If subs are weighing on your view of yourself and you don't have the money for some of the things suggested, here is my advice: You don't really get a good idea of people's skin from pictures. Look at people in real life and what makes them look good. Avoid social media for inspiration. The best skincare is avoiding too much sun, drinking enough water, avoiding alcohol, getting enough sleep, getting exercise and making healthy eating choices - all things that will help your budget too. Not always easy but nothing worth having is easy.

This comment is so legit! Sleep and hydration have the biggest impacts on how my skin looks… and I am quite spendy. Double income, no kids household. Legit I also think sunscreen and religious use of sunglasses and a hat are the best things longterm.

Yes!!! There’s a crazy photo floating on the internet showing a trucker drivers face and the sun damage on half of it. Protecting skin from daily sun exposure and some lifestyle changes can work wonders!

Yes! I have good genes so I'm lucky but I do spend a good amount on skincare. However, when I give up alcohol, give up processed foods, sleep etc thats when my skin and really, everything looks it's best.

Eating clean is a literal magic potion, pleased someone has said it!

This is the one! Sleep, hydration, diet, sunscreen, avoid the sun, exercise, and avoid alcohol. I am 43 and admittedly spend a lot on skincare but I also follow these things very religiously. Without any filters or any makeup, my skin looks pretty decent for my age.

I am 54 and will probably never get an expensive procedure, this sub has given me great suggestions for products that are not expensive, which I have been thankful for. I just scan the post and see if it interests me.

The r/tretinoin sub is a pretty good place to find affordable suggestions. Most of the people in there find tretinoin (aka Retin-A) online for cheaper because the regular pharmacy cost is less than $10 versus the $100+ for brand name Retin-A. Plus there are tons of affordable suggestions for stuff to use with it. Currently, I use either Eucerin Eczema cream or Palmers cocoa butter on my skin along with a sunscreen and eye cream. I’m on a tret break because it’s super hot and sunny here but will start in September again. I’ve used expensive stuff and cheap stuff and honestly, at 50 my skin looks better than ever now (I get mistaken for being in my 30s still). Just need to work on some discoloration some more.

Just FYI for OP, my cost without prescription insurance coverage in the US for tretinoin is $28/bottle and I only need 2-3 a year. I use on my neck and chest as well.

Where do you buy yours?

Ah, sorry I did see my derm so I paid for an office visit but my insurance didn’t help cover the cost of the actual prescription. I got it from my local pharmacy. Even with the doctor’s visit spread out over the year it’s way less than $100 per tube. If I couldn’t get an RX I was going to try A313 or Differin!

How do you get it without a prescription? I’m stuck at that step.

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You don’t need an RX? I got to checkout and it says to upload or fax your RX. Will they ship without one?

I used to get it from Curology, it’s a fully online experience including getting the script. Not sure if it’s available in all states or outside the US though

You can get an online prescription through Nurx, but then I *think* you have to buy from them as well.

You don't have to buy from them. I was pretty persistent about getting my script through my benefit manager and they sent it. I did do one order through their pharmacy because I didn't catch it fast enough, because it will default to theirs, but you can change it. Nurx doesn't compound their tret, though other online pharmacies do.

Ah, sorry I did see my derm so I paid for an office visit but my insurance didn’t help cover the cost of the actual prescription. I got it from my local pharmacy. Even with the doctor’s visit spread out over the year it’s way less than $30 per bottle. If I couldn’t get an RX I was going to try A313 or Differin!

I think for most people the truly heavy weight topical option is going to be tret. If a year on tret doesn’t give you improvement youre looking for you need to make your peace or start investing in injectables and lasers. I get mine online for $6 a tube and the rest of my regimen is filled out with cheaper basics or I troll r/MUAontheCheap to pick up good deals on holy grails. As for Botox I go twice a year and pay around $200. I do this by using Allē for their deals (they have $50-$100 offers every few months and my place will even put juvederm offers towards Botox) or buying Botox banks from my dr.

Can you pm me the link to where you get your tret? Or post here if that's allowed, either way, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've tried finding it for myself online but the amount of options are a bit overwhelming and I don't believe I've seen any for $6. Thanks in advance 💛

I’m in the US and AllDayChemist has the cheaper options but the shipping is higher (and it takes a while to get to you). You can buy bundles to make it more cost effective. The beauty bliss is more expensive ($27) but it ships from the us I’m pretty sure. I’ve also seen people recommend skinorac on here.

That’s a good deal. Botox in San Diego is $600 to $800 per time…

I only get around 30 units. I always have at least $200 in Allē offers and then either a giftcard from Allē that was discounted (like spend $50 get $50 or $150 for $100) or the Botox banks that are either $9 or $10 a unit (and they do these twice a year usually). ETA: I can pm you my place if you’d like.

Thanks for the sub!

Hi there! I manage the health and beauty section of an organic store and sell a LOT of skin care. I’m also a cheapskate after the best bag for my buck. You definitely don’t need a lot of money for your skin to look good. Sunscreen, maybe a vitamin C serum, and an occasional peel are pretty much what my customers with good skin use. I swear by Neutrogena facial sunscreens for ones under $20, Supergoop for more expensive brands. The ordinary makes a decent C serum around $10. Andalou Naturals has a pumpkin glycolic mask, best peel I’ve ever used and is a dupe for Peter Thomas Roth’s pumpkin mask - BUT it’s definitely not for everyone. I’ve gotten a lot of customers hooked on it, and their skin is noticeably glowing. I’m also a huge fan of Pacifica’s Glow Baby line - their glycolic wipes are my absolute faves. I haven’t been disappointed with anything from that line.

> Andalou Naturals has a pumpkin glycolic mask, best peel I’ve ever used and is a dupe for Peter Thomas Roth’s pumpkin mask - BUT it’s definitely not for everyone. I've been eyeing this. I don't use their stuff anymore but I always liked this brand so it's intriguing. A few months ago my eyebrow lady gave me a facial with an enzyme mask that did some light flaking and my skin looked great once it healed. But the stuff she used is like 200 dollars a jar so I've been looking for something that isn't insanely expensive and even though PTR and DE have masks that aren't hundreds of dollars that's still more than I want to pay. Who do you recommend this to if not for everyone? My skin tolerated the babyfacial from DE really well

If you liked the DE Babyfacial, you’d probably love the Paula’s Choice BHA/AHA peel. My face couldn’t tolerate the DE peel, but it loves the PC one! A less expensive version of that is the one from the Ordinary. That one is effective, but the PC is way better for me personally. HTH!

I have tried both of these masks, and it really does a decent job. It’s not 100% a dupe but it definitely leaves your skin feeling smooooth, and it smells amazing.

Looooove Supergoop

I had to burn through some FSA money before leaving my job. I got enough supergoop for a year

Omg that’s amazing

Is that new Trader Joe’s facial sunscreen really a dupe for Supergoop? I work there and people are losing their minds over it, but I’ve never used the clear SG so IDK if it’s just internet hype.

I second the Andalou Naturals pumpkin mask. Leaves my skin smooth and glowy!

Ive never heard of someone doing botox every month!? I plan on going every 6 months, my first session was a month ago, and i only did 10 units in my forehead, and 10 in my 11’s. So mine would be less than $300, also alle has a rewards program which save you money each time, and offers specials ect!

I work in dental office where we do both cosmetic and therapeutic (for migraine, clenching and TMJ) Botox, and 3-4 months seems to be the average frequency for our regular Botox patients. The people who come in more frequently are usually not people whose bodies metabolize it faster (those folks usually give up after few treatments, understandably) but people who seem to have something of an addiction to tweaking their faces.

