As a big lover of skincare and a beauty writer, I have gone through the many phases of skincare in the sense that I’ve been through the phase of having the most perfect skin when I was younger, having a sudden breakout, having the phase of spending my monthly salary on skincare when I was desperate to find what would work for me, and even taking a gamble and trying skincare products I thought would work for my skin.
“It’s been a long time coming” is the phrase I use when people ask how I was able to get skincare products that work for me. Part of the early-on tribulations I faced, and that many other people still face, is being able to get affordable skincare that actually works without crossing a certain budget line.
The truth is, you don’t need to spend hundreds of thousands of naira to have healthy, glowing skin. With a little strategy and smart shopping, you can put together a complete skincare routine under ₦50,000, and it’ll still give you results.
1. Buying Skincare Sets
One of the easiest ways to stick to a budget is by investing in skincare sets. Many brands put together curated kits that cover all the basics of a routine: cleanser, moisturiser, and sunscreen (sometimes a toner or serum too). The advantage is that they’re often cheaper than buying each product individually.
For example, Uncover Skincare’s On-The-Go Kit is a great starter pack that contains their Green Tea Revitalising Cleanser, Argan Hydrating Moisturiser, and Aloe Invisible Sunscreen. Yes, they’re smaller sizes than the full products, but they’re great for travelling or testing the waters before committing to bigger bottles.
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Photo: Mini Green Tea Revitalising Cleanser – 30Ml
Another great option is The Ordinary’s The Acne Set. This trio, comprising the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, Salicylic Acid 2% Solution, and Natural Moisturising Factors + Beta Glucan, is ideal for individuals with acne-prone skin. It cuts out the guesswork and ensures you don’t mix products that might clash.
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Photo: The Ordinary Acne Set
READ ALSO: I Tested Dang! Lifestyle and Uncover Sunscreen on My Sensitive Skin For Two Weeks
2. Buy All Your Skincare From One Vendor
Here’s a mistake I made when I first started: ordering from different vendors because one had my cleanser, another had my moisturiser, and the third had my sunscreen. Before I knew it, I’d spent over ₦10,000 just on delivery fees. A standard delivery fee within the same state is usually around ₦3,000, and interstate is higher. Imagine paying that three times.
To save money, always try to buy from a vendor that stocks most, if not all, of what you need. Some reliable places I personally shop from, and that the Pulse Picks team also swears by, are Teeka4, BuyBetter, and Beauty by Daz. They usually have a wide range of both international and local skincare brands, and you can get everything in one go.
3. Get a Simple Facial Cleanser
Here’s the thing about cleansers: they’re important, but they don’t need to be super expensive. Dermatologists often recommend going simple because it’s a product that sits on your skin for only a minute or two before being washed off. The real heavy lifters in skincare are products that stay on your skin like serums, moisturisers, and sunscreen.
This is why I always recommend affordable but effective cleansers.
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Face Facts Ceramide Foaming Facial Cleanser (₦6,500 for 400 ml): It’s one of the best value-for-money products you’ll find. Packed with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, it cleanses without stripping the skin. If you’re oily-skinned, this is a gem, and it’ll last you more than six months.
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For dry skin, Face Facts Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is a better option. It’s made with oats, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, and has a creamy texture that repairs while it cleans.
