Skincare is self-care. And let’s be honest: life gives our skin a lot to deal with. It’s our first line of defence, battling everything from biting winter winds to the questionable air quality of our daily commute. So, the least we can do is show it some love.
Whether it’s an ‘everything’ shower once a week, a monthly facial, or a daily cleanse, there are so many ways to bring wellness into your skincare routine and your life. With cold weather promoting dry skin, work demands causing stress and dullness, and rare sunshine depriving us of our vitamin D and C, looking after our barrier is more important than ever.
But skincare isn’t just about products on your shelves - it’s about feeling good in your own skin (literally).
And here’s the good news: skincare doesn’t have to mean splashing out on overpriced serums. Some of the best ingredients for your skin might already be sitting in your kitchen. Some of the best routines are the simplest. And some of the most effective skincare is the cheapest.
So, read on to discover our tried-and-tested, budget-friendly skincare that works for your routine, your skin, and your wallet.
Skincare 101 tips and tricks:
1. Love the skin you’re in.
Before anything else, it’s important to remember that your skin is you, and you are worthy. Every mark, scar, pimple, wrinkle or line tells a story of experience enjoyed, a life lived. Your skin deserves to be celebrated, pampered, and loved no matter what. Even if you’re going through a bumpy period with your skin - literally - that’s okay! We’re human, we change, and we’re not perfect by the definitions set for us. But we can be perfect by our own standards. Approach skincare with patience, grace, and acceptance, rather than seeing it as a race to erasure of any blemish or a problem that can be fixed overnight. It’s a process, and one to take pleasure in where possible.
2. Identify your skin type.
Before you start experimenting with new products or buying expensive creams, get to know your skin. The typical skin types you may relate to are normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive. And each of these categories comes with its own needs for skincare.
Normal skin (although all skin is normal!) is represented by a balanced level of oil, leading to well hydrated - but not greasy - skin. Dry skin is identified by flaky patches, meaning you’ll want to introduce more moisture in your routine. Oily skin has excessive oil in pores, leading to shine and breakouts. Combination skin is a bit of both - with an oily T-zone and dry skin elsewhere. And sensitive skin is easily irritated by new products. But remember, you might have patches of dryness and patches of sensitivity - your skin is as complex as you!
3. Active ingredients.
Powerhouses in bottles, retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid are known to address myriad skin complaints and have recently become popularised. This more medical approach to skincare has seen dramatic results for some users - but not always in a good way. They should be used with care, not mixed, and always combined with a good sun screen the next day. The headline is: don’t be wary, but do your research. Combining retinol with AHAs or BHAs, for instance, can cause irritation or damage your skin temporarily. And hey, there are enough irritants in your work life, dating pool, and daily commute.
4. Exfoliation stations!
Choose your fighter! Exfoliants come in the form of chemical exfoliators, cleaners, peels, or scrubs. But it’s important to not overdo it by doubling up on multiple types of scrubs. Have a schedule for exfoliation that is closer to weekly than daily, and go easy on your skin. You can use a system called skin cycling, swapping exfoliating scrubs on night one for retinol on night two and focusing on repair for night three.
5. Use flannels to dry off.
You’ve just spent as long removing your makeup and cleaning your face as you did applying it. Why reverse all that progress by using the hand towel or your boyfriend’s gym towel to dry off? Instead, keep a stack of face towels and wash them regularly to avoid damp, dank towel touching your newly fresh face.
6. Double cleanse.
Say goodbye to clogged pores without stripping natural oils. Start with an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum, then follow with a water-based cleanser to target dirt and impurities. The viral makeup melting balm from Superdrug could do the trick here, followed by your favourite Neutrogena skin wash after.
7. Don’t scrimp on there sunscreen.
Even if you’re working from home or it’s a characteristically grey day for England, SPF is still a must. Apply a high SPF daily as a skincare staple, whether it’s in your moisturiser or foundation or just applied first thing. Because UV light can penetrate windows - even if it’s not a glorious sunny day in the Bahamas.
8. Hydrate from within.
H to the O! If you want to flow on the outside, you need to glow on the inside. Drinking ample water throughout the day and keeping a healthy, happy diet can help maintain your skin’s moisture and plumpness. Paired with a hydration skincare routine, you’ll be a glow getter in no time.