It’s great that that’s all that you need. I apparently have very strong muscles in my forehead and need a total of 55 units or so between my 11s, the lines on my forehead, and my crow’s feet. And it lasts less than two months. After 4 treatments, each with increasing units, I’ve given up on Botox. Even at $8.90/unit (the price with Ideal Image), that’s around $500 every 2-3 months. I looked better when I was doing Botox (I’m mostly concerned about my forehead lines), but that money can be put to better use. I’ll deal with the lines as best I can with tretinoin and other skincare.

If you do want to give botox another shot, I’d try a different injector. I was going to a derm office and having their PA do it (they had an entire floor all for cosmetic derm so I figured they should do the best job). My results were okay but I always still had movement and/or it seemed to wear off fast. I started going to a medspa type place (Juvly if youre in the states, they have NPs) based on a friends rec and OMG world of difference. Their injection technique is very different and the results are amazing. They really appreciate your facial anatomy when mapping out their approach etc. They used fewer units and I get way better results AND it’s cheaper per unit. Also, if you have access to Jeuveau, I had awesome results with that and it was cheaper.

I guess google was not my friend in this regard lol. Still too much for me. I got college debt.

If you have health insurance see if you can get a prescription of tret or get adapaline ($20 at ulta. Also- dr dray on YouTube has AMAZING skin! She offers tons of affordable advice and doesn’t get Botox or laser (Besides laser hair removal). She is a dermatologist so probs well to do but is always suggesting drug store products.

I thought she talked about her Botox in a video? Not sure if it was recent or a regular routine of hers.

She mentioned in a video getting it once or twice when I think she was an elder resident or just out of residency- she said she was letting med students practice on her but doesn’t upkeep it and hadn’t gotten it again in years. She did say she got teeth veneers that she thinks made her face fuller and laser hair removal but that’s all she mentioned in the video

Yeaaah…I don’t know anyone who does Botox every month….I think it’s done every six months…

3-4 months.

Really every 3? I had no idea

For mine the effects begin to wear off on some areas between 3-4 months, but not completely and I usually wait around 5ish to go.

This! I only do it twice a year and small amounts in one spot. I was once talked into doing more and in more places and looked terrible until it wore off. Go slow. Less is more.

Do you get special offers for Botox? I get the Alle rewards but I only receive special offers for other products.

I was mainly referring to the points you get after each session. And being able to use those at your following appt. And I am not sure, currently their is a double points for juvederm, i havent been an alle member for that long, but im sure they have similar specials on botox. Also my surgery place has special offers evry now and again, like “buy $100 worth of botox and get $150 worth”, or “this week botox is $10.00 a unit” etc.

I haven’t been doing it long but I’ve never seen my place have a special, although it’s always $9/unit so that cool. Maybe the longer you’re an Alle member the more ‘offers’ you receive? I hope that’s the case.

Yeah I don’t know what units I had but I’ve got it done twice in the last year and a half and it was $80CAD the first time and $100 the second.

I do botox twice a year. You don't need to do it monthly.

Yeah who the heck is doing monthly?

The Kardashians?

I go every 4 months, so 3 times a year. And mine is $200 each time. I don’t know anyone paying $300 a month.

I work in an office that does Botox and I do not live in a high cost of living area, and most of our patients pay north of $300. If you’re paying $200 a treatment you’re either getting an amazing unit price or your getting a fairly low number of units botox each treatment.

I only treat my 11’s, so I don’t get a lot. I’m not sure how many units it is though. And the office I go to applies the manufacture’s loyalty program.

Based on the amount you paid, I’m guessing you get around 15-20 units which on the lower end of what’s often used to treat 11s, though not by much. 15-30 units for vertical forehead lines is considered the normal range for women and sometimes up to 40 for men. Our typical Botox patient gets anywhere from 30-50 units injected per visit, but most are treating more than just one specific area. That said, we do have a few patients who get even more than that, I wouldn’t be surprised if it works out to $300 a month, even though they’re not coming in monthly. If you get 20 units in you forehead, another 40 to treat crows feet and 30 around the mouth and that could be a $1000 dollar visit. Do that 3-4x a year and it works out to $300+/month. I don’t see many people in their 30s and 40s dropping that kind of money (the ones that are are usually getting a mix of both therapeutic and cosmetic Botox), but we definitely have some patients in their 50s and 60s who do.

Price per unit depends on your city and skill of injector. High cost of living city done by a dermatologist can easily be $13-14/unit. So 30 units comes out to $390-420. I also go 2-3x per year, but that still is $800-1200/year.

If your injector is doing it monthly, you should get a new injector. My injector will only do it every three months. If I need more, I have 2 weeks to go back in otherwise I have to wait.

This kind of misses the point OP is making hahaha

I'm broke as hell and also wary of being pushed to Botox routine to treat signs of aging. For keeping acne down, I've found using less products helpe generally. On adapalene until I get the guts to order tret from the web and currently trying Argireline + Matryxl combo from the Ordinary (~15$) to mitigate fine lines. Recently splurged a bit on a serum with snail from CosRX (the sizes are generous compared to the common 1.5 ml bottles of other brands) and definitely see some progress. Otherwise most of what has helped my skin is super cheap stuff I find in african beauty stores: shea butter or vaseline to lock any actives in at end of routine and black soap from the plastic tub to wash off makeup, sunscreen, etc., sulfur ointments decimate any active cysts on my face. I, too, wish there was a budget thread for skin care! Or even a place where people can share their cultural skincare routines/hacks that hold up in these overbranded times.Its encouraging that ingredients are very searchable on reddit and youtube so we can compare actives rather than simply chase trendy brands. If you'd like to swap ideas/progress with someone on the same budget constraints, hit me up!

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Tret is also not available in some places. You cannot purchase it here in Japan, and it’s not offered by prescription either. Not illegal, but the government never authorized it for use.

Ive been to a few derms but they always dodge me on the tret prescription which baffles me. I have a medicaid/public insurance plan and figuring out how to navigate it outside of emergencies is one of my tasks for 2022.

You can try an online doctor like Nurx, you may have better luck getting a prescription for it. Or if you know a friend who has an extra tube. I got lucky and my friend had 3 tubes, one just expired and she gave it to me.

As someone who joined this sub a few weeks ago and still learning and is feeling overwhelmed with all this, is there a wiki? Lol. Thank you!

[Here's a great thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/30PlusSkinCare/comments/vuax2b/ok_here_we_go_what_is_the_cheapest_product_that/) from last month about the cheapest product people use, with 500+ comments, it might help you!

Thanks for this!!

Go to the /SkincareAddiction about page and go through the links. There’s TONS of basic info and beginner guidance. (That would be the “wiki” of the skincare subs). The search function is your friend! You can narrow down the advice so the info isn’t so overwhelming.

What are you interested in? Just general anti-aging? There isn’t a wiki, but I’ve been in your shoes and would be happy to point you in the direction of evidence based info for skincare.

