High-quality and effective skincare should not be considered a luxury available only to the wealthy. With the right information, we can find excellent quality skincare products at reasonable prices in drugstores, discount department stores, and online.

Some years ago, during a routine office visit with my dermatologist, I asked Dr. Newman for his recommendations on specific products for daily skincare. Without hesitation, he pulled out a notepad and listed the products that follow, which I love and still use to this day.

All of the products and brands listed below are available in drugstores and discount stores, such as Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, and Amazon.

You will find an Amazon link for each product. This will allow you to view the packaging and explore the item further with a single click. Remember that although Amazon is a great option, you should be able to walk into your local drugstore or discount store and find the item in the skincare aisle.

Best Inexpensive Skincare Products

Cleanser

Cetaphil is an excellent line of affordable skincare products, including my doctor’s first choice of cleanser: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.

Other cleansers that receive high marks from Dr. Newman:

• Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser Moisturizing Deep Cleanser
• Basis Sensitive Skin Bar
• Lever 2000
• Dove for Sensitive Skin

Moisturizer

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Very Dry/Sensitive Skin is fragrance-free and my doctor’s top choice for a daily moisturizer.

 

• MORE:  Best Drugstore Makeup—Superior Quality, Super Affordable

Anti-Aging

If you are concerned about wrinkles and the effects of aging, Cetaphil’s new Healthy Renew line of products deserves your serious consideration, given it gets huge numbers of 5-star reviews by users and endorsements by the pros. This fairly new line of products has now become part of my recommendations for affordable skincare products based on my own personal use.

• MORE: Cetaphil’s New Anti-Aging Collection: A Review

Eye-Makeup Remover

Johnson’s Tear-Free Baby Shampoo is an excellent choice for removing eye makeup and certainly qualifies as an affordable skincare product. My ophthalmologist recommends this baby shampoo for his patients who wear contact lenses because it effectively removes protein build-up that often troubles lens wearers.

This baby shampoo is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and dyes. Both Dr. Newman and my ophthalmologist have advised me to use this full strength as an eye makeup remover, making certain to rinse thoroughly.

Toner

Instead of purchasing a name-brand astringent for your skincare regimen, consider using witch hazel, a natural remedy that skin professionals have recommended for decades. Witch hazel, as a natural astringent, can effectively remove excess oil from the skin and reduce pore size.

When applied topically, it can help minimize the number of impurities that can clog the skin’s pores and potentially exacerbate conditions like blemishes, blackheads, and even acne.

Witch hazel is readily available over the counter at most drugstores and supermarkets. Generic brands perform just as well as expensive brand-name astringents.

DIY Exfoliant

Mix 1/2 cup granulated sugar with the juice of one whole lemon to form a paste. While showering, invigorate your skin with the paste. Rub heels and elbows with the inside of the lemon rinds. You will swear you’ve just had a spa treatment with a costly skincare product!

• MORE: 5 DIY Body Scrubs to Keep Your Skin Vibrant and Healthy

Daily Sunscreen

Ask any dermatologist which ingredient they won’t leave the house without, and I promise it will be sunscreen. I’ve learned from my doctor that sun damage is cumulative, and the easiest way to protect your skin is to use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day.

Dr. Newman recommends Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen with SPF 45 to protect against the sun’s harmful rays. It is available online and in nearly every drugstore. I love this brand because it is ultra sheer and non-greasy.

 

Question: Have you discovered any hidden gems that rival high-end brands in effectiveness? Share your recommendations and experiences in the comments below!

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Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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