I’m not cheap. I’ve received thousands of dollars in skincare treatments, from non-surgical facelifts and lymphatic facials, to needle-free micro-needling and multiple acne laser sessions. As a beauty editor, I’m gifted $250 dollar eye creams, suitcases worth of trending skincare products, and am the test dummy for your favorite brands’s latest innovations. (Spoiler: they’re almost never worth the price).
It’s hard to trust white-labeling celebrity brands, especially as someone with persistent skin issues like acne and hyperpigmentation, meanwhile luxury brands are selling skin health as a status symbol. For example, Chanel’s Sublimage L’Extrait De Nuit (a repairing night concentrate) is $1,050 dollars, in part, because it’s stored in a $255 dollar black tweed-lined leather case. And, while the concentrate’s Vanilla Planifolia is rich in polyketones, a protein used to stimulate your skin’s growth factor, an anti-aging serum is never worth your rent when the same results—or even better—can be achieved for much less.
If I’ve learned any beauty rule over the past few years: read the ingredients list. Contrary to popular belief, a higher price tag does not dictate efficacy and while $1,000 dollar night serums are an extreme example only the one percent can afford, the same goes for $250 dollar eye creams that render similar results to one that’s less than $20 dollars. On the brink of a recession, the beauty industry often makes Black women feel like we’re cutting corners on skincare by using affordable, tried-and-true products (like Vaseline, cocoa butter, and Cetaphil) instead of what’s trending right now.
But, when my skin’s health is at risk, I’m not paying for trending buzzwords and celebrity names, I’m paying for quick, visible results—which is why I opt exclusively for pharmacy skincare. From Obagi Tretinoin to La Roche-Posay face wash, read on for the most effective and affordable beauty editor-approved skincare products.
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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Acne Face Wash
I avoided using acne face washes while using Tretinoin out of fear they’d dry my skin. But, I recently tested out a travel size version of this salicylic acid cleanser to help unclog my pores and after first use, my texture visibly improved the morning after. I’ve been using every few days ever since (on non-tretinoin nights.)Available at walgreens.com
Finding an effective deodorant isn’t something you want find through trial and error. A Vogue editor recommended I try this residue-free deodorant for sensitive skin, which works well especially if you get summer waxes.Available at amazon.com
Mineral sunscreen isn’t for dark skin. I avoid white casts with chemical sunscreen, but one that doesn’t feel heavy or clog my pores (which means it’s easy to reapply).Available at sephora.com
I heavily rely on pimple patches to treat and prevent touching my breakouts. You can definitely opt for the most affordable options at the pharmacy; I’ve tried a number of them and they all work the same for the most part. Available at walgreens.com
Skin care doesn’t end at your neck. I learned about Nivea through my grandmother, who used to religiously carry travel size tins in her purse. Now, I use a big jar of the cream (enhanced with cocoa butter) while my skin is still damp after a shower for deep, sumptuous moisture.Available at amazon.com
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La Roche-Posay Mela B3 UV Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Sunscreen is the most important skincare product and dermatologists would agree. I use one that’s specifically formulated for hyperpigmentation to prevent them from darkening under sun exposure.Available at walgreens.com
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La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5 Skin Protectant
I use this gel like Aquaphor, but it’s lighter weight and suitable for acne-prone skin to help rebuild my skin barrier or when my skin feels extra-dry after Tretinoin or exfoliation. Available at walgreens.com
If you’re looking for dark spot support, this serum was helpful in correcting my discoloration and works well with as an AM moisturizer under their Mela B3 sunscreen.Available at cvs.com
My dermatologist recommended I use this classic gentle skin cleanser when I first started Tretinoin and it’s turned into my safe option for dry, reactive skin.Available at cvs.com
The highest-priced skincare product on my list, Tretinoin is a prescription-only acne medication and a holy grail for hyperpigmentation. Skin Solutions MD requires a free virtual consultation with a medical professional before ordering the cream if going to the dermatologist isn’t an option. Available at skinsolutions.md