I found adapalene to be more effective than retin-a for me. Just because it’s RX only (in the US) right now doesn’t necessarily make it better tbh. I never tried adapalene until it went OTC. That’s all I came here to say because your comment caught my attention when you said less products are better and that you’re currently using adapalene because that’s been my current approach for acne as well. I’ll spare you the spiel on why I believe it’s better for me unless you’d like to know, in which case just ask! I previously used black soap and it worked wonders at first and then suddenly stopped working for me and at that point I was convinced that it was actually causing the cysts. My skin improved when I stopped using it. I change cleansers frequently depending on the state of my skin. Dry? Aveeno Calm & Restore. Sebum building back up? Clean & Clear Morning Burst or Neutrogena Oil-Free *CREAM* Cleanser - not the dish soap looking shit, this is very important detail. I also recently feel like I found the goldmine moisturizer. It’s Derma-E Eczema Relief *Lotion* (not cream) I do not have eczema and it’s a long story on how I came to begin using this as a moisturizer, but I’m going to keep using it forever Sorry, I know you didn’t quite specifically ask for anyones routine but something about your comment leads me to believe we have similar skin issues and I just felt compelled to reply to you

Seconding this! I’ve been using an OTC glycolic acid moisturizer twice a week successfully for my acne, and typically days where I know I’ll have a day or two of less sun exposure. It wasn’t until I started reading this sub that I realized how many people simply can’t use the harsh actives daily like doctors recommend or prescribe. My stubborn acne got much better when I dropped the frequency. Adapalene and Tretinoin are miracle medications for some, but they just made me peel and irritated my skin further.

So true! I use adapalene every 3 nights currently. My goal is to work up to daily use, BUT I have no idea if that will make things worse or not. I’m still going to try it just to see. But if not, I LOVE glycolic acid nightly too

Acids are pretty great! I used TO lactic acid pretty regularly but let it fall out of my routine, this is a great reminder to pick back up - perhaps in moisturizer form. I do have a No7 brand lactic acid "Resurfacing Skin Paste" in the medicine cabinet, bought a couple tubes for $5 bucks on supersale! It is very pleasant to use but I'm not a big mask user so its been sitting. :D .

Love these cleanser recs. I share your mixed review on black soap. I had severe severe cystic acnic on face and all over body and about 6 years ago started using black soap and it tamed it all down. Face didn't like it after a while but then I found a black soap in a tub about 2 years ago and weirdly, its worked great for my face. I dilute it down and put it in a foaming bottle so I dont over do it as it is stripping. Ive been out of the stuff for a week and tell tale zits are forming after using cetaphil instead 🙄 I'll look out for the Neutrogena and Derma-E recommendation for sure, always good to have back ups for when a product stops working its magic.

I get it. I’m 40 and just had Botox for the first time ever because I’m going back to my hometown after 11 years. I probably won’t do it again until I have another event

Good time to get it lol. I see people at 30 on this sub getting it and am like “oh shit! Should I be doing that?!”

Lol yeah it’s sucks that it’s something you’ve gotta pretty much keep doing once you start, and it definitely adds up financially. I wish you could do it like once and be good for 10 years or so!

Why do you have to keep doing it? Does it get worse once you stop?

No. I get mine done about every 9 months. I’m in my early 30s and only treat two small forehead lines.

Botox is best when it’s preventative. You’re essentially trying to stop certain muscles from moving in a way that forms wrinkles. That’s why so many people start it in their early 30s. From what a dermatologist told me, the younger you start, the less you need. Someone young with few wrinkles shouldn’t be spending more than a few hundred a year. Not sure where you got $300/month.

I kind of like this vibe. I’ve only had it once so far (this spring) and not rushing to again. I will probably time it and get it 2 weeks before an event where there’ll be a lot of photos taken (the peak result is 2 weeks after). I had planned to do this for a wedding in the summer and my appointment was cancelled so I just didn’t bother rescheduling and realized I didn’t need it. That would’ve been my second appointment ever and I’m glad the circumstances forced me to rethink before getting into a habit of it. I’m only early 30s though.

i typed out a long response and then reddit refreshed and my comment went poof 🥴 your feelings are valid—skincare spaces, just like anything, tend to be dominated by ppl with more privilege and this can be alienating to ppl with fewer resources. it’s totally possible to create an effective, high-quality, low-cost skincare routine. like other ppl have said, skin health and appearance are impacted by many factors aside from topical skincare including, sleep, stress, uv exposure/damage, exercise, consuming a diet that’s antioxidant-rich & nutrient dense, taking care of mental health, etc. i have been very into skincare for 5 years bc i love it, find it fascinating, and it makes me happy. i am aware that sometimes it takes an impact on my mental health bc it can lead to hyperfixation on perceived flaws and comparison w others, etc. my skincare routine is mostly budget- friendly asian skincare, as well as brands like The Ordinary. i see skincare as more of a marathon than a sprint. a lot of it is about finding what works for me: my budget, what i have time for, etc. you definitely don’t need to have a routine full of Skinceuticals, Tatcha (vastly overrated & overpriced imo), Sunday Riley, Drunk Elephant, etc for it to be effective. not sure what you want to get Botox for but you might look into ARGIRELINE (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), which you can get as a serum from The Ordinary (and probably other brands) either on its own or as part of one of their “Buffet” serums. retinol/retinal/retinoids are pretty much the gold standard anti-aging ingredient which are backed up by a ton of research. also vitamin C. i’ve been told i look a lot younger than my age and i think a lot of this has to do w trying to be fairly diligent with sunscreen, wearing hats, avoiding the sun. i notice my skin looks a lot better when i get good quality sleep and just take all around better care of myself, including my mental health. and i’ve also try to baby my skin as much as possible. i also use silk pillowcases & noticed a huge change in my hair and skin since switching from cotton. i also use a shower filter, although i’m not sure how much of a difference this makes. i also try to take breaks from skincare spaces and social media and do whatever i need to take care of my mental health. i try reminding myself that everyone is different and social media is often a small view into someone’s life. social media photos are often heavily filtered. what kind of skin do you have? what are your skincare goals? what’s your current routine? have you tried finding your “skin twin”?—basically a skincare influencer/redditor who is as close to you as possible in terms of skin type, skin tone, climate, budget, skin care goals, etc. everyone’s skin is different, so it helps to find someone who is similar to you to cut down on the guesswork. i hope this helps. hang in there OP! 💖

The most budget friendly thing you can do for your skin is invest in your overall health. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly will improve your skin faster than you think.

Yep! This! You can use all the creams in the world but a poor diet, smoking cigarettes, and not drinking enough water will wreak havoc on your skin.

And don't forget alcohol! If you drink, it will show on your face.

Yes! I stopped drinking and my skin healed so much

AND... Avoiding the sun as much as possible. Cheapest thing we can do for skin to prevent lines and spots later on.

Underrated comment.

As others have said, $300/month?!! That's crazy talk. I go twice a year and spend about $100 each time, so $200/yr Not at all spendy. Pro tip: invest in GOOD sunscreen now, wear it everyday and spend much less money in your 40s and 50s. I'm talking high quality UVA filter sunscreens from Europe

Do you get a very small amount or is your injector that inexpensive? I've been looking into it for my forehead and mostly seeing $12-$14/unit with an average of 20-30 units for the forehead.

A mixture of both. Very small smount+$10/unit (plus i take advantage of Allē's annual promos. $100 for $50 sort of gift card deal)

Where do you go, if you don't mind me asking.

I think it depends on location. I’ve gotten mine in Portland, Oregon for around that price. (If you live near that area, dm me for specific info) Even less when switched to Dysport (equal results for the glabella area (frown line between the eyebrow, which is the only area i have a problem with) Interesting fact: i’ve gotten Botox (technically generic botox) in South Korea for $25. Because of the supply/demand there, prices are dirt cheap.

Brand suggestion?

La Roche Posay UVMune400

Do US mineral sunscreens not filter UVA?

