Keeping a skincare regimen can be hard especially for college students, but it can be beneficial to get one started. Here is a five-step skincare routine perfect for a college student’s budget.

Cleanse

The first step is to cleanse your face. Usually, it’s better to double cleanse to ensure that your skin is getting cleaned, but for right now just start with one. 

According to Sandra Lee MD Skincare, double cleansing is great for people who wear makeup, wear sunscreen or wear masks. Double cleansing can also make the skin look brighter and remove more impurities than normal.

A product that is perfect for cleansing is the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. It can be found in stores like Target and Walmart and is priced between $12 to 15, depending on size. 

This cleanser is perfect for people with normal to dry skin and doesn’t make one’s skin feel dry after cleaning it. The CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser has ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help retain the skin’s moisture and is developed by dermatologists.

Tone

The second step one should have in their skincare routine is to tone. At first, it may seem like the toner isn’t doing much for your skin, but after a while, you will start to see the benefits.

According to Gundersen Health System, facial toners can lower and balance the skin’s pH levels and remove excess cleanser. It can also help remove chlorine and minerals found in tap water. 

A recommendation for a facial toner is Thayers Facial Toner. It comes in scents like rose petals, but if your skin is sensitive it would be better to go with the unscented kind. 

Toners are also astringents that are suited for oily, acne-prone skin. To apply, soak a cotton ball or pad with the product and then rub it across your face and neck area.

The Thayers Facial Toner has ingredients like aloe vera, witch hazel and glycerin that leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated, especially after a double cleanse.

Treat

Treat is the third step in a simple and balanced skincare routine and it’s all about treating your acne spots and scars. 

The product perfect for this step is the Up & Up Acne Spot Treatment. Unfortunately, this spot treatment can only be found at Target, but it’s worth making the trip. 

The Up & Up Acne Spot Treatment’s main ingredient is benzoyl peroxide and is used to treat acne scars.

The spot treatment only comes in one size and is pretty small, but it lasts a long time. You just need a little amount to put on your acne scars. 

You don’t need to put this product on just during your routine; whenever you feel a pimple coming in, put a little of this on it and it works quickly. 

Target

The next step in the routine is to target and this is beneficial because you want to target your biggest problem areas. A recommendation for this step is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum. 

This product can be found in stores like Ulta and Sephora and is vegan and cruelty-free. This serum gained popularity on TikTok as users discovered how cheap it was for the benefits it provided. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, niacinamide can help build keratin which is a protein known for keeping your skin firm and healthy. It also helps retain moisture in your skin.

Moisturize

Moisturize is the last and final step in this basic skincare routine. This is arguably the most important step because it is what will leave your skin feeling clean and soft. 

A moisturizer that is great for this step is the Up & Up Body and Face Moisturizing Lotion. It comes in a big bottle and is about $5, so it will last a long time. 

This moisturizing lotion is fragrance-free and great for sensitive skin. It can also be used as an everyday lotion for the whole body.