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Beauty on a Budget: Best Cheap Skincare Routine

Skin care is something that everyone should invest in yes, but have you ever thought of how much a person’s entire skincare routine can cost? A lot of people follow a ten-step or more routine, but there are also those who do a pared-down regimen. Whether you belong to either category, the cost of your products can still add up to way too much.
Think about it — cleansers, moisturizers, serums, creams, face masks, and such. Some even have products that specialize in one thing, and then there also those times when you buy a product that has an outstanding advertisement, but find that it doesn’t work with you at all and you end up feeling like you wasted your money. Computing all those costs will end with a shocking grand total that you didn’t even realize you’ve accumulated already.
While it’s good to acquire products that are the best — after all, the only thing we want for our skin is to be at its best — spending extravagantly on skin care doesn’t always have to be the case. Our skin can still be at its best even if we don’t buy the most expensive products out there. Affordable beauty brands and products do exist, and they can definitely be your bang-for-the-buck best friends. Not only will your skin thank you for the great results, but your wallet and bank account will be grateful too.
What is a Good Basic Skincare Routine?
A good basic skincare routine doesn’t have to involve numerous products. It’s why it’s called a “basic” one, after all. Your basic routine can consist of the following steps:
- Cleansing
- Moisturizing
- Applying sunscreen
Those three steps are as basic as it gets. The first step ensures your skin is free from the dirt and grime that accumulated throughout the day, the second step makes sure your skin is supple and soft, while the last step protects your skin from the harsh sun. To know more about curating a quick and simple skincare routine, go to our guide.
How Do I Start a Simple Skincare Routine?
To know which affordable beauty products to search for your low-cost routine, it’s important to know a couple of things first. After all, you wouldn’t want to buy something that doesn’t suit you and end up spending more than you intended to. To start off, here’s a insider short list:
Know Your Skin Type
This is probably the most important step of all as it’s the basis of which skincare item you should get. Skin types can be classified into dry, oily, normal, acne-prone, combination, or sensitive skin. It’s important to identify which category your skin belongs to so that you know what kind of products or ingredients will work with your skin concerns. If you’re unsure of which category you belong to, you can seek out the advice of a dermatologist.

Research on Skincare Products
You now have an idea of your skincare concerns, it’s now time to research what kind of items and ingredients can help your skin. If you’re on the dry side, look for items that have moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, avocado oil, ceramides, or glycerin. If you have acne-prone, you can opt for things that have tea tree oil, salicylic acid, centella asiatica, witch hazel, and the like in its ingredient list.
This research process also allows you to look up reviews by other people and read their user experience when they used the product. This can help you in narrowing down your choices as well.
Invest in Versatile Skincare Products
Multi-tasking skincare products can help you in paring down your routine and saving you from shelling out money for numerous items that only specialize in one thing. You can try multitaskers such as aloe vera gel, which can be a moisturizer and a soothing agent in one.
Bonus: Shop Local
Did you know that there are numerous makeup and skincare brands in the Philippines? If you didn’t, then now you know! It’s not bad to shop Asian beauty or Western labels especially if they work for you, but it’s nice to venture out once in a while and buy local. Buying locally can also help in supporting these labels, especially in this time that we live in.
Now that you have a starter list on what to do to achieve your affordable routine, it’s time to wade through products and find that effective, budget-friendly buy! Read on to check out our recommendations!
Affordable Skincare Finds
The road to flawless skin with affordable items is achievable despite what others may say. For that to happen, we conducted a search and listed our favorite budget buys to give you an idea on what you can do. Check them out!
Cleanser
Dermatologists have determined that it’s highly important to rinse our faces to get rid of dirt, grime, bacteria, and even leftover traces of makeup. Cleansers help bring back our skin to its fresh, clean state. For an affordable cleanser, you can try out the Biore Speedy Micellar Cleansing Foam. This cleanser can speedily remove makeup, unclog the build up of dirt and bacteria and can leave your skin feeling fresh and soft.
Another suggestion we have is the Hada Labo Gokujyun Super Hyaluronic wash. This item can help keep your skin hydrated and protect the skin’s moisture barrier while getting rid of impurities.
If you’re someone who has sensitive skin, you can try out the Simple Moisturizing Face Wash. This facial wash can provide a gentle yet thorough cleanse for you to use daily without irritation. If you’re concerned about your oily t-zone, you can go for the Human Nature Balancing Facial Wash. This can cut down sebum, bacteria, and even reduce redness. It’s perfect for those who have combo skin as well.
Moisturizer
No matter what your skin type is, it’s highly important to moisturize and keep your face soft and supple. For a bang-for-the-buck moisturizer, check out the Nature Republic Aloe Vera Gel. This gel is cooling, moisturizing, and soothing. Best of all, it comes in a gigantic tub that can last you for a year. Another item to try is the iWhite Korea Aqua Moisturizer Glow. This one not only hydrates but also helps in evening out the skin tone and brightens your complexion during the day and while you’re in bed.

