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Budget Anti-Aging Skin Care Haul: Retinol Cream, Vitamin C Serum and Niacinamide Night Cream (Each $30 or Less!)

November 18th, 2020 by Karen 11 Comments

neutrogena vichy 1
A little TLC from Target

If you need me, you can find me buried under all the things I unintentionally bought at Target while under pandemic duress. 😭

DUUUUUUDE. It recently occurred to me that there is much room for improvement in my skin care routine. With everything going on right now (it looks like Marin County is going under lockdown again, and very soon), it’s been a struggle to do the things that were once second nature, like maintaining a consistent skin care routine. I’ve been doing the very minimum it takes for me to function lately — moisturizing face wash, zit cream, moisturizer, sunscreen on most days (when I can remember it).

Anyway, I looked in the mirror last weekend at my bare face and said to myself, “OH MY GOD, WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING” and thought to myself, “Hmm… I could do a better job of proactively using anti-aging products every day.”

So, after watching these these very detailed skin care videos by a couple of different dermatologists on YouTube, I couldn’t resist grabbing some things on my weekly trip to Tar-ghay.


Go in depth on retinal with Dr. Dray.


Dr. Maren Locke walks you through the drugstore products she recommends to her dermatology patients.

Vichy Vitamin C serum

Both the derms in the videos had high praise for the Vichy vitamin C serum ($28.50), and so I’m super excited about it. I used the famous Skinceuticals CE Ferulic for a short time a few years ago and had great results with it evening out pigmentation, but I couldn’t deal with the price tag — $166 for one ounce! — so I’ve been looking for a replacement ever since.

vichy liftactiv
Gimme all the vitamin C.

This one by Vichy isn’t exactly budget; a small 0.33-oz. bottle is $28.50, which works out to $85 an ounce, but that’s easier for me to stomach. Both the Skinceuticals and the Vichy serums contain 15% vitamin C, and both are also owned by the same parent company, L’Oréal (which often means the brands share similar technology and resources), so I’m hoping the Vichy serum works well.

From Vichy.com:

A Dermatologist-grade Vitamin C serum that combines 15% pure Vitamin C and Natural Origin Hyaluronic Acid for brighter and firmer skin in just 10 days. LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum is pure yet potent, with a minimalist formula of only 11 ingredients that is paraben-free and fragrance-free. The perfect addition to your daily anti aging routine.

Skin Type: All Types
Skin Concern: Fine Lines, Dryness, Dullness, Loss Of Firmness, Uneven Skin Tone

Ingredient: Formulated with only 11 ingredients of natural origin – as they retain more than 50% of their molecular structure after being processed from a natural source. INGREDIENTS: AQUA / WATER • ASCORBIC ACID • ALCOHOL DENAT. • DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL • GLYCERIN • LAURETH-23 • NEOHESPERIDIN DIHYDROCHALCONE • SODIUM HYDROXIDE • TOCOPHEROL • HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID • PINUS PINASTER BARK/BUD EXTRACT. Code F.I.L.: B199063/1

Ready for some retinol?

Another product that the docs raved about is Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream ($30), so I grabbed a jar of the Fragrance Free version, too.

neutrogena retinol sa
I got the fragrance-free version.

It’s supposed to be an effective collagen builder and moisturizer because it also has hyaluronic acid, which I’m all for (dry skin, here!). I’ve started and stopped retinols a few times because my skin always gets so, so dry, so I’m hoping that this one, coupled with an additional moisturizer on top, will be something I can stick with.

From Neutrogena.com:

Rapid Wrinkle Repair® Regenerating Cream, Fragrance-Free regenerates visibly younger-looking skin in just one week. This rich fragrance-free moisturizing cream delivers hyaluronic acid and the highest concentration of Accelerated Retinol SA, the fastest retinol currently available, deep into skin’s surface. It works quickly and effectively to smooth the look of fine lines and instantly plump with moisture rich replenishers. Skin is left looking visibly smoother and younger in just one week.

Accelerated Retinol SA
Fade the look of deep wrinkles, including crow’s feet
Brightens skin tone
Smooth fine lines & texture

Ingredients: Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, PPG 15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Behenate, Ceteareth 20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyethylene, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, PTFE, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Retinol, BHT, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-7, Ascorbic Acid.

Speaking of moisturizer, I’m also waiting on an order of CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream ($19.99) to be delivered to my doorstep. It has ceramides (ooh!), hyaluronic acid (ah!) and niacinamide and peptide (oh!).

