My preference? I’d rather save on cleansers, because, really, they aren’t on your skin *that long* (compared to moisturizers and serums).
I’ll splurge on moisturizers when I have some extra lunch money, but if I’m in a hardcore save mode, I know that my skin is OK with drugstore moisturizers from Olay and Neutrogena.
I’d rather splurge on treatments, and I can’t/don’t like to skimp on acne creams and acid toners.
As for sunscreens, I go back and forth between drugstore and high end, because on the one hand, I use so much that I’d spend mega $$$ if I only used department store, but I also feel like some of the pricier sunscreens layer better beneath makeup, and they usually absorb faster.
So that’s me! How about you? In what areas do you prefer to save/splurge on your skin care?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’ve pretty much become a drugstore/Target convert when it comes to beauty and skincare. Although I can’t resist MAC lipsticks, which I justify by doing the Back 2 Mac program, but it takes a while to collect all those empties!
Hi Rachel,
I have to say, Target’s beauty/skincare section has gotten really great within the last couple years. There are so many new brands! I’m really into a body care brand they carry called Raw Sugar. Just picked up the hand soap and it’s lovely!
I’ll have to try that! They have so many natural/organic lines I would like to try. I’ve also been doing their beauty box, which is only $7/month. If you look online they even have some from past months. It’s a good way to try new things and get travel sizes, not that I go anywhere!
My routine is pretty simple but I guess I splurge on oil. It’s so $$. But it’s worth it since my skin responds well to it. Josie Marans Argan oil. Doesn’t clog my pores, improves texture and brightens my skin. I’m afraid to try any old Argan oil and find its not quite the same.
I loooove skincare! Great question. I splurge on serums & skin treatments. My savings are for actual cosmetics, Sunscreen (because of the qty. I use), and first step cleansers (the cleanser before my Eve Lom Gel Balm cleanser).
I agree about the cleansers, there really is no point spending a whole lot on a product that won’t stay on your skin very long. Plus, drugstores have such a wide range of options so most people can find something reasonably priced that works for them.
I’ve tried pricey skincare from brands like Clarins and Clinique but I haven’t found them to give me any better results than more wallet-friendly brands. The Body Shop products work great for me and I also like Aveeno.
I know I’m late to the party but I’ve recently purchased a couple of serums from Deciem. It’s only been a few days but my skin already feels a lot softer to the touch than it ever has. Hope I continue to get good results!
I think most of us have gotten the memo (despite the push from beauty brands) that spending a lot on a cleanser is simply money down the drain. Just find a cleanser that does the job while being gentle to your skin and you’re good. It’s definitely not the place to spend your anti-aging dollars. I’ve used budget friendly Cetaphil for a gazillion year as my morning cleanser. My only splurge when it comes to cleansing is Tatcha’s cleansing oil which I use in the evening to remove all my makeup and sunscreen. For me, it is the best of the best. I routinely splurge on good serums. Since my skin is old (lol) and dry, I find layering serums is the way to go rather than relying on a single, heavier product. I also splurge on good oils as I love the sensory experience of applying something like Sisley’s Black Rose oil or Rodin’s Olio Lusso
I concur with all that has been said. I don’t spend a lot for cleansers (and the only real cleanser I use lately is Tatcha, mostly I use micellar water and Tatcha once or twice a week), but you can get amazing sunscreen for not a lot of money if you buy the Japanese or Korean brands (they don’t make my uber sensitive skin loose its s^&** either lol). I highly recommend Biore SaraSara UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV sunscreen (yellow bottle) and Etude House Surprise Mild Airy Finish (green bottle) (all can be ordered on Amazon). Biggest splurge is on exfoliants and face oils. I just discovered Sunday Riley Good Genes (after avoiding it for years because I knew I’d love it) and now it’s my favorite. Does the job without irritation. Also, face oils… love.
Speaking of Target – seriously ladies and gents, go to their website and order some of the My Beauty Diary sheet masks. They are AMAZING, better than any of the pricier masks I’ve tried. Also, Target carries Laneige and they have a lot of good products (the lip sleeping mask is so yum).
