I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a person who’s not super into beauty products. I’m slightly ashamed to say it, but until college, I really didn’t do much to take care of my skin. I spent years fairly unaware of what skincare was, but now, I can’t go without it– and you shouldn’t either. And trust me, I’m not a beauty guru. I’m not here to sell you on anything fancy. Carmex is literally one of the things on this list.
I was fortunate to grow up with fairly clear skin, so I always thought I could just wash my face in the shower with my body soap and that life would be fine. Had I known more, I would’ve been aware that my skin on my face benefits from certain specific types of washes and moisturizers and the skin on my body does too.
I’m in no way boujee when it comes to skin care because let’s face it – this is college and I can’t afford to be. Because of that, I thought it’d be beneficial to share my cheap methods with you, so you can save your skin too. Check it out!
St. Ives Blemish Control Scrub
This stuff works miracles, and it does so on a budget for sure. You can get it online from as low as $3.87 at Jet.com, and most major stores carry it for in the $5-10 range. If you’re having an oily week or you’re predominately oily naturally, scrubbing your face up with this to exfoliate every night can really save you. It’s also good for post-workout exfoliation.
Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion
This lotion is a must if you’re a dry skin person like me – especially in the winter. You can use this on your body and your face, which is really budget friendly. Additionally, it last up to 24 hours and in my opinion it really gets your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated. It’s great stuff to put on after you dry off from a bath or shower, especially if you just shaved.
Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Body Wash (use with a loofah for extra benefits)
If your skin has a tendency to break out on areas other than your face, this stuff is for you. I’ve used this on my back for years to avoid breakouts back there and it really does the trick. It also smells great and really isn’t too much in terms of money for how much product you get and how much you need to use each shower. If you use it with a loofah and scrub it into your skin, it can do exfoliation magic!
Cheap Face Masks – Really from Any Brand (just read the ingredients first)
While we’d all love to be able to indulge in a nice Lush mask every night, a majority of us don’t have $40+ to shell out for a small tub of one. And I’m not hating – I do own one of these Lush masks. I just have to ration it because I cannot repurchase that sh*t anytime soon. These cheap masks that can be found in the makeup section of basically all major stores can be lifesavers, and a majority of them are under $2. There’s all different kinds for all different skin issues – just read it and see what’s going to work best for you!
Carmex Chapstick
I know what you’re thinking – really? Chapstick? I know it’s pretty commonly known that you need to use this stuff, but to be honest, I really never used much of it until college. I also really never used Carmex specifically. This stuff is bomb af. It’ll moisturize your lips with even just one quick application, and if you apply regularly, your lips will always be sultry and soft. Also, it’s like $3 so winning all around.
Nivea Men’s Facial Cleanser
I know this says men on it, but literally anyone can use this. The only reason it’s deemed male is because of the scent – which is great by the way. Check the ingredients. Same sh*t as most traditionally female cleansers. This product is really great for when you need to wash your face but don’t necessarily need to exfoliate.
Promise Organic Facial Lotion
This stuff can keep your face feeling soft and smelling great. It’s semi-pricey if you’re on a budget (~$16), but it’s still not as crazy as some prices for facial lotions can get. Plus, it’s organic, so you know everything going on your face that’s in this will do wonders for it.
This isn’t everything you could need, by any means, but everyone’s different. These are just the majority of things I use on a day-to-day basis, but there’s always great shave gels, hand and foot creams and so much more you can do for your skin. Just do your research, try things out and find what works best for you. Taking care of your skin is essential to preserve it, so get to work!