Affordable Skin Care Routine For Your 20s
Now is not the time to skimp on serums, moisturizer, or SPF! Your 20s are all about prevention–and a good skincare routine can do wonders in helping you achieve smooth, glowing skin. Down the line, your skin will thank you when its protected from pesky blemishes, sun damage, fine lines, and wrinkles. Scroll down to explore 40 top-rated and affordable skincare products–all under $20! There’s also a bonus feature at the end: five extra steps for those who want to take their skincare routine to the next level!
All Products Are Under $20! 💫
*Quick heads-up: this post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission if you decide to purchase one of these products.
Step 1: Cleanse ✨
Remove makeup, dirt, oil and any other impurities.
Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Daily Scrub ($5.89)
Size: 5oz | Rating: 4.6/5 | Benefits: Exfoliating, Brightening
This daily facial scrub gently exfoliates skin to reveal brighter, more radiant skin.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($14.99)
Size: 12oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Hydrating, Moisturizing, Fragrance-Free
A replenishing and fortifying cleanser that helps reinforce the skin's barrier. Ceramides hydrate and repair the skin barrier while other ingredients moisturize.
La Roche-Posay Hydrating Gentle Cleanser ($14.99)
Size: 6.7oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Hydrating, Purifying
This hydrating cleanser gently removes makeup, dirt, oil and any other impurities for a smooth and refreshed complexion.
Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser ($16)
Size: 4oz | Rating: 4.8/5 | Features: Hydrating, Antioxidant Rich
Formulated with nourishing matcha and hemp seed oil, this hydrating cleanser uses coconut-based surfactants to gently break down both oil and water-based impurities.
Milky Jelly Cleanser ($18)
Size: 6oz | Rating: 4.3/5 | Features: Nourishing, Soothing, Purifying
A creamy gel face wash that’s kind to every skin type. Formulated with five skin conditioners, including Allantoin and Pro-Vitamin B5, to leave your skin baby soft.
Step 2: Toner ✨
Purify your skin and minimize the appearance of pores.
5 Quick skincare tips
1. Cleanse your skin for 60 seconds.
2. Moisturize, even if you have oily skin!
3. Never skimp on sun protection.
4. Don’t scrub your skin aggressively!
5. Get your beauty sleep.
Public Goods Witch Hazel Toner ($5)
Size: 6.7oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Soothing, Acne Treatment, Safe for Sensitive Skin
Made with organic aloe vera, this witch hazel toner is safe for sensitive skin and perfect for a D.I.Y. face wash, makeup remover, deodorant and acne cleanser.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution ($8.70)
Size: 8oz | Rating: 4.4/5 | Features: Exfoliating
An exfoliating toning solution formulated with seven percent glycolic acid, amino acids, aloe vera, ginseng, and Tasmanian pepperberry.
The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner ($10.99)
Size: 3.4oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: Exfoliating, Brightening
A 10 percent glycolic acid exfoliating toner that helps to reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother, brighter skin.
Glow Recipe Mini Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner ($15)
Size: 1.35oz | Rating: 4.4/5 | Benefits: Hydrating
A bestselling, gentle, PHA- and BHA-infused watermelon toner that hydrates skin and minimizes the appearance of pores.
Innisfree Balancing Toner with Green Tea ($17)
Size: 6.7oz | Rating: 4.8/5 | Features: Hydrating
A refreshing watery-gel toner that replenishes skin with lightweight hydration from Jeju green tea.
Step 3: Serum ✨
Hydrate your skin, reduce blemishes, and prevent early signs of aging.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($5.90)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.3/5 | Features: Purifying, Acne Treatment
A high-strength vitamin-and-mineral blemish formula with 10 percent pure niacinamide and one percent zinc PCA.
Superfuel Serum Stick ($12.99)
Size: 0.77oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: Soothing, Cooling
Superfuel Serum Stick keeps skin strong, glowy, and ready for anything by boosting your protective microbiome.
Ohii Skin Quench Spray Serum ($14)
Size: 3.4oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Benefits: Soothing, Hydrating, Moisturizing
A few spritzes of Ohii Skin Quench deliver pumped-up hydration in a lightweight formula packed with nourishing ingredients you’ll love.
