Skincare Must Haves (2021)
Photo courtesy of Verily
Written by Ava Nikac
It has taken me so long to find the right skincare routine, being that I have extremely acne prone, oily skin. I wish the trendy, cute face masks were all I needed, but honestly, I may have found some things that are even better. Most of them comes from one brand that I’m sure you’ve heard of: The Ordinary. These products are extremely affordable, ranging from $5-$8 each, but leave you feeling like you just got a professional facial. Three of the products I use though, come from different brands but are also pretty cheap, yet so good! Here they are in the order I use them along with their benefits and where to purchase!
-Garnier’s Skinactive Micellar Cleansing Water. This is my holy-grail makeup remover. I’ve been using this product for YEARS, and it has never done me wrong. I use it on a cotton pad and it takes everything off without making me feel like an oily mess. A little goes a long way, and it lasts forever! I usually get the bottle with the pink cap, which is catered for sensitive skin, but the one with the blue cap is great too and is for waterproof makeup! This product can be purchased at any pharmacy, grocery store, or makeup store like Ulta. I usually get the 23.7 ounce bottle, only costing me $11.99!
-CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. This product is great for normal to oily skin, since it includes three key ingredients. Those being, Ceramides, which restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier, Hyaluronic Acid, which maintains the skin’s natural moisture, and Niacinamide, which is great for calming the skin. I use it twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. This product can be purchased at Ulta for about $14.99. I have also found it in stores like CVS and Rite Aid for about the same price!
-The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. This is a product I use only in the morning because I feel like I have very oily skin, and I feel like it prevents it from getting as oily as usual throughout the day. I pour some on a cotton pad and rub it all over my face. It is known to target and prevent signs of aging, congestion, irregular texture, and uneven skin tone. This only cost $8.70 at Ulta!
-The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum. I use this product again, in the morning and at night. Be careful not to let the dropper touch your skin, because bacteria can build up around it, and that can harm your skin. Hyaluronic Acid is known to be great for replenishing your skin with moisture. I only use three drops, one on each of my cheeks, and one on my forehead. This amazing serum can be purchased at Ulta for $6.80!
-The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. I use this product the exact same way I use the Hyaluronic Acid, both morning and night, and three drops. This product is known for reducing signs of congestion in your skin. I purchase this product for only $5.90 at Ulta as well, which is a trend you’ll see with these products!
-The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA. This product is used yet again, the same way I use the other two! This is a great product to use in order to help an uneven skin tone, and to reduce the appearance of dark spots. Once again, you can purchase this product at Ulta for only $8.90!
-The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA. This is a product that I only use once a day, and that is at night. I drop a little less than half the tube into my hand, and pat it into my skin, because this product is very liquidy, and it's hard to apply right to your face. This product targets the same things as the toner, but this is like my dose for the night, since I use the toner solely in the morning! It only cost $6.80 at Ulta!
-Ponds Dry Skin Facial Moisturizer. This moisturizer is an oldie but a goodie. It’s targeted toward dry skin, yet I have oily, and it works perfectly fine! A little definitely goes a long way with this product though, so don’t get the biggest container you see, it lasts forever! This can be purchased pretty much at any pharmacy or grocery store. I purchase mine at CVS, for only $6.59!
-The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution. This is a chemical peel, so it is only to be used twice a week at most! Make sure to read the bottle because there are things you need to know about this product, like what your skin should be like when you apply it, and what to avoid after using it. A common misconception about this product is that your face should be covered in a dark red color when it is applied, but you truly only need a couple drops. I only use about 6 drops total. I purchase this product at Ulta for $7.20!
I hope some of these products help you guys get healthier, glowing, and radiant skin! Acne is one of the hardest things to deal with, for me at least, so I hope I can be of assistance and make your lives a little easier by recommending some products!