$AFFORDABLE$ Skin Care Routine

If you're broke as a joke, like yours truly, spending $100 on a single moisturizer is laughable. That shit better have 24K gold in it, ya hear. A hundred dollars is my budget for my entire skin care routine, tbh. Luckily, through many trial and error, I have some amazing products you'll love for the results and price tag! Please note, this is just my personal routine! I am not an esthetician, however, I have taken skin care classes and am fascinated by ingredients and have done my research. I recommend my routine to anyone with combination or oily skin!

Being in my 20's, my skin has gone through many rough patches; cystic acne in middle school and regular breakouts and terribly oily skin in high school. Not fun. I've gone through every drugstore skin care product and even used some expensive ones from Sephora, but I didn't notice a real difference in my skin until I began using these products on the regular. Now, I still see the occasional blemish (especially during that time of the month) but the size and numbers are vastly improved. My once big pores are smaller and less noticeable. The best part, however, is the consistency of my skin now- I used to be super oily in the T-zone and get dry patches on the perimeters of my face, but now I have nice, even skin. Truly a miracle!

Here is the breakdown of my daily routine:

Step 1: Cleanse with Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, $18 at Ulta.com https://www.ulta.com/glycolic-foaming-cleanser?productId=xlsImpprod6200753

Glycolic acid is a common chemical exfoliant, which means it removes dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. I prefer chemical exfoliants to physical exfoliants because physical ones are too irritating for every day use. And, with acne prone skin, making sure you rid your skin of all the dirt and dead skin cells that build up daily is vital to keeping acne at bay. This cleanser has glycolic acid high up in the ingredients list meaning it is one with a higher concentration. I also really enjoy the soft scent and how it lathers without feeling too heavy.

Step 2: Tone with Pixi Glow Tonic, $15 for 100ml at Pixibeauty.com

https://www.pixibeauty.com/collections/glow-tonic/products/glow-tonic-100ml?variant=31990703107

Formulated with Aloe vera, ginsing and Witch Hazel, this is a gentle toner that is good for all skin types. My favorite part is that it has glycolic acid as the third ingredient, meaning it has the third most potency of the entire ingredients. It's also refreshing to see that it has zero alcohol in it- alcohol denatured is very common amongst toners, but it dries the skin out which is counterproductive to oily skin (that's a whole other discussion!). It is also good for anyone who wants a brighter complexion!

Step 3 (AM): Treat with Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, $5.90 at TheOrdinary.com

http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-niacinamide-10pct-zinc-1pct-30ml?redir=1

When I worked at Sephora, I was taught that Niacinamide was great for anyone with larger pores (me), so I was immediately attracted to the vitamin. BUT, when you work at Sephora, you can't afford anything at Sephora... How f*cked up, right? So, when I discovered The Ordinary (which, ironically, is now sold at Sephora.com), I was ecstatic and didn't think twice about adding it to my cart. The addition of Zinc is an added bonus. Zinc helps regulate sebum (oil) production.

Step 3 (PM):The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2%, $5.30 at TheOrdinary.com

http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-salicylic-acid-2pct-solution-30ml?redir=1

Salicylic Acid is a type of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), which are known to cause a sensitivity to sun. That is one reason I use it at night. Another reason is because BHAs remove any leftover makeup and dirt stuck in the pores. 2% might not seem like a big percentage, but it's a high concentration of a BHA so if you have sensitive skin, try it out once or twice a week until your skin builds up a tolerance to it.

Step 4: Serum with The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $6.80 at TheOrdinary.com

http://theordinary.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml?redir=1

Hyaluronic acid is everywhere right now. If you didn't already know, HA holds 1,000 times its weight in water making it one of the most potent hydrators. However, most formulas don't penetrate the skin due to molecular size, but this one does! With three forms of HA, it not only penetrates, it is able to go deeper into the epidermis to hydrate better than more expensive versions of HA. It is also vegan! Yay!

Step 5: Moisturize with Winky Lux Dream Gelee Hydrator, $29 at WinkyLux.com

https://www.winkylux.com/products/dream-gelee

Don't be afraid of this moisturizer my oily friends! Not only is it a gel texture (so lightweight!), it has some major ingredients in it that those $100 creams have, as well. That's why I LOVE Winky. All their products are high quality without the immense mark-ups. So, glycerine is one of the main ingredients, which pulls moisture from the air to keep you moisturized throughout the day while creating a barrier on the skin to prevent any moisture loss. No more feeling dry half way throughout the day! Copper helps to balance the skin and zinc aids in cell renewal. This reminds me of the Origins Gel moisturizer in texture and ingredients, but I prefer the Winky Lux texture!

This is my before and after with zero editing. My skin has redness and freckles naturally, but I am so happy with the clarity and reduction of pores and excess oil!