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Glowy skin on a college budget
25
items These are the products that helped me build a skincare routine that's simple, affordable, and actually works. Everything here is under $25, beginner-friendly, and focused on hydration, glow and barrier repair. No 10-step routines, just the essentials...
Sections
5
Cleansers
Hydration Boosters
Glow Treatments
SPF Picks
Extras / Once-a-Week Treats
Cleansers
My ride-or-die. Super gentle, no fragrance, and leaves your skin soft instead of tight. Perfect for dry or sensitive skin, and you can use it morning + night without overdoing it.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
A no-fuss classic for a reason. Super gentle, non-foaming, and safe for even the most sensitive or reactive skin. A great everyday go-to.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Underrated gem with oat + niacinamide. Gives you a gentle clean while helping calm redness or irritation. Fragrance-free and clean-ingredient coded.
e.l.f. Pure Skin Cleanser
Gel texture with niacinamide = gentle glow. Helps even tone and brighten while keeping skin balanced. Ideal if you're combo or oily.
Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%
Natural and nourishing, especially if you're into clean beauty. Creamy, calming, and under $10 at most stores.
Burt's Bees Gentle Cream Cleanser
Hydration Boosters
This literally changed my skin. Super hydrating, calms redness, and gives you glass skin. Weird texture but sooooo worth it.
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
2-in-1 magic: hydrating moisturizer + sunscreen + glow. Makes your skin look fresh and radiant, not greasy. A solid everyday essential.
Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 - Sun Protection with Skincare Benefits
rich but not heavy, no fragrance, and unde $15. Use it at night or before makeup for soft, plump skin. Total drugstore gem.
Holy Hydration! Face Cream
Great for oily or uneven skin. Helps fade dark spots, shrink the look of pores, and keep skin balanced. I use this at night a fe times a week and love the glow it gives long term.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
A drugstore classic for a reason. Lightweight, super hydrating, and gives your skin that bouncy, glassy feel, absorbs fast and wears perfectly under makeup or sunscreen. Ideal for dry or combo skin.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Glow Treatments
fades dark spots and post-breakout marks without irritating your skin. Light, fragrance-free, and layers well under moisturizer. Affordable and effective; it actually works if you stay consistent.
Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum
Gentle exfoliation that doesn't string or dry you out. Great for dull or uneven skin tone. I use it a few nights a week and always wake up brighter. Pro tip: follow up with moisturizer so your skin stays soft.
Versed Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Solution
Not your average vitamin C. It's stabilized, less irritating, and gives such a nice glow over time. Great for beginners and safe for sensitive skin. Evens tone, fights dullness, and makes your sunscreen work even harder
Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
lightweight gel that works overnight to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Great for uneven skin tone and post-acne marks. Use a few nights a week and wake up brighter.
The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Night Treatment
Gentle but effective drugstore vitamin c that helps with dullness, dark spots, and overall glow. Under $20 and layers well under sunscreen during the day.
Acure Brightening Vitamin C & Ferulic Acid Serum
SPF Picks
Legit a Supergoop dupe for $9. Invisible, lightweight, no white cast. Perfect under makeup or on bare skin. If you hate sunscreen, try this one first!
Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40
Deeply moisturizing with zero white cast. Leaves our skin dewy but not greasy. Especially great for dry skin and darker skin tones. Plus it's water resistant and plays nice with makeup.
Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
Glowy, slightly tinted, and super cute in the morning routine. Gives you a soft-focus finish while still protecting. Like SPF + highlighter in one.
e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow SPF 30
Super hydrating with a gel texture that sinks right in. Great under makeup or on its own, especially if your skin leans dry or dehydrated. Has a subtle glow finish without being greasy.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel SPF 50
Ultra-light, soft matte finish, and no whit cast. Perfect if you want strong protection without feeling greasy. Especially good for oily or combo skin. K-beauty hidden gem.
ETUDE Sunprise Sunscreen Mild Sun Milk SPF 50+
Extras / Once-a-Week Treats
Cooling, brightening, and under $5 at most drugstores. I use it when my skin feels tired or dull. It's like a reset button that smells amazing.
Freeman's Indian Turmeric Gel Mask
Soft, calming, and smells like skincare romance. I keep this in my bag, on my desk, by my bed. Use it to refresh skin, set makeup, or just feel like the main character for a second.
Heritage Store Rosewater Spray
The viral red mask. Great for deep exfoliation and glow, but use only once a week and patch test first. Helps with texture, dullness, and clogged pores. Like a mini facial in 10 minutes
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Great for double cleansing or a little weekly spa moment. Melts off makeup and sunscreen while nourishing your skin barrier.
Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm
Super gentle enzyme exfoliates you mix with water. Smooths skin without being abrasive. Perfect for sensitive skin that doesn't love scrubs or acid.
Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder