The Best *Affordable* Skincare Routine for Acne-Prone Skin
Main Image – Artem Podrez/Stocksy
When you’re prone to a skin condition like acne, things can get a little expensive. Targeted treatments here, salicylic acid cleansers there. You feel like you need to slather everything but the kitchen sink onto your skin to prevent spots from appearing (and get rid of the ones that have already arrived.)
That’s why we’ve put together an expert-approved routine that is suited to acne-prone skin but won’t have you living on rice and beans for the rest of the year.
Keep scrolling to find out which products for acne are Live That Glow’s Senior Beauty Editor, Laura Kemp and Beauty Editor Philippa Pearne’s favourites – based on both performance and budget.
The best affordable cleansers for acne-prone skin
Laura Kemp, Senior Beauty Editor: “I use the CeraVe Smoothing Cleanser with SA (£14.49 on the Superdrug UK website/$19.99 on the Walmart US website), which gently exfoliates while giving a deep clean. I feel like this really cleanses my skin and genuinely leaves it really smooth.
“Those with sensitive skin types or dry skin might need to be careful with this one, but it’s perfect for my combination skin! I actually also use this on my shoulders and back if they start to break out (which occasionally happens) and I find it really does help with any pimples or rough skin there.
“If I’m going to double cleanse, I will use The Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm (£12 on the Inkey List UK website/$13 on the Inkey List USA website) first, which is really gentle, soothing, and moisturising, and then follow with the CeraVe cleanser – the perfect combo for my skin!”
Philippa Pearne, Beauty Editor: “I love using a clarifying cleanser when my skin is congested. Skin + Me Purify + Prep Clarifying Cleanser (£8.99 on the Skin + Me UK website) is really good if you like a foaming cleanser. It doesn’t irritate my skin, which feels really fresh and clear after using it.”
Image – CeraVe
The best affordable exfoliators for acne-prone skin
Laura on chemical exfoliants: “I love The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (£8.90 on The Ordinary UK website/$9.50 on the Ulta Beauty US website) for a deep pore cleanse, I really do think it smooths any uneven skin and makes my skin look much brighter (those with sensitive skin should also do a patch test of this first as it is an advanced-level exfoliator).
“It contains a cross polymer form of hyaluronic acid for comfort, pro-vitamin B5 for hydration, and black carrot for added protection. This should be built up with use and keep an eye on any skin tingling, if your skin starts to tingle then remove the product!”
Philippa: “I am a big fan of chemical exfoliators and Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (travel size – £11 on the Paula’s Choice UK website/$14 on the Paula’s Choice US website) works really well for my acne-prone skin. It feels super smooth after use meaning dead skin isn’t building up, and my blackheads have definitely reduced since I started using it.”
Laura on physical exfoliants. “I have been using a scrub from Sea Magik Mild Exfoliant (£10.50 on the Sea Magik UK website) for years now. I only use a physical exfoliant every one or two weeks, though. It contains dead sea minerals, organic seaweed, Irish moss and crystal quartz and it’s also 98% natural and cruelty-free (bonus!).”
Image – Paula’s Choice
The best affordable serums for acne-prone skin
Laura: “I love Byoma’s Hydrating Serum (£12.99 on the Byoma UK website/$15.99 on the Byoma US website), it’s so lightweight and it contains ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, squalane, and glycerin to really hydrate. This is a really good one if your skin barrier is compromised since it’s really gentle and is designed to reduce skin sensitivity. I often mix this with my moisturiser or even with my vitamin C powder from The Ordinary.”
(PS. You can read Laura’s full review of Byoma’s Hydrating Serum here)
Philippa: “If you’re a fan of niacinamide like me but can’t afford expensive brands, try Garnier Skinactive 4% AHA + BHA & Niacinamide Serum (£12.95 on the Superdrug UK website) which is lightweight and non-sticky. Its BHA is salicylic acid – great for preventing and treating spots – and the formula helps to mattify the skin too which works really well for my oily skin.
“I wouldn’t recommend it for those with a dry skin type but anyone needing their oily finish taken down a notch will love this.”
Image – Live That Glow
The best affordable moisturisers for acne-prone skin
Philippa: “My trusty La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ SPF 30 with Niacinamide is slightly on the higher end of the budget at £17.52 on the Look Fantastic UK website/$24.70 on the Cult Beauty US website but when you compare it to other moisturisers for acne-prone skin that cost more and don’t perform half as well, it’s worth every penny.”
“If you want to spend less and you suffer from extreme dryness from acne treatments, try Bioderma Sebium Ultra-Nourishing Cream Very Dry Acne-Prone Skin (£12 on the Boots UK website). It’s super nourishing and soothing.”
Laura: “I love CeraVe’s Moisturising Lotion (£9.60 on the CeraVe UK website/$13.49 on the Amazon US website), which I use on my face and my body! It’s really lightweight and gentle, and it’s great for mixing with serums. It contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides but it doesn’t leave my skin greasy at all and it absorbs really quickly.
“It’s just a really gentle product that doesn’t cause any pore-clogging!”
Image – La Roche-Posay
The best affordable treatments for acne-prone skin
Philippa: “I like CeraVe Blemish Control Gel (£15 on the Boots UK website/$16.25 on the Walmart US website) which I use as both a moisturiser and a targeted treatment depending on my circumstances. It contains salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids and is oil-free. The Indeed Labs in-Patch Hydrocolloid Blemish Patches (£9.99 on the Boots US website/$9.99 on the Indeed Labs US) are really good for reducing spot size overnight too.”
Laura: “Whilst I don’t use an acne treatment as such, I do find that putting The Ordinary’s Retinol 0.5% in Squalane (£7.90 on The Ordinary UK website/$8.60 on The Ordinary US website) on any pimples at night really does reduce the size of them! It also helps to bring them to a head rather than the bacteria staying under the skin and causing swelling.”
Image – Courtesy of writer
The best affordable SPF for acne-prone skin
Laura: “A favourite of mine has been Vichy’s Capital Soleil Velvety Face Sun Cream SPF 50+ (£15.16 on the Look Fantastic UK website/$19 on the Vichy US website) It really is velvety! It contains hyaluronic acid and has a really smooth texture that melts into the skin. It also contains Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water and works really well under makeup since it absorbs quickly. It also protects against UVA and UVB rays.”
Philippa: “SPF can be expensive but the one I really like to use when I’m on a budget which doesn’t mess with my acne is Garnier BHA + Niacinamide Daily UV Fluid SPF 50 (£8.66 on the Boots UK website). It contains all the right ingredients for spot-prone skin, as well as high protection and a mattifying formula. I love the smell too.”
Image – Garnier
The takeaway
Whilst having acne can mean buying more products than those who have, say, a normal skin type, your routine doesn’t have to break the bank.
Know which ingredients you want to include in your regime first – things like vitamin C, salicylic acid and niacinamide – then target the budget-friendly brands like Garnier and CeraVe who offer products that are just as effective as those with a higher price tag.
If your oily skin can’t handle too many heavy or hydrating products, opt for a moisturiser instead of a serum – or vice versa – rather than using both.
And make sure you cleanse with water twice a day if your skin gets easily congested as this will keep your pores healthy and clear.
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