Updated Skin Care On A Budget: Skin Care Products I’m currently using and loving

My goal is to have picture perfect skin by summer so I’ve been experimenting with all sorts of cleansers, toners and moisturizers to even out my skin tone and texture and in the past few week I’ve noticed a huge improvement. My hyper-pigmentation is finally starting to fade and the texture of my skin is improving tremendously. I know their are a lot of high-end products you can use nowadays that probably give quicker results and as my budget allows I’m sure I’ll be testing some out. However, it’s good to know that you can still see major improvements in your skin even on a budget if you stick to a good routine and pay close attention to your skin’s needs. Everyone’s skin is different so it’s important to find products that work for you!

Cleansers I have been loving:

L’oreal Go Clean 360 Deep Exfoliating Scrub: This is the wash I’ve been using in the shower. This has been doing a good job at buffing away dead skin cells and leaving my skin looking more polished. I actually really like the little scrublet thingy that this comes with and I use it with other face washes as well. I’m not sure how well this works at unclogging pores but I have been seeing almost zero breakouts in recent weeks.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Long-Last Shine Control Daily Scrub: This is the cleanser I love using in the morning. I feel like it really works at controlling excess oil on my face throughout the day, therefore helping my makeup last longer! This is also supposed to be a deep-pore cleanser and I do notice my pores seem less visible since I started using this stuff. This contains very small exfoliating beads to help improve skin texture. Most days I use the L’oreal Go Clean scrublet to buff this onto my face before rinsing with warm water.

Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser: One of my main skin concerns is hyper-pigmentation from old acne scars so I wanted to introduce a brightening wash into my routine. This is a really creamy cleanser that is great to use when my skin needs a break from exfoliating. I use this on nights I don’t shower and just use my fingers to massage it onto my face. This is supposed to help improve skin tone and texture and is really gentle.

Toner:

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Triple Action Toner: I use this day and night after washing my face. This is the only actual Acne Control product I’ve been using and it seems to be doing the trick at keeping breakouts at bay. This contains Salicylic Acid which I find works best on my type of breakouts. My skin feels super refreshed and clean after I use this without that tight feeling some toners seem to leave me with. My only complaint is I’m not crazy about the smell, it’s super sweet but still kind of medicinal smelling.

Makeup Remover:

shu uemura White Recovery Ex brightening cleansing oil:  This stuff works so well at removing makeup. I just rub a little onto my face and eyes and the makeup just melts off.  After you’ve massaged it into your skin add a little warm water to create a lather and then rinse off. I like to leave this on a minute or two to really work on my skin.  My skin feels soft, smooth and balanced when I wash this off. Not oily or tight or sticky. It’s amazing.

Twice Weekly Mask: 

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant 2.5 oz.: I purchased this because one of my favorite make-up artists Lisa Eldrige recommended this as a great, gently exfoliating mask. It contains Alpha and Beta hydroxy acids and natural fruit enzymes to eat away at dead skin cells without being abrasive or harsh on your skin. I use this after washing my face usually twice a week. Just apply and let dry for 10-15 minutes then rinse away with warm water. This has no bells or whistles to it, it’s just a boring white paste, no fragrance or gimmicks,  but I do notice my skin is smoother and brighter after using this so it’s worth the buy.

Moisturizer:

Pond’s Ponds Clarant B3 Anti-Dark Moisturizing Cream, For Normal to Dry Skin, 7oz Jars (Pack of 2): I randomly stumbled across this at Target one night and bought it on a whim. It’s a cream moisturizer that is supposed to improve skin tone in 2 weeks and lighten dark spots in 4. Since using this I’ve noticed a drastic difference in the appearance of my old acne scarring. It’s much more faded and in some spots has completely disappeared. I was worried this might leave me feeling greasy or that it might break me out but it absorbs into my skin quickly and has not irritated my skin at all. I use this day and night after my toner and apply it all over my face and then add another layer over any areas with bad dark spots and scarring. It’s Made in Mexico and almost all of the writing on the jar is in Spanish but if you can find it don’t be intimidated by the odd packaging and give it a try!