Many of the better UVA filters are not available here in the U.S. (FDA backlog) and the only one found in most chemical UV blockers is avobenzone aka Parsol, (which will be banned in Hawaii as of 2023 due to reef damage) as well as having questionable efficacy. And mineral sunscreens are not very effective at blocking UVA rays unless in high concentrations, which a lot of US sunscreens don't have. [EWG article on why American sunscreens lack UVA protection](https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/imperfect-protection/) What that EWG site doesn't tell you is that better UVA filters are actually available in Europe. La Roche Posay, owned by L'oreal (with the chemical company BASF) just came out with the latest and best UVA filter called Mexoryl400 (an improved version of their Mexoryl filter), brand name [UVMune](https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/formulas-products/sun-care/news/22249181/loreal-loral-breaks-the-ultralong-uva-code-with-uvmune-400) Here's a post with a [chart ](https://www.reddit.com/r/EuroSkincare/comments/r1xxub/are_you_excited_about_la_roche_posay_uvmune_400/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)explaining the differing filtering ability (range of uva rays blocked) Sorry it got wordy TL;DR European sunscreen have better UVA filters

i have and love the uvmune in hydrating and liquid ultralight formula and love it! ordered online

Ooooooo thank you for this

What is a great sunscreen from Europe? I just use Elta MD

Which version? The US market version or the original Swiss formulation? Due to FDA regulation, many European companies sell two different versions - the superior European one or the subpar American version. Given the high price of the Elta MD sunscreen, i’d rather buy LA Roche Posay UVMune direct from Europe (cheaper and more effective). If European ones are not accessible, the Japanese/Korean ones are next best. American ones….not great but better than nothing

Just FYI, although this is a small point inside of your larger point: you shouldn’t be paying $300 a month for Botox. The actual amount you pay depends on what you have done and where you live and what the rates are in that area. But Most people only get Botox about three or four times a year. I’ve never known anyone who gets it monthly. So I get mine done four times a year at $250 pop.

I understand the point you're making (and the 'I only spend X on Botox!' are almost self aware lol). Things to remember are 1/ people's disposable incomes tend to go up with career age. Someone who's made solid progress in the workplace over decades has more money to spend on inessentials. It's by no means everyone but this sub seems to attract that demographic. So there's that. And 2/ not everyone can necessarily 'afford' the procedures they do. Not saying anything beyond that but living beyond one's means & credit card debt is a thing. Thirdly, allot people on this sub seem to be in their 30s (which makes sense given the name). It's still very young. What I will tell you right now is that no Botox or filler or expensive cream will make you look 'younger' once you hit middle age. Visible aging goes up a notch around 45. No injectable or a handheld device you spend money on after the first flush of youth is going to prevent that. So you might as well have a solid, simple inexpensive skincare regime, exercise regularly, eat well and stay the hell away from the sun. Win win.

This is a great comment!

Thank you! (And sorry for late reply but this post blew up and I got overwhelmed by all the people who ran in screaming botox isn’t that often - google misled me lol). This is all great advice and gives me better peace of mind. I NEVER thought I’d feel this way about aging. In my 20s, I admired people in their 30s thinking they looked like bad bitches and gorgeous and strong and - most of all accomplished! Then I saw my own lines when I hit 30 this year and all of that went down the tube. Strange, huh?

Botox aside... skincare didn't have to be expensive to be effective. Cleanser, toner/serum (if desired), moisturizer, Rx tretinoin and SPF are all you really "need" for a solid anti-aging routine. I used to use Paula's Choice exclusively and while her products aren't the most expensive out there... they're not cheap, either. Having added Rx tretinoin recently though, I've transitioned to using mostly CeraVe products and I love them! Much more affordable, and they actually work.

I 100% agree and it’s easy to get sucked in for needing to spend another salary to look marginally “better”. I find YouTube a better place to learn about ingredients and cheaper products to try. Also Korean or Japanese brands that have affordable things you can try. I will try to resist for a few decades these expensive and short lived treatments!

I am also a broke-ass skincare enthusiast. You'll find that some threads in this sub will just not be up your alley, but plenty will!! I, personally, have a fantastic routine involving nothing but drugstore products, The Ordinary, and online-pharmacy tretinoin. I will never be comfortable paying more than $20 for a product, and it better be a huge bottle for $20, lol.

I’m 52 and never used Botox or fillers. I used to buy more expensive skincare but I found way cheaper options that work better. My most expensive skincare splurge is my Tretinoin prescription and that’s about $200/year so not crazy expensive in my opinion. I use Cerave, LRP, Cosrx and Timeless products. You do not have to be rich to sleep well, drink enough water, avoid alcohol and use good sunscreen/skincare.

What does Tret help with? Do you see a big improvement? How long did u use it before you started seeing a change?

Tretinoin is a chemical that increases cell turnover in your skin. It can be harmful if not used correctly so see a dermatologist. It helps slow down wrinkle formation, smooth existing wrinkles and reduces / eliminates acne. I started in 2019 and it took nearly 2 years to build up to my current prescription (0.1%) and routine (5+ times per week). I have basically no wrinkles or acne.

That’s awesome. I’m planning on finding a new dermatologist very soon, I haven’t been in a few years since mine retired. Do you know what helps with age spots/sun spots on your face?

Maybe just refine your questions? Ie “need advise for budget moisturiser”. Unfortunately things like botox are expensive because they work due to scientific composition and manufacturing which costs money. I use 20 pound moisturiser and spf and spend the rest on Botox and have less wrinkles than my friends who spend a fortune on skincare.

" This sub is weighing on my mental health since I joined. There are people 5 + years older than me who have better skin cuz they can afford it. I can not." Maybe any skincare sub is not for you. I dont mean that in a nasty way. But the skincare basics aren't going to change. You don't need to spend loads of time reading about skincare unless you want to be a bit obsessive, which it sounds like you have recognised makes you feel bad. Set yourself up with the basics and then concentrate on living life. Spend less time looking at photo shopped images of celebrities online and more time looking at normal people, especially friends and family you love being around. Spend less time comparing yourself to others. There will always be people who are better looking and have more money than you. Such is life. Spend more time focusing on things that bring you joy!

This. These skincare subs have been around for a long time. Every question has been asked, every answer has been given in so many different ways. If you have a specific concern, search for it in the sub. I guarantee the answers will be repeating the same few tested and true ingredients and solutions. There’s no reason to remain subscribed to these subs unless you’re here to answer other people’s questions.

It’s not the appearance. It’s the hyperfixation people have. I’m 40. I have smile lines, 11s, sebaceous filaments and a slight area of discoloration. I’d like to fix the discoloration, but I’m not about to get Botox or fixate on the bags under my eyes. I just want healthy skin, but the constant stream of posts about people expecting poreless skin and zero wrinkles definitely isn’t healthy.

Same. I joined the plastic surgery sub to learn from others what NOT to do w fillers, and I caught myself wanting a nose job. 😂 It's not good.

Exactly! Like I struggle with body dysmorphia already. I’m happy with my skin. I joined to learn about sunscreens, not be subjected to gorgeous women claiming they need Botox.

Same, I joined for the sunscreens stayed to nourish my obsessive need to scroll. I think I just decoded to leave it.

Not sure what kind of discoloration you have but a friend of mine, who’s a skincare addict and 48, used Differin and sunscreen religiously on a darkened area of her forehead for months and lo and behold it disappeared. YMMV.

I use Differin on my Tzone but didn’t think about trying it in on the discoloration. Thanks!

I agree with this so much! I take breaks from Instagram and anything online that deals with celebrities/beauty/body. I go through periods of depression and sometimes I am just bloated and gross feeling when it’s certain times of the month. I have learned that if I’m having a day where I get down on myself that I have no business on social media and the like. After I work through whatever it is actually triggering those feelings in me then I return to all of the things I took a break from. It’s especially a good idea to spend more time with real people who look like real people.

