One of my biggest changes on my blog this year was my transition from lifestyle blogger to skincare blogger. With all the craziness of this year, I finally had time to sit down and learn everything I always wanted to know about skincare.
While I still have a lot to learn, I have tried so many skincare products this year and so I’ve done a round-up of some of my favourite skincare products that I have used in 2020.
I have organised these by price (RRP) – discussing some affordable faves, as well as some premium beauty products I wish I could afford to buy again in 2021!
My Favourite Affordable Skincare Products £5-10
I’ll start by looking at some of the more affordable products I’ve tried this year, which can all be found for under £10.
The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc (£5)
I don’t think anything has saved my skin this year quite as much as this product. As someone with oily skin (plus the curse of maskne), the sebum regulating and breakout targeting properties of this serum have been a godsend.
As soon as I feel a breakout coming, I pop this on and it tends to keep it at bay. For breakouts that do occur, this serum helps to get it gone faster than usual and also reduces the darker marks left by the spot.
This is a product I’m going to keep using again and again!
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid (£5.99)
I’ve tried quite a few hyaluronic acid products this year – both affordable and premium – and out of all them, this £5.99 option was my favourite by far.
Some serums I have tried are a bit tacky or sticky after application and don’t sink into the skin that quickly. With this serum, neither of these issues are problems at all! It is very quick to dry and doesn’t leave a sticky feeling behind.
It becomes the perfect base for adding on further serums and moisturisers.
My Favourite Mid-Range Skincare Products (£15-£30)
Next, I’m sharing some products I would call mid-range in price, although some would still consider these affordable! I’m giving the recommended retail price for each of these products, but for most of these, you can often find them much cheaper in deals and bargain sets.
Pixi Glow Tonic (£18)
This year I finally got to try the cult beauty classic, Glow Tonic, which was all over Instagram last year. I try not to get too swept away in buying products that are shared by everyone on Instagram, but the rave reviews certainly piqued my interest and I’m so glad I decided to give it a try.
This became a big part of my daily routine as it exfoliates my skin and gives a good glow to my skin without being harsh.
Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads (XXL version £22.95 – often on sale for £15)
If you follow me on Instagram, you will know how much I love trying out different products. It is rare that I repurchase products, so when I do so, you know it’s a winner!
I’m now on my third pot of glycolic fix night pads (and have even purchased the XXL version now!).
The reason I love these so much is how well they work on my milia. After 20+ years of dealing with milia across my face, I have found that these pads offer the best smoothing method for me. Using these pads every other night greatly reduces the bumpiness on my cheeks. They are a mix of glycolic and salicylic acid, so are great for oily skin types.
Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel (£18)
Another Pixi product has made its way into my top products of 2020. This cleansing gel actually came in a set with the Glow Tonic and an accompanying moisturiser, so I managed to get these products for a lot less than their RRP.
I use this cleanser a few times a week and it has really helped to get my skin glowing. It is particularly good at smoothing and improving the texture of skin, and reducing discoloration.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (£20.50)
Sleeping masks are a must in my skincare routine. My skin is oily and I look as if I have been dipped in grease if I dare wear lots of moisturising products during the daytime. So, to give my skin the hydration it needs, I rely on sleeping masks to nourish my skin overnight, when no one needs to see how shiny my face is.
One of my favourites this year has been the Watermelon Glow mask from Glow Recipe. I must say, rather a lot of this is because I love pink and the smell of watermelon, but the product itself does a great job too! It is very light and doesn’t leave your face wet or sticky overnight, making it a perfect leave-on mask. I only actually use this once or twice a month, as I already have a lot of AHA products in my skincare routine, but this is great for a bit of extra hydration and glow when needed!
Beauty Papier Daisy Toner (£25)
This product is absolutely gorgeous, with real chrysanthemum flowers floating around inside and infusing the product! It is a very gentle toner that helps to hydrate, balance and soften the skin.
As you can see from the other products I mention, I tend to incorporate a fair amount of exfoliating products into my routine, as it helps me to reduce my milia. This toner is the exact opposite, it is so gentle and soothing, and helps my skin to be rebalanced from all the acids.
Using it feels so calming and luxurious, it is a real self-care moment in my skincare routine.
Patchology Aquaflash Daily Gel Moisturiser (£30)
Of all the products I’ve tried this year, this moisturiser is by far my favourite. In fact, I’ve bought a second one of these for myself, plus one that I gave to my sister to use!
As someone with oily skin, I find that most moisturisers sit too heavy on my skin, or just sweat straight off, especially during the spring and summer. This gel moisturiser is so light, while being very hydrating, that it has been the perfect product for me. It absorbs quickly and can be used as a base for makeup.
For me, a little goes a long way, and I can get away with using a thin layer. This also makes it particularly good for using alongside sun cream, as you’re not having to layer pore-clogging creams on top of each other! If you have oily skin, then I would absolutely recommend this, especially for summer days!
My Favourite Premium Products (£30-£100)
I usually try to keep the products I talk about below £30, as I wouldn’t personally be able to spend any more than that on a single skincare product. However, with beauty boxes, tester sets and special deals I have been lucky enough to be able to try some more premium beauty options this year.
Avant Pro-Intense Hyaluronic Acid Illuminating Day Cream (£98 – often on sale for around £68)
I think this is the first (and one of the only) products I have tried that made me think that premium products are worthwhile.
While there is absolutely no way on Earth I could ever purchase this full price, I now have five Avant products that I have received in beauty boxes. Beauty boxes are typically between £10-40 for a wide selection of products, so do look out for ones with Avant creams in because they are worth a lot and well-worth trying.
This cream massively helped with smoothing out my skin and giving it a healthy glow. Using it feels luxurious and special, and I can only hope to find one of these in a future beauty box to replace it when it finishes.
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum (£75 for 30ml, the product I have is a mini)
This year, I started incorporating retinol into my skincare routine. For me, this option from Murad was the best I tried – and at that price, I’d hope it would be!
The serum is a lovely, luxurious cream and it gives all the age-defying and retexturing benefits of retinol, without any of the potential negatives, like irritation and redness, that some products bring. In fact, this product is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin!
When I start getting more serious about anti-ageing products I fully intend on saving up to get the full-size of this serum!
I hope you have liked reading about my favourite products! I would love to know about your favourites this year! Please leave a comment below about which products are your favourites! For more skincare reviews and sharing my favourite products in 2021, be sure to follow me on Instagram!
I’ve noticed that The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid was a winner for many people this year, myself included. There’s some great picks here. I look forward to seeing what products you enjoy next year 🙂