Growing up, there weren’t too many drugstore skin care products in my home. My Mom had a penchant for luxurious products, and I wrongfully assumed it was because they were the only ones that worked. It wasn’t until I became a beauty editor that I realized my Mom’s beauty arsenal picks had more to do with expensive taste and not a distaste for drugstore beauty offerings. Don’t get me wrong, my vanity is filled with skin care products that aren’t exactly wallet friendly, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not a huge fan of inexpensive and effective formulas lining drugstore shelves.To prove my point, I set out to use only drugstore skin care products for a full month. Full disclosure, part of this experiment was to see how my skin would react. The other part was to give my wallet a break from so many expenditures leading up to the holidays. To find out which products I used religiously and how my skin looked after 30 days, keep reading.Cleanser: Garnier SkinActive Deep Pore Face Wash with Green TeaTo wash my face morning and night, I used Garnier’s SkinActive Deep Pore Face Wash with Green Tea. The formula removes, dirt, oil, and daily buildup without over-drying the skin. Garnier SkinActive Deep Pore Face Wash with Green Tea, $8.99 MSRPSerum: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Pure Vitamin C SerumVitamin C serums are notoriously expensive, which is why I was thrilled to find this drugstore formula under $30. It features a highly potent 10% pure vitamin C and can help give my skin an antioxidant boost and protect against free radical damage.L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Pure Vitamin C Serum, $29.99 MSRPFace Cream: L’Oréal Paris Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over BalmThis balm—formulated with nurturing oils and manuka honey—can be applied on the face, hands, chest, and neck. I like to use it on my face following a serum to help boost moisture levels and erase flakes.L’Oréal Paris Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over Balm, $24.99 MSRPBody Lotion: CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy SkinWhen it comes to getting the most bang for your buck with skin care, look to CeraVe. Their formulas are not only formulated with powerful ingredients. they’re almost always priced affordably. Don’t want to spend a fortune on a tiny tube of body moisturizer? Don’t blame you. CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin is formulated with skin-loving ingredients like salicylic acid, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide, and can help exfoliate and soften rough, bumpy, dry skin on the legs, elbows, and knees.CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin, $13 MSRPFace Mask: L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face MaskI didn’t use this face mask every day but rather a few times per week. Formulated with pure clays and seaweed, this face mask felt comforting on my skin and helped reduce the appearance of post-work day fatigue.  L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Clear & Comfort Face Mask, $12.99 MSRPSunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 60Even when the sun is hidden, and the clouds are abundant, sunscreen is a necessity. I’ve tried and tested many formulas before, and La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Clear Skin is one of my favorites. This product absorbs oil instead of adding more and has never caused my skin to breakout. It protects against UVA/UVB damage and other harsh free radicals with advanced Cell-Ox Shield technology. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 60, $19 MSRP THE VERDICT:After a month of following this affordable drug store routine, my skin looked and felt phenomenal. This just goes to show that a higher price point is not necessarily a reflection of how well a skin care product will work. Ultimately it boils down to the formulation and your skin type and concerns. Always let that be the driving factor behind a skin care investment.
