For the longest time, I struggled with adult acne. When I think back on my skin issues, I feel blessed. My acne wasn’t as severe as what some people have to deal with, but at the time, it seemed like the worst problem in the world.

My skin started acting up when I was in high school, and it got really bad in my early twenties after having my son. By my late twenties, I would wake up with a different blemish every single day.

Most of the time, I would lean on the comforting words of my mom. She would tell me that it was just a phase and it would go away as I got older. But the closer I got to thirty, the worse the problem became.

For years, I searched high and low for a solution to my skin problems. Out of pure desperation, I got sucked into a lot of marketing hypes about different acne medications and products. I spent thousands of dollars believing different advertisement’s promises to clear my skin. Nothing seemed to work.

I started seeing a dermatologist regularly, and for a short time was even put on prescription medication. The refill alone for my medication cost $140. I didn’t care how much money I spent, or how high my credit card balance became, as long as I found something that really worked.

I found myself hiding indoors, skipping public events, wearing hats, and avoiding people every time I had a breakout. For me, my skin was embarrassing.

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FINALLY, A SOLUTION

After using an acne product that produced a significant allergic reaction that caused the area around my eyes to swell, I finally told myself, “No more freaking chemicals!”

I decided to ditch my desperate attempt at finding a solution to my adult acne problems, and just let my skin heal on its own. I stopped buying and using products that contained harsh chemicals, irritants, dyes, and artificial fragrances.

I began a new journey trying to find natural products that didn’t cost a fortune but were still effective. After a year of finding and using a skin care routine that works, I now buy most of my products from Amazon. Most of the products that I use cost less than $20 and they last months before I have to buy more.

Before I share my skincare routine and tell you about my favorite products, I want to give you a word of caution. Everyone’s skin is different. Just because these products worked for me, does not mean that you will have the same results. It’s important to know the essential details about your skin, such as oil production and sensitivity.

For me, different areas of my face produces more oils than others. For example, my forehead is more prone to breakouts over any other area of my face. My chin and nose area are more sensitive to exfoliation, which means I don’t have to exfoliate these areas very often. Be aware of how different areas of your face react to various products and remedies.

I also want to mention that I don’t wear makeup. I have never worn foundation, and the only makeup product that I use is an eyebrow pencil.

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MY MORNING ROUTINE

I take a shower and wash my face every night when I get home from the gym. I use Foxbrim facewash, which is a moisturizing cleanser. It’s natural, organic, and contains organic Aloe, Coconut Milk, Honey, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, and Rosemary.

After using this face wash for a month, I started seeing a significant change in my skin’s texture and tone. I love how light it is, and you don’t have to use a lot to see results. I use one pump every time I wash my face.

One of the things that surprised me is the impact that your shampoo and conditioner have on your face. You may not realize it, but if your skin is sensitive to the chemicals in your hair care products, it can cause an adverse reaction on your face.

Six months ago, I found Love Beauty and Planet. I instantly fell in love! It is the best smelling shampoo that I have ever used. Love Beauty and Planet is a vegan product. They also pay attention to their carbon footprint and use recycled bottles.

I have color treated hair, so I use Blooming Color, which is infused with Amazonian murumuru butter and Bulgarian rose petal. If you are interested in using Love Beauty and Planet products, I highly suggest you check out their website here!

After getting out of the shower and washing my face, I apply toner to my forehead area. I have found over the years that spot treating works miracles. There is no reason to use different products on areas of your face that don’t need it. The toner I use is by a brand called Thayers.

When choosing a toner, it’s imperative to find one that is alcohol-free. If it contains alcohol, it could dry out your skin. Thayers is a natural product and contains Rose Petal Water, Witch Hazel, and Aloe Vera. It does not include alcohol, parabens, or propylene glycol.

Thayers toner made the most significant impact on my daily breakouts. It only took a week for me to see results.

I let the toner dry for about 10 minutes, and then I apply lotion. Applying lotion every day to all areas of your skin is a must! What I found is that if I didn’t use a moisturizer on my face, it would become dry, produce more oils to try and compensate for the dryness, and cause even more breakouts.

I apply two different lotions to my face. I use Aveeno Clear Completion on my forehead because that’s where most of my breakouts occur. It does contain salicylic acid which helps minimize my chances of a breakout. It is oil-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic.

I use Simple on all other areas of my face. It’s a replenishing moisturizer and does not contain any harsh chemicals, artificial perfumes or dyes. The main thing that I love about this lotion is that its light. It’s not heavy, it doesn’t feel greasy, and it contains a ton of multi-vitamins.

MY MORNING ROUTINE

I don’t take showers in the morning, but I ALWAYS wash my face. I use the same face wash mentioned above, but I skip the toner.

After washing my face, I apply the Aveeno Clear Complexion lotion to my forehead and the Simple moisturizer to all other areas of my face.

EXFOLIATING

Over the years, I have learned that my skin breaks out more when I over-exfoliate. I used to exfoliate once a week, and now I only do it once a month. I use Foxbrim Exfoliating Tea Face Scrub. It contains Green Tea, White Tea, Jojoba Beads, and Kukui Nut Oil.

Using harsh exfoliants or cloths can upset your skin. Foxbrim Face Scrub uses tiny beads to exfoliate your skin, so it’s not as harsh. Amazon is currently sold out of this product, but another option would be Himalaya Botanique Exfoliating Walnut & Wood Apple Face Scrub. I have also used this product and saw similar results.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

If you are spending a lot of money trying to find a solution to your skin problems, the best piece of advice that I can give you is – simple is always better.

The more chemicals you use and the more you irritate your skin with a bunch of new products, the more your skin is going to react. Stop wasting money and getting sucked into the hyped advertisements that promise to clear your skin. The truth is, you know your skin better than anyone. Listen to what it’s telling you. Watch to see how your skin reacts to different things.

I hope that by telling you about the products I use, it will show you that just because a product is more expensive, doesn’t always mean it’s better.

What are some of your favorite budget-friendly natural skin care products? Share them with me in the comments below.

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kumiko Ehrmantraut

A little about me: I love helping women take charge of their financial lives. As an Accredited Financial Counselor, I love teaching about money management and realistic budgeting. Away from the computer, you can usually find me behind a camera lens or coloring with my 4-year-old son. Want to share your financial journey with me? Tag @thebudgetmom on Instagram or give me a shout-out on Facebook. I WANNA SEE IT!

kumiko Ehrmantraut

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