19-07-2025
Just 33 Popular Skincare Products That Won't Cost An Arm And A Leg
A Some by Mi Miracle toner, which is one of the most popular exfoliating treatments in the K-beauty game. This features a blend of chemical exfoliants, which sounds kind of scary but is actually super effective for gently sloughing away dead skin cells and clearing out excess oil. There's also some tea tree oil to help reduce the appearance of breakouts, so this is basically a reset button for congested skin.
Bio-Collagen's Real Deep sheet mask that works overnight to refresh your skin. No, really, it's designed to be worn while you sleep — it's transfer-resistant, so it won't leave a mess on your pillow! It's infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, collagen to maximize absorption and minimize the appearance of pores, and probiotics to strengthen the skin's barrier. Best of all, it turns transparent when your skin is done absorbing the serum, so you'll know when it's ready to take off.
Cerave's Resurfacing Retinol Serum — a super gentle and beginner-friendly way to finally add retinol to your skincare routine. What does retinol do? The work is mysterious and important. Just kidding, it's not mysterious at all: retinol helps speed up your skin's cell turnover process, which will help reveal plumper, smoother-looking skin while refining your pores and fading dark spots. Also, dermatologists are obsessed with it.
A dark-spot correcting serum from K-beauty brand Axis-Y that'll help you achieve a more even, glowy complexion while hydrating. The 5% niacinamide will help strengthen your skin's barrier and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, while rice bran extract gives you glow.
Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream, because your décolletage also deserves some special skincare attention. It contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while glycerin and aloe add some extra hydration.
A SeoulCeuticals toner mist with aloe, cucumber, and green tea — yes, it's as soothing and rejuvenating as those ingredients suggest! Apply a few spritzes of this after your cleanser, and it'll plump, hydrate, and give you a ~glowy, dewy~ look with continued use. You can also spray it throughout the day if your complexion or makeup could use a quick hydrating boost.
A tube of La Roche Posay's Cicaplast Balm — a heavy-duty do-it-all magic potion you'll want to slather on all your dry spots. It's formulated with shea butter and vitamin B5 to help soothe and moisturize irritated skin. If you like Aquaphor's Healing Ointment but want a lighter alternative that absorbs faster, this is for you!!
A Torriden hyaluronic acid serum in a watery, gel-like formula so you can pack on an extra layer of moisture without feeling like you have 1,000 products on your face. It contains five (!) types of HA molecules (the most iconic fivesome since the Spice Girls) and allantoin to attract moisture to your skin and have you looking smooth and moisturized all day.
A lightweight gel-cream from Nivea that uses the magic of an incredible called ~Q10~ to help firm and moisturize your skin — and it's racked up more than 17,000 rave ratings. Reviewers say it takes consistent use over a few weeks to see results, but those who stuck with it have seen improvements in the smoothness of their neck, thighs, and more.
Or a retinol body lotion, because the magic of retinol is not just for your face! This retinol in the creamy formula helps promote skin cell turnover, while the ferulic acid firms skin for a tighter appearance. Reviewers also note that this works wonders on rough, bumpy skin on their upper arms and legs after consistent use.
A creamy, oil-based Juno & Co cleansing balm reviewers swear by for removing every trace of makeup, even stubborn waterproof formulas. (Seriously, take those makeup wipes out of your cart right now!!!) It's made with only 10 ingredients, including Japanese pearl barley to hydrate and brighten.
Or an Anua pore-clearing cleansing oil specifically designed to help regulate your sebum production and break down blackheads, making it a great cleanser for all my fellow oily-skinned peeps. It also helps break down makeup, so you can finally stop wasting money on makeup-removing wipes!
A tub of Vanicream for when you're craving a no-nonsense, fragrance-free, and super gentle moisturizer — because sometimes your skin needs to reset and get back to the basics. Dermatologists love this brand since it's made without common irritants, so almost everyone can feel safe slathering this on their skin from head to toe.
A hydrating Cosrx repairing essence with 96% snail secretion filtrate, which provides a gentle dose of moisture that won't overwhelm skincare newbies. Reviewers mention seeing a reduction in dark spots and acne. with consistent use, and even people with oily skin find that it absorbs quickly and doesn't clog their pores. Who knew snails had the secret to glassy, glowy skin this whole time?!
And pair it with the popular snail repair cream from K-beauty brand Seoul Ceuticals — your skin will look so refreshed that you'll personally thank every snail you come across from here on out. The formula contains a 97.5% concentration of snail mucin filtrate, which is rich in elastin and collagen to help smooth and plump the skin.
An exfoliating glove with immediate results you can actually see. Seriously, the dead skin just clumps up and rolls right off of your body. It's somehow satisfying and gross at the same time.
