Affordable Teen Beauty

When you start a skincare and beauty routine, one of the main concerns for people, especially teens, is the price. Many beauty products on the market are extremely expensive and can’t be purchased by the majority of the audience looking for skincare.

However, a lot of times, these expensive products–known in the beauty world as luxury products–aren’t even the best for your skin. Oftentimes luxury products are focused on the experience and giving you that luxurious feeling, rather than the actual benefits for your skin health.

A main example of this is the concentration of fragrance in the products. Because luxury brands are so focused on the experience, they add tons of fragrance to the formula to make it smell better. Fragrance can make the product smell good, but it cuts off a large group of people from purchasing the product because they have an irritation to the fragrance.

Most teens don’t have enough money to afford an $100 eye cream, however, there are many great affordable options, and in my opinion, these products are usually much better for the skin, and  just as enjoyable as the luxury ones. These options are very accessible, as they are found at drugstores, or a lot of my favorites can be found at Target. This is why affordable skincare is also referred to as drugstore skincare.

Below you will find my suggestions on affordable skincare options for each part of your skincare routine, as well as some other fun affordable makeup and beauty products you can try out!

Cleanser

Cerave Cleansers $9.89 - 12.39

Cerave is one of the best drugstore skincare brands out there. Their packaging may not be as cute as some other brands, but they have great formulas and deliver results for many people, specifically teens. One of the skincare influencers I watch, Skincare by Hyram, also highly recommends this brand to teens. Two of my recommendations for Cerave cleansers are the Hydrating Cleanser and the Salicylic Acid Cleanser.

Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream $6.99

This cleanser is great for people with extremely sensitive skin. I have personally tried this product and loved the experience because the texture was so soft, and very gentle. This brand is also cruelty free and vegan, and the products can be recycled through the company Terracycle.

Serum

The Ordinary $5.90/The Inkey List $6.99

Although the Ordinary cannot be found at drugstores, this brand really has something for everyone. It can be found online or at Ulta and Sephora. Niacinamide is a great ingredient for the skin, with many benefits, including treating breakouts. It also works to even and brighten the skin. The Ordinary 10% niacinamide serum is great for teens with oily or combination skin, which is very common. I have been using this serum for a while now. I have normal skin, so it was a bit sticky for me, but I could see why it would be better for combination and oily skin. If you have normal skin, you may want to check out the Inkey List Niacinamide serum.

E.L.F Vitamin C Serum $16.00

Another great brightening serum is the E.L.F Vitamin C Serum, which should be used in the morning for the best brightening benefits. I have used this product and I really saw a change in the brightness of my skin.

Moisturizer

E.L.F. Holy Hydration Cream $12.00

This is one of my favorite moisturizers of all time, because it is so gentle, yet extremely nourishing and hydrating. It is the perfect combination, and I would recommend it for all skin types. This moisturizer also has a fragrance free option which is great. You can also put this cream in the refrigerator, which adds a cooling sensation to the application.

Be You Cosmetics Peptides Moisturizer $19.00

This moisturizer is a new favorite of mine. It is so pretty, yet the ingredients are still great, and the experience is amazing. It is so soft on the skin, and I love the way my skin feels after applying it. I would also recommend this moisturizer to any skin type. This moisturizer also has ingredients to protect against blue light, which is great for teens who are using their Chromebooks a lot in school. I also love the message of this company. Be You Cosmetics is helping to better educate and provide jobs for women in science, math, and STEM fields.

Face Masks

Bliss Masks $14.99 - 15.49

Two of my favorite masks from the brand Bliss are the Mighty Marshmallow Whipped Mask and the In the Honey Mask. They are both very gentle masks, and they are very light, so they are great for people like me, who don’t like the feeling of masks on the face. I can hardly feel the product on my face when I use them. The packaging and textures are also very cute looking, which makes the experience more fun.

Other Fun Beauty Products

Profusion Eyeshadow Palette $12.98

I received this eyeshadow palette as a gift, and I absolutely love all the colors. The glitter shades are very fun, and they did not irritate my eyes, which other glitter products have done before.

E.L.F BB Cream $6.00

I love to use this cream as a concealer to cover any breakout I have and on my under eye area. It provides a light, natural coverage which is great if you want to cover up some areas without getting too heavy with the makeup.

L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara $9.99

I love this mascara so much! It is lengthening and volumizing, and it really makes your eyelashes pop in a natural way.

Acure Everyday Eczema Lotion $11.99

I use this lotion both as a body lotion and a hand cream. It is great at healing your skin if it feels very dry or cracked. A lot of lotions make me itch, however this lotion is very gentle. Overall, Acure is a great gentle brand for sensitive skin.

Target Eye Adore You Eyeshadow Palette $6.90

Another eyeshadow palette I love which has more neutral and natural colors is the Eye Adore You palette at Target. It has a lot of tans and whites, which I use for an everyday natural look.

Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask $14.49

This is a fun product to try and it is very relaxing! Hair masks are a fun extra to add to your shower routine, and this one especially leaves my hair feeling so soft, even after you wash the mask out.

Function of Beauty Shampoo & Conditioner from $2.99

The Function of Beauty section at Target is so cute! I love this brand because it makes the experience more personalized–you pick your shampoo and conditioner based on your hair type and then you can pick capsules to add to the products to target specific hair concerns. The texture is very pretty and they smell delicious! These products have been really working for my hair.

If you would like to see more reviews and tips on beauty and skincare, follow my blog on Instagram @howdoyouglowbysoph!

All products are independently selected. The Current does not receive any affiliate commission.