The BEST Affordable Skincare! (All $20 or under)

I'd like to share with you some of the products I've purchased from Sephora.I have combination-dry and sensitive skin. The skin on my cheeks is especially fragile with visible blood vessel dilation, but I have a normal T-zone which only gets occasionally oily. So, I always choose skincare products which are lightweight, moisturizing, non-greasy and spread easily. They should be scent-free,colorant-free, essential oil-free, metal-free, etc. THE inkey LIST - Hyaluronic Acid Serum This is a fragrance-free, essential oil-free hyaluronic acid serum which is not particularly thin in texture but it is lightweight and moisturizing. It neither balls-up nor irritates my skin, and it's really cheap too. I highly recommend this serum. BIOSSANCE - Squalane + Omega Repair Cream It has a frosty, soft and delicate texture which spreads easily.It is moisturizing, non-greasy and is easily absorbed.Its ingredients include squalane, glycerin, omega fatty acids, shea butter, skin-friendly hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. These promotional ingredients are actually listed as the first two rows of the ingredient list. It is moisturizing and nourishing, and it repairs the skin barrier. Also fragrance-free and essential oil-free, it is suitable for dry skin. However, the moisturizer from the same series contains ginger extract which is not very sensitive skin-friendly. boscia - Purifying Cleansing Gel The ingredient list shows that it's fragrance-free and essential oil-free. It creates a soft and rich foam which washes off easily and doesn't leave your skin feeling dry. I've never used a cleansing product that feels better on the skin. CLINIQUE - Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm It is suitable for sensitive and dry skin because it is fragrance-free, preservative-free, and essential oil-free. Ranking second on the ingredient list is safflower seed oil, which nourishes our skin and doesn't damage the stratum corneumwhen removing makeup. I personally think that this cleansing balm is the best facial cleanser for sensitive skin. DRUNK ELEPHANT - Shaba Complex Firming Eye Serum This eye cream contains plant extracts, and although it is not a common fragrance which irritates the skin, those with sensitive skin should still be aware of it. Its main featured ingredient is peptide. It's actually very moisturizing and hydrating, but it is also relatively more expensive. If you have used any of these products, share your experience! If you have any question, feel free to let me know. 🌵🌵🌵

**If your not sure what the 7-skin method is refer to my Korean 7-Skin Method post** BIODERMA - SensibioTonique pixi - Glow Tonic I just started using these but so far so good!! Bioderma is amazing my skin loves it...and this tonic can be used by sensitive types it is super gentle, lightweight and absorbs easily!! It contains water + Glycerin (a humectant) so you are definitely getting hydration from this product. I’m sure this product is going to stick around for a while!! The Pixi toner has 5%glycolic acid...I know it may seem harsh but it’s pretty gentle on my oily dehydrated skin. But it can be irritable to sensitive skin types so I don’t recommend to sensitive skin types. By the way I don’t always use the exfoliating toner in my 7-Skin Method I only use it 2-3 time a week! As it is recommended with any exfoliating at max. My 7-skin method for the most part is comprised of 4 layers of hydration and 1-2 layer of exfoliant 2-3 times a week! When I don’t exfoliate I will layer Bioderma 4-7 times. Remember Hydrated skin is Healthy and Happy Skin!

Highly effective skincare products can be affordable! So I discovered this routine. Everything in my routine is under $40. I hope this is helpful.🌲🌲 1️⃣ CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser $14.99 Y'all should know CeraVe. One of the best drugstore skincare brands. It is alcohol free, not irritating at all. Very friendly to acne-prone skin and sensitive skin. As a moisturizer, it contains glycerol, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. It can improve the skin's restoration capacity, making your skin healthier in the long-run.  2️⃣LANEIGE - Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer$33 The ingredient list is super simple, which is quite rare among all the skincare products. The texture is creamy white liquid, heavier than water. If you have dry skin, then use it as a toner. And use a moisturizer afterward. If you have oily skin, this product is enough for moisturization.  3️⃣The Ordinary - Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%$10.60 This is so hyped these days. Everyone is talking about it and praising it. It claims that it is good for very oily skin. It can reduce acne, maintaining the oil-water balance within the skin. I heard that it is also a good whitening product, but I can't see any effects.  4️⃣timeless SKIN CARE - 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum$18.44 It includes 20% Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Ferulic acid. Some people said that this is a dupe for SkinCeuticals. My skin looks brighter and healthier after using it for a while. I will repurchase it! 5️⃣ OLAY - Total Effects Daily Moisturizer $15.99 Olay is an old skincare brand, but this day cream is awesome! It includes several different kinds of Vitamins. The ingredient list is very clean. Make sure you use the fragrance-free one. It is also SPF 15. Even though it is only 15, it's still better than nothing.  6️⃣Mecca Cosmetica SPF30 Facial Sunscreen $38 This is not oily at all, and it does not smell bad as many other sunscreens. It includes great ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and pomegranate extract. All those ingredients can moisturize the skin. This is a magical sunscreen that can keep your skin hydrated.  7️⃣Glossier balm dotcom $12 The No.1 multi-function product from Glossier. This one doesn't have any color. It has a slight strawberry smell. It includes some simple but proven moisturizing ingredient, such as vaseline and castor oil. 

