Up until the time I was 19, I did not take my skincare seriously. I had never really had to worry about what went on my face. When I was sent home from school last March I had a vague idea of a skincare routine and a few products that I stuck to, but other than that I basically did nothing. I’m not saying that COVID is a good thing (obviously) but it DID free up time in my schedule to finally make sure I was more intentional with the products I was using. I am NOT an expert, but I do follow a few people who generally know what they are talking about. I am starting with the basics (moisturizer, cleanser, and sunscreen) but I am more than happy to find more! Comment below with what else you want to see.
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Moisturizer:
Belif Aqua Bomb: This moisturizer is a GODSEND if you have oily skin! I have been using it for years and unless I find the fountain of youth, I don’t have plans to ditch this anytime soon. It is a bit expensive but you need the smallest amount and it is great quality.
CeraVe Moisturizer: This post is filled to the brim with CeraVe (no one is surprised) and the first product of theirs I am linking their daily moisturizer! This is a bit heavy for my oily skin at times, but it sits really well on my neck and on dry patches in the wintertime. If you have drier skin this is for sure worth a try!
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Facial Cleansers
For Drier Skin: These face washes below are great for dry skin! It is always important to have hydrated skin and the earlier you start moisturizing and protecting, the better off your skin will be in 20 years. Make sure that if you have drier skin your face wash has hyaluronic acid and little to no fragrance.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($15): This is great to use if you need some extra moisture in your skincare routine! It cleans your skin and leaves behind a thin layer of hydration.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($10): This product is a tried and true staple of so many people’s skincare routines. I myself have not tried it, but I have never heard a bad word uttered about this brand.
La Roche-Posay ($15): La Roche-Posay does a great job with their formulas and this wash is no exception. It is fragrance-free (huge yay!) and gives you high quality at an affordable price.
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For Oilier Skin: Balancing moisture and oil is a delicate thing, believe me, I know. I didn’t realize that my facial cleanser is a huge part of managing the oil production on my face. Foaming cleansers are a great way to make sure you are deep cleaning your skin and the ones listed below won’t deep clean your wallet.
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser ($15): Yes, there is a lot of CeraVe in this post. We been knew. That is because their products are sooooo amazing and aren’t slowly fracturing my debit card so I call that a win-win. I use this product every night and it is legitimately saving my skin from hormonal acne (god bless).
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($38 at largest size): This is the face wash I used all of high school and it is the perfect gentle morning cleanser. If your skin is not overly oily, this cleanser is a great way to wash your face and not strip it of its natural moisture!
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Sunscreen
I know that I sound like such a mom right now, but for the love of all things that are good in this world PUT ON SUNSCREEN EVERYDAY! Preventative skin care is the name of the game in your 20’s. Sun exposure is a natural part of life, but you won’t see it until it’s too late to fix it. I am all about natural wrinkles, smile lines, crow’s feet (I have all of those) but there is no reason that you should lose your elasticity before your kids go to college!
CeraVe Sunscreen ($17): This is a great basic one to start with (anything above 30 SPF is lying to you I’m not kidding) but be aware that it takes time to sink into your skin. If you have darker skin, this may not be the best option for you. The white-cast might be a bit too much for everyday wear. That being said, it is of great quality and if it looks good on your face, I say go for it!
Supergoop Defense Refresh Mist ($15): This came highly recommended (from Oprah.com and obv not me) for darker skin tones! If being worn outside, it says to reapply every two hours, but for a day of indoor/office activities, it is perfect!
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Those are a very basic overview of the products that won’t break the bank or your skin! There are so many other products I have tried and/or use on the daily. What do you want to see next? Do you use anything on this list?
Let me know in the comments below 🙂