10 Effective Skin Care Products Under $20

Can’t justify spending a fortune on skin care products? Good news: you don’t have to! Believe it or not, there are plenty of stellar skin care products that can be just as effective as the pricey bottles in your skin care arsenal. From cleanser to facial mist to spa-inspired face masks, we share a roundup of ten effective (and affordable!) skin care products all less than $20, below. 

CLEANSER

French women are known for their love of micellar water. These no-rinse cleansing solutions are a staple in her routine and fly off the shelves of French pharmacies. Thankfully you don’t have to plan (or pay for!) a trip overseas to get your hands on a micellar solution. Garnier’s SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1 Waterproof Makeup Remover & Cleanser uses dirt-trapping micelle technology to help rid your complexion of pore-clogging dirt and debris and remove your stubborn waterproof makeup. Formulated with bi-phase micellar technology—meaning you’ll want to shake this bad boy up—this all-in-1 facial cleanser can cleanse your skin and refresh your complexion without ever having to turn on the faucet! Can you say effortless? To use, simply shake, apply the solution to a cotton pad, and wipe your skin clean.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1 Waterproof Makeup Remover & Cleanser, $8.99

MAKEUP REMOVER WIPES

For nights when you are way too tried to go through your 10-step routine, opt for makeup remover wipes that can remove your makeup and cleanse your skin without drying out your complexion. We are big fans of L’Oréal Paris’ award-winning Ideal Clean All Skin Types Makeup Removing Towelettes. These ultra-soft, alcohol-free cleansing towelettes can gently—yet effectively—remove your makeup, dissolve impurities such as dirt and excess oil, and purify your complexion for a radiant, youthful-looking glow.

L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean All Skin Types Makeup Removing Towelettes, $4.99

FACIAL MIST

Is your skin in need of a post-workout pick-me-up? Try spritzing your complexion with a hydrating facial mist like Kiehl’s Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist. Formulated with cactus flower, lavender, geranium, Tibetan ginseng, and rosemary, this cooling facial mist can help to replenish your skin in dry weather, cool your complexion after a sweaty workout, and help you hit the reset button on your skin when you’re on the go. The best part? A 2.5 fl. oz. is under $20… and can go a long way!

Kiehl’s Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist (2.5 fl. oz.), $17

TONER

If you haven’t jumped on the toner bandwagon yet, what are you waiting for? A hydrating toner—like Vichy’s Pureté Thermale Toner—can not only remove residue leftover after cleansing, it can prep your skin for added moisture, too! Formulated with glycerin and the brand’s exclusive mineral-rich thermal spa water, this refreshing facial toner can help to replenish the skin after cleansing and is even suitable to use on sensitive skin! 

Vichy Pureté Thermale Toner , $18

FACIAL OIL

At Skincare.com, we like to think of facial oils—like L’Oréal Paris’ Hydra-Nutrition Facial Oil SPF 30—as deep conditioners. Formulated with eight skin-benefiting essential oils, this facial oil absorbs quickly, so you can provide your skin with nourishment and hydration, without worrying about a greasy-feeling residue. In addition to its intense hydration, the Hydra-Nutrition Facial Oil can also protect the skin from environmental aggressors as it is enriched with antioxidants and SPF 30.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra-Nutrition Facial Oil SPF 30, $19.99

MOISTURIZER

ICYMI: Moisturizing your complexion with a hydrating face lotion such as Garnier’s SkinActive Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 is one of the most important steps in any (and all) skin care routines. Formulated with antioxidant-rich vitamin C and E, this lightweight— yet nourishing— daily moisturizer is jam-packed with hydrating benefits and can provide your skin with the necessary moisture it needs in order to look and feel soft, smooth, and supple with a natural-looking glow.

Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF 15, $14.99

LIP TREATMENT

Fall and winter weather is no match for Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 25. Formulated with hydrating coconut oil and antioxidant-rich lemon butter, this nourishing lip treatment can provide your pout with year-round protection. And on top of that, it’s formulated with SPF 25, so your lips can look and feel hydrated while being protected from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment SPF 25, $19.50

FACE MASK

While they can be great for your complexion, face masks tend to be on the pricey side. So, when you find a stellar line of drugstore face masks that can purify, detox, and exfoliate your complexion for under $20, you buy all three and multi-mask, of course! Formulated with skin-benefiting ingredients including eucalyptus, charcoal, and red algae, these spa-inspired facial masks can leave your skin looking and feeling renewed. For more on L’Oréal Paris’ line of Pure-Clay Masks check out our full review.

BODY LOTION

Just like moisturizing your face, moisturizing your body is a skin care must. Carol’s Daughter’s Ocean Moisturizing Body Butter Cream is formulated with coconut, green algae, soy, and sunflower seed oil to soften and nourish the surface of your skin.

Carol’s Daughter Ocean Moisturizing Body Butter Cream, $12

SPF

Don’t forget the sunscreen! Applying a broad-spectrum SPF, such as L’Oréal Paris Advanced Suncare Clear Cool Lotion in SPF 30, to your complexion (and body) daily is a vital step in any skin care routine—especially if you want to keep the damaging side effects of the sun’s harmful UV rays at bay (and you do…because here’s what happens if you skip sunscreen!)

L’Oréal Paris Advanced Suncare Clear Cool Lotion SPF 30, $9.99