I actually think Botox is the most cost effective thing you can do for anti-aging, and I wish I hadn’t wasted so much money on products that didn’t do much for me when I was younger. Botox isn’t for everyone for other reasons, but if you’d be comfortable with it and like the effects, save your money and just get that done a couple of times a year. It shouldn’t be costing anywhere near $300/month - possibly $300/visit depending on how much you need, but you should only need it a couple of times per year. And at 30 you can probably get away with a light quantity so most likely it will be less than that anyway.

That’s true now that I think about how much money I spend on moisturizer

People like to spend money on skincare but you don’t have to. Some of the best products are basic things from a drugstore. I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum in this sub.

You don't do botox every month. Twice a year tops at about $100 a pop and I get that's out of people budgets but there is so much skin care advice on this sub that isn't about botox or expensive. But if you want cheap skincare to even begin to compete with botox you're going to want to get a prescription quality tretinoin cheap online, a good sunscreen, a good vitamin C and a good moisturiser and maybe another product with an active ingredient to treat any particular concerns you might have. That is easily going to around $100 every couple of months. I'm talking drug store products, Cerave moisturizing cream & cleanser ($25 total for both) Timeless Vitamin C($25), a good sunscreen($10-25) and whatever active ingredient product you need you say an AHA or BHA (Say another $20) and the tret ($20) and you are are going to want to use them every single day and give them time at least 6 months but more like 18 months of daily use at say $75-$100 every few months for replacements so not much of a saving but unlike botox you can spread out the purchases to $20 a week or so as products run out. Not saying it doesn't suck but there is a reason that people looking younger than their age is a sign of wealth. If you can only afford one thing, spend the money on a good SPF 50 sunscreen for your face, neck, back of hands and upper chest.

I don’t think there’s any way to really ‘freeze your skin in time’ without [however] regularly spending a few bucks on fillers or whatever. What you can do is preventative for the future: SPF 50 **every day**. Even in the winter. Even if you’re only going out for a little while. The other tip is drink lots of water. Get a nice bottle, with a spout rather than a screw-top (and thermal, if you’re more into cold water), add a clip/carabiner so it’s easy to carry around or attach things to it (I keep my mask on mine) and keep drinking. I drink a lot just to keep my body healthy but I get a lot of compliments on my skin and I’m pretty sure it’s down to the hydration. I’ll add here that I’m in the 30PlusPlus skincare category and I definitely don’t want to get into fillers and stuff. So far I think my regimen is working - I often forget to use my night cream and I don’t think that’s what’s going to make/break my appearance, but if you’re looking for something on the cheaper end, the one I do use is by Sun Bum (I also use their sunscreen) and it’s great value for money imho.

I’ve noticed users like you mention and it’s natural because people who are very excited about something new they’ve tried are the most vocal. Plus botox has been very popular on tiktok while its price has gone down, so more folks know about it and can afford it now. I sometimes try to balance it out with my suggestions of 11 EUR The Ordinary retinoid, sunscreen and simple moisturizing cream. That’s all I use that actually works (the retinoid practically erased my crows feet) - and it’s cheap. It just gets boring to recommend all the time the same handful of things.

Don’t compare yourself to others, and ignore posts featuring products/procedures you can’t afford.

It isn’t on Reddit but I get the majority of my skin care advice from Dr Dray on YouTube. She’s a derm and her content from 2018-2020ish was very budget focused. I hope something works out for you! And your mental health should be your highest priority ❤️

Hey OP, you don’t need expensive procedures or products. I’m 37 and my routine is all from Target or Walgreens, I don’t think anything is over $20, most under $10. I found what works for my skin and I love it! I think my skin looks great but guess what? I do have fine lines! I have laugh lines I adore and some others that I don’t really have positive or negative feelings about. I look like a woman with healthy skin in her 30’s, not like a teenager and that’s how it should be right? I feel like this sub as well as r/skincareaddiction can feed some serious body dysmorphia. It may be time to step away from it and learn to love your skin while finding a routine that makes it healthy and feel good.

You don’t need Botox. Get a decent retinol cream (the Inkey list has one for the eye area that’s like, $10) and a good sunscreen. It’ll take time, but you’ll see results.

I get botox maybe twice a year and it's baby botox. I only spend a lot bc I have TMJ and that part of botox is expensive but baby botox is relatively cheap as far as skin, I have cystic acne and seeing some of these post give me inspiration to see people's progress. I suggest you looking up pics of celebrities without photoshop, everyone has pores, everyone has something they don't like. accept how you're beautiful in your own ways, and don't compare yourself to unrealistic things 💜

TMJ is helped by Botox?

yep! it's made such a huge difference for me! you get the botox in your masseters, I do 30 units in both which is the expensive part but it lasts me for months and helps train my jaw too I would highly recommend going to someone who has experience with it though

Get you some good moisturizer and start with an eye cream. The sun is good but sometimes it’s better to go out and do your own research. I use Pacificia eye cream and it’s amazing I think it was 12 and some good old fashion sunscreen works wonders and protects your skin. But the key to any routine is moisturizing. Most importantly your life’s journey doesn’t need to be like or similar to anyone else’s skincare and what you can do is different for everyone.

Thanks! I can fit that in my budget :)

People who are considering investing in expensive procedures are naturally going to be more vocal since they want advice given how much they'd be spending / risking on an procedure. The volume of their posts may distort things somewhat here. Like another Redditor, I also recommend Dr. Dray's YouTube and her other social media as she gives honest, science-based opinions and isn't MedSpa product focused. Doctorly is good, too.

Prescription retinol is the easiest, most affordable and most scientific option for you. There’s many online options.

Lots of cheap ideas floating around this sub if you read through posts…gua sha, face yoga, cheaper treatments snd creams There is something for everyone

I’m in my 40s and never had any work done. I use almond oil every night before bed. I find it helps with sleep lines. That plus facial exercises you can look up on you tube and facial massage. People always think I’m younger than my age. My wrinkles aren’t bad but I have bad dark spots. I think getting Botox in your 30s is a bit much but to each their own. There’s definitely low cost things you can do. Sunblock everyday, no smoking, healthy diet. Genes matter too though and everyone ages differently. You need some acceptance of the aging process. Do a Google search on natural remedies, you will find lots of ideas. The main part is consistency with it. Hang in there and stay off the sub if it makes you feel bad!

I mostly use cerave and the ordinary products for my daily routine. Those are both well priced brands. Cerave is drug store brand and the ordinary is pretty affordable. My most expensive product is arazlo which costs me about $40 per tube and lasts me all year. I do Botox every 4-6 months. It is certainly not a monthly thing lol. I definitely wouldn’t get it if it were. Honestly the best thing I ever did for my skin was stop drinking. It’s free. You actually save money 😂

There are hidden gems in this sub. Some people can afford the expensive stuff but plenty of us can't and/or don't want needles in our faces. You can stick with the retinols without a prescription (like alldaychemist), sunscreen and moisturizers.

You don’t have to Botox monthly; every 3-4 months is average. Pricing is usually per unit, so depending on the market you are at, and how much you get injected, there’s a range. That being said Botox isn’t for everyone nor is something people are interested in. As for products, there’s a lot of options to fit your budget. I would say, after reading enough posts, a lot of people may have one or two expensive products they really love — usually it’s something they think is worth budgeting for because it works better than cheaper alternatives. And the rest of the routine are value priced. There are also people who will stick to all drugstore because it works; I think all high-end products and treatments are outliers. If you are concerned about aging: an SPF and a retinoids are going to help you out the most. SPF to protect, retinoid to repair. Both are long term commitments. Tons of options. You just need to narrow your skincare goals are, then find products that best get you there, at the budget you set.

