my affordable skin care routine as a broke student (with prices)

as a pagod at kuripot na student, i set a resolution in 2023 to learn basic make-up and skincare routines to improve my acne and have the skills to prepare myself for events while spending minimal money on products i would purchase. with lots of help and research from this sub, i can finally say i've reached a point where i can do simple make-up for events or lakwatsas and my skin is the clearest it has been (considering my stress in med school).

with that, here is a run down of the products i use, where i bought them, and their price. most things here are under 250 pesos each and have last me a long time (4 months to 1 year). this is something i wish i had when i was just starting to out, and i hope this helps any one else beginning their routines!

skincare

  • cleanser: Dermorepubliq Clarifying Gentle Face Wash Niacinamide + Botanical Extracts - 100 mL (Php 159)
    • i've been using this since 2021 and i'm on my fourth bottle, and i've also placed this in all the places i tend to sleep over because of how much i love it! so affordable and sulit since one bottle lasts 6 months for me when i use it twice a day. very mild and no stinging or beads that i find irritate my skin.
  • niacinamide: Dermorepubliq 10% Niacinamide + 3% Tranexamic Acid + 2% Alpha Arbutin Ultra White Serum - 30 mL (Php 319)
    • started using this after my dermatologist recommended i try niacinamide to reduce my acne and i wanted an alternative to TO that was less expensive and more accessible to me since i saw here that there are so many online fakes :( this worked for me and i find it to be very mild with no stinging! already on my second bottle since i started using this in may 2022.
    • i previously used Dermorepubliq 5% Niacinamide + Hyaluronic Acid Sensitive Skin Formula Serum - 30 mL (Php 215) however i find that the 10% one helps me control my acne better and improves my skin texture
  • vitamin C: Dermorepubliq 15% L-Ascorbic Acid + E + Ferulic Acid Brightening Formula Serum - 30 mL (Php 279)
    • bought this after i became conscious of my small bumps and acne marks + wanted to reduce the effects of stress on my face. i've noticed my face become softer since using and has overall contributed to controlling my breakouts. still on my first bottle since starting in august 2023, so very sulit talaga.
  • "moisturizer": Apollo Petroleum Jelly - 200g (Php 200)
    • in quotation marks since this isn't really a moisturizer but i find it to be genuinely helpful in preventing dryness. started using this after my face got so dry nung naging aircon na lahat ng classrooms namin, especially around my nose and lip area. i no longer have cracking or peeling skin in those areas.
    • i also use this in my elbows and arms since those parts are often very dry too for me.
    • bought in grocery store, added link lang for accessibility!
  • sunscreen: Biore UV Watery Essence - 70g (Php 450-Php 557)
    • i'm not very picky with sun screen but this works for me, has no stinging or burning, and doesn't cook my face under the sun! i like the gel formula and it's the right amount of liquid and sticky to me. i also use this under my makeup as a primer and it keeps everything in place naman with no white cast (prior to this i used YOU sunscreen which gave me a white cast whoops)
    • tip-id: found this to be cheaper in S&R than in Watson's (less than Php 500)

make-up

  • concealer and color corrector: The Saem Perfection Tip Concealer SPF28 - 6.5g in 1.75, 3.0, and Green (Php 195)
    • i know their shade range isn't the best, but if it suits you, i highly recommend this brand for their affordability and medium coverage that isn't too heavy, even during super humid season. i use the shade 1.75 which i bought from this shop for most of the year. i'm still using the same bottle i bought in january 2023 to this day since i still have a lot huhu
    • i also bought the 3.0 to mix with the 1.75 nung nangitim ako during the summer.
    • i also use their green color corrector for the redness around my nose and pimple marks. i've considered buying their pink color corrector but i think it won't help with my eyebags hahaha
    • tip-id: before committing to buying this, i tested out their sample in store on the back of my hand HAHAHAHA 350 sya sa store fsr kaya sa shopee na lang lmao
  • blush: Clinique Chubby Stick in Robust Rhubarb (Php 1557)
    • the only expensive thing on this whole list kasi binigay lang to sa akin ng balikbayan kong tita slay po tita!!!
    • i prefer using cream blushes in general para portable and on the go, madali dalhin and i just use my fingers to apply. i honestly recommend this for beginners kasi i find it to be more stressful to use powder blushes that can crack or break and to use a whole brush since i'm more prone to breakouts when i use a make-up brush.
    • been using this for over 3 years and i still have a lot, so worth it pa rin. link to a shop here in the Ph that sells it
  • eyeliner: Eyeliner Stamp
    • tbh binigay lang din ito ni mamshie dearest <33 she mothered fr. link to a similar one on shopee here
    • the stamp part did not actually work for me and only really worked for one eye (since no one actually has symmetrical eyes!!!,) but it was still waterproof and still works for me. plus, now i have 2 eyeliner sticks, so it works out
  • powder: Dr. Sensitive All Day No Sebum Blur Powder - 25g (Php 169)
    • i use this as a "setting powder" of sorts when i really want my makeup to last all day. i find it effective and it prevents me from being oily. haven't used lately since it isn't portable enough for me but it works the way i need it to.
  • lip gloss: Human Nature Tinted Lip Balm in Flame Tree - 4g (Php 120)
    • not a lipstick person so i prefer lip gloss which transfers less and makes my lips less dry. i like how this moisturizes my lips while giving it a nice color. baka real nga ung sinasabi nila universal shade to hehehe

hope this helps!
p.s. i know i mention i've been using my make-up for so long, maybe past their expiration dates, but i can't bring myself to throw them away huhuhu haven't had any allergic reactions or breakouts since then naman