There are so many amazing affordable skin care products to choose from especially in the world of K-beauty, but it can be fun to splurge once in a while – and depending on the type of product, beneficial for your skin. Put your money where it matters with our guide below.
So you want results, but you don’t want to spend your hard-earned cash on products that might not perform?Thankfully, you don’t have to break the bank to get healthy, glowing skin if you know how to shop.
While some types of products may be worth splurging on, you can find quality at lower price points for others.
Read on to learn which products are worth splurging on, and which ones we suggest taking a more affordable route with.
SAVE: Foaming Cleanser
Your water-based cleanser helps sweep away the remaining dirt and debris that your oil cleanser may have missed and should have a gentle formula that leaves your skin feeling clean and soft, not tight or dry. Thankfully, it’s easy to find a great quality foaming cleanser for under $15.
Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cleansing Foam is a low-cost option at $10 that works for all skin types with a 3% snail mucin and will give you comfortably clean skin every time you wash your face.
SPLURGE: Serums
Serums, also sometimes labeled as ampoules, are the powerhouse of any skin care routine. They pack in high concentrations of active ingredients to target specific concerns. They help put your skin’s natural repairing process into overdrive, doing everything from encouraging cell regeneration, fading hyperpigmentation, and boosting your skin’s ability to stay hydrated.
At $45, D’Alba Piedmont White Truffle Intensive Ampoule is a definite splurge, but it offers solid results in return. The luxe hydrating formula contains white truffle and caviar that that soothes and targets signs of aging and moisturize.
SAVE: Sheet Masks
While masking is a time to relax and feel indulgent, you can still get beautiful results from an inexpensive disposable sheet mask. The Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Tencel Sheet Mask is packed with ceramides to strengthen damaged skin and aloe and centella asiatica extract to calm any irritation. Using it for 20 minutes will give your skin a soothing treat, all for $3 – less than the cost of a latte. No matter what your skin’s concerns are, there’s a sheet mask out there to target them — and Soko Glam has many for under five bucks.
SPLURGE: Eye Cream
The eyes require special treatment since the skin in this area is much more delicate than the rest of the face and a targeted product with hardworking ingredients will keep your eyes looking fresh and youthful.
Swanicoco Fermentation Peptine Eye Care Cream is packed with eight natural proprietary peptides plus adenosine to effectively lift, firm and plump up fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area, along with niacinamide to erase dark circles. At $38, it’s a splurge, but a little bit goes a long way to give your eyes extra-special care.
SAVE: SPF
SPF is the most important final step of your daily routine, as it ensures your skin is protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays which can cause premature aging, discoloration and the deepening of fine lines and wrinkles.
While it’s important not to skimp on application, you don’t have to spend big bucks to get a great sunscreen. Cell Fusion C Laser Sunscreen 100 SPF 50+/PA+++ is only $19 and provides protection from UVA and UVB rays, as well as creating a protective layer that keeps damaging dust and pollution from adhering to your skin.
Bottom Line
All this is not to say that there aren’t good inexpensive serums or that there aren’t prestige sunscreens worth hefty price tags; as we’ve said many times before, skin care is such an individual journey. Whether you’ve got some extra cash to burn or are feeling strapped especially with the holidays coming up, we hope this helps you shop smarter.