Get Your Glow On: The Best Affordable Skincare Under $50
Glowing skin doesn't need to break the bank, so here are our top picks for budget-friendly beauty.
They say beauty is pain, but truly, beauty is money – and it takes a lot of it over our life span. Looking after our skin is important, and we want to ensure we’re getting the best products across both skincare and makeup.
However, good quality and effective skincare doesn’t always have to break the bank. Here are the best affordable skincare products that cost under $50 so that you can save your pretty pennies.
Sitchu Picks: Our Top 3 Affordable Skincare Picks 2025
Thayers Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Toner With Witch Hazel Aloe Vera
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Affordable Skincare for Normal Skin and All Skin Types
Paula’s Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser, $38
There’s not a skincare concern that Paula’s Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser can’t target. Anti-ageing and pore-reducing, this cleanser works to remove excess oil and makeup without stripping your skin barrier. It’s the perfect way to wash away the day.
Key features:
- Contains Hyaluronic Acid for hydration, Ceramides for vital moisture barrier, and Aloe to soothe skin irritation
- Targets dullness, redness, and oil control
- Suitable for normal, oily, combo, sensitive, and acne-prone skin
Shop at:
Sephora, $38
Paula’s Choice, $30.40 (usually $38)
The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner, $24
This gentle exfoliating toner is soft enough for everyday use, leaving your skin feeling smooth, hydrated and absolutely glowing. Helping to reduce dark spots and brighten your skin over time, this lightweight toner by This Ordinary is a must-add to your skincare routine.
Key features:
- Targets dryness, dullness, pigmentation and dark spots, and uneven skin texture
- Alcohol, fragrance, oil, paraben, silicone, and sulphate free
- Suitable for combination, dry, normal, oily, and sensitive skin
Shop at:
Sephora, $24
The Ordinary, $24
Myer, $24
Priceline, $24
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $28
This crowd favourite hyaluronic acid just got a major upgrade. The Ordinary has doubled the size of their Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum, without bumping up the price like crazy. You can get a large 60ml bottle for under $30—which is crazy in this economy.
Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, this gentle hydrating serum helps to plump while smoothing out texture and wrinkles, making it the perfect affordable skincare addition to your routine. Use daily, morning and night, to achieve the ultimate glass skin glow.
Key features:
- Hydrates and plumps skin instantly
- Lightweight formula with an addition of a ceramide blend
- Contains five forms of hyaluronic acid
Shop at:
Sephora, $28
The Ordinary, $28
Priceline (30ml), $15.90
Skin Republic Niacinamide 10% Serum, $11.99
Skin Republic is dishing out some of the best affordable skincare products that actually work. Their Niacinamide 10% Serum is under $15 at Chemist Warehouse and is clinically proven to brighten skin after four weeks. This niacinamide serum is perfect for daily use and will give you that gorgeous glow you’ve been searching for.
Key features:
- Multi-tasking serum
- Minimises appearance of pores
- Brightens and evens skin tone
- Dermatogically tested
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+, $25.95
The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ is one of the best affordable moisturisers around. Not only is it a soothing and repairing balm for aggravated or sensitive skin, but it also works for all skin types as a daily moisturiser. Thick but not heavy, this moisturiser works to strengthen and thicken your skin’s moisture barrier so it can retain hydration and keep that gorgeous lit-from-within glow. Plus, it’s also suitable for children and babies, so it’s perfect for the whole family!
Key features:
- Enriched with a new Tribioma (a unique prebiotic complex)
- Fragrance-free
- Suitable for the whole family
- Suitable for use on post-aesthetic procedure skin and minor scarring
Shop at:
Priceline, $25.95
La Roche Posay, $25.95
Adore Beauty, $25.95
Affordable Skincare for Dry Skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Caring Wash Cleanser 200ml, $25.99
One of the biggest issues for dry skin is a struggle to retain hydration and moisture. Some cleansers can be harsh and strip the skin of it’s natural oils and moisture barrier, leaving your face drier and more irritated than before. La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Caring Wash Cleanser is gentle on the skin, helping to remove makeup and dirt without stripping your skin. It’s the perfect affordable skincare cleanser that does the job well, but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Key features:
- Contains glycerin and panthenol to soothe and hydrate skin
- Niacinamide to soothe sensitive skin
- Coco-betaine to remove impurities
- La Roche Posay thermal spring water for hydration
- Soap-free, preservative-free, and fragrance-free
Shop at:
Chemist Warehouse, $25.99
Priceline, $34.95
La Roche Posay, $34.95
Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Revitalising Toner, $44
The Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Revitalising Toner is like a large glass of water…but for your face. This hydrating toner helps to refresh and hydrate the skin thanks to the blue hyaluronic acid within it, and allows your skin to absorb the rest of your skincare products better, too. You know how skincare is prep for your makeup? This toner is like prep for your skincare – the base for all bases, if you will.
