Brightening cleanser

We’ve tried a lot of skin cleansing products (it’s tough being a beauty writer), and while many are ultra-pricey, we’re partial to one that’s a little gentler on our wallet: Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Deep Clean Gel ($7). The gentle but effective gel makes quick work of makeup, deep cleans pores and leaves skin refreshed — all for well under $10.

Soothing lip balm

It’s important not to neglect your lips when it comes to skin care, and we don’t go anywhere without EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm ($3) tucked into our bag. The sphere shape makes it easy to apply, plus it’s a 95 percent organic and 100 percent natural way to keep our lips luscious.

Blemish treatment

If you’re looking for a gentler, more natural way to bust blemishes, we suggest giving The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil a try ($9). The tiny bottle packs quite a punch when it comes to keeping skin clear. Simply apply at the first sign of a blemish to minimize the size and duration of any pesky pimples.

Facial scrub

Keeping skin smooth and glowing doesn’t have to be daunting, but it should involve exfoliating on a regular basis. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, a great complexion-perfecting choice is Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub ($7). The gentle, unscented scrub brightens and smoothes dull skin.

Moisturizer

With the huge selection of moisturizers out there to choose from, deciding what to buy can be tough. Rather than overspend on something that doesn’t work, opt for something simple but effective, like Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer ($7). The non-greasy formula contains antioxidants (vitamins C and E) and SPF 15.

Skin mask

Pamper skin and give yourself a mini at-home facial with a mask suited to your skin type. We like Pure Ambition Avocado/Oatmeal Facial Clay Masque ($4), which is a budget-friendly multitasking mask. It purges pores, cleanses skin and soothes and nourishes thanks to the avocado.

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