Having a skincare routine is very beneficial towards your health, and every teenager should be taking care of their skin. However, it can be very difficult to find good products that will not cause breakouts or other problems. Not only that, but a lot of skincare can be very expensive.

Everyone has a different skin type that some products would work for, while others would not. Your skin type can typically be determined by one of four categories: dry, oily, normal or a combination.

People with dry skin need to use a lot of moisture to protect their skin, so using a hydrating moisturizer is vital. One of the best hydrating moisturizers for dry skin is Cerave’s daily moisturizing cream ($6). This product contains glycerin, an ingredient that pulls moisture from the environment deep into your skin to keep it well hydrated. It also contains a lot of other ingredients that will protect your moisture barrier. It is fragrance-free, so it will not irritate your skin or cause any unwanted breakouts.

People with oily skin need to make sure that they have a good cleanser to remove any excess oil that will cause breakouts. A very popular cleanser that is affordable and can be found pretty much anywhere is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Cleanser ($8). It is a very simple, fragrance-free cleanser that contains hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that helps retain moisture within your moisture barrier without overhydrating or irritating your skin.

People with normal skin can choose from a lot of different products, since their skin is not sensitive in a specific area. Many cleansers and moisturizers made for dry and oily skin can actually work really well on normal skin as well, so always check the label of either product to make sure it is fragrance-free and that it contains ingredients that will be beneficial to your skin.

People with combination skin struggle the most when it comes to finding products that will work for them, since their skin is a mix of both oily and dry. An affordable cleanser for those with combination skin is Earth to Skin’s Super Greens cleanser ($7). This cleanser has a lot of great ingredients including glycerin and natural ingredients such as cucumber, broccoli, and kale extracts that are very beneficial for your skin. 

The most important step of a skincare routine is sunscreen. Sunscreen should be put on everyday in the morning, whether it is sunny or not so you can protect your skin and ensure it is healthy in the future. A sunscreen that is good for both lighter and darker skin tones is BurnOut’s Eco-Sensitive Zinc SPF 35 sunscreen ($15). This sunscreen has a very light white cast, so it will not be noticeable on light or dark skin. It is very lightweight and fragrance-free, so it would work well for anyone.

When you are planning your skincare routine, make sure that you have at least three important products: a cleanser, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen. It may be fun to have a whole bunch of products and to have a long routine, but this will not always be good for your skin. Make sure to keep your routine simple and effective in caring for your skin.