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Good news for all you folks with easily irritated skin: you don’t have to spend a fortune on super luxe products to enjoy effective skincare that cares for sensitive skin.
While high-end, designer skincare brands would love for you to think otherwise, here at SkinSAFE we prefer to stick with the facts. So to quote the words of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD),
“When building a skincare routine, it’s important to remember that products don’t need to be expensive to be effective.”
It’s true, some of the most tried and trusted skincare products to grace the bathroom shelves of top dermatologists, beauty editors, skincare experts, and celebrities alike are often found on the high street for less than twenty bucks. Brands like Vanicream, The Ordinary, CeraVe, and Cetaphil, for example, consistently receive glowing reviews and are constantly seen as quality products that don’t break the bank.
Of course, not all budget-friendly skincare choices are simultaneously sensitive skin-friendly, and you’re right to be wary of what goes into your skincare formulations – whatever the price. However, if you read the labels, know what to avoid, and, better yet, stick with SkinSAFE recommendations like our SkinSAFE 100s, it’s easy to build an inexpensive skincare routine for sensitive skin.
Quick refresher: SkinSAFE 100-rated products are those that are free of the 11 top most common allergens. They’re officially the gold standard for sensitive skin and help prevent almost half of all skin allergies. We also have a further 30 wellness markers across our app and website that help you to pick appropriate products at a glance – whether they’re fragrance free, coconut free, LipSAFE, or BabySAFE.
On that note, read on for ten of our favorite, affordable sensitive skincare products that promise to help keep skin flare-ups at bay.
Check out these 10 budget skincare products for your sensitive skin:
Derm-recommended and a go-to for anyone with sensitive skin, this gentle, no-frills face and body cleansing bar is free of practically everything that could ever irritate your skin. What’s more, you can buy it in value packs of up to nine bars to save even more $$$s.
Another brand favorite, CeraVe offers incredible, safe skincare formulations that are always at a price you can afford. This balancing toner, for example, was developed with the help of top dermatologists to help strengthen the skin’s important barrier function while hydrating and calming reactive skin.
3. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
Loved by social media influencers and consistently one of the global leaders when it comes to hashtag views on TikTok (1), The Ordinary can seemingly do no wrong. And with incredible formulations that are kind to the skin and, to quote themselves, are ‘sensibly priced’, it’s no wonder their Squalane Cleanser (among many others!) is such a viral hit.
4. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Face Lotion
Great facial moisturizers are hard to come by, so when you find ‘the one’ that’s not only affordable but truly cares for and strengthens your sensitive skin, never let it go. And this social favorite is exactly that.
5. Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, Dry to Very Dry Skin
Speaking of moisturizing, we’re all over this clinically proven nourishing cream from Cetaphil, which is fantastic for moisturizing very dry skin. Its thick, creamy texture helps to hydrate and fortify a weakened skin barrier. Truly good.
6. Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel
Not that packaging is everything, but how cute is this little tube of eye gel? And, more good news, it’s just $6 and meets our SkinSAFE 100 criteria with bells on. An awesome choice for tired eyes, it’s lightweight, cooling, and melts into the skin without leaving it feeling sticky or greasy – something not all eye treatments manage to nail.
7. Minimalist Retinol 0.3% Face Serum
It’s not easy finding a retinol treatment that’s a) affordable and b) suitable for sensitive skin, but Minimalist has hit the nail on the head with this serum. It contains a pretty low percentage of retinol, which makes it very gentle on the skin, but its efficacy gets boosted by bakuchiol, a natural, retinol-like ingredient that offers similar benefits with fewer side effects. Clever stuff.
8. e.l.f. Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35
We have to admit, we’re in love with this dual-purpose sunscreen that also acts like a primer to help blur out your skin’s less-than-perfect areas and give your makeup lasting power. Its gel-like formulation also contains skin-loving aloe and meadowfoam seed to calm and hydrate the skin.
9. Bubble Soft Launch Hydrating Cream Cleanser
Less than 20 bucks and very easy on the eye, this Insta-worthy cleanser is super delicate on the skin, removing surface grime extremely effectively without stripping all the life from your complexion. It contains avocado oil, ceramides, and allantoin to soothe, strengthen, and replenish the skin as it cleanses. Extra points for being cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.
10. The Inkey List Hydrocolloid Invisible Pimple Patches
Breakouts are annoying at the best of times, but when they’re coupled with sensitive skin? Infuriating. Target your pimples without drying out the rest of your skin (or using up your entire salary!) with these invisible pimple patches that work on drawing out impurities from your pores while hydrating the skin and improving healing. Affordable and effective? That’s great skincare math right there.
Your Checklist For Sensitive Skincare On A Budget
Saving money is not only about choosing affordable products; it’s also about your skincare habits. Follow these simple rules and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to reduce skincare costs without really thinking about it.
✔️ DO Minimize Your Skincare Routine
It’s easy to get carried away with hundreds of skincare ‘must-haves,’ but this is totally unnecessary and, worse yet, can be very irritating for sensitive skin. Our advice? Stop wasting your cash on products you don’t need and lean into the essential skincare steps – cleanse, moisturize, protect (2).
✔️ DO Buy In Bulk
Look out for deals where you can buy two products for the price of one or have the opportunity to size up. Amazon is great for this, and it’s the perfect way to save $$$s in the long run.
✔️ Subscribe To Your Favorites
Many skincare brands have the option to subscribe to your favorite products for a better price. This is great if you know you love a certain formulation and go back to it time and time again.
✔️ DO Invest In Multi-Use Products
There are plenty of dual-function products around that help check more than one box at once. Micellar waters, for example, cleanse, tone, and prep your skin for the rest of your routine, while many day creams contain a hefty amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen to moisturize and protect your skin all at once.
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