What Are The Best Skincare Products Under $10?

Who said you need to spend a fortune to achieve great skin?

Stroll through the aisles of Target or Boots and you’ll find plenty of retinol serums, acid exfoliants, and non-greasy sunscreens – all the actives you had to pay a fortune for in the past.

Drugstore skincare has caught up with the times, so why not take advantage of it? Here are the best drugstore skincare products under $10 to keep wrinkles away, combat excess shine, heal chapped lips and more:

Best For Antiaging: The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% In Squalane ($9.80)

I picked The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% In Squalane because 0.5% is an intermediate dose most people can use. Lower, it’s for beginners. Higher is for pros with resistant skin who have built tolerance to it overtime. So what does retinol do? It’s a form of vitamin A proven to reduce wrinkles. It works in three ways: it boosts collagen production, fights free radicals and speeds up cellular turnover (the skin’s natural exfoliating process). It takes a few weeks to see results, but it’s totally worth it. The moisturising squalane base helps counteracts the drying effects of retinol, too.

Available at: Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, and Feel Unique

Related: What Strength Of Retinol Do YOU Need?

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

Best For Sun Protection: Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($9.49)

Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen. Yep, it uses synthetic filters to block UV rays from reaching your skin and wreaking their destruction. They’re safe too, unless you’re pregnant or have very sensitive skin. Everyone else will love the texture of this sunscreen. It’s so lightweight it sinks into the skin quickly, leaves no cast behind and makes a great base for makeup.

Available at: Walmart

Related: Chemical VS Physical Sunscreen: Which One Should You Use?

Best For Oily Skin: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($5.90)

I don’t use the word “need” lightly, you know that. But if you have oily skin, you NEED The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% in your life. Niacinamide tackles oily skin in 4 ways: it helps treat acne, soothes the redness that always comes along with pimples, fades away the dark spots they leave behind and shrinks your pores. While it’s at it, it also hydrates skin and strengthens your protective barrier. I know, hard to believe niacinamide can do it all – but we have the science to prove it. What about zinc? This mineral helps regulate oil production, keeping your skin matte for longer.

Available at: Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Feel Unique and Sephora

Related: Can Zinc Help Treat Acne?

Best For Chapped Lips: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Lips (£7.00)

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Lips is my fave lip balm ever. Last winter, it healed my cracked lips in just a few days when NOTHING else did. Its secret? Shea butter. It creates a barrier on the skin that protects it from cold weather, germs and all the other enemies that dry out your lips + it deeply moisturises too. Panthenol (B5) soothes chapped lips and helps them heal faster, too. If only it had SPF, it’d be perfect. But if you can still use it when the sun ain’t shining. There truly is nothing better for chapped lips.

Available at: Feel Unique

Related: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Lips Full Review

Best Drugstore Exfoliator: Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment ($6.00)

Can’t decide if you should use glycolic acid for hyperpigmentation, lactic acid for hydration, or salicylic acid to unclog pores? Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment has all 3 exfoliating acids to give you a smooth, clear complexion free of acne, dark spots, and rough patches. Its lightweight texture sinks quickly into your skin, leaving it softer and brighter. At this price, it’s a total steal!

Available at: Ulta

Related: How To Pick The Right Exfoliant For Your Skin Type

Best Acne Treatment: Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 ($4.97)

Need to get rid of a pimple quickly? It’s a job for Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10. It contains benzoyl peroxide, an anti-bacterial that kills P. Acnes, the bacteria that’s giving you acne. This baby is one of the most powerful weapons against acne – and one of the harshest. It’s very drying, so use it only as a last resort – and ONLY on pimples.

Available at: Walmart

Related: Benzoyl Peroxide: Friend Or For For Your Skin?

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.