It’s pretty much the middle of Summer now and the sun is scorching down on us, threatening to create spots and blemishes caused by suncream and sweat – it really is a magical time. The good news is that with the help of a carefully curated skincare regime you can reduce the chance of those pesky pimples popping up and instead keep your pores cleansed and happy. Before you jet off on holiday, make sure to grab a selection of skincare saviours boasting hydration and exfoliation.
To give you some guidance, check out my budget summer skincare heroes below. I sometimes worry about travelling with my expensive serums and moisturisers for fear that I might forget them or some other tragedy befall them, so I created this budget-friendly routine that worked like a gem. You don’t always need expensive products, you just need ones that work.
Make-Up Remover – Nivea Micellar Cleansing Wipes
Although I love Drunk Elephant’s Slaai Butter Cleanser and Garnier’s Micellar Water, my holiday make-up remover is less fussy and more travel-friendly with Nivea’s Micellar Cleansing Wipes. These space-saving wipes are a great choice for gently removing make- up and giving your skin a first cleanse before your scrubs and toners.
Price: around £3.
Face Scrub – L’Oreal Smooth Sugars Clear Scrub
I really love this face scrub and try and insert it into my skincare routine throughout the year. In a warm and humid country, this is a skincare staple as it carefully unclogs pores by removing dirt and debris with its coarse sugar texture. The smell is also divine (kiwi seed extract) and can even be used on your lips to remove dead or dry skin. Talk about a multitasker!
Price: £10.
Toner – Lacura Healthy Glow Glycolic Acid Tonic
If you’ve ever had a sneak peek at my Aldi Budget Beauty Gems post, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Aldi’s ‘fake’ skincare range, Lacura. Making cheap copies of top skincare brands, Lacura is a great place to find some budget beauty bargains like this fake Pixi Tonic. I decanted it into a small travel bottle (pictured) and found that the glycolic acid was great for giving my face a second exfoliation after spending the day wearing suncream in the heat.
Price: £3.99.
Serum – Superdrug’s Simply Pure Hydrating Serum (Day/Night)
Superdrug have recently seemed to up their game when it comes to their own brand range. With a fully fledged Vitamin E range, hydration range and more, they have created some great products that don’t break the bank! These day and night serums are compact and hydrating on the skin, providing an extra layer of moisture to prevent skin drying out. Serums are a must and these guys are a great place to start.
Price: £2.99 (day), £3.99 (night).
Eye Cream – Boots Aloe Vera Eye Cream
I am forever on the hunt for a great budget-friendly eye cream and this one wins the jackpot. With aloe vera to soothe burnt or inflamed skin, this eye cream is essential for taking with you on your travels. A little goes a long way and your eyes will thank you for taking such good care of them!
Price: £1.67.
Moisturiser – No7 HydraLuminous Water Surge Gel Cream (Day)
No7 is a great ‘middle brand’ that isn’t too high end but isn’t completely cheap either. I’ve always enjoyed using their face creams so I decided to try out their HydraLuminous Water Surge Gel Cream on my recent trip and it was great. Instantly hydrating and quickly absorbed, this was a great primer to suncream and an effective way to keep skin moisturised.
Price: £14.
Moisturiser – No7 HydraLuminous Overnight Recovery Cream (Night)
As my skin is prone to drying out, I picked No7’s HydraLuminous Overnight Recovery Cream to work on hydrating my skin overnight. Sleeping in air-conditioned rooms is great but the air can easily dry out your skin even further, so a decent night cream is a must. This one by No7 feels lovely and soothing on the skin and when I wake up my face is smooth and soft.
Price: £14.
The Girl In The Window 