If spending your quarantine sampling a 25-step skin-care routine just isn’t feasible for (or appealing to) you, board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, says that you only need two products to keep skin happy and healthy. In a recent Instagram post, he shared his “emergency skin-care kit,” which consists of the bare minimum that you need to get your skin cleaned and moisturized. And the best part? It will only put a $6 dent in your wallet, and you can pick up everything you need during your next drugstore run.
First comes your cleanser, by way of the Dove Beauty Bar ($4). Unlike a traditional soap, which can strip your skin of its natural oils, the Dove Beauty Bar has moisturizing properties that won’t dry you out. “It’s great because it’s a non-soap cleanser, deposits moisture in your skin as it cleanses, and it keeps your skin barrier super healthy,” board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, who uses the bar in her own routine on both her face and body, previously told Well+Good.
Next up is the moisturizing step, care of the “Swiss Army Knife of beauty products:” Vaseline ($2). The pure petroleum jelly has hundreds of uses, including hydrating your skin. It acts as an occlusive agent to seal in moisture and protect the skin barrier. It’s both gentle enough for sensitive skin and non-comedogenic so that it’s safe for anyone who’s acne prone. “A tiny bit of the jelly goes a very long way and won’t leave you sticky,” writes Dr. Zeichner. “It’s the ultimate multitasker and can be used not only on your hands and your lips, but also under the eyes, throughout the body, and even in the diaper area for babies.” According to Dr. Gohara, it can also be used to whisk away eye makeup, so if you’re slicking mascara on as a part of your WFH self-care routine, Vaseline can help you get it off at the end of the day.
If you’ve got acneic skin, or if you don’t love the idea of the greasy finish that Vaseline leaves behind on your skin, Dr. Zeichner suggests swapping it out for Neutrogena Oil-Free Face Moisturizer ($10), another readily available drugstore option. And if you want something to treat those spots, he recommends Clean and Clear Advantage Spot Treatment ($6), which contains two percent salicylic acid, which will “remove excess oil from the skin and dry out the pimple.” Consider your skin (and your skin-care budget) one less thing to have to worry about.
For more drugstore picks, check out the ones Dr. Gohara suggests shopping for:
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