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% ($16)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.6/5 | Features: Purifying
A concentrated serum formulated with pure 12% niacinamide and 2% zinc PCA to help improve uneven skin tone and minimize the look of pores and fine lines.
Just Breathe Clarifying Serum ($19.99)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Purifying, Acne Treatment
This serum is designed to clear acne and manage excess pore-clogging sebum. The dynamic trio of willow bark extract, niacinamide, and a zinc blend work together to calm inflammation, decongest pores, and soothe redness.
Step 4: Moisturize ✨
Keep your skin hydrated, healthy, and glowing.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA ($7.70)
Size: 3.3oz | Rating: 4.1/5 | Features: Hydrating
A hydrating formula with amino acids, dermal lipids, and hyaluronic acid.
Flamingo Deep Nourishing Cream ($10)
Size: 10oz | Rating: 4.6/5 | Features: Hydrating, Exfoliating
Get intense hydration with this rich cream! Squalane and shea butter reinforce skin's barrier, vitamin E builds an antioxidant shield, and white willow bark and papaya extract exfoliate the skin's surface, revealing more radiant skin over time.
Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer ($12.99)
Size: 2.3oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Purifying, Smoothing, Softening
The pore-purifying prebiotic-charged moisturizer fuels skin to keep you feeling clear, balanced, and totally in control.
Skin Soak ($17.99)
Size: 3.4oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Benefits: Soothing, Hydrating, Moisturizing
Enriched with restorative ingredients like algae extract, vitamin E, and squalane, this rich moisture cream keeps skin nourished and hydrated while fending off signs of aging.
Bloom Cream Daily Probiotic Moisturizer ($18)
Size: 1.69oz | Rating: 4.6/5 | Features: Moisturizing, Probiotic-Rich
Feed your living skin’s microbiome a shot of our unique probiotic complex to restore healthy, youthful radiance and see your skin in full bloom.
Step 5: Protect ✨
Keep your complexion even and prevent signs of premature aging.
5 reasons why you should wear spf every day
1. Protect your skin from UV rays.
2. Reduce your risk of skin cancer.
3. Maintain an even skin tone and texture.
4. Prevent wrinkles, sagging and age spots.
5. Avoid inflammation, redness, and hyperpigmentation.
SuperGoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract ($10)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.6/5 | Features: Suitable for All Skin Types
This hydrating, fast-absorbing formula provides high performance protection from UVA, UVB and IRA rays, while also helping prevent photoaging and dehydration.
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36 ($15)
Size: 1.69oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Hydrating, Soothing
A lightweight, water-based SPF 36 sunscreen infused with a blend of green tea, cica, and sunflower seed oil to hydrate, soothe, and protect your skin.
Hello Sunday Serum Face Drops SPF45 ($18.55)
Size: 3.3oz | Rating: 4.0/5 | Features: Calming
Designed to prep and protect skin in one application, this lightweight moisturizing serum provides broad protection against UVA and UVB rays, which can cause sun damage and aging.
MaeLove Sun Protector SPF30 ($19.95)
Size: 2oz | Rating: 5/5 | Features: Free-Radical Protection
Fortified with Vitamins C and E, this 100% mineral sunscreen is both silky smooth and light as air. It also doubles as a makeup primer, making your morning routine that much simpler!
Hero Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30 ($19.99)
Size: 1.69oz | Rating: 4.8/5 | Benefits: Made for Acne-Prone Skin
Everyday effortless SPF 30. Airy-light, breathable, and made specifically for acne-prone skin. Absorbs quick with a weightless gel-cream formula that’s hydrating but not greasy.
Add in These 5 extra steps 💫
Add-On 1: Exfoliate ✨
Improve the skin tone and texture for a radiant, glowing complexion.
Alba Botanica Even & Bright Enzyme Scrub ($6.79)
Size: 4oz | Rating: 4.6/5 | Features: Exfoliating, Brightening, Antioxidant-Rich, Skin Tone Improvement
This gentle scrub fights off dull, dry skin for a smooth, even complexion. It contains a complex of seven plant extracts harvested high in the Swiss Alps for brightening benefits.
Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser ($12.99)
Size: 5oz | Rating: 4.8/5 | Features: Exfoliating, Brightening, Acne Treatment
This cleanser unclogs pores, visibly brightens skin, and evens out texture–leaving your skin feeling velvety soft!
The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash ($19)
Size: 4oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: Exfoliating, Brightening, Skin Texture Improvement
Award-winning microdelivery "30-second cleansing mini peel" gently buffs away dead skin and impurities to reveal a smoother, brighter, more even complexion.
Add-On 2: Retinol ✨
Fight acne, reduce dark spots, and brighten dull skin.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid* 2% Emulsion ($9.80)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: Improves Skin Texture, Reduces Signs of Aging
A next-generation retinoid active that achieves better reduction in visible signs of aging than retinol—without irritation.
RegenaCalm Serum S1 Pro ($13.99)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Enhances Skin Tone, Hydrating, Brightening
Regenacalm S1 Pro is formulated with 3% encapsulated retinoid to target fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Resurfacing Night Cream ($19.99)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Enhances Skin Tone, Hydrating, Brightening
The Indeed Labs Retinol Reface Serum is a 3-in-1 formula combining retinol, bakuchiol and a retinol-like peptide for softer, smoother and younger-looking skin.
Add-On 3: Eye Cream ✨
Nourish your skin to prevent dark circles and early signs of aging.
Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel ($6)
Size: 0.3oz | Rating: 4.8/5 | Features: Cooling, Hydrating
This soothing eye gel from Good Molecules is rich in yerba mate extract, a natural source of antioxidants and polyphenols that fight oxidative damage for brighter, more radiant skin.
DHC Concentrated Eye Cream Mini ($7)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: For Fine Lines and Crow’s Feet
An emollient eye cream that diminishes dark circles, fine lines and crow's feet.
Lumene Nordic-C Bright Eyes Eye Treatment ($14.99)
Size: 0.14oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: For Aging Skin and Dark Circles
This unique brightening eye treatment is designed to diminish the appearance of dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles.
Add-On 4: Spot Treatment ✨
Deliver acne-fighting ingredients right to the blemish.
Almay Clear Complexion Blemish Armor ($9.99)
Size: 0.13oz | Rating: 4.3/5 | Features: Enhances Skin Tone, Hydrating, Brightening
Almay Clear Complexion Blemish Armor is a liquid spot treatment that treats existing blemishes and prevents new ones from forming.
Cocokind Turmeric Tonic ($10.99)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: Acne Treatment, Skin Texture Improvement
This invisible leave-on formula uses organic turmeric extract, ginger water, and tea tree oil to help you achieve a clear, smooth, even complexion.
Kinship Pimple Potion Retinal + Salicylic Acne Treatment ($19.00)
Size: 0.53oz | Rating: 4.4/5 | Features: Acne Treatment, Skin Texture Improvement
Kinship Pimple Potion Retinal +Salicylic Acne Treatment is a multi-use product that can be used as a spot treatment or as an all-over facial treatment to help clear, prevent acne and promote skin renewal.
Add-On 5: Face Masks ✨
Hydrate your skin, remove excess oils, and improve the appearance of pores.
Original Skin Retexturizing Mask With Rose Clay ($14)
Size: 1oz | Rating: 4.4/5 | Features: Purifying, Exfoliating
A Rose Clay mask that retexturizes skin and deep cleans to perfect pores for a naturally flawless look.
Green Tea Face Mask MK2 ($16.99)
Size: 2oz | Rating: 4.7/5 | Features: Hydrating, Brightening, Balancing
This ultraventilated facial mask with superfine French clay, premium face oils, chamomile and green tea gently cleanses and balances without drying skin.
Cocokind Sea Kale Clay Face Mask ($18.99)
Size: 2oz | Rating: 4.5/5 | Features: Brightening, Exfoliating
This face mask gently exfoliates to improves texture, leaving skin looking smooth and soft.
Thanks for stopping by! If you enjoyed this post, check out these posts: 12 Best Mascaras for Naturally Long Lashes, 10 Clean + Sustainable Beauty Brands You Should Shop, and What's in My Makeup Bag. Also, let me know what your favorite product is in the comments section below!
XO, Kim
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