The Under $10 Skin Products That Cleared My Adult Acne
Acne is no fun for anyone. It seems like the end of the world as and adolescent. But as an adult? You feel like an overgrown teenager that still doesn’t have a handle on their lives. Oddly enough, I never had any acne as a teen. A blemish here or there but no ongoing battle with it. We were smoother sailing, my skin and I, up until I was 23. I’m not sure if it was post-graduation stress that brought it on but ever since then, we’ve had a bumpy ride. Doing my research, it seemed like you had to pay minimum 1 months’ rent to get clear skin. I buckled down, did the work, and found some really good skincare that will not cost you a small fortune.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, $8.99
I used to think if my cleanser didn’t sting a bit it wasn’t working. I was so wrong. The best thing I’ve found was using a mild gentle cleanser. No foam, my skin hates it. And also no exfoliating cleansers either. Just a chill cleanser. I’ve been using Cetaphil since January now and we are good friends.
Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner, $3.99
I realized quickly I wasn’t getting all my makeup off at the end of the day which is why I was breaking out so often. A toner will humble you quick once you see the makeup and dirt you almost left behind. I’ve been using good old-fashioned witch hazel and let me tell you. It’s so gentle yet effective. It never burns. And I can really tell the difference in the appearance of my pores.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (aka The Blood Mask)
The Ordinary AHA + BHA Peeling Solution $7
Raise your hand if you think you must physically scrub to exfoliate your skin. Stop it friend. If your skin is usually red and more irritated after using a scrub, try a chemical exfoliator instead. I saw Kim K using this on her stories before and looked it up to find rave reviews. I’s also under $10 so not much risk involved there. Now this one is supposed to burn, only slightly though. I’ve been using it since March and it has really helped with my hyperpigmentation and the overall texture of my skin.
Neutrogena Clear Pore Facial Cleanser/Mask, $6
This is what I like to call my heavy-duty cleanser. Any time I’ve had on a lot of makeup I use this as a second cleanser to really get in my pores. I also use it about 1-2 times a week as a mask to clean out anything that is just laying around. The smell isn’t great, and it will bleach your towels but it’s worth it in the name of clear skin.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, $10
I know my skin is acne prone, so we have a come to Jesus moment every night…using tea tree oil. This literally zaps anything that thinks it wants to rear its ugly head on my face. I especially like to apply it on a freshly popped blemish. Will it sting a little? Yes. Will it be nearly gone in the morning? Yes. I use the one from Trader Joes but any one should do as long as its pure tea tree oil. Be sure to mix with another oil or moisturizer so you aren’t burning your face.
Cover image via wikihow