Sunscreen
It is vital to protect our skin from sun damage and reduce the risk of developing a host of issues caused by the harsh UV rays. According to dermatologists, one should keep in mind when buying a sunscreen is that it should be broad-spectrum and should have an SPF rating of 30 and above to ensure that you’re truly protected. Try out the Belo SunExpert Tinted Sunscreen that has a rating of SPF 50. This sunscreen also doubles as a cover to conceal fine lines around the forehead and eyes, wrinkles, and other blemishes.
You can also check out the QuickFX Sunblock that has a rating of SPF 50. This sunblock helps prevent skin damages and aids in reducing sun spots, discoloration, and more. For more information, you can check out our QuickFX Sunblock review.
Others
We recommended items that cover the three most important steps of skin care. While you can always just go for the basics, there’s no harm in adding an item or two to fortify your regimen. You can add in a serum such as the Skinpotions Tomato Serum, which contains vitamins A and C, lycopene, and other nutrients in a bottle. It brightens the complexion, reduces inflammations, and gives you a radiant glow.
You can also check out the Fresh Formula Rosy Glow Tonic, which contains glycolic acid that not only aids in hydration but also helps in restoring and energizing your skin with a radiant glow.
If you don’t love the idea of putting on serums or toners, you can try a face mask to pamper yourself with after a stressful day. The QuickFX Liquid Ice Mask is a sheet mask that you can just lay down on your face and feel the cooling, soothing effects of it as you rest after a long day. Check out our review of the QuickFX Liquid Ice Mask to know more.
We hope that we were able to help you out with our suggestions to achieve an affordable skincare routine! Everything in this article is available in the Philippines and can be easily acquired. As always, what works for others may not work for you, and what works for you may not work for others. It’s always best to consult a dermatologist if you’re unsure of an item or an ingredient to use. Stay safe, stay beautiful, and love yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Cheap Skin Care?
We’ve already mentioned a couple of beauty labels that have affordable skincare lines, such as Human Nature, Simple, and Skinpotions. Another brand that you can be on the lookout for is QuickFX. We have a lot of product reviews on this brand, so check them out on our site. They all offer items that are effective and easy on the budget.
What is the Best Cleanser for Combination Skin?
If you are on the combination side, you can try items that are both clean and gentle on the skin. Aside from the Human Nature Balancing wash that we mentioned, you can also try the Hyalure Soap Free Skin Cleanser, which has no sulfates, parabens, or fragrance. It has a very delicate formulation that easily removes dirt and impurities without harming your skin.
f you have more questions not discussed here, head to the comments sections and tell us about it!

Ira Arellano graduated with a degree in Multimedia Arts from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. When she’s not busy writing, Ira uses her remaining free time fawning over groups with too many members, reading three books simultaneously, crying over animated shows and fictional people, and being salty over her lack of gacha luck.