It's been forever and a day since I shared my current skincare routine. Over the last year I've tried a lot of higher-end skincare products and some lower-end products to see if it was really worth splurging on more expensive items for my routine. Spoiler alert: the more expensive items are usually not worth it and I've found some way cheaper alternatives!

My skin has changed a lot over the last few months due to some changes in my life (ladies, I finally got off the pill). My skin is extremely oily now and more prone to breakouts, but overall I'm happy with the overall tone and texture of my skin. The pores on my nose and cheeks definitely look bigger from the excess oil and I get an occasional cystic zit on my chin, but that's really the worst of it. 

So let's get into the products I've been using on a weekly basis. For the most part, I think these items are all very budget friendly and user friendly if you are new to skincare. There are a couple high-dollar items listed here, but I would say 90% of my skincare routine is extremely kind on my wallet.

Morning Routine

These are the products I use in my morning skincare routine, applied in this order:

The Ordinary Moisturizer // I started using this moisturizer because it's silicone free and I really wanted to try out a cheaper moisturizer that wouldn't pill under my foundation. Holy. Freakin'. Cow. This stuff is a total dream. It's non-scented which I love and it works really well for dry or oily skin. My skin was very dry/normal in the earlier part of this year and I'm still using it today. Extremely affordable!

Supergoop Glow Screen // This is another product that I'm not 100% married to, but I like it enough to keep using it until it runs out. Glow Screen is a daily sunscreen with SPF 40. It's lightly tinted and has a gorgeous pearlescent finish that makes my skin really glowy. It's like a sunscreen and highlighter in one! If you're not into dewy skin, I'd say try their Unseen Sunscreen instead. 

Tree Hut Sugar Lips // I love this lip butter! It's thick and sticky, but it smells amazing and really helps heal cracked or dry lips. I wear this all the time- day and night.

Night Routine

In addition to also using Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum, and The Ordinary Moisturizer (see above), I use these products in my nighttime routine:

Instanatural Retinol Serum // I use this maybe three times a week to help balance out my skin if it looks extra tired or rough. I don't use it every single night because it would be a little too intense for daily use.

Other Products for Acne/Breakouts

These are the products I use when my skin is particularly angry and breaking out:

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid // I use serum this to give my skin extra hydration which always help calm redness! Super affordable.

REN Overnight Recovery Balm // I was gifted this product last year and while I don't think it's a very budget-friendly option, it's something I always reach for if my skin is really irritated. I will slather on a layer of this at night (over serums) and it helps lock in moisture and really helps calm my skin.

Herbivore Lapis Oil // Okay, this is another expensive item, but I do know of a cheaper alternative so don't panic over the price tag yet. I'm linking the Herbivore oil here only because I do think it's a great investment item if you have acne-prone skin. This oil is really great to wear at night that helps banish any breakouts on your skin. The blue tansy ingredient fights redness and irritation. Acure has a similar blue tansy night oil that is also really great, but I typically pick up the Herbivore oil in a mini size along with their blue tansy mask which is only $24. Not a bad price for both items and they seem to last me a while even though they are small.

Alba Botanica Acnedote // I try to use this salicylic spot treatment sparingly because it's very harsh on my skin, but it really does help dry out pimples and reduces inflammation. My skin gets flaky and dry the next day after use though, so it's not something I use too often, but it helps in a pinch when I have a huge cystic spot that I need to zap. 

I don't mask too often, but when I do I reach for these:

Farmhouse Fresh Masks // I was gifted these mini sized masks from a friend a few months ago and I absolutely LOVE them. About once a week I'll take a bubble bath and apply one of these masks as a treat. The Guac Star mask is great for extra hydration. Pudding Apeel is great for an easy AHA treatment to break up all the gunk in my pores. Splendid Dirt is a mud mask that warms up on the skin and helps clear out the pores. I honestly love them all, but Pudding Apeel and Splendid Dirt are my top favorites.

I'm wearing makeup in this selfie, but I wanted to show off how my skin looks on a normal day! Without makeup, you would see some light acne scarring on my cheeks and chin that I know will fade over time. How amazing is our skin for healing and regenerating so quickly? 

I hope you enjoyed this roundup of products that I've been loving. If you have any skincare related questions, feel free to drop them in the comments below!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things that I truly love here.