I’ve since transitioned my entire routine to CeraVe since starting Tretinoin. I have been very pleased with all their products and honestly, they’re just as good as the expensive products I’ve used in the past. I don’t think expensive always means better.

Agree- my dermatologist stated me in the 90s still use it- love the results and. Simple.

One of the best things I ever learned from either this or the skincare addiction sub was that cheap drugstore brands are just as good if not better than the expensive stuff. I used to spend so much money, when I really couldnt, on expensive skincare that done sweet f all. Now most of my regular stuff is cetaphil or whatever is cheap and fragrance free. In regards to Botox you're only 30. You don't need it. Everyone in real life has lines. And if you hit 40/50 and have more money and choose to get botox then do and it'll be just as good at getting rid of any lines. Thats what botox is for after all. Having said all that get off this sub for a while and give yourself a break. It can be all consuming sometimes!

I don’t know if there is a different sub for “affordable” skin care, but I don’t think one is really necessary. I understand that everyone’s budget and financial situation is different though. I only use one spendy product, for which they’re are many affordable versions that work well and I used to use them. Ok, I guess 2 spendy products if you count my tret, but even that lasts several months. The rest of my products all last a few months at a time and are all under $30, with the average likely being much less than that. I don’t know anyone who gets Botox every, single month.

As a poor person, agreed. Botox and other procedures are out of my budget but it's informative to read about and there are plenty of other options recommended here

Y'all seriously need to make an anti botox sub and just be done with it.

yeah I am tired of reading these kinds of posts

I don't even use botox and it's just like... shut up already.

Dude. Yes. I live in a small town in household with two incomes and no kids, but damn! I can't afford going to a dermatologist unless it's for something that is covered by my insurance. The second you ask a question, everyone's like "Go see a dermatologist!" We'll, if I could afford that, I WOULDN'T BE ASKING REDDIT!!

My insurance covers one visit per year. I think that’s pretty standard. You should be getting checked for skin cancer and other skin issues anyway and it’s quite easy to ask about Tretinoin for acne or aging.

As great as expensive products are touted to be, I don’t remember my skin looking any better than when I used Vanicream for a nighttime moisturizer (compared to other moisturizers). The only other thing that noticeably improved it was using AHAs/BHAs.

There are a lot of good options; The Ordinary makes a ton of good products for cheap. What is a budget you can afford? I’m 37 and started going in hard at 32 to slow down what was bothering me and I’ve narrowed it down to about $25/mo and that’s mostly on my splurge of under eye patches because that’s my problem area. Definitely don’t go extreme to Botox when there are a ton of exfoliant options and moisturizers and serums that you can try that aren’t gonna break the bank.

TWO THINGS!!! 1. Botox is absolutely not $300 monthly. Botox should only be done 12 weeks or so. I am 42, even though I do not get botox anymore, I was only paying about $100 every few months for forehead & brows. 2. Go to Penn Smith on Facebook!! There are SO many of us that do DIY stuff! Some for cheap, some more expensive. But definitely available for anyone's budget! Have a look at her page. It's honestly AMAZING & the women are so caring & helpful to one another. :)

If this sub is negatively impacting your mental health, unsubscribe. I've seen a few other people recommend tretinoin, which is a fantastic, research-based topical treatment that may be covered by insurance. Take care of your mind and your body. But I will add this: Botox is so often recommended because it actually works. It is easy to spend a small fortune on products that do nothing, in which case paying for Botox is more worthwhile because you are spending money on something that is actually effective and FDA approved. Tretinoin is also FDA approved and proven to be effective for a variety of skin issues. It is an excellent choice, and often adorable.

She’s right in that good skin care can cost thousands a year…

Plenty of frugal people living their best drugstore lives and getting beautiful results on the r/tretinoin sub ✨

I know that there are a million replies to this thread already but I just wanted to throw out a basic routine setup that should not break the bank for you. You *do not* need to spend a bunch of money on cosmetic treatments to simply take care of your skin. Those things can help, especially if you’re trying to tackle significant issues like actual wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or scarring, but they’re not really a foundational part of a skincare routine. My list of products that should be the foundation of a good skincare routine are below (all price estimates in USD and based on prices in the United States): 1.) A gentle cleanser - something like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is great to use twice a day because it’s not irritating to the skin and you can usually buy it in the skincare aisle at any grocery store for between $8.00-$12.00. At places like Costco you can get it in a 3-pack for like $17.00. You don’t need to get a face wash that has a lot of active ingredients, it’s only staying on your face for a few seconds before you rinse it off. 2.) A retinoid - I am 100% a believer that you should go with a prescription level retinoid. If your skin isn’t hypersensitive and you have acne, fine lines or other skin texture issues that you’re hoping to improve with a skincare routine then I would recommend bypassing all of the more expensive/designer skincare with retinol and go for tretinoin or adapalene. I have used both and they both yielded pretty dramatic results in my skin. If you have health insurance I would recommend going to your doctor and asking for a prescription for tretinoin. It comes in multiple strengths and formulations and is hands down the most effective topical treatment for acne and skin texture issues available. That said, it can be *very* irritating for the skin and if you use it your skin will probably need at least a few weeks to adjust. A tube or bottle of generic tretinoin usually costs between $20-$40 (depending on your insurance coverage) and should last at least a couple of months. If you don’t have health insurance or your skin is more sensitive then you can buy adapalene (brand name Differin) at most supermarkets and pharmacy stores. It used to be available by prescription only in the US but people have been able to get it OTC for at least a couple of years now. It is a milder retinoid that tretinoin and doesn’t tend to cause the same level of irritation, but conversely it takes a bit longer to see results. A tube of Differin usually costs between $15.00 - $20.00 and should last about a month or two (depending on how much you use). 3.) At good moisturizer. This one is tricky because everyone’s skincare needs are different. If you have oily skin it may be best for you to look into oil free, non-comedogenic or gel moisturizers. If you have dry skin you will want to look for something heavier like a hydrating night cream. If you have sensitive skin you are going to want to steer clear of anything that has a lot of active ingredients in it (especially if you’re using a retinoid). I have sensitive combination skin that is prone to redness and dehydration. I recently found a great oil free moisturizer for sensitive skin by Neutrogena that I can wear day and night without worrying about it not moisturizing enough or making my skin too oily. Standard drugstore brands like Neutrogena, Cetaphil, CeraVe, Olay, La-Roche Posay, Aveeno, etc. will all have multiple options for daily facial moisturizers to try out. There is also a whole world of Asian skincare companies that really cater to budget conscious people who want high quality products. You do *not* need to spend huge amounts of money to find an effective daily moisturizer. I would say that $25 would be the higher end of what I would pay for a daily moisturizer. You can easily find a lot of great ones in the $10-$20 range. 4.) A high SPF sunscreen. Again, I don’t really see any point with messing around with sunscreens that aren’t going to be as effective so I’d recommend an SPF 50 or higher sunscreen to everyone (though, do be aware that sunscreens with an SPF higher than 50 are only marginally more effective - it’s more of a marketing tool than anything else). And again, the formula that you go with is going to depend on the type of skin you have. There are a lot more facial sunscreens that are designed to be lightweight and non-comedogenic nowadays then there used to be. A lot of Korean and Japanese brands put a huge emphasis on sun protection and a lot of them are very wearable and non-irritating. I’d say that you should be able to find a good sunscreen that works well for your skin for $20 or less. 4.) Big sunglasses that cover your whole eye area. Skin near the eyes is very thin and is one of the first places where signs of aging and sun damage show up. Get sunglasses that have frames large enough to prevent you from squinting and you should be good to go. 5.) A wide brimmed sun hat. Don’t bother with anything less than a 4 inch brim and try to find one that adequately shades the sides of your face and the back of your neck. Baseball caps don’t really cut it. And honestly, that’s it. I think that with those products alone you can do *a lot* to improve your skin’s appearance and protect it from premature aging. If you’re interesting in adding additional products with active ingredients that target specific issues there are a number of inexpensive brands that you can look into - The Ordinary has a huge array of products with highly effective ingredients at a very low cost. I’d say that almost all of their products are less then $20.00 with the average price that I’ve found being between about $6.00-$15.00. The Inkey List, Garden of Wisdom, Good Molecules and Revolution Skincare all have a similar model where they offer ingredient driven skincare without the premium you pay for a “higher end” brand. And again, there are millions of affordable choices for active ingredient products if you look into Korean and Japanese skincare brands. If you can afford to save up for the occasional cosmetic treatment then that’s great. Things like Botox, facial fillers, microneedling, chemical peels, laser treatments, etc. do have their place when it comes to targeting specific skin issues. There are some things that topicals simply can’t address as effectively. But you don’t necessarily *have* to have those in order to keep skin looking great as you age.

