WHERE — New York
PHOTOGRAPHY — Sam Flaherty

How to get good skin without draining bank your bank balance. Because there are plenty of budget-friendly products out there that do just the trick.

THE BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY RETINOL (THAT ACTUALLY WORKS)

Like vitamin C products, retinol products often come with a hefty price tag, so when a good one comes along with an afforable price tag, it’s a winner. The key is to look out for products that products which list pure retinol as the key ingredient – and pay attention to the percentage of retinol. The Ordinary is known for their budget-friendly skinare, and I’m going to call it and say the The Ordinary Retinol Serum 0.5% may just be the best product in their line (and I use a lot of it).

THE BEST CLAY MASK

To be fair one of the few products that have l0ts of afforable options out there is clay masks – you don’t need to spend a lot. But Dr. Jart’s Dermaclear Trans Foam Clay is defintely my favourite – mainly because it draws out inpurities without stripping hydration. I have dry/combination skin and it’s gentle whilst still cleansing the skin thoroughly.

THE BEST CLEANSER FOR YOU WALLET (AND THE PLANET)

Face Halo is a re-usable mitt which you can use daily with nothing but good ol’ water to completely remove all grime, dirt and makeup. I know it sounds farfetched that a re-usable cloth can remove makeup better than any other product out there, but hand on heart, I promise it does.

I buy them in a pack of three, and each mitt is equivalent to 500 beauty wipes (if you’re still using single-use anything, now is the time to ditch them). You just wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water after use (even when it’s coated in lots of mascara and foundation it’ll wash clean with just soap). And then you pop it in a hot wash in the machine once a month. Great for your skin, and a thousand times better than any single-use product you may need to actually get rid of all your makeup.

THE ULTIMATE HYDRATING MOISTURISER

Famed amongst make-up artists and French woman alike, Embryolisse’s Laboratories Lait Creme Concentre is hyped for a reason. It’s a pharmacy (or drug store if you’re American) product and comes with a fair price tag to match.It’s incredibly hydrating so I would suggest using it during winter and travel rather than year round. It’s even heavy enough that I would suggest alternating with a lighter moisturiser – especially if you have more oily prone skin.

THE BEST HAIR BALM TO CONDITION AND CONTROL FLYAWAYS

The reason Hershesons Almost Everything Cream is budget-friendly is not just because of it’s price tag, but because this balm can replace maybe 5 other products sitting in your bathroom and still do the trick. It’s a mask, a conditioner, tames frizz and flyways. I love that it is more than a one-trick pony; I can pop it in my handbag when I need to deal to my wayward hair.

THE BEST OVERNIGHT MASK

Liz Earle’s Cica Restore Skin Paste is the priciest product in this post – but it’s also one of the best overnight masks – even compared to the luxury one’s out there. Apply a thin layer before bed and then wake with with skin smoother than a baby.

THE BEST EYE PRODUCT FOR TIRED EYES

Following in the footsteps of The Ordinary, The Inkey List is the newst budget skincare range that delivers. One of their hero products is The Inkey List’s Brighten I Eye Cream, which uses vitamin C to improve the appearance of tired eyes. I will say that I’ve yet to find an eye cream that performs miracles (hah) but this one does make me feel a bit more fresh-faced in the morning.