Esthetician Approved Facial Care Items Under $20

Deals are everywhere, but how do we know which ones to choose and which affordable skincare items will benefit or harm our skin? That’s why I’m here! As always, I’ll be your skincare guide and recommend products that I know contain beneficial ingredients and do not include harmful ingredients or those known to irritate your skin or cause breakouts.

This is my summer 2025 list of items under $20!

Before you read this blog, I do want to make a note that just because something is affordable doesn’t mean you have to purchase it. Take the time to think about if something truly fits into your skincare routine and if its ingredients target your specific skin and skincare goals. It’s important to be intentional about the skincare items you use; that is one of the keys to having healthy, clear, radiant skin.

scrub me secret: read my skinimalism blog post to learn about ways you can pare down your skincare routine to have better skin ✨

Facial Cleansers Under $20:

**Prequel Non-Drying Glycerin Cleanser**

This **$18** facial wash is a balancing gel cleanser that gently foams to cleanse your skin while still retaining your moisture balance.

**Herbivore Pink Cloud Jelly Cleanser**

The 1.7oz size of this cleanser is just **$15**! If you’ve read some of my other blog posts, you know how much I love all of Herbivore’s items. And I was talking about all the major hydrating benefits of Tremella Mushroom Extract in my previous blog post. And this hydrating jelly cleanser contains that.

Facial Exfoliants Under $20:

**Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%**

This **$19** liquid exfoliant is best for oily or congested skin types. With 2% salicylic acid and added fruit acids, it’s helpful for controlling oil and reducing debris in your pores. I suggest using an item like this no more than 4x a week.
You can read my skin cycling blog for helpful tips about how to add exfoliants into your skincare routine.

**Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner**

PHAs are one of my favorite liquid exfoliants for dry, mature, and sensitive skin types. This PHA + BHA fluid is great for smoothing skin, brightening, and reducing blackheads. You would use something like this 1-2x a week. The small bottle is only **$16.**

**Well People Plant Powder Exfoliant**

This dry powder turns into a detoxifying physical exfoliant after you add water. It’s only **$19** and it has a great ingredient profile! This would be nice to use 1-2x a week to soften skin and give it an extra cleansing.

Essences, Toners, and Mists Under $20:

**Good Molecules Brightening Niacinamide Toner**

This **$14** niacinamide toner has been a favorite product of mine for years. It’s a great daily toner that helps brighten skin and even out complexion. I like to use this toner in the AM and a hydrating toner in the PM.

**Good Molecules Sakura Hyaluronic Acid Essence**

This **$14** hydrating essence is a bit more viscous and moisturizing than a hydrating facial mist. It’s perfect for super dry or dehydrated skin types or those looking for more moisture.

**Heritage Rose Water**

A simple rose water is a perfect hydrating essence and balancing toner for those wanting a product with very minimal ingredients. Sensitive and reactive skin types like rose water because it’s simple, calming, and hydrating. Heritage is my favorite brand and is only **$13**.

**Prequel Universal Skin Solution Spray**

If you’ve read some of my previous blog posts, you know I love Magic Molecule anti-bacterial, hypochlorous mist. But it doesn’t make the list for under $20. This Prequel hypochlorous mist is only $17 and has the same breakout-fighting ingredients. You can use this to mist your face and body after a workout, during travel, camping, wherever you need a quick refresh.

Eye Products Under $20:

**Well People Revitalizing Eye Gel**

This **$19** I mentioned in my hydrating ingredients blog post was what sparked the idea for this items under $20 article. This extra hydrating eye gel is a must-have if you don’t currently use an eye cream.

**Patchology Soothing and Hydrating Eye Mask**

These hydrating and soothing eye masks help awaken your eye area and calm dry or irritated skin. These are perfect to travel with. $4 for a pair and **$17** for four pairs!

Facial Moisturizers Under $20:

**Good Molecules Hydrating Gel Moisturizer**

This **$10** gel moisturizer is super lightweight and has great hydration-binding ingredients. It’s a good choice for breakout-prone and oily skin types. I also like it for layering under a tinted moisturizer.

**Kosas Glow I.V Skin Enhancer**

This **$19** item is like a mix between a tinted moisturizer and shimmer moisturizer. It’s lightweight, infused with vitamin C, and has a slight tint that helps even out the appearance of your complexion.

Spot Treatments Under $20:

**Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum**

This **$18** dark spot fading treatment is a popular one among my facial clients who want to fade pigment spots caused by sun damage, hormones, or skin damage. It contains tranexamic acid, which is an ingredient that has great results for fading unwanted pigment spots. When using an item like this, you want to make sure to wear daily SPF.

**Patchology Not A Spot Hydrocolloid Dots**

These pimple healing patches are only **$15** for a pack of 48 patches. Toss one of these on a breakout that needs to heal and go away, or place one on a whitehead you’re trying not to pick at.

Lip Items Under $20:

**scrub e skin care - butter balm lip balm & lip polish**

I’ve been making these shea butter-based lip items for over a decade, and let me tell you, they really are the best lip items ever! At only $4 each, you could grab yourself the butter balm hydrating peppermint lip balm AND my softening lip polish lip scrub for under $10.

SPF Under $20:

**Good Molecules Sheer Mineral SPF**

This non-greasy tube of mineral SPF feels great on my skin (face & body), doesn’t leave a white cast, and only costs **$12.** We love!

**Tocobo Bio Water Sun Screen**

This K-beauty brand makes some of my favorite SPF products. This chemical-based SPF is **$16** and is formulated with chemical SPF ingredients that are a bit safer for us vs. others. It’s hydrating and has a soothing, milky feel that absorbs into your skin quickly.

scrub me secret: IF you incorporate a well-made bone broth into your diet on a daily or weekly basis, it helps deliver important collagen nutrients and proteins to your skin and body that help your skin to be healthier and firmer. Brodo bone broth comes out to less than $6 a packet when you purchase a case.

Esthetician Approved Body Care Items Under $20

Having safe and good ingredients in our body care items is also important! Fragrance and perfume can be found in a large percentage of the body care items on the market. They can be irritating to the skin and also detrimental to our hormonal health. We want to avoid fragrance, parabens, sulfates, and a couple of other harmful chemicals that can be found in popular body care items.

This list has high-quality items at a great price!