9. Extend your skincare to your neck.
Your neck - and even hands - is exposed to as much environmental damage as your face, but often overlooked. Extend your routine onto your neck to keep it smooth and supple, just like your face.
Cheap skincare products to perfect your routine:
Read on for the cheap skincare products to furnish your morning and nighttime routines!
Morning:
Cleanser
Yawn! Beauty sleep: tick! Now you’ve had your Zs, it’s time to wash away the groggy morning dullness and wake yourself up. Whether you want to rid away the pillow pile up, the sleep mask sediment, or the drool (we won’t tell anyone!), you can do so with a cleanser, lukewarm water, and a clean face towel.
Our choice: Deep Action Salicylic acid face wash - £3.99
Boasting visible results from day one, this Superdrug face wash clears blemishes and blackheads without drying you out.
Toner
Let’s get in the zone with toner. You’ve beaten the snooze button and are battling the 6am start, but by dabbing a cotton wool pad of toner onto your T-zone, you can be sure you’ll win with at least your skincare. Whether you want to remove leftover oil or hydrate and plump, there’s a toner out there with your name on it.
Our choice: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler [+ Hyaluronic Acid] Toner - £7.99
A revitalising toner that plumps and smooths the appearance of skin, locking in moisture with hyaluronic acid!
Serum
A morning serum can brighten your skin, even if inside you’re still pining for the darkness of the closed blinds and duvet. A vitamin C, vitamin E, or niacinamide serum comes in at step three to plump, brighten, or waken up. Antioxidant properties are best for the daytime as they can help reduce UV damage. Just gently tap it into your face and neck to fade hyperpigmentation, shrink pores, soften wrinkles, or boost brightness. It’s like a coffee in a serum, waking you up to face the morning head on. Just avoid mixing serums so you don’t counteract their active ingredients.
Our choice: Superdrug Vitamin E Serum 50ml - £4.99
A lightweight serum with a silky texture, packed full of natural fruit acids and Betaine to boost moisture.
Eye cream
Hey sleepy head! Yes, bags under the eyes carry all kinds of stories of overnight dreams and busy days, and hey - maybe they’re even designer bags. But if you want to lessen the appearance of under eye darkness, bags, circles, or tiredness, then a gentle eye cream can be dabbed along with your ring finger to protect the delicate skin from sun damage or to waken up from the night. Plus, it’s oh-so-soothing.
Our choice: Boots Vitamin C Brightening Eye Gel 15ml - £5
If those bags are going to carry anything, it might as well be brightening vitamin C goodness. This eye gel boats brighter underlies in two weeks!
Moisturiser
Be gone dryness! There’s nothing like a morning moisturise to lock in the hydration for the day. And if you’re looking for a cream that can be your tall glass of water, we’ve got you.
Our choice: CeraVe Moisturising Cream - £6
Hydration stations! For dry skin, this deeply nourishing cream can deliver long-lasting hydration.
Sun Screen
Always, always, always use sunscreen. No matter how dismal the weather may be in the UK, the rays are still out. Using a sun lotion designed for the face - the higher the SPF the better - will reduce risk of cancer, wrinkles, sun spots, and sun damage. The more sun protection you can bolster your routine with, the better, so opting for a day cream with SPF, a foundation with protection, and a sun lotion to top it all off will be the best route to triple up your defence against the day! Don’t be fooled by British sun, it’s out there even if it does a good job of pretending not to be!
Our choice: Malibu Face Cream SPF50 - £2.99
High protection, low cost. This Malibu SPF is great for feeling the sun on your skin without any worries of damage.
Nighttime:
Cleanse (again - and twice!)
Goodbye gunk! A night time skin care routine is all about removing makeup and grime from the day’s activities. Whether it’s sweat from the gym or pollution from the commute, your skin goes through it - and a good nightly skin sesh helps give it the unwind it deserves. Wash away the day with a makeup balm to remove all that foundation and bronzer and brow gel, then follow up with a clear wash to finish the job. You’ll be surprised at how much clings to your face. It’s almost as if when you want it to stay put all day, it doesn’t, then as soon as you’re trying to take it off, it has supercharged durability. *eye roll*
And talking of eyes, if you like to go heavy on liner and mascara, sometimes a specialised eye makeup remover can come in clutch to go easy on the sensitive skin but hard on the pesky eye shadow. Goodbye panda eyes, hello bright eyes.
