Having acne-prone skin means having to spend thousands of dollars over your lifetime and constantly hearing, “Just drink more water!” “Do you wash your face?” and “You know, if you didn’t eat that, your skin would clear up.” 

People that have what is deemed “normal” skin have no idea how much time and money we spend to try to look like the people on our Instagram feeds or actors on TV. To answer your remarks, I carry a water bottle with me everywhere I go, yes, I wash my face, and I probably eat better than you do on average.

When it comes to investing in skincare, those with acne-prone skin are forced to spend way more money on products based on the ingredients and purposes. I would love to buy a face mask from Five Below, but the chances of it breaking me out are almost guaranteed. 

For a face wash, I use the EMUAID Therapeutic Moisture Bar, which is $22 for a bar of soap, targeted for conditions such as “dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.” I also use their Overnight Acne Treatment with salicylic acid, which costs $31.90 without shipping.

In the mornings, I apply Revolution’s Vitamin C Serum priced at $17 and Cetaphil’s Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 50+ priced at $16.49. 

On top of my skincare products, I have spent hundreds on dermatology appointments with doctors who prescribed things for my skin that didn’t work and I take special probiotics for acne-prone skin to help clear my gut. I even bought a $50 COVID-19 face mask because it guaranteed it wouldn’t cause breakouts. Imagine not having to worry about a mask causing breakouts and being able to spend $5 on one.

The devastating part about products being so expensive is how much money is spent on ones that don’t even work or made breakouts worse and now it’s being thrown out or given to a friend for free since it was already opened. 

The skincare industry has to become more affordable and accessible for everyone, especially for those who have to use more powerful products than a standard strawberry-scented mask from the dollar store. 

Not only are skincare products typically priced way too high for those who actually need it, but makeup for acne-prone skin people is also expensive. This is more than just purchasing a product because it says “non-comedogenic” or “dermatologist tested.” 

The foundation I use has niacinamide in it, which reduces inflammation. It is $39 and after shipping fees, costs almost $50. 

“Beauty products are expensive because of production costs, marketing costs, and demand,” according to an Essie Button article. “Sourcing the raw ingredients needed for beauty products is difficult, and therefore a pricey undertaking. Meanwhile, the great demand for beauty products has made corporations able to increase their price.” 

Costs for production and marketing make sense but it is sad to see people can’t enjoy using the same products as others just because a company raised their prices due to the demand of it. Everyone deserves equal access to skincare and makeup products that are safe for their skin at a reasonable price.