Everything You Need for An Acne-Fighting Skincare Routine Is On Sale at Ulta Right Now
Bye bye, breakouts.
Another Memorial Day has come and gone—and so have those splurge-worthy Memorial Day sales. If you, like me took advantage of the holiday to get a bit of luxury beauty at a discount, then you might be looking to supplement your new skincare routine with some more affordable products. And who says those can't be at a discount too? This week, Ulta is offering 20 percent off select skincare products from staple brands like Neutrogena, Avène, RoC, and CeraVe, among others.
In recent years, drugstore brands have amped up their formulas and started expanding skincare lines. The gap between drugstore skincare products and high-end skincare is getting smaller and smaller in terms of quality (if not in price). Don't get me wrong, I love a good luxury moisturizer and serum combo, but that doesn't mean that I cant have love for drugstore products, too. I am an equal opportunity beauty lover, and Ulta's current sale is the perfect time to prove it.
It's easier than ever to build an entire morning skincare routine and relaxing nighttime routine entirely with drugstore products. With that—and your wallet—in mind, I decided that this Ulta sale (which runs through June 8) is the perfect time to create two skincare routines for acne-prone skin—one for the morning and one for the evening—made up entirely of affordable products currently on sale.
Best Morning Routine Skincare to Buy on Sale at Ulta
After years of going in with harsh cleansers in the morning, I realized that they weren't doing anything to soothe my redness—aka the thing I want to minimize for the day ahead. Using a gentle cleanser like this one from Avène immediately sets my day off right, calming my redness and giving my skin a nice, hydrated base on which to build my skincare and makeup routine.
After a cleanser, I like to go in with a vitamin C serum to help even out my skin tone and fight dark spots. This serum contains stable vitamin Cg, niacinamide, and bakuchiol to help reduce discoloration and fight the appearance of fine lines and dark spots.
This is obviously an optional step, but there's nothing quite so refreshing as an under-eye mask in the morning, especially if you tend to wake up with puffy, tired eyes like me. These hydro-gel patches from Derma E use itamin C and niacinamide to brighten the under eye, while caffeine helps depuff and hyaluronic acid hydrates.
Eucerin's Radiant Tone lotion is a true 3-in-1 product. Not only does it act as a moisturizer, it's also got SPF 30 and contains Thiamidol, an ingredient known to brighten the skin and help stop the development of dark spots. It's perfect for those who prefer one product over multiple steps.
You might be wondering: Do I really need to add SPF on top of a moisturizer with SPF? Well, that depends on how much moisturizer you're putting on. To get adequate SPF coverage, you have to apply the dose amount, which can sometimes feel like a lot of moisturizer. When that happens, I like to double up and use a separate sunscreen. This ensures I get adequate sun protection, plus this one from Derma E is perfectly travel sized so I can reapply on the go.
Don't forget the lips! I love products like Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Tinted Plumping Lip Oil because it nourishes the lips and gives a bit of color and shine. It keeps me from having to cary multiple lip products in my purse, looks nice, and, most importantly, feels good on your pout.
Best Evening Routine Skincare to Buy on Sale At Ulta
It's a pretty standard rule in beauty that one should never sleep with their makeup on. Neutrogena wipes are the easiest way to get rid of everything on your face in one swipe. I don't always use makeup wipes, but I always have a pack on hand in case of emergencies—they're that good.
Salicylic acid—arguably the most popular beta-hydroxy acid on the market—is a great way to exfoliate acne-prone skin without the risk of agitating it with harsher acids. But rest assured, it will still work hard to clear out excess sebum from your pores. Just make sure you hydrate your skin after use to avoid drying out.
Differin's Adapalene gel is a must have for anyone dealing with acne-prone skin who also wants to combat the appearance of fine lines and other signs of aging. The gel formula is light on the skin, and, at 0.1 percent, contains the highest level of adapalene (a potent type of retinoid) available over-the-counter. It does make your skin more senstive to the sun so be sure to use sunscreen in the morning!
Roc's Derm Correxion Dual Eye Cream features two formulas—one for the eyelid and one for the under-eye. The eyelid formula has more of a gel-like texture, while the under-eye treatment is a little thicker, so you don't have to worry about over-saturating your delicate eyelid skin, but you also still get the moisture your under-eyes need.
When using acne-fighting or renewing products that contain salicylic acid or adapalene, following up with an effective moisturizer is key. Avène's Cicalfate+ is great for repairing and protecting your skin barrier, so you can see results, not more damage.
My favorite time to use a hand cream is at night because then I don't have to worry about getting lotion residue everywhere. I can just slather on a thick, hydrating cream, like this one from Avène, and go to sleep knowing that my hands will be soft and smooth in the morning.
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