Skin is big business in the beauty industry. A survey conducted by OnePoll for Groupon found the average woman spends around $313 on her appearance per month, this adds up to a whopping $3756 per year.
With such an array of products to choose from depending on skin type, concern or need, it can often be an overwhelming task to choose products that are right for you. It is also easy to spend a lot of money on high-end products with fancy packaging and elaborate marketing tactics.
When it comes to skincare, does a pricier product necessarily mean it is better?
There is currently a huge market for affordable skincare, a myriad of brands from drugstore staples to indie startups. With many opting for fuss-free yet effective products that won’t break the bank. Another key driver for affordable product lines includes the younger market dipping their toes into the world of skincare. The teen to young adult consumer group are keen to seek out products that are ingredient focused and budget-friendly.
While high-end brands and pricey products can remain a luxurious treat, here is a roundup of some affordable skin care brands that truly deliver.
We are constantly reading about the latest hero ingredients for our skin and go on to spend hours reading the small print on the labels to find said ingredient. The Inkey List has a simple aim, to deliver a straightforward take on the most-wanted ingredients without jargon or complex routines.
With everything you need from cleansers and serums to moisturizers and spot treatments, The Inkey List’s collection of stripped back products feature as few ingredients as possible and have been formulated by a team of experts and scientists.
To make things even easier, the website offers a personalised recipe builder. After answering a few simple questions about your skin type and concerns, they recommend a perfectly fitting AM and PM routine with the option to add the suggested products straight to your basket. Simplified skin never looked so good and with minimal damage to your bank balance.
Popular products include, the Salicylic Acid Cleanser formulated specifically for breakout-prone skin. The gentle non-drying cleanser works hard to remove excess sebum without causing irritation. After a late night, try the Brighten-i Eye Cream. A formula that cleverly combines skincare and cosmetics for both long-term and short-term results. It reduces the appearance of dark circles and helps to brighten and prime the eye area, plus the cooling metal applicator reduces puffiness and soothes tired eyes, at £8.99 it’s a steal!
Popular French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay, is a favourite amongst celebrities and beauty fanatics, and not just for its simplistically chic packaging. With a variety of products developed in partnership with dermatologists, the brand offers highly effective products that are especially suitable for those with sensitive skin.
With the aim to make dermatological skin care accessible to all, La Roche-Posay makes beautiful skin on a budget a simple feat. With the option to book a free virtual consultation with a beauty expert, it’s easy to build the perfect routine for your skin-type and breakthrough confusing beauty vernacular.
Best Selling products include the Pure Vitamin C 10 Serum. Designed to boost radiance and even skin texture and tone, using pure vitamin c renowned for its anti-wrinkle effects. High quality serums generally come with a high price, but at half of the price of many of it’s higher-end counterparts, this powerful serum ensures you get the most for your money.
We are all aware of the importance of a daily dose of SPF but finding a formula that is both effective and invisible on the skin can be difficult. Enter the Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid. The fluid formula is non-greasy and water resistant whilst leaving no white-cast it sits perfectly under makeup.
The game-changing brand renowned for it’s affordable pricing, re-focused the need for quality ingredients specifically catered to our skins unique needs.
The Ordinary’s products do not disappoint. With powerful formulations using key ingredients, it’s no nonsense approach to skincare offers high-performance products at low prices, cutting out unnecessary ingredients and complex packaging.
The Ordinary’s site also offers free virtual beauty consultations to help skin novices find the perfect products and when physical shopping trips are finally allowed, pop into one of their stores and you will be in minimalist heaven.
Favoured products include; The ‘Buffet’, a multi-peptide serum is a feast for the skin. With an array of anti-ageing benefits, the serum contains a number of powerful ingredients including hyaluronic acid to plump skin and 11 skin-friendly amino acids, it is anything but ordinary. Follow up with the 100% Organic Cold-Pressed RoseHip Seed Oil. Unlike other facial oils that have often been refined and have a ton of unnecessary added ingredients, this antioxidant-rich oil feels luxurious on your skin and your last pay cheque.
We all know The Body Shop has the perfect range of scrumptiously scented body butters, but often overlook its impressive skincare collections.
Priding themselves on their use of nature-inspired ingredients in all of their skincare products, The Body Shop offers a range of quality skin care products at high street prices. Products are also cruelty free and 68% of packaging is totally recyclable, so you can shop knowing you’re not only doing good for your face and bank account but for the environment too.
The Drops of Youth Essence-Lotion is infused with a blend of three plant stem cells. The unique gel-to-water formula is lightweight and ultra-hydrating for a fresh and healthy complexion. For persistent blemishes, try the Tea Tree Squeaky-Clean Scrub. Enriched with Community Fair Trade tea tree oil from Kenya, it gently buffs away dirt, grime, leftover makeup and dead skin cells to reveal a rejuvenated and clearer complexion.