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel that's basically like a latte for your face. It uses the power of yerba mate to soothe the delicate skin under your eyes, and also contains three forms of hyaluronic acid to moisturize. I did not know there were several types of hyaluronic acid, but I would now like to collect all of them like Pokémon.
And Grace and Stella under-eye masks — they're bound to become a staple in your skincare routine. They're infused with retinol, which is known to help increase skin cell production and help with elasticity. If you're looking to smooth dry under-eyes, this will be your new best friend.
Or!!! An adorable polar bear hydrating eye stick, which is basically a venti iced coffee for your under-eye area. It features Iceland glacier water to help relieve the appearance of puffiness, and the niacinamide in the formula can provide a brightening effect to lessen the severity of dark circles. Also, reviewers love putting this lil' cutie in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation! I mean, it is a polar bear, after all — it only makes sense to keep it cold.
Cerave's Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser so effective at exfoliating and minimizing breakouts, you'll wonder how you were able to order this online instead of procuring it from a witch's hut in the middle of a forest. Reviewers have had luck using it on face and body acne, with many saying it reduces rough skin, bumps, and pimples with consistent use.
Or CeraVe's Hydrating Facial Cleanser for anyone with dry and sensitive skin. It's packed with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides to cleanse while adding moisture at the same time. Say goodbye to that overly tight, way-too-squeaky-clean feeling most cleansers leave behind.
O'Keeffe's overnight lip repair cream — yes, it's from the brand behind the iconic Working Hands cream that thousands of reviewers swear by! Its blend of beeswax, shea butter, and almond oil works while you sleep to soften dead skin and add a nice dose of hydration. Prepare to get rid of your car, bedroom, bathroom, and purse lip balms — this one is all you need.
And an exfoliating lip scrub because applying your favorite lip balm on top of dead skin is basically pointless. The sugar granules will help buff away any crusty flakes, and the kukui oil will leave behind a touch of moisture.
A Briotech spray infused with hypochlorous acid, an ingredient that plays a disappearing trick on inflammation, irritation, and acne, all while helping to strengthen the skin barrier. Plus, reviewers say it's similar to the more expensive Tower 28 Daily Rescue spray, so your wallet will be so relieved that you can remove it from your Sephora cart.
First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant, which has become a holy grail for people dealing with keratosis pilaris and all other bumpy skin-related issues. The mix of chemical and physical exfoliators will slough away dead skin and have you feeling silky smooth in just a few uses.
A tub of dual-textured toner pads from K-beauty brand Medicube — it uses the power of lactic and salicylic acid to wipe away dead skin cells and help reduce the appearance of pores and blackheads. After cleansing, use the textured side for a deep exfoliation, then flip to the smooth side to soothe and mop up any excess oil.
A bottle of Bio-Oil Multiuse Skincare Oil to help moisturize and reduce the appearance of scars thanks to a special blend of vitamin A, chamomile, sunflower, lavender, and vitamin E oils.
A brightening facial scrub for anyone who craves physical exfoliation but doesn't want anything too harsh. The sea kelp will keep things soft and smooth while the French green clay and lemon peel lightly buff away dead skin. You'll be glowing before you even rinse it down the drain!
The iconic Black Girl Sunscreen — a face and body SPF 30 moisturizer designed to blend in seamlessly and not leave a white cast on deeper skin tones. Unlike most similarly-priced sunscreens, this formula actually has moisturizing ingredients like jojoba and avocado oils. Reviewers say it sinks in super quickly and is a perfect base for makeup — which is a rare find in the SPF department.
A pack of star-shaped pimple patches so cute you won't mind wearing them out and about. They're made of a wound-healing gel called hydrocolloid that can help drain fluids from any open pimples and cover any that are already on the surface, and they also contain salicylic acid to help dissolve excess sebum.
L'Oréal Paris Collagen Daily Face Moisturizer that might just give Charlotte Tilbury and her magic cream a run for their money 👀. Its star ingredient is collagen, which is meant to help plump the skin and smooth fine lines with continued use. Your wallet called me and asked me to personally recommend this to you. And ask that you step away from your Sephora cart.
A tube of the celebrity-beloved Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré that has so many uses. You can slather it on as a moisturizer, use it as a smoothing makeup primer, or apply it as a nourishing face mask when your skin needs an extra dose of its protective beeswax and softening shea butter.
Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Hydrating Multi-Balm — the "Wrinkle Bounce" formula is especially loved by reviewers since it helps smooth fine lines and provides a glowy glass-skin look thanks to the salmon complex and collagen. The stick applicator also makes it ideal for targeting specific areas like under-eyes and eyelids. Happy swiping!
