Happy Friday, everyone! My grandmother is at her dialysis treatment, and I am waiting for the Carpet Fresh to set a bit before I vacuum, so I have some extra down time right now to blog and enjoy my coffee. I was just going to do a makeup version of this post, but I started thinking about that. Most teenagers, and even college students, probably don't give a second thought to a basic, good skincare routine. I have compiled some of my favorite, inexpensive skincare products. Some of them I used myself back in the day, others are newer favorites that I think will work well on younger skin. I remember the majority of teenagers having oily, blemish prone skin, so my picks are catered more towards them.
Back to School Beauty: Skincare by kristen-noel-williford featuring a face mask
1.) Neutrogena's Deep Clean Cream Cleanser ($5) was my jam back in the day! Omg..I loved this stuff. It was the perfect cleanser. You can feel it getting deep down into your pores to get all of the gunk out. Yet it was so very gentle on my skin. In fact, the clearest my skin has ever been was when I used this cleanser. It feels incredibly refreshing and cooling on the skin, so this is a fabulous one to use when you wake up and have to get ready to face a long a day. It makes mornings feel a little less bleak.
2.) St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub ($4) was also my jam in high school. In fact, I may need to buy it again. I feel like my skin needs it make in my life even though I am more into chemical exfoliation, which can be more expensive. Which is why I am recommending this. I would use this once, maybe twice a week at most. Anymore than that and it would probably become too abrasive. It is a bit more rough (unless something has changed) than some other exfoliators. But it was gentle on my skin and did a great job at keeping pimples and blackheads away. This and the Deep Clean Cream Cleanser were my dynamic duo. The scrub itself is made up of apricot and pieces of walnut, which give it the "scrubby" feel. It also has salicylic acid. Between the two, your skin should be smooth and blemish free.
3) Simple Skincare Micellar Cleansing Water ($6) was definitely not around when I was in high school, but I wish it was. It is the perfect solution when you are in a hurry in the morning, but still want to cleanse and freshen your skin. Alls you gotta do is dampen a cotton pad and apply it on your skin. No rinsing. Just a great product that easily cleanses your skin while keeping it hydrated. I actually used this and only this for awhile, and it worked really well with my oily skin. I also would use this at night to remove any makeup before cleansing. It is a seriously awesome product to keep on your bathroom counter. I have gone through three or four bottles of it.
4.) Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Wipes ($6) are my favorite wipes to use. They are perfect for wiping away sweat after P.E., gym, or whatever you might be calling it nowadays. I always called it torture. These smell like a fresh squeezed grapefruit and will refresh your skin, and your mood.
5.) Neutrogena's Oil Free Moisture with SPF 35 has been my drugstore daily moisturizer for a couple of years now. I cannot stress the importance of using a sunscreen while you are young. Even if you spend most of your time indoors, this is still a must. This version doubles as an oil free moisturizer, so you get sun protection and non-greasy hydration in one product.
6.) Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask has a cult following, and for good reason. It is cheap, and good. It will sob up oil and decongest those pores as good, if not better, than most of the clay masks on the market. Use this once a week to keep your skin in tip top shape. I think a bottle of it costs between $2-$3.
7.) Sephora's Honey Sheet Mask ($6) are another great mask option to treat your skin from time to time. It really nourishes the skin, keeps is soft, and honey is a great natural antiseptic, which means it helps with pimples. You leave the sheet on for 15 minutes and pat in the excess product on your skin. The green tea one is also really good.
8.) Yu-Be Lip Balm ($5) is a million times better than your usual stick lip balm. It actually provides long time hydration for chapped lips. I use this all the time on my lips because it actually works without being too thick or sticky. It may seem a little more pricey than some lip balms, but you really get what you pay for with this product. It is available at Sephora and Nordstrom.
9.) Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Fresh Soothe Spray Moisturizer is an amazing, innovative product. All you do is spray all over your body and rub it in. It takes a lot less time than using traditional lotions, so you can apply it right before getting dressed. Which is not a problem because it dries insanely fast. It also has a light, refreshing scent.
Those are some of my all time favorite budget friendly skincare products that I think will be perfect for high schoolers, heck, even college students. They are no fuss and take a minimal amount of time in your morning and night routine.
This post has me feeling very nostalgic. I miss high school now. I had so few worries back then, and it was fun. Being an adult is highly overrated.