Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas salons and skincare collection, thinks skincare doesn't have to be super expensive. “There are good products for any budget,” she says. This quote comes from a woman who works with some of the fanciest clients with some of the most enviable complexions in Hollywood (think Mandy Moore, Debra Messing, Elisabeth Moss. Maggie Gyllenhaal Constance Wu, and Julianne Moore), so you know it must be true.
As it turns out, Vargas is not the only facialist to the stars who agrees that you can get effective skincare products with high-quality ingredients on a budget—you just have to know who to look for. So we asked some of our favorite celebrity estheticians in the business, like Renée Rouleau (Demi Lovato, Lili Reinhart) and Biba de Sousa (Emily Blunt, Miley Cyrus), to name their holy-grail skincare buys under $20. Keep scrolling to discover the affordable cleansers, lip balms, facial tools, and moisturizers (and more) they love.
Joanna Vargas
1. Wholesome Beauty Dry Skin Body Brush
"A dry brush is a great drugstore beauty buy. It costs about $10 and you can get it anywhere. Dry brushing is my favorite method of body exfoliation because it is multi-tasking—it's actually incredible as a cellulite treatment and increases elasticity." — Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas salons and skincare collection
2. Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer
"Jergens is my favorite drugstore skincare brand. I love the lotion/self-tanner. It's easy to apply, and the color looks really natural. And it's better than the sun for the skin!"
3. Burt's Bees Cleansing Oil
"I love a cleansing oil to take off makeup, and this one is great for anyone with sensitive skin. It's soothing, hydrating, and doesn't have harmful chemicals in it."
Renée Rouleau
4. Renée Rouleau
"I’m a huge believer in toners and essences but using regular cotton balls and pads soak up way too much product which is a waste of money. No one will ever go back to cotton balls or pads after using these product-saving cloths." — Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician and founder of Renée Rouleau Skin Care
5. Jovivi Gua Sha Scraping Massage Tool
"Aside from increasing blood circulation, which encourages a healthy-looking glow, a gua sha stone is really good for massaging the strong masseter muscles that people get from grinding their teeth and tension, which can lead to headaches. Plus, keeping those muscles softened by massaging with a gua sha prevents a wide look for the jawline so the face can be more narrowly sculpted. (Many people get Botox to help lessen the strength of those muscles, so this is an inexpensive DIY.)"
6. Renée Rouleau No Picking! Twist Toy
"I work with a lot of clients who have acne, and subsequently, I work with a lot of skin pickers who have a hard time keeping their fingers off their face. These keep your hands busy and act as a reminder of where your hands shouldn’t be. Plus, it’s super fun to play with."
Mindi Walters
7. Rael Bamboo Face Sheet Mask
"While I used to be somewhat skeptical about these types of masks, this one really won me over. It makes your skin look glowing and refreshed. I love using it on a day that I really want my skin to look its absolute best." — Mindi Walters, celebrity esthetician and founder of Mindi Walters Skin Care
8. Trader Joe's Vitamin Oil
"Most vitamin E oils are thick, but this one goes on smooth and sets into the skin really nicely. This is another good product to keep on your nightstand and use on your face, neck, and chest before bed. It's also great for sensitive skin. For the price, you can't go wrong."
9. L'Oréal Paris Skincare Age Perfect Cell Renewal Day Cream
"I've used a lot of day creams but this is one of my all-time favorites. There’s something about the way this one makes skin look that I obsess over. It also has SPF 15, which is an added bonus, although I wouldn’t recommend it as your only sun protection if you’re going to be outside all day. It’s perfect for daily use if you spend most of the day indoors."
10. Desert Essence tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads
"These cleansing wipes work really well and are very cost-effective. They are super convenient to keep in your car for after a workout or on your nightstand for when you aren’t up for washing your face."
Alexandra Wagner
11. Medicine Mama's Apothecary Sweet Bee Magic Wand All in One Lip and Face Balm
"This wand is great for lips and also when flying as an end-of-flight quick dab on the cheeks. It gives a dewy complexion when getting off a flight without having to touch your face." — Alexandra Wagner, esthetician and founder of Alexandra Wagner Skincare
12. MD Health USA Indian Healing Clay
"Great to apply to pimples to help reduce inflammation and for use on acne-prone skin."
13.Supergoop! Everyday SPF 50 Sunscreen
"Great sunscreen that will really keep pigmentation away, and it blends well with makeup."
Karee Hays
14. Weleda Skin Food
"The secret to supple skin. It is a makeup artist's number one trick to create dewy skin before applying makeup. It is also a fantastic hand and foot cream." — Karee Hays, celebrity esthetician
15. Bio Oil
"Another hydrating favorite, as it quickly absorbs into the skin and holds its moisture throughout the day. Apply on damp skin to help it spread evenly over the full face and neck. I use it all over the body."
16. AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream
"An amazing over-the-counter option to help with rough skin on the body. Amazing for people suffering from KP, cracked heels, elbows, and knees, this lactic acid body lotion gently exfoliates dead skin, reducing rough, uneven skin tone and texture to reveal softer, suppler skin."
17. Gillette Sensor3 Sensitive Men's Disposable Razor, 4 Razors
"This is the best (un)kept secret in skincare, and it’s probably already in your cabinet. GIRL, SHAVE YOUR FACE! Adding an at-home dermaplane to your weekly regimen will help to slough away dead skin cells, allowing your products to absorb more easily and revealing fresh, dewy, glowing skin."
Biba de Sousa
18. Biba de Sousa Peptide Marine Collagen Sheet Mask
19. Bia de Sousa Onerta Hand + Body Lotion
“Onerta hand and body lotion is honestly the best body lotion on the market - you need to try it to believe it! After just one application you will feel relieved from dehydration, and protective emollients and antioxidants will continue to condition the skin after bathing, hand washing or exposure to dry climate. This size—3.3 ounces—is a very handsome travel size that can provide a few days of total hand and body care.” Next up: 15 Unknown Amazon Beauty Buys With 2,000+ Rave ReviewsOpening Image: Getty