This developed-by-dermatologists brand has been a skincare staple for years. Cerave products all contain a unique blend of three essential ceramides. As these ceramides make up half of the skin’s barrier they really are quite brilliant and it makes perfect sense that this should be a key ingredient in our skin care routines.
Developed by experts who when looking at common skin concerns such as eczema, acne and dry skin noticed the recurring issue was a compromised skin barrier.
The product line focuses on skin-barrier strengthening products and the idea that our skin barrier is integral to how our skin looks and feels.
If you are looking for dermatologist approved skin care at affordable prices, CeraVe has what you need.
Try the Hydrating Cream to Foam Cleanser. Thanks to its unique combination of gentle ingredients, this cleanser strips away dirt and impurities without stripping the skin’s barrier.
Follow up with the SA Smoothing Cream with Salicylic Acid, the rich formula gently exfoliates with salicylic acid to smooth uneven and dry skin.
Another cult French pharmacy brand, Avène focuses on products specially formulated for sensitive skin. Created by French dermatologists and derived from ultra-hydrating Thermal Spring Water, Avène products are designed to soothe irritated skin.
Every Avène product is uniquely composed of Avène Thermal Spring Water, a powerful active ingredient that is naturally soothing and anti-irritating. Recommended by dermatologists, pharmacists and skin experts worldwide, it is not surprising that Avène products are favoured for its product ranges to suit all skin types with any skin concern. From very sensitive skin, oily and blemish-prone, dehydrated or dry and dull skin, there is something for everyone and at a satisfyingly budget friendly price.
Favoured products include; the Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream. A rich daily moisturizer formulated with Cohederm, a unique patented active proven to form water reservoirs in dehydrated skin, for long lasting moisturisation. Perfect for combatting the harsh effects of winter on stubbornly dry skin.
For sensitive skin, try the Gentle Milk Cleanser. It effectively removes makeup and grime whilst it’s lightweight formula soothes and comforts irritated skin.
Glossier is quickly becoming a cult favourite amongst beauty fanatics, the millennial pink containers filling up many beauty shelves. Created by the beauty editors behind Into The Gloss, promotes fun and freedom at the heart of it’s brand with skincare essentials that are designed to make you look your glowy best at a reasonable cost.
With the mantra skin first and makeup second, Glossier offers effective products that make up a simplistic routine. Their cute packaging and desirable marketing is an added bonus.
From their much-loved Milky Jelly Cleanser, which is exactly as luxurious as it sounds. A gentle-yet-effective conditioning face wash enriched with soothing rose water it melts away dirt and makeup for comfortably clean skin. To their Solution Face Exfoliator, a blend of AHA’s, BHA’s and PHA’s it sweeps away dead skin to reveal a smooth and bright complexion. With these products you will be looking glossier than ever.
There are few people in or out of the beauty world who are unfamiliar with Garnier products. Their collection of specifically organic products pack a punch for those looking for a more natural approach to skin care.
Utilising the power of plants, this line of products is not to be overlooked due to it’s budget-friendly price tag. Aside from being amazing for your skin, products are also vegan friendly, sourced with respect for biodiversity and made with recycled and recyclable packaging, so are ideal for green queens.
Must try products include; the Organic Lavandin Smooth and Glow Facial Oil. Enriched with Organic Lavandin & Argan Oil and Antioxidant Vitamin E, it intensely nourishes and is perfect for use before bed due to its calming effects.
Or try the Organic Argan Hydrating Mist. Formulated with Organic Argan Oil and Organic Cornflower Water, this ultra-fine Argan Facial Mist hydrates and refreshes to awaken skin and leave it fresh and glowing.
Versed has burst on the scene and aims to prove that affordable and effective skin care can go hand in hand without compromising on being sustainable and cruelty free. With a simple mission statement: make good skin and clean products for all.
Championing hero ingredients, this product line is vegan, cruelty free and clean. Ensuring products should be as safe as they are effective. Made with proven ingredients at skin-changing levels, and without fussy packaging and conventional retail markups. Versed is pocket friendly and makes good skin simpler than ever. With a skin-decoder quiz on their website to define your perfectly personalised skin care regime to their text-message based Skin Hotline to debunk your skin care woes.
Try The Shortcut Overnight Facial, a leave-on exfoliator that works overnight with a blend of lactic and glycolic acid to resurface and renew skin whilst you sleep. Follow up with the Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen, the lightweight formula provides invisible protection against the elements with a perfectly fresh and dewy finish.