Key features:
- Perfect for dry or dull skin
- Hydrating and barrier-boosting
- Formulated with beta-glucan and probiotics to promote healthy and revitalised skin
CeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion, $18.99
The CeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion is ideal for people with dry skin. Lightweight yet ultra-nourishing, you won’t feel as though you have a heavy product on your face nor have a greasy residue, but your skin will be receiving the TLC it needs. With three essential ceramides as well as hyaluronic acid, this moisturiser helps to strengthen your skin barrier while also protecting against environmental aggressors.
Key features:
- Helps restore the skin’s protective barrier
- Lightweight and non-greasy
- Non-comedogenic, oil-free and fragrance-free
Shop at:
Chemist Warehouse, $18.99
Priceline, $23.99
Affordable Skincare for Oily Skin
The Inkey List Omega Water Cream, $21
The Inkey List is one of the best affordable skincare brands around, and they’ve created an Omega Water Cream that’s great for oily skin. This water-based gel moisturiser is lightweight and oil free, which is perfect for people who struggle with excess oil and sebum throughout the day. Comprised of Omega Fatty Acid Complex, Glycerin, Betaine and Niacinamide, the Omega Water Cream helps maintain oil production throughout the day and even skin tone.
Key features:
- Lightweight
- Helps control oil levels and evens skin tone
- Features Mega Ceramide Complex to help decrease tran-epidermal water loss
Shop at:
Thayers Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Toner with Witch Hazel Aloe Vera, $16.99
This brand has a cult following thanks to its incredible toners that help with oily skin and acne and for a good reason! This toner from Thayers is made with Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera, so it helps eradicate acne, excess oil, and sebum while soothing the skin and preventing irritation. Instead of giving off an oily-girl glow, you’ll be giving off a radiant glow!
Key features:
- Gentle facial toner
- Soothes and purifies skin
- Delivers all day hydration
Shop at:
Priceline, $16.99
Chemist Warehouse, $14.99
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat, $37.95
Can you tell that we’re big fans of La Roche-Posay? The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat helps to minimise the appearance of pores and contain excess oil production through its mattifying properties. Say goodbye to shiny oily skin and hello to affordable skincare that actually works.
Key features:
- Helps limited the appearance of pores and shine by managing excess sebum
- Oil-free texture
- Mattifying propertieis to control shine
Shop at:
Priceline, $37.95
La Roche Posay, $38.95
Affordable Skincare for Sensitive Skin
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, $22.99
People with sensitive skin know just how hard it can be to find skincare that works for them, let alone affordable skincare. Cetaphil is a godsend when it comes to gentle products that are appropriate for easily aggravated skin, and the Gentle Skin Cleanser is no different. Suitable for all skin types and hypoallergenic, this cleanser features Glycerin, Vitamin B3 and Pro-Vitamin B5 to gently cleanse the skin and remove dirt without stripping the skin barrier.
Key features:
- Suitable for all skin types
- Hypoallergenic
- Features a blend of glycerin, vitamin B3 and pro-vitamin B5 to effectively remove dirt and makeup
- Preserves skin’s natural moisture barrier
Shop at:
Priceline, $22.99
Chemist Warehouse, $19.99
Oz Hair and Beauty, $22.99
Woolworths, $23
Dope Skin Co Calming Collagen Tonic, $39.95
Want that gorgeous, radiant glow that’s reminiscent of the ultimate clean girl aesthetic? Dope Skin Co’s Calming Collagen Tonic is exactly what you need, and even better, it’s sensitive skin friendly! Vegan friendly and formulated with soy protein peptides, Chenopodium quinoa seed extract and bioactive seaweed collagen peptides along with other nourishing properties, this toner helps you maintain your skin’s moisture and hydration while also calming.
Key features:
- PH balanced, pregnancy safe
- Made fresh in Australia
- Hydrates and restores the skin’s barrier function
Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion 500mL Pump Pack, $19.99
The Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion is an amazing, affordable skincare option for those with sensitive skin. Formulated with avocado oil, this lotion instantly soothes skin and hydrates it so you have beautifully plump skin for the day. This moisturiser from Cetaphil is perfect for daily use and is great for sensitive, normal and dry skin types.
Key features:
- Non-greasy, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic
- Clinically tested
- Instantly soothes and hydrates the skin
Shop at:
Chemist Warehouse, $19.99
Woolworths, $24
Loved reading about the best affordable skincare products for different skin types? Level up the rest of your beauty kit with the best LED face masks and collagen powders that will help you achieve radiant skin.
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