The Best Affordable Teen Skincare According To An Actual Teenager (2025)

If you're a teen that doesn't want to spend big on beauty products, I see and hear you!

I've recruited my 16 year old cousin Heidi to test out some skincare, so we can help you decide what to buy.

Over a couple months she's made her way through a big old bag of skincare, so she can confirm first hand from a teenager's point of view which are worth those hard earned dollars of yours.

Of course everyone's skin is different and it's all subjective, however there are a few common trends we see in teenage skin:

• Oiliness: We all know teenage hormones can be all over the place, and this can cause excess oil coming out of your sebaceous glands.

• Acne: It's a perfectly normal part of life, but those hormone fluctuations (along with excess oil) can cause pimples, pustules, blackheads and acne

• Sensitivity: Some teens may find their skin reacts to certain products. If you sense redness or irritation, put the product down!

We consult an expert about teenage skin in this video, if you'd like more info:

Below is some great affordable skincare as reviewed by a Certified Teenager™.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar K (+) Anti-Blackhead Moisturiser

The Effaclar range from La Roche Posay is one of the best ranges for acne prone skin. It's gentle but effective at balancing oil levels (I am a fan of the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel 200ml cleanser myself).

Today we're talking about the La Roche-Posay Effaclar K (+) Anti-Blackhead Moisturiser, which has LHA & Salicylic Acid to help with the appearance of blackheads and congestion. One word of caution, if you have dry patches on your face, you may find this not hydrating enough - it is best for true oily skin types.

Heidi says: "This moisturiser is my favourite at the moment! It feels nice and light on the skin, whilst hydrating and helping clear the pores in my acne prone skin. I find that lots of oily skin products dry my skin out too much and normal moisturisers make my face too shiny, but this one removes oil and unclogs my pores whilst keeping my skin soft!"

SPF is non-negotiable! AllKinds Daily Screen Review

If you haven't heard the classic Adore Beauty SPF spiel, let me fill you in.

Wearing sunscreen daily is super important to protect our skin from burning UVB rays to prevent skin cancers, but it's also so important for general skin health. UVA rays can cause a myriad of aesthetic skin issues, including accentuating post blemish marks from pimples.

The good news is that sunscreens in 2025 slap.

They're made with skin-loving ingredients and can be used in replacement of a moisturiser, so you just need the one product in the morning. Allkinds Daily Screen - Face Sunscreen Serum - No Added Fragrance has a comfortable and non-greasy feel, with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera to soothe.

Heidi says: "I grab and go with this sunscreen. It has SPF50+ and a lightweight finish. A few seconds after I put it on and it soaks in, it looks like nothing has changed on my face, there is hardly any shine."

Revolution Skin Spot, Dot, Go! Pimple Patches Review

If you don't know about pimple patches by now, where the heck have you been? There's lots of options out there, but Revolution Skin Spot, Dot, Go! Spot Patches are only $12 for 60 patches!

The best thing about pimple patches is that you won't be tempted to pick at your zits, which is the NO.1 cause (in my opinion) for infected, messy and scarred blemishes.

Just cleanse your skin, apply the patch and leave it alone for the rest of the day, allowing the ingredients in the pimple patch to calm the area.

Heidi says: "I have been using pimple patches for years and these are by far my favourite!

They work really well to help reduce my pimples, they’re very thin making them hard to feel and clear making them hard to see. I love how many come in a packet with these (60! Are you kidding?) as I always run out prematurely."

tbh Skincare Rebound Skin Milk Toner Review

You may have seen this one on TikTok or Instagram, the tbh Skincare rebound skin milk activated cica toner 100ml is a little bit viral at the moment, as are milky toners in general. A toner is not a necessary skincare item, but you might love it for it's hydrating properties, to prepare your skin for the rest of your skincare routine.

This one contains Cica Madecassoside, Bisabolol, Ginger Root Extract, Ceramides, D-Panthenol, which are all ingredients to calm the skin and strengthen your skin barrier.

Small note, it is the most expensive item on this list at $49.95, but given it's popularity we just had to include it.

Heidi says: "I would have never thought as a lactose-free person skin milk would be something I regularly use. Don’t worry it doesn’t actually contain milk! Instead it's a toner jam-packed with lots of good stuff. It leaves my skin calm, relaxed and hydrated with only a thin layer."

MCoBeauty Shimmer Fragrance Mist Review

I was a bit shifty adding this to a list of "skincare" as it's more a mix of makeup and fragrance, but it's so affordable and so fun.

Heidi says: "I love this product! The scent is really sweet and coconutty and a little bit tropical. It's got really good longevity and lasts on me nearly all day. Plus the shimmer in the mist is very sparkly and stays shiny for ages!"

More SPF options from Gem

Both have a universal tint and a similar texture, Heidi did tell me she couldn't really tell the difference between the two at first, but here's her reviews:

Gem Solar Screen Serum: "I’ve never used a sunscreen serum before, but call me converted! I use this sunscreen whenever I want a dewy look, without the white cast. I find, as an oily skin girly myself, that when I use this sunscreen I can skip my moisturiser as it's hydrating enough with the added hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and Vitamin E in this product."

Gem Solar Screen Fluid: "This one gives less of a dewy look and instead blends into my skin with a great tint to avoid a white cast. It's so compact, making it easy for me to carry around in my bag and reapply throughout the day."

Revolution Skin Clearly Clarify Starter Kit Review

If it's all sounding too complicated, may I introduce you to the Revolution Skin Clearly Clarify Starter Kit which has a cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser in mini sizes, so you can try them all out and see which ones you'd like to repurchase in the full size. (or keep buying the minis if you prefer)

This range is made specifically for oily skin, with ingredients that target blemishes, excess oil, and uneven skin texture.

When I was visiting Heidi, she mentioned she didn't enjoy the scent of the products, so I gave them all a sniff and could not smell anything. At all. But I don't have a teenage nose, so perhaps just keep in mind that if you have a sensitive nose and you use the whole range at once, it might smell a bit science-y on your face.

Heidi says: "I really like the idea of an easy go-to kit to tackle my acne prone skin, with 4 steps in one bag. I tried out all these products and quite enjoyed the Clearly Me Clarifying Cleansing Gel, but the scent of the rest of the products threw me off a little."

Look I know this is the 4th SPF in this list but I really wanted my lil' pookie's skin to be protected ok!? This one is from Adore Beauty's very own brand AB Lab, and I have personally been using it ever since it launched.

Heidi says: "This last product contains my three favourite things: sunscreen, vitamin C and skin milk. Yes, I have been fully converted to skin milk now! It gives much-needed coverage from the sun whilst brightening my skin too."

If you want to read more about what teens should actually be using (not just what TikTok suggests) check out these Adore Beauty articles:

• A Dermal Therapist on Some of the Best Products for Tackling Teen Skin Concerns

• Best Beauty To Put In Your Bag For A Back To School Restock

• Products From Our New Teen Category I Wish I Had Growing Up