Just these 3 essentials to make your skin glow and they are under $20
I used to think I needed a full skincare routine with so many steps… but honestly, the more I tried, the more overwhelmed my skin (and I) became. These days, I keep it super simple — and it actually works better.
Also, fun fact — most people don’t believe me when I say I have two boys who are entering adolescence (basically teenagers 😅). Even at work as a teacher, quite a few families think I’m a fresh uni graduate. I’ll take that, but really… my skincare routine is very basic.
If I could narrow it down, these are the only 3 essentials that make the biggest difference for me.
1. A gentle face wash (this is non-negotiable)
You honestly can’t skip a good face wash. At the end of the day, your skin just needs to be clean from all the dirt, oil, and everything it’s picked up.
For me, the biggest thing is avoiding fragrance. It might smell nice, but my skin just doesn’t like it. Fragrance can be irritating, especially if your skin is a bit sensitive like mine. I also always check that there are no strong acids in the formula because my cheeks flare up really easily.
I’ve tried a few, but I always go back to what works, and for me, that’s the QV Gentle Face Wash. It’s simple, does the job, and doesn’t mess with my skin. I also like Cetaphil facial cleanser, it’s very light and I feel fresh after using it. I honestly haven’t tried CeraVe, but it looks like it does its job as well.
And honestly, even on days when I’m too lazy to do anything else, this is the one step I never forget.
2. Moisturiser (day and night, always)
If your skin ever feels tight, dry, or just a bit dull, this step is everything.
My skin is naturally on the dry side, and living in Melbourne doesn’t help. The air can be quite dry, and the weather changes all the time, so my skin can end up looking extra dry and sometimes even a bit wrinkly if I don’t keep it hydrated.
I like to keep it simple with a moisturiser I can use both day and night. Nothing too heavy, but enough to keep my skin comfortable and hydrated throughout the day.
This is one of those things where you don’t realise how important it is… until your skin starts looking tired. Once you find a good one, your skin just looks healthier and more “alive”. My winning product is COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Repair Cream. It is VERY MOIST. I love it so much. I also use their essence serum, which i also think it’s very light but does a really good job! You can check out their reviews! I also like the cetaphil moisturizer, which I think it goes well if you use their face wash.
- The Real Snail Essence: Formulated with 96.3% Snail Secretion Filtrate, this essence repairs and rejuvenates the skin fr…
3. Sunscreen (the one people skip… but really shouldn’t)
If there’s one thing that actually protects your skin in the long run, it’s sunscreen.
I used to think SPF only mattered if I was going to the beach, but that’s honestly not the case. Even just going about your day, driving, walking, or even sitting near a window, your skin is still getting exposed.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it tells you how well your sunscreen protects against UVB rays, the ones that cause sunburn. You might have heard that SPF 30 or 50 relates to how long you can stay in the sun, and technically that’s true, but in real life it doesn’t work perfectly like that. Sunscreen wears off, we touch our face, and most of us don’t apply enough, so what really matters is reapplying every couple of hours.
A simple way to think about it is that SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 50 blocks about 98%. It doesn’t sound like a big difference, but over time, that extra bit of protection really does add up. My go-to sunscreen is La Roche Posay.. which is very lightweight but good protection and not sticky.
At the end of the day, skincare really doesn’t have to be complicated. For me, it’s just about sticking to what works and being consistent with it. A gentle face wash, a good moisturiser, and sunscreen every day — that’s honestly it. You don’t need a shelf full of products to have healthy-looking skin. Sometimes, keeping it simple is what makes the biggest difference.
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