I have combination skin so my t-zone is in the range of normal to oily skin and I have dry skin on my cheeks. My skin tone is warm ivory with a slight reddish discoloration in my cheeks 🧐I also have some freckles (sun spots) across my cheeks and my nose bridge (which bother me!). I also have very sensitive skin so I am alwyas cautious with new products or else my skin will becom super red and peel! 😭 Unlike my am routine (in previous post!), my pm routine is pretty constant and I only change one product in the fall/winter and sping/summer. The products that I use are double cleaners (if needed but I'll only include my second cleanser in this post), facial spray, skin conditioner (toner), two types of different serums and a moisturizer. All of the products that I have included in this review have been reviewed by me before so feel free to go read my previous posts to get all the specifics of the prodcut and how it worked for me! The second cleanser I use is theGlossier. - Milky Jelly Cleanser to gently cleanse and refersh my skin. I use this as a second cleanser since it is sooo gentle and I feel like it is just good for prepping my skin for my skincare and it doesn't strip my skin of its oils 👌🏻. The next step is theMARIO BADESCU - Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater I love this product! It has a fragrant smell, the formula is fabulous, and even though it provides such great hydration, my pores don't feel clogged after using it! Another reason why I like this product is because it does not cause irritation or breakouts on my sensitive and combination skin. It also provides great hydration for both face and hair so its extremly versatile. I then use thenaturie - Hatomugi Skin Conditioner which provides enough moisture despite its liquid consistency since it includes hatomugi essence which is rich in vitamins 💊 amino acids and protein. The three musts for tight healthy skin! The next product I use isThe Ordinary - ''Buffet'' This serum because it is good for dryness and I feel like I suffer from dryness more than oiliness. This produt is good for pretty much all types of skin: normal, oily, combination, dry, and most importantly, sensitive skin! Not only does this product help with drynes, it also claims to help with fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, and uneven texture. I've been using this product for about 2 weeks and I feel like its pretty good so far. I like how there is no fragrance and absorbs into my skin pretty well and preps my skin for the next step. Brightening serum and moisturizer. I mix theNeutrogena - Bright Boost Illuminating Serum wtih theCurél - Moisture Facial Milk . The illuninating serum leaves my skin feeling soft and suple with a slight glow ✨ to it but it doesn't really help with my dark spot (still use it thought to finish it). The facial milk is fragrance free and also alcohol free so it doesn’t irritate the skin at all! With only a few pumps my skin feels soft and hydrated 💧.

Skincare is really important to me, and also really fun. Spf is a necessity for all skin types and skin tones, make sure you wear this even in the winter. It prevents aging and skin cancer! This is what I’ve been using for a while now and recently introduced the brightening serum into my routine about 5 days ago. This has helped my oily and dry sections. I start off with the ole Henriksen truth juice daily cleanser. It’s really moisturizing and has a gel/creamy texture. It smells amazingly like oranges 🍊 it removes all of my morning oily ness. OLE HENRIKSEN - Truth Juice Daily Cleanser I apply glossier’s balm dot com on my lips to keep them super soft and hydrating all day. Glossier. - Balm Dotcom After I wash my face I like to use the purlisse brightening serum. I’ve been using it for a few days now and it’s felt really nice. It hasn’t been irritating at all and on the product it says it’s great for sensitive skin! pūrlisse - Blue Lotus Brightening Serum After a few seconds of letting the serum soak into my skin I use the elf face cream. My skin loves this stuff! It leaves me looking really hydrated. e.l.f. - Holy Hydration! Face Cream As a final step on my skincare I use the dermalogica dynamic skin recovery spf 50. I love this! It’s one of the few that I can apply on top of my moisturizers without it starting to pill. I hate the feeling of barely touching my skin and feeling the moisturizer rubbing and pilling. dermalogica - Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50 Moisturizer

I have been trying the sukin - Certified Organic Rosehip Oil 50ml sukin - Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturiser Super Greens 125ml for several weeks now and I believe everyone should invest in Sukin during these winter months in Australia! The products are super gentle on my dry, sensitive skin and definitely play a major part in rejuvenating and nourishing my skin! The Rosehip oil is perfect to leave on overnight - you will wake up with hydrated skin! I notice a major increase in the brightness of my skin, I especially noticed my dark spots less visible. I do struggle with redness quite often in my skin but when using this Rosehip oil I notice my overall skin tone improve significantly! The lines under my eyes have also definitely softened and looked less textured. You can even mix this with your daily/nightly moisturiser for just a bit of extra hydration when your skin is needing some TLC! The only con I find when using this oil is that you definitely can feel it on top of your skin and I do find that it can take a long time to really sink in which is a bummer, but the pros outweigh the cons obviously. The Nutrient Rich Moisturiser is also a new, favourite moisturiser of mine! It has now become my new moisturiser for the day time, replacing my usual CeraVe! I find it sits perfectly under makeup and makes my foundation look much more hydrated - a lot less cakes too! It has such a creamy feel to my dry skin and nourishes it perfectly! It absorbs very quickly and keeps my skin soft and smooth. It had a refreshing, light scent without being overly fragranced. Fragrance has never been an issue in my skincare routine as I haven’t experienced it breaking me out but I do avoid it as much as possible and majority of my products are fragrance free! Sukin does state that their products are fragranced with Essential Oils and Plant Derived Aromatic Ingredients which I believe really aren’t necessary in skincare products but I am lucky fragrance isn’t an issue for my skin. I have also tried the sukin - Foaming Facial Cleanser Pump Signature which I will be doing an in-depth review very soon but I must tell you - I am in love!! The Sukin brand is a cruelty free, natural ingredient, carbon neutral, Australian made and the packaging is recyclable! Overall, I love this brand so far (even Simba loves it too!) and believe it’s perfect for those struggling with quite dry skin during these months in Australia! I recommend you give it a try and see if you see great results also!