Let’s be real, I think the quest for perfect skin is one we’ve all been on since getting our first taste of acne in seventh grade. Now, being a junior in college, I’ve had years of testing out several skincare products—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and I’ve concluded that expensive does NOT equal better. Until about four years ago, I struggled with persistent unsightly blemishes that wouldn’t go away no matter what I did. For a while there, I just sort of accepted that I had acne and always would, no matter how much time and money I spent on fancy facials and luxury skincare products that promised to make all my troubles go away.
It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I started making some subtle changes that almost instantly cleared my skin: I started paying attention to what I ate and drank and stopped spending so much dang money on my skincare routine. Through recommendations from friends and dermatologists, I was introduced to products that have not only consistently kept my skin clear and healthy but are actually affordable.
I know what you’re thinking—you get to spend less money on skincare and have a flawless complexion? It’s almost too good to be true. Keep reading for the nine best skincare products under $50 I swear by for clear, glowing skin all year long.
For more affordable skincare products we swear by, see what Versed’s founder would buy from her own line.