The Best Budget-Friendly Drugstore Skincare Products at Target

Good morning! Spring has sprung in Minneapolis and it’s giving me LIFE. I’m back to walking outside, we’re signed up for our summer volleyball league, I had work friends over for a bonfire last Thursday, and we watched the Twins game on a friend’s deck on Sunday. It has been so nice to spend time outside again after being cooped up all winter. Chris and I have been working on the porch (converting it from screened to three-season)—and it’s so close to being done!—so I’m hoping to share that update soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share my current skincare lineup because I’ve become a total drugstore convert!

During the height of COVID last year (and the uncertainty around the economy), I didn’t want to keep spending $40 on my Clinique moisturizer (and $38 on my favorite serum)—and other beauty products in general. It just felt like so much money for a small jar. So I started looking more closely at the Target aisles and was pleasantly surprised to find more options than ever. You never used to be able to find serums at Target—and maybe only one or two eye creams. But the assortment has blown up in a big way. I’ve been using the items linked below for a couple of months and loving them!

So, one of the biggest reasons I kept buying Clinique is because my skin gets really dry in the winter, and this was the only moisturizer that kept my skin from flaking. But I haven’t had that issue at all using this combination of products. And if I can get the same effects for a fraction of the price, I’m all in! And to be honest, I look forward to using these just as much as I would more “luxury” products. They feel indulgent, and I haven’t had any issues with breakouts, etc. This is all I’m really using right now since I’m not wearing makeup on a daily basis. And it feels good! Also I haven’t really done the research, but most of these products seem pretty natural/clean, which is a bonus.

I’m excited to go back to Target and browse because there are so many products (different cleansers, eye creams, masks …) that I wanted to try, but I couldn’t buy them all at once. Will keep you posted if I find something new that I love!

AM Routine

Start with serum cream—I love this! Bonus points that it has SPF because I’ve never been consistent about applying one separately. 2. Eye cream because I’m in my 30s and gotta fight those wrinkles. 3. Finish with St. Ives watermelon moisturizer. Feels light and fresh and smells good!

PM Routine

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Wash away the day with a foaming cleanser. 2. Eye cream (same one from the AM routine). 3. St. Ives avocado moisturizer—a little creamier and more moisturizing than the AM moisturizer for night. At $5.99 a pop, I don’t feel bad about “splurging” on two daily moisturizers (or using it on my neck and chest as well) and it’s kind of fun to have two different kinds. Makes the routine feel more luxe. 4. Finish with Burt’s Bees facial oil—feels like I’m really feeding my skin. Contains rosehip, which I think reduces redness and helps even skin tone. I also like that it has anti-aging benefits that seep in overnight.