I’m also toying with straying from my current go-to sunscreen, Elta MD, with La Roche Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Face Sunscreen ($42) because I like the idea of being able to pop into a store to get one off the shelf if I need to. We’ll see if a bottle falls into my basket next time I go back, hahaha!

Have you found any budget anti-aging gems lately? Do tell.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Budget Anti-Aging Skin Care Haul: Retinol Cream, Vitamin C Serum and Niacinamide Night Cream (Each $30 or Less!) / Originally published November 18th, 2020

There are 11 comments on this post. Leave yours.

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Comments

  1. Rachel says

    November 18th, 2020 at 12:05 pm

    I am going to Target after work for groceries and I have to be careful to stick to my list! The only extra things I am allowing myself to buy are Christmas presents. My mom just bought that Neutrogena face cream and she said she likes it. I just found out you’re not supposed to use retinol when pregnant. I wonder which Target’s are getting Ulta’s? I really like “The Ordinary” for budget skin care products. Happy hump day! It’s all downhill from here!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 18th, 2020 at 12:31 pm

      Yes, I remember not using retinols while I was pregnant with Connor. I think I was just using the minimum to get by — Kate Somerville Anti Bac, moisturizer and sunscreen.

      I heard about the Target and Ulta collab and all I have to say is if that happens in the Target nearest to me I’m in big trouble, HAHAHA!

      Have you started your baby items list yet, btw?

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        November 18th, 2020 at 12:50 pm

        No lists started yet, I just know I need everything! Not prepared over here! 🙋‍♀️ Hopefully work on getting out extra getting our extra bedroom that will be the nursery cleaned out a little bit this weekend. It’s become the “junk drawer” of the house!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          November 19th, 2020 at 6:55 am

          It always works out in the end! Wish you lived closer so I could pass on some things to you. Half the stuff you *think* you need ends up not being used. *shrugs* I would suggest, though, buying a large Costco box of baby wipes. I don’t know what I was thinking (crazy pregnancy hormones running amuck at the time), but I bought one pack of baby wipes, checked it off my list, and thought that would be fine. HAHAHAHA! It never occurred to me that I would, ya know, need a constant supply of baby wipes, and so when that first pack was almost finished, that’s only when I realized, “OH, SNAP! I gonna need more baby wipes. FOR LIKE THE NEXT THREE YEARS.”

          Reply
          • Rachel says

            November 19th, 2020 at 7:17 am

            Lol that is good advice! I will go to Sam’s club and get a jumbo box of wipes and diapers! Hopefully I will get some hand-me-downs or find things at rummage sales in the spring!

          • Karen says

            November 19th, 2020 at 7:41 am

            Yes! Definitely look up local moms clubs, too. They might have some good rummage sales!

            So excited for you. 🙂

  2. Kim says

    November 19th, 2020 at 7:43 am

    I think you’re being too hard on yourself! Your skin looks great in all your pics. Aside from your lush lashes, it’s the star of the show. 🙂 It’s great to see some effective drug store recs! It’s also interesting to hear what works (and doesn’t) for people because it can be so different! I’ve had good luck with retinol but I’ve tried lots of vitamin C and haven’t noticed any difference. It reminds me of Salicylic Acid vs Benzol Peroxide. People tend to have one work much better for them than the other. 🙂 I’m eager to hear how your new items work out for you!!

    Reply
  3. Kathryn says

    November 19th, 2020 at 9:08 am

    I’ve been using The Ordinary. Ulta has great prices and they are awesome. Unbelievably inexpensive…and i used to be a Dr. brandt girl …..check them out. They have everything….also check out the Deciem website. 🙂

    Reply
  4. Linda says

    November 19th, 2020 at 11:09 am

    I don’t know Karen, I am not feeling any love for that Neutragena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Cream. Retinol is the 28th ingredient on the list!

    Reply
  5. Tatiana says

    November 19th, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    I just saw an Ad today for Neutrogena 20% Vitamin C Serum that comes in capsules. I’m guessing the capsule format will make the Vitamin C a bit more stable. Although my skin can’t even tolerate 15% Vitamin C, so it’s not likely that I will venture to try these.

    Reply
  6. Bry says

    November 19th, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    You should try the BioBare Vitamin C serum. It’s a dupe for the Skinceuticals vitamin C serum but less than 1/3 the price. My previous bottle lasted for 3 months ($14/month). The feruilc acid helps stabilize the otherwise unstable vitamin c, which helps you maximize your serum until the last drop 🙂

    Reply

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Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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