Almost Friday!
I used to be one of those all high end skin care people, but then out of nowhere my skin changed. It became super sensitive to anything I used. One drop of high end anything and I was red, inflamed and full of bumps. Finally, my dermatologist recommended I start using cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer. Now I just found a newer line called Mun and their rose toner and serum are incredible! I like to double cleanse at night, so I first use the Mun oil cleanser, then follow with cetaphil. My skin finally looks good again!
Cleansers – I get what’s natural and available at Whole Foods with one exception — Origins Cleansing oil which I’ve been using for years to remove my makeup – but it does last a very long time for me. I love Target for buying exfoliants and natural toner. Serums and treatments is where I spend my money – Vitamin C, peptide serums, eye cream, skin oil. Suncreens I go back and forth but have been sticking to mineral formulations — I using SuperGoop for now.
I don’t consciously decide to save or spend on particular items. I just try to buy what works for me and what I like. I would spend less on a cleanser if I could find one that was thorough and did not irritate or dry out my sensitive skin. Tried Cetaphil and never really liked it. Still annoyed that Kate Somerville discontinued the Goat Milk Cleanser which ticked all the boxes for me. I try to find the best serum possible whether it’s $7 from The Ordinary or $200 from Zelens. I kind of go mid-range with moisturizers only because I’m not fond of anything I’ve tried from the drugstore and I’m not going to pay $200 for something that just goes over my serum which I hope has the actives for my skin.
I’m just super picky about texture and not having it be too smelly (I really hate added fragrance in my skin care. I don’t want to smell like roses or oranges or what not. But I also don’t like stinky. Hello SK-II essence.) or too irritating for my sensitive skin.
Serums, treatments, and moisturizers (for face and body). I just feel better when I put a higher end product on my face, but not too high end. Haven’t broken down yet and bought any La Mer products, but I tried Charlotte Tilsbury’s magic cream and I’m seriously tempted. I love how my face looked those 2 weeks, but I know I’d be overpaying for just some ‘every day moisturizer’ ingredients and nothing really magic. If only…
Since I mostly use FAB products, I guess I’m somewhere in between. I do use Neutrogena Sensitive Skin moisturizer frequently. Now that I’m 42, I should probably be using something for fine lines, but I’m not sure how my skin would handle that.
I’m actually going to the doctor about my skin on Tuesday – I think I have Rosacea, so things might change. Most of my skincare products are drugstore to mid-range: Eucerin’s Redness Relief line, La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, Clinique, some Korean and Japanese products (not all at once though!)
Have you tried Neutrogena’s face sunscreen? I think it’s called Neutrogena Clear Face, or something like that. It’s not greasy at all and it lays really nicely underneath makeup! It dries down quickly too and isn’t supposed to cause breakouts. It’s been my go-to sunscreen for the last few years.
I have, years ago and I liked it! I like their Dry Touch formulas a lot. They have some Sheer Touch Mineral sunscreens which I’m eager to try, have you seen them?
I love cleansers, so I alternate between pricey and drugstore there, never splurge on moisturizers, and always invest in serum and eyecream.
I mainly use drugstore cleansers (Burt’s Bees) and moisturizers (CeraVe). When I’m not using the boatload of Sephora samples I seem to be collecting! I prefer to have my sunscreen in a BB cream (Tarte, NARS, etc) but also have that pile of samples. I’m sure you’re sensing the theme. HAHA! I will definitely use drugstore or Target spray sunscreen on my face if it’s all I have and I’m out in the sun. The majority of my skin care spending is on treatments (Algenist, Skin Medica, etc).
I switched from splurging to saving on skincare a couple years ago and my skin still looks great. I love Pacifica’s line: sea foam cleanser, coconut micellar water, and dreamy youth moisturizer. I swear by Pixi’s glow tonic and peel pads. I still splurge on GlamGlow’s supermud mask though! So worth it, especially the new mega size during the sale 🙂