For those out there that want a beautiful, healthy complexion but do not have thousands of dollars to spend, it can be frustrating to read the magazines full of expensive product adds. Hearing celebrity interviews can be annoying too, as they can go to extreme measures to look their best while spending enough to feed a third world nation to do it. If you had millions of dollars in disposable income and your face was plastered on mega screens, you may very well do the same thing (who wants debut a three foot pimple for the world to see?) but for the rest of us out there who want great skin, we want it to be quick, easy, and affordable. What you may not realize is that there are plenty of fantastic options for you to easily maintain a good skincare regimen.

While creams made with diamonds and facials composed of bird excrement may be what you hear the celebs are doing, the department store beauty products are most predominantly advertised. They are pretty, they smell good, and are beautifully packaged. But many of the companies that produce those products are also the major companies behind the drugstore brands. There are occasionally brilliant products that might be worth a splurge, but don’t take the sales associate’s word for it. Go to online message boards where people discuss their experiences with products and read the customer ratings before taking the dive. Some online retailers often have user reviews as well. Weigh what is said and see if it is worth a try for you. If so, buy it from a retailer with an excellent return policy and save your receipt in case it’s not for you.

Otherwise, what you need is probably at your drugstore. A simple cleanser, an exfoliator, a gentle toner, an oil-free moisturizer, and sunscreen, if your moisturizer is not at least spf 15. Go for products that are light and clean, not full of heavy fragrance. Avoid petroleum products as they are cheap and bad for skin. You’d be surprised how many celebs secretly use drugstore products too!