The skin is an amazing organ. It's the largest organ, but also one that can impact how we move through the world. While perfection is an unattainable goal, being able to simply nourish and love the skin one has, and create a self-care wellness routine, can be done with products at any price point. It's easy to get caught up in the fancy, high-priced trendy brands that many call holy grails, and while those do often give results, so do the creams, serums, and tools that are not as expensive.
We rounded up some of the most trendy skin care items out there right now, and by out there we mean social media — like slugging during dry winter months, dermaplaning and even wearing sunscreen — and found related products for skin care lovers to take part in those trends at any end of the price spectrum.
Double Cleansing Save: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Double-cleansing is technically a trend, but we hope and think it'll turn into just another step in the skin care process because of how well it helps get the dirt and makeup off without a makeup wipe spreading it all around. Many people chose to cleanse first with an oil-based cleanser and this DHC one is both affordable and highly rated (like, almost perfect stars on Dermstore).
Double Cleansing Splurge: Tatcha Cleansing Oil
A higher-end, but extremely effective oil cleanser that's known for melting away dirt and makeup on the face is the Tatcha Camellia Face Cleansing Oil. It's a thinner consistency and requires gentle massaging to cleanse the makeup off. It's a higher end oil cleanser but it does an effective job while not stripping the skin or making it dry.
Hydrating Overnight Mask Save: ELF Nourishing Night Cream
$12
from
ELF Cosmetics
Night cream is one of the best and easiest ways to hydrate the skin while you sleep — making the most of the time when you're not doing anything else. There are more expensive brands with creams out there, but ELF makes one that is purported to be similar to the more expensive Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, but for a lot less. This one only costs $12, but has a formula with high-grade hydrating ingredients.
Hydrating Overnight Mask Splurge: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
We love the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask with squalene and it gives fantastic hydrating results dehydrated, dry, or combination skin. It's just under $20 but putting this on before bed will definitely increase your chances of waking up with supple, glowy, and hydrated skin. A key difference between this one and ELF's is that Laniege's doesn't have any oils, which may irritate those with sensitive skin.
Hydrating Mask Splurge: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
One more overnight or general hydrating mask that is a fan favorite, specifically for travel, is Summer Friday's Jet Lag Mask, which comes in three different sizes and prices. The main ingredients include niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants to help hydrate skin and control oil in the process (that's the niacinamide).
Hyaluronic Acid Save: Vichy Mineral 89 Serum
If there was a lead singer of skin care serums, a Beyoncé if you will, then hyaluronic acid would be it. It helps to hydrate the skin, which can help solve many skin care issues. Luckily for us, there are a few affordable hydrating serums on the market, including Vichy's Mineral 89, which is hydrating and non-irritating. The Ordinary has one for under $10, but this one we love most.
Hyaluronic Acid Splurge: Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum
For a hyaluronic acid that everyone is obsessed with, hence the trend part, we recommend Skinfix's Barrier Lipid Boost Jelly. It's a serum that many use when their skin needs a boost due to the weather, dehydration, skin barrier issues, or dryness. This formula contains hydrating oils, a seaweed hyaluronate blend, and peony root.
Gua Sha Face Massager Save: Amazon Gua Sha
You'd be hard-pressed not to see a skin care influencer, or any person on TikTok or Instagram, using a gua sha tool to massage their skin. It's a trend that has picked up quickly with western influencers — although it's a traditional Chinese medicine practice — as it's touted to increase blood circulation and aid in "lymphatic drainage." It's more about the light pressure and upward movements so that's where this affordable gua sha comes in to get the job done.
Gua Sha Face Massager Splurge: Jenny Patinkin Butterfly Gua Sha Sculpting Tool
$30
from
Anthropologie
We haven't seen the science on whether or not the price of a gua sha tool impacts the effects of using it on the skin, but if you want a little more luxurious feeling that comes with massaging the face with a more expensive tool, that's also super cute (in this case, a butterfly), then this Anthropologie one is a great option.
Face Shaver Save: Kitsch Dermaplaning Tool Set
Dermaplaning is a huge trend on and off social media. Dermaplaning is lightly exfoliating the face by shaving it, and while it's safest to have an esthetician or dermatologist perform this practice, there have been at-home face shavers created that aren't too risky to use and have a similar impact. This pack comes with 12 tools in one pack for under $10 and is highly rated on Amazon.
Face Shaver Splurge: Hydro Silk Dermaplaning Wand
For a tool that's made to be used for a longer time with only six refills per pack (and therefore also sustainable), this dermaplaning shaver is still somewhat affordable at $20, but it is pricier compared to the Amazon packs like the one from Kitsch. This is Schick's Hydro Silk Sermaplaning Wand that has literally won awards.
Chemical Exfoliator Save: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
$9.5
from
The Ordinary
Exfoliating is a huge trend right now and for good reason. The benefits, when not overdone, are incredible. It can help smooth skin texture, give the skin a glow, and make makeup application much smoother. That's why in addition to dermaplaning, chemical exfoliants, products that use certain ingredients to slough off dead skin, are blowing up. This alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid combo exfoliant has been going viral for a while and it's under $10.
Exfoliator Mid-Range: Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
$34
from
Paula's Choice
Exfoliating acids work in different ways. Unlike the combo AHA/BHA from The Ordinary, this BHA-only solution from Paula's Choice is a fan favorite but a little pricier. It's touted for helping to smooth skin texture and clean and keep pores clear — a huge deal for people who struggle with acne. Despite the higher price tag, a little lasts a while.
Chemical Exfoliator Splurge: Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment
Lactic acid is an exfoliating ingredient that's touted by skin care experts to be slightly gentler on most skin types than glycolic acid. This Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment cream is a viral "holy grail" exfoliant that people have said leaves their skin soft, smooth, and glowing. Holy grail comes with a price, though, and this lactic acid serum is the most expensive of the bunch.
Slugging Save: CeraVe Healing Ointment
Slugging (in addition to skin cycling) is the trendiest trend happening in skin care right now. The idea is that you do all your skin care steps, serums, and acids, and then after moisturizing the skin, put an occlusive cream on top of everything to lock everything in under a blanket of nourishing moisture. Some people use straight-up Vaseline, but an alternate cream to use for this would be CeraVe's Healing Ointment. It's thick and super moisturizing at a low price.
Slugging Splurge: Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream
A slugging splurge would be the Skinfix's Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream. It's super rich, enough to lock in all the skin care underneath it, and filled with ingredients to help soothe the skin in the process. Those ingredients include "active lipids, peptides, small-particle hyaluronic acid, and rich shea butter." There are a few different sizes, depending on how much you plan to slug, with the most affordable being the $20 mini and the largest and most expensive being the refill container coming in at $78.
Retinol Save: The Inkey List Retinol Anti-Aging Serum
Retinols have been a staple in skin care for many for a while, but because of social media, they've definitely gotten a popularity boost. So much so that they're the must-have item when it comes to anti-aging. Retinols can help with a variety of skin conditions, including acne. The Inkey List has an affordable, award-winning retinol serum for just $13.
Retinol Splurge: Tretinoin Cream
One of the hottest skin care items out there right now, or talked about anyway, is one that requires a prescription. It's tretinoin, which is a medical-grade retinol that is used to help with acne, but also doubles as a great anti-aging cream when used correctly —too much can dry out the skin, which makes wrinkles worse. It's around $30 with online medical provider Nurx.
Sunscreen Save: Hero Cosmetics Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen
We don't even want to call sunscreen a "trend" because it's so necessary in any skin care routine, but the fact that it is, is a good thing. This trendy sunscreen is new to the scene, but it has been doing the rounds on skin care influencer channels. It's said to be a good mix of matte and glowy — not too much in either direction — and on the affordable end of the spectrum.
Sunscreen Splurge: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Many skin care enthusiasts love the brand Supergoop! It makes sunscreens for all kinds of needs, and provides both matte and glowy versions that protect without feeling gross on the skin. The brand's well-known Unseen Sunscreen is one of its most popular products. It is pricier, but also doubles as a makeup primer if you're looking to offset the cost!
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