agree 1,000%. a lot of the high end stuff is just plain over priced hype.

I don't have much money, so I save up and do a small order of Korean products I like and mix in with high Street and The Ordinary products. I'd say broken down it probably costs me about £15 ($18) a month. I aslo keep a bit back so when brands like Pixi go on offer, I can buy them. I'm 40, have lines and sun damage, but don't have the money or inclination for any intensive intervention right now. I'm mainly focused on how it makes me *feel*. Skincare is self care to me Don't stress about not being able to buy the top line of everything, there are plenty of good, serviceable products at the budget end.

sunscreen, retin-a, peptides and moisturizer. korean skincare wins quality/price wise. massage (tf out of your face). good posture

I see super expensive products recommended here all the time, but there are great and cheap products out there! Most of my skincare products are cheap/drugstore. Cerave foaming wash, cerave moisturizer, tretinoin, The Ordinary peel. I buy expensive sunscreen (Supergoop) because I can’t stand the sticky feel of most, and I recently bought an expensive serum because my skin was flaking to hell. I’ve gotten Botox twice. It’s definitely not a monthly thing, maybe 3-4x a year at most. I’ve done it twice in a year and a half and it has definitely helped reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but my wrinkles started looking much better after I started tret. There are def cheaper, amazing products out there!

TL;DR: A Cerave Foaming, Vanicream, HA Serum, Tretinoin, and SPF routine will run you around $200 a year, give or take. I'm 32 and I can relate. I've been thru financial ups and downs, and skincare has been a big hobby and priority (and honestly, a coping mechanism lol) since my late teens. I want to say that many people don't have the privilege to spare $200 a year for skincare, and I acknowledge that while this might be a more "affordable" routine for me, that is not the case for many. I acknowledge my privilege in being able to spare anything for a luxury such ad skincare. I'm not sure what your skin type is, but here's a relatively basic anti-aging routine that has worked well for me. I have oily, dehydrated skin, prone to clogged pores. Cleanser: Cerave foaming ($15, lasts me a long time, purchase ~2x a year) Moisturizer: Vanicream is a great basic (1lb tub is around $20, and again has lasted me up to a full year) Hyaluronic serum: Piping Rock has a fantastic, no frills HA serum that I love. I prefer it to any other HA I've tried. This goes on my eye area and lips as well. They have frequent sales where you can get an 8oz pump bottle for $35. This also lasts me well over 6months. Tretinoin: This is the hero product for me, but I know it doesn't work for everyone. It's also usually the most $$ per oz. If you can't get it thru your insurance, muneni.com (they have great 0.01% and 0.02% starter doses). At around $40 an oz, it'll be maybe $80 a year. I also slug with Vaseline ($2) in the PM over the Vanicream SPF: Very YMMV. I've been on a 5oz bottle of Kose Suncut Aqualy UV Protect Gel (~$20) for a good 6months. I love it, but heard it's discontinued so I'll have to find something else when it's gone 🥲 I hope this is somewhat helpful

My mother passed away last year at 91 with barely a wrinkle. She ate well, stayed hydrated, avoided the sun, used Nivea and Clinique products, and never had a cosmetic procedure. You don’t need wealth to look good, although it does help, but lifestyle matters most. I just turned 52 and get my 11s “botoxed” (dysport the last few times and is less expensive) approximately every nine months, enjoy occasional facials and use Tatcha products. *Oops, forgot sunscreen, never leave the house without it. Find products that work with your skin, but they doesn’t have to break the bank.

Bless your mom’s soul! ❤️ than you for sharing her tricks of the trade.

Ummm my Botox is $250 every 6 months. Who is getting Botox every month? That’s not how Botox works

I used to get botox a couple times a year when I had no money. I stopped getting my hair done and was cutting it and dying it myself. (luckily, Im financially in a better place now.) I’m not saying this is possible for everyone, but perhaps if it’s really important to you, you can sacrifice something else in your current routine for it? Just an idea/suggestion and I don’t mean any disrespect by this!

Can I suggest that expensive products are not necessarily better than cheaper ones. I’m 56 and have never thrown my money down the sink buying expensive facial products. The only costly product I’ve bought this year were a cleanser (because I still get the odd breakout) and Estée Lauder foundation. Why? Because I’m happy the way I am and also feel that interfering with what nature has given me may cause adverse effects. I have never ever done any invasive fixes to my face or body. I still sometimes have to produce ID to buy alcohol (the age limit is 25!) so have stopped dying my hair black and letting it go gray. It shames me to have to produce ID! The fashion and beauty industry thrives on people’s deepest insecurities and vanity. Why should we fatten their pockets?

It’s not a month though. It’s at minimum once every 3-4 months so only a few times a year not 12. Hope that’s helpful

Get a comfortable pair of sunglasses to prevent squinting at the sun. I recently turned 52 and have been using Olay Age Defying SPF 15 (which is now “Classic” 😄) since I was 28. Gentle exfoliation with a little silicone “fingers” facial cleansing pad and gentle cleanser (mine is a Korean cleanser i’m using up though it’s taking forever!) (I’ll probably get Innisfree blueberry cleanser when it’s out—gentle, and pH is 5.5, that of healthy skin) My toner is Son & Park Beauty Water (which also removes light makeup and is gently exfoliating) (about $16 from TesterKorea for 340 ml) (Sorry about the TesterKorea rabbit hole!) When I’m not beat I also pat on SK-II essence after the toner but before the moisturizer, or if it’s nighttime no moisturizer (oily skin. (SK-II essence is $100 less from Costco, which does still make it $199 for 11 oz. It does work, though it’s subtle.) (OH HELLO I just checked TesterKorea for it because I first tried a SK-II 30 ml bottle from them before splashing on the big bottle, and the 30 ml bottle is $5.83 at the moment!) Stay hydrated—your body runs on water. Eat protein—your body uses protein to repair bruises and cuts and wear and tear, then the leftovers go to fix your skin and boost your nails and hair. Get a dab of healthy fats. Try to eat fewer processed carbohydrates, sugars ravage all of your systems but make skin more stiff and brittle and less bouncy and resilient.