Our choice: B. Melting Cleansing Balm - £9.99
The viral melting cleansing balm is worth the hype, and more affordable than its high end counterparts. It removes all traces of makeup and dirt and is suitable for eye makeup too. It’s a magic makeup melter!
Micellar water
So, you thought you got all that powder and brow gel off? Wrong. One wipe of a cotton pad with some micellar water on it will show you how much makeup was holding on for dear life. That concealer had plans to stay the night. A sleepover with uninvited guests.
Our choice: Garnier Natural Rose Water Toner for Sensitive Skin - £3.49
A lightweight toner enriched with rose water to soothe and nourish sensitive skin, leaving it dewy and protected.
Spot treatments
Don’t pop that spot - just pop on some spot treatment and let it work its magic overnight. Tempting though it may be to get rid of any new additions to the face, it’s much better to leave them be, rather than getting potentially dirty fingers all over them and disrupting the skin barrier. Instead, use a salicylic acid based treatment, a retinol cream, or a benzoyl peroxide based gel to meet those skin concerns head on.
Our choice: De La Cruz, Acne Treatment Ointment with 10% Sulfur - £6.76
Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, this ointment is going to fight acne by penetrating the pores and preventing new spot formation. All in a day’s work!
Active ingredients
Whether it’s Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid, Glycolic Acid, Peptides or Retinol, incorporating active ingredients into your nighttime skincare routine can work wonders while you sleep. You need to apply as much caution as you do serums, so not to mix multiple active ingredients on the same day and to ensure ample SPF protection after usage. However, these are a hack to repair, renewal, and regeneration of skin. By sunrise, you’ll have even more glowing skin.
Our choice: Revolution Skincare 1% Retinol Super Intense Serum - £7
Awaken your complexion with this silky retinol serum which targets a host of skincare concerns.
Moisturiser
Unlike day creams, which are designed to protect your skin from environmental stressors, night creams focus on intense hydration and repair. Packed with nourishing ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and antioxidants, they work overnight to restore your skin's barrier, promote cell renewal, and lock in moisture. By morning, your skin feels softer, smoother, and ready to take on the day.
Our choice: L'Oréal Paris Dermo Expertise Triple Active Hydrating Night Moisturiser - £7.49
Night moisturiser packing perfect hydration via glycerine and omegas 3 and 6. Get that beauty sleep with a booster!
Top tips for saving money on skincare:
- Find the products that work for you and stick to them. Experimentation is great for figuring out what suits your skin, but once you’ve found your holy grail products, resist the urge to follow every trend. A minimalist approach centred around your skin heroes and must-haves is the key to long-term results.
- Use multi-purpose products. Some night creams contain retinoids, while certain toners are packed with vitamins. Multi-purpose products save time, money, and effort, reducing the number of steps in your routine.
- DIY options. Have fun and save money by whipping up your own skincare treatments! Kitchen staples like honey, yogurt, oats, bananas, coconut oil, and avocado can be just as nourishing for your skin as they are for your meals.
- Use voucher codes and sales. Stock up on your skincare essentials during sales or apply discount codes to save on your favourite brands. Retailers like Voucher Codes can help you keep your routine budget-friendly.
- Focus on ingredients rather than brands. That influencer-endorsed skin cream may be tempting, but it could also break the bank. Affordable high-street brands or own-label products often contain the same active ingredients as premium options, delivering great results without the hefty price tag.
- Be patient and consistent. Skincare isn’t an overnight fix—it takes time for active ingredients to show results. Stay consistent with your routine, and give new products at least 4–6 weeks to see if they work for your skin. Don’t give up on a product to replace it with another in a heartbeat because it hasn’t delivered results immediately.
- Don’t skip the basics. While active ingredients get all the hype, the foundation of any good skincare routine is a gentle cleanser, a hydrating moisturiser, and regular sunscreen use during the day. A solid nighttime routine should complement these essentials! To save money on extraneous products and trends, carve out a reliable routine that puts emphasis on the staples.
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