Splurge vs. Save : Skin Care Products

In these economic times, it seems like everyone is looking to cut back costs where possible. A series of posts that I am doing this week are Splurge vs. Save – my take on where to spend your hard earned cash and where you can cut back. As someone who is always looking for quality products as well as affordable products, I have tried items up and down price ranges. Especially when it comes to Skin Care Products. There are a few things that I consider to be worth spending on, but most of the items that the average woman uses can be bought on a budget.

Splurge : Moisturizer and Eye Cream. Moisturizer is the one item that I consider to be absolutely essential to everyone. No matter what your skin type, from dry to very oily, a good moisturizer is going to improve your skin. Until recently I used Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer with SPF for combination skin, after trying a more expensive and higher quality moisturizer, Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery Moisturizer, I am convinced that this is something to spend on. The condition of my skin has noticeably improved since I started using the more expensive moisturizer. Plus, taking care of your skin by moisturizing properly now will help you keep your youthful skin and prevent other skin issues down the road. My favorite eye cream is Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Eye Cream, which at around $15 isn’t exactly a splurge or a steal. It’s a great eye cream for those who want to prevent future problems.

Splurge : Cleanser. Now, I’m not saying that you need to spend big bucks on a cleanser from Sephora or Nordstrom but, you do need to invest in a little quality. I’ve used cheaper cleansers and they’ve given my not usually sensitive skin rashes, dry spots, and redness. None of which is pretty or worth saving a couple of bucks over. I use a Garnier Nutritioniste scrub daily, which is a great higher-end drugstore option. Using Dermalogica MultiVitamin Thermafoliant every other day has also made an impact on my skin. If you’re looking for something that’s animal and/or environmentally friendly, be willing to shell out some extra cash to support your cause. Taking care of your skin and the future is well worth it.

Splurge : Sunscreen. Having it in your daily moisturizer just is not enough. Unless you want to welcome wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and other not so pretty things into your life. No matter what your skin type, age, or skin color we all need a good dose of SPF every day. After a drugstore brand of sunscreen that I read many great reviews on caused my skin to become irritated and break out, I’ve decided that this is one product worth spending a few extra bucks on. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect sunscreen, and will let you know when I find it, but I’ve heard amazing things about Clinique Super City Block, Bare Escentuals Natural Sunscreen, and Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral. Another great thing that you can do is buy versions of your current favorite products that include SPF. More and more skin care and cosmetics brands and releasing them.

Save : Make up Remover. When it comes to taking it off, all make up removers are more or less the same. Unless you have sensitive skin, you can easily go on the cheap for this one. My two favorites are the Target brand version of Neutrogena’s Oil Free Eye Make Up remover and unscented store brand baby wipes. The baby wipes are the cheapest option out there, but they will create more garbage than using a regular eye make up remover and cotton pads. Cold cream wiped off with cotton pads also works great as a make up remover. Vaseline is a great eye make up remover, but can definitely be a bit stubborn to come off itself.

Save : Face Masks and Scrubs. So many of these are very easy to make at home with natural ingredients. Personally, I think that having a few food items on my skin is a lot better for it than chemicals and preservatives. With a few things from your kitchen (such as avocado, honey, oatmeal, brown sugar, honey, and olive oil) you can easily whip up a combination of them to make your own face masks and scrubs. My personal favorite is a mix of warm olive oil, honey, and oatmeal. In my book, using natural scrubs and masks should be added to my list of Beauty Habits To Start Now.

Save : Toner. It’s a debate about whether or not one actually needs to use toner, but I like to. I’m always amazed at what my cleanser doesn’t remove. But, you definitely don’t need to spend a lot on toner! Witch hazel is available in the first aid area of any drugstore, runs around $3.00 a bottle and is better for your skin than most toners in the skin care aisle. It’s not alcohol based like the majority are, which will dry your skin out, but is natural and gentle.

Of course, this guide could be different from person to person. We all have different expectations, wants, and needs out of products and what is worth spending cash on to some will not be worth it to everyone. Hopefully this helped you get some ideas on where to save and where to spend a little extra.