If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: your beauty regime shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Especially not in this economy. ☠️ If you can find high-quality products that do the job well at drugstore prices, we’re all winners. While my own regime uses a handful of premium brands, I mainly use a range of affordable face lotions that I couldn’t live without. Check out this list of some of my favs, plus more of the best affordable face creams on the market, no matter your skin type.

Best Affordable Face Lotion For Oily Skin

One of the most common myths among people with oily skin is that you shouldn’t use face lotion or that face lotion is more likely to make you break out. In fact, oily skin is an indicator that your skin may be overproducing oil to make up for chronic dehydration. Ironic, I know. Using a non-greasy, oil-free face lotion will be key in training your skin to self-regulate and stop trying to overcompensate for the dryness.

Here are some of the best affordable face creams for oily skin:

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel — A lightweight, hyaluronic‑acid gel moisturizer praised by Vogue as a top pick for oily skin.
• CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel — Under $20, gel texture, non-greasy, ceramides + niacinamide, loved even by mature users (Southern Living).
• e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Moisturizer — Budget gem called out by Glamour for oily/normal skin (under $20)

Best Affordable Face Moisturizer For Acne Prone Skin

Experiencing adult acne is no fun (been there, done that). Over the years, I’ve tried a number of different products to help keep breakouts at bay. Here are some fan favorites if you’re searching for the best drugstore face lotion for acne prone skin!

• Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Acne Moisturizer — Best overall under $20 for calming breakouts, per People testing.
• Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer — Best budget pick (≈$11), powdery matte finish.
• Peach Slices Acne Oil‑Free Moisturizer — Under $13, gentle and effective!

Dermalogica is one of my favorite skincare brands. This Acne Clearing Kit is one of the best combinations I’ve used to stop breakouts before they happen. The Breakout Clearing Booster is small but mighty!

Best Drugstore Face Cream For Dry Aging Skin

Some key ingredients to look out for in face creams for fine lines or deep wrinkles are niacinamide, retinol, and peptides. Below are a couple of the best dermatologist-backed drugstore face creams for dry, aging skin.

Best Drugstore Face Moisturizer With Retinol

Retinol is something of a buzzword in the skincare community, and it can feel overwhelming to find truly effective and affordable all-in-one options. You’ll typically see high potency retinol sold in a serum form more often than combined with moisturizers. This powerful ingredient can really transform your skin at a cellular level when used properly and in combination with the right ingredients.

Here are some of the best drugstore face moisturizers with retinol:

• Olay Retinol Face Moisturizer, 24 MAX Anti-Aging Night Cream — Editor’s favorite (poised between anti‑aging power and affordability). This has an interesting, almost velvet (?) like feel to it once it’s on your skin. But as a user and someone with virtually zero fine lines in sight, I can confirm its effectiveness!
• RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream — This 4.6-star rated, ritzy-retinol go-to is a tad pricier than some other items on this list, but I’d say it’s worth the extra $$. It’s also hydrating enough to buffer any irritation from the retinol itself, which is key.
• celimax The Vita A Retinol Shot Tightening Serum —This innovative Korean skincare product with pure retinol and a peptide complex helps address wrinkles, uneven texture and enlarged pores. It feels like microneedling in a bottle!

Retinol encourages cell turnover, helps fade dark spots, smooths out fine lines, and is basically the final boss in the skincare game.

Best Affordable Face Lotion With SPF

If you’re not wearing SPF daily—yes, even when the UV index is low—then you’re leaving all your hard skincare work vulnerable. A daily moisturizer with built-in SPF is a lazy girl’s dream.

Here are a few of the best affordable face creams with SPF that combine hydration and protection:

• CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30 Face & Body Lotion — Delivers instant 24 hour hydration with a non-greasy, invisible finish for less than $20!
• Collagen Bank Daily Face Moisturizer with SPF 30 — Lightweight, silky, patented micro-peptide anti-aging technology that penetrates deep for under $30.
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV Broad Spectrum SPF 30 — La Roche-Posay is one of the most recommended skincare brands by dermatologists worldwide. I have been using this brand for years and love their Double Repair moisturizer with SPF.

If you’re willing to splurge on a slightly pricier option, this tinted sunscreen with niacinamide and zinc oxide is my holy grail.

Side note: The hype on this one is something I just can’t get behind. I wanted to love this so much, but it doesn’t absorb and leaves a chalky, ghost-like layer on my skin. Maybe I’ll break it out on Halloween. ☠️

The Best Affordable Face Creams Await

And there you have it—proof that you don’t need a $90 moisturizer and a trust fund to have glowy, healthy skin. Here’s everything I linked in this post for easy access:

💦 Oily Skin

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
• CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel
• e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Moisturizer

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🌿 Acne-Prone Skin

• Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Acne Moisturizer
• Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer
• Peach Slices Acne Oil‑Free Moisturizer
• Dermalogica Acne Clearing Kit

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🧴 Dry/Aging Skin

• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Cream
• BIODANCE Collagen Cream
• Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream

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✨ Retinol Creams

• Olay Retinol 24 MAX Night Cream
• RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Cream
• celimax The Vita A Retinol Shot Serum

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☀️ SPF Moisturizers

• CeraVe Hydrating Sheer Sunscreen SPF 30
• Neutrogena Collagen Bank Daily Face Moisturizer with SPF 30
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer SPF 30
• EltaMD Tinted Sunscreen w/ Niacinamide + Zinc Oxide

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Whether you’re battling breakouts, fine lines, or just trying to survive winter without flaking into oblivion, there’s a budget-friendly option out there for you (and she probably lives on the second shelf of your local Target 🛍️).

Drop a comment or DM me if you’ve tried any of these or have your own ride-or-die drugstore face cream. Sharing is caring and your girl is always down to test something new (in the name of research, obviously).