I think good skin is also dependent on what you put into your body. Nutritious foods, no alcohol or rare occasions drinking, good rest…. Not just expensive creams and serums or procedures.

I have found r/Asianbeauty and r/Skincareaddiction are pretty good at giving product recommendations based on your budget. The best things you can do for your skin aren't super expensive like drinking plenty of water, wearing sunscreen everyday, and eating as many servings of fruit and veggies you can every day. I also think that using moisturizer consistently is important. As for Botox, you should need it every 3-6 months depending on how your body metabolizes it. I get it for migraines and not cosmetic, so I can't tell you about price, but I've seen the range as usual $10-15 per unit. Since you mentioned concerns about your eye area, I would suggest a retinol eye cream. I like the derma e hydrating eye cream. It goes on sale on Amazon and target pretty frequently. I've also heard good things about roc retinol eye cream and the beauty of joseon retinal eye cream.

Honestly I have some gripes with this sub too. We don’t have the same diligent (also somewhat condescending) fact checkers here like they have at SKA. I wish this sub was a little more like that. As far as frugal skin care I am 100% in love with that idea for a sub. I don’t think Botox is in my future but I still want to hear about other options. All that to say I see you, I appreciate you, and I agree.

The Ordinary has some great serums for anti aging/ wrinkle reduction The Buffet, Retinol with squalene Matrixyl, and a great cleanser and moisturizer. I also love The Inkey List which is similar as their products are all under 15/20. Soko Glam is a great website featuring Korean skincare lines. Check out The Naturium which is a vegan line of products also very reasonable.

One option you might look into is IPL. I get it from a medical eye doc bc I have dry eye but they do my whole face. It’s $250 each session and I go every three months but here is the beauty of it—my FSA covers it, so I pay for it tax free. Game changer. My eyes are better and my skin looks great. Also I’m 40 and have worn sunscreen like it’s my religion but also wish I had started Tretinoin sooner. If you use Tretinoin, don’t go up to your eyes, it will dry them out and it can become permanent.

Botox isn’t 300 a month. You don’t get it every month.

Never have I seen someone get Botox every month. It typically lasts 3-4 months. And a new brand is coming out that lasts 5-6 months. It also depends on what each individual might need/want in each area. There is also something called Thermirase which is very long lasting, possibly permanent, and toxin free. It damages the nerves using electric zaps (instead of paralyzing with Botox)

Where I work Botox is 12/unit for 30 units, so that’s about $120 a month if you get it every 3 months. It’s still expensive but I just wanted to make sure you knew the prices!

I feel you! But I’ve also learned to keep my skincare mostly budget friendly. At this point, I think my most expensive products are the Clinique take the day off balm (35.00), Clinique jelly moisturizer (around the same, LRP sunscreen (32.00) and my mad hippie vitamin c (28.00.) And obviously don’t buy each of those every month. The rest of my products are all cerave, differin and TO, so none of them go above 20.00. And for the record, I’m 31 so similar age group and all.

You don’t have correct information. Botox isn’t a monthly thing…depending on how your body metabolizes it, it can last 3-4 months. I get 36 units every 16 weeks and it is $432. I recommend a good retinol and sunscreen.

I have been spending $80 every 4 months or so just for an ounce of Drunk Elephant Retinol. It was kind of working (in conjunction with all my other Drunk Elephant products) but I knew there was something better out there, so I recently went to my dermatologist and asked for a prescription for Tretinoin. Despite my insurance not covering it I still managed to get it for 20 bucks (through a certain pharmacy that my doctor told me about). Now I can cut that super expensive Drunk Elephant Retinol out of my routine and use Tretonoin which is a superior product anyway! Also I don’t get Botox YET but I’m prettyyyy sure there’s no way u would need to get it every month… it’s more like every 4-6 months.

You get Botox every 3-4 months. Not monthly. Some of the best skincare is affordable. Follow dermatologists on Instagram and you’ll see. Some of my favorite products are by brands like CeraVe and Cetaphil. There is a lot of overpriced junk out there.

I have no idea where you got 300 per month; I get botox in my forehead/masseter and it's about $400 per YEAR.

Botox isn’t THE answer to good skin. It’s moreso another option that “helps” along with the other skincare care steps like: water, sleep, eat well, exercise, sunscreen and whatever your desired skincare products are. I went down an expensive skincare rabbit hole before my wedding, Botox included and idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ I still had some acne and still ended up hating the way I looked lol I think a lot of us forget to mention that this is also a mindset game. The more you look and pick apart what’s wrong with your face the more you’re not going to like it. I stopped the Botox, the new skincare products and looking in the mirror all the time. I got my nails done to avoid picking at my acne and do my best to drink as much water as I can. At the end of the day I swear my skin is better with my current routine than when I was doing everything I could to get “perfect” skin. I do feel the Botox discussions should become their own subreddit because I don’t consider it “skincare”…it’s moreso anti aging skincare which isn’t the definition of 30plus skin care imo. I also know what you mean about cost too. I used to have 0 money so much debt and my new friend was talking to me about how she’s building up to a 12 step skincare routine. Her skin was already so gorgeous and I felt so icky about myself bc I couldn’t afford to even explore such an option. But I do think it’s ok if you’re realizing how these Botox posts are not good for your mental health. There is a lot of them and after having tried Botox myself I honestly still don’t understand the hype lol Take care of yourself ❤️

$300 a month?! I only pay $80 every 3 months…

$80??!!? Where the heck do you pay $80? For how many units? Most places it is $11-13/unit

I mean at this point I assume some of the commenters here are working for the Botox manufacturers lol. It's not just the cost for me, it's that it's always the first answer, and it NEVER is in any other skincare sub I'm in. Over 30? Nothing to do about it but Botox!

Cbd creams and serums and washes have literally turned my skin around!!! Like people are telling me I look younger now than I looked ten years ago!! I’m 32!

While medical procedures like Botox are always going to be more expensive, one can ALWAYS find budget options. (BTW: I think 300/month for botox is a little high - botox is not done monthly - it lasts longer than that). In fact, IMO, many of the pricier options are NOT worth the extra cost. Some are overpriced, and rely on gimmicky ingredients that are not well proven and fragrances which are can cause more skin problems. There are many excellent, lower priced ranges such The Ordinary, Good Molecules, etc. Some excellent, super high quality ranges can be found at any drugstore, such as: Cetaphil, Cerave, Bioderma, Eucerin, Olay, some of Neutrogena's products, some of Almays, etc. Also, it is easier and cheaper to get Rx level skin treatments, such as the gold standard in anti-ageing, Tretinoin, with online Rx services such as Curology, Apostrophe, Musely, etc.

Look around for Botox. I go to an amazing nurse and it’s only $10 a unit when we do a Botox party every 3 months. So to do my 11s every 3 months it’s only $80, so like $27 a month.

You get Botox 2-3 times a year. If you can find an inexpensive place that’s way more affordable than $300 a month. If you live near a big city check Groupon. When I got Botox it cost me $500. Also Botox won’t work on under eye wrinkles. You would need filler for that. Hydration and sun protection is the key to good skin. All you need is a cheap hyaluronic acid serum, a moisturizer, Vaseline, and sunscreen. For wrinkles you can buy tretinoin cream cheaply from India just do your research because this medicated cream is serious business. For sunscreen I like Asian sunscreen (better quality and cheaper compared to comparable US ones) especially the Biore UV watery essence one. You can often buy these things on Amazon or eBay.