During your typical 15-minute scroll, it’s pretty easy to make a spur-of-the-moment purchase on an attractive (or smarty-advertised) product recommendation that you spot online—a few clicks and you find yourself staring at your bank balance with your jaw on the floor. But hang in there. Thanks to us having access to test hundreds of beauty products each year, we’re here to help so that you don’t have to spend your entire paycheck in the name of performance. Below, powerful skincare products that work just as well—if not better—than their expensive counterparts, that ring in under ₹500.
1. Forest Essentials Delicate Facial Cleanser - Kashmiri Saffron & Neem
Thissaffron and neem cleanser is extremely gentle on the skin, making it ideal for those with moody, sensitive skin. It thoroughly cleans your pores, reducing the chances of breakouts or the occasional flare-up. This delicate cleanser serves up a harmony of neem to keep a check on your sebum control redness, saffron for an added radiance boost, and honey for hydration and protection from the toasty rays.
2. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
With over 22,000 customer reviews on our site, consider the Nykaa Femina Beauty Awards winner as a tall glass of water for your skin that hydrates from the inside out. The popular moisturiser can be applied right before you start your day, before you hit the bed, or even under your makeup (reviewers also love it for its 50% hyaluronic concentration). Keep this mini for early mornings, late nights, hungover skin, and long flights. Also, pop in the fridge for an hour before you use it to enjoy its icy, depuffing powers.
3. Mamaearth Skin Illuminate Face Serum With Vitamin C & Turmeric For Radiant Skin
This lightweight serum from Mamaearth, which is in the business of making quality skincare easily accessible to the masses (and seems stationed at literally every wellness store that I’ve walked into), centres around battling hyperpigmentation and early wrinkles. Powered with vitamin C and turmeric, our shoppers (us included) find this as the perfect everyday serum, with some even stating it as one of the brand’s best products since their Onion Hair Mask.
4. TONYMOLY I'M Red Wine Mask Sheet
If you haven’t had the chance to try TONYMOLY’s I’m Red Wine Mask Sheet, we might be lowkey judging you right now. This three-layer pulp mask is infused with a latex-based essence powered with natural oils to provide elasticity and hydration for your skin in minutes. Some of our favourites from the brand also include their Master Lab Collagen Mask Skeet (for hydrating), and their seaweed variation for skin purifying.
5. Sebamed Cleansing Bar PH 5.5
Sebamed is popularly known for carefully designing and offering a range of gentle skincare products with their powerful inbuilt protective properties. Coming to this cleansing bar (which is also an editor-favourite back here at work) restores the natural barrier of your skin’s acid mantle. Designed for extremely sensitive or problematic skin, this bar is great for those that are mainly prone to acne, eczema, psoriasis, or contact dermatitis. It’s 100% soap and alkali-free (so no harsh fragrance, thank god) and promises to support and restore your skin barrier with every wash.
