling they'll be quite similar ???? Ooh I've been curious about Uriage products, they have some wonderful options!
Becky
yesss, milky jelly cleanser is my favorite! it's so good for dry skin like mine since it cleanses without making me feel too dry.
i really love the ordinary for their affordable oils and serums - they're super no-frills and even though it's simple, it's less expensive to buy what your skin needs rather than buying something that's kind of like an all-in-one. i'm also a fan of the cerave cream in the tub - it's super basic and no-frills, and if i need something a little more hydrating i'll just mix in a few drops of oil in there. i think it's fair to say that my sister didn't really like it though, since it leaves the skin a little tacky.
becky @ star violet
Jenny
it's amazing how the Glossier cleanser works so well with different skin types, definitely a winning product there! One of these days I'll have to give the Ordinary range a try, I'm really curious about their Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane and the Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, plus it looks like they're constantly coming out with new products!
Jennifer | MrsQBeauty
I really need to check out La Roche Posay, and Glossier products. Great picks!
Jennifer | Mrs Q Beauty
Jenny
Thank you Jennifer! I hope you'll love those products as much as I do!
Alyssa
This sounds like a great list of recommendations! You just made me want to try Glossier cleanser and Klairs toner. Been contemplating if I'll buy those or not.
xx Alyssa | STYLE VANITY
Jenny
The Klairs toner has been a long-time favorite of mine, and the Glossier cleanser is definitely making my 2016 beauty favorites! Can't recommend them enough if you're on the market for a new toner or cleanser!
Naya // partyparrotblog.com
Great picks Jenny! I love La Roche Posay, they have such a beautiful product selection, not just for the face but also for the body. I want to try that thermal spray now; wish we had Klairs here, seems like such a good brand!
Jenny
Thank you Naya! I haven't tried LRP's body range yet, but their moisturizer sounds wonderful for dry skin! If you order from Wishtrend, they deliver worldwide with free shipping for order over $69! They'll probably have their Black Friday deals coming out soon too :D
Katya Bychkova | StyleSprinter
It is joyful to know that these products are affordable. I am thrilled with the $13.00 facial oil. You are right, it is a little costly.
StyleSprinter Blog by Katya Bychkova
Jenny
Usually super cheap facial oils are a single blend, so it's nice to find a multi blend that feels and smells amazing at a great price!
Emily
These are really great picks! I love La Roche Posay for how effective they are, and decently priced. And the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is one of my holy grails. Literally. I use it in the shower to remove my makeup every night. LOVE it for that.
-Emily www.coatandcoffee.com
Jenny
Aw thanks Emily! I can't get enough of my Glossier cleanser either, it's my favorite morning cleanser!
Gellie Ortiz Abogado
I haven't actually tried any of that. They're not locally available in the Philippines, but I bet some online shops have them. I'm interested to try out rose oil or rose-based products. They seem to be quite a hit, not just here in the Philippines, but also in other places since I just spotted 2 (?) in your list. :D
xoxo,
Gelleesh.com
Jenny
I love rose based products, the ingredient is very soothing/hydrating and it smells wonderful too :D A couple of the Korean products mentioned should be available online with free worldwide shipping!
Camilla
Loved this round up! It was a great reminder of how many awesome products are out there for a reasonable price! I really need to try that Andalou oil, it looks so amazing!
Camilla // Gracefulface.com
Jenny
Thank you Camilla! I want to try more from Andalou Natural, especially their 1000 rose line, the scent is incredible!
Nora Gouma
Truly such great post, very inspiring, I love it, the pictures are stunning too. The products seem amazing, would love to try one of them soon, thank you for sharing!!!
xxx
www.instagram.com/modelonamission.com
Jenny
Thank you so much Nora, appreciate the kind comment!
Mili
So many great picks! After watching Gothamista's video I've been meaning to come up with my own take on it as well. The bioderma micellar water and LRP mist are two of my fav mists as too! Interesting to note that so many of these are Korean and French products-- the American drugstore really needs to up their game!
Mili | sharmtoaster
Jenny
Thank you Mili! You bring up a great point, the only American product in this list is the Andalou Natural oil, I didn't even realize until now! Sadly I feel like a lot of Amreican drugstore products are overpriced, especially when you consider the ingredients/formula D: I'd love to read your take on this topic!!
Shannon V
I love the packing of the Milk Jelly cleanser. It just sounds like it’s good fro your skin! Thanks for sharing such a great list! So many affordable picks.
THE FASHANN MONSTER life + style
Jenny
Glossier included stickers in the order so you can customize the products yourself! Hope you found something you loved in this list!
Kiri Yanchenko
I think you spoke about the Japanese face cleanser on your blog before? I learnt about it last tie I visited.
I have never heard of the brand iUNIK so I might go and check them out.
I have not purchased anything from glossier - but their brand ethos is pretty fun.
Kiri
Set to Glow
http://www.settoglow.com.au
Jenny
Yes, I mentioned it in my travel skincare routine post a while back, and it's my go-to whenever I travel and when I need something a little stronger than the Glossier Milky Jelly :)
Cat L
Such an informative post Jenny. I love La Roche Posay and Bioderma and typically stock up when the Dermstore has a sale. I haven't tried anything from Klairs but I keep seeing this brand in your posts. They're on my list now!
~ Cat L.
www.CatsDailyLiving.com
Jenny
Thank you Cat! I try to stock up on LRP when there's a sale as well, but sometimes they don't have the mist which is probably my favorite product from the brand!