A Fall Drugstore Skincare Routine for Under $110

last updated 6 September 2022

I think there's one thing we can all agree on: Beauty products are expensive. I'll be the first to admit it—I love expensive skincare and definitely use my fair share of it (I've written an entire La Mer review, after all). But I also have a penchant for budget-friendly skincare that really works.

That's why I've created an entire skincare routine—including bodycare—for your fall beauty shopping, that's all under $110. You can shop the whole edit or opt for whatever makes the most sense in your routine (I personally wouldn't sleep on the $6 hyaluronic acid serum, but that's just me). These products will help you achieve a luxe-inspired routine with a quarter of the budget. Keep reading to shop my budget-friendly fall skincare routine.

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For day or night:

Vanicream

Gentle Facial Cleanser

Ask any derm and they'll tell you that this ultra-gentle, non-stripping face wash is good for eve the most sensitive skin. It's formulated without any common irritants—think fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, and more—and it leaves skin cleansed and supple.

For day or night:

Garnier

SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

Micellar water is a multipurpose ingredient. Use it to take off makeup, cleanse, and refresh your skin.

For day or night:

E.l.f. Cosmetics

Hydrating Coconut Mist

If there's one thing I will always do to my skin, particularly once the weather starts to cool down, it's spray it with a face mist before applying hyaluronic acid serum. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture, so it works best when applied to damp skin.

For day or night:

Good Molecules

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This lightweight hyaluronic acid serum helps your skin retain moisture. For just $6, it feels like it should be a lot more expensive than it is.

For day:

The Ordinary

Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

Vitamin C is a must-have brightening ingredient. It's a great ingredient to layer under your daytime skincare

For day:

Garnier

SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

In the morning, I find it easiest to apply a lightweight moisturizer that plays nicely under makeup. A gel-cream hybrid won't make your foundation pill, and it gives you a boost of moisture without weighing you down.

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For day:

Alba Botanica

Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Yes, it's true—even as temperatures cool down, you should still be wearing sunscreen every day. A mineral pick that's good for sensitive skin will work for everyone.

For night:

Weleda

Skin Food

Slather on a rich cream before bed to fight any seasonal dryness. This moisturizer is loved by makeup artists and derms for how well it hydrates skin.

For day or night:

The Inkey List

Caffeine Eye Cream

Thanks to a dose of caffeine, this eye cream will wake up even the most tired-looking, puffy eyes. It also contains an ingredient called Matrixyl 3000, which is a peptide that helps boost collagen production.

For night:

Palmer's

Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Skin Therapy Oil

When the weather gets cooler and skin gets drier, face oil is a must. This hydrating formula from Palmer's sinks in instantly and hydrates, smooths, and plumps.

For day or night:

Aquaphor

Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy Skin Protectant

I'm a sucker for an expensive lip mask (I currently have three next to my bed), but good old Aquaphor always does the trick. Smooth this on before bed and wake up with impossibly plump lips.

For day:

Burt's Bees

Moisturizing Lip Balm

This lip balm is a classic. Perfect for throwing in your bag and applying throughout the day to keep lips hydrated.

For night:

Differin

0.1% Adapalene Gel

Differin is the only over-the-counter retinoid available, and it's only $12. If you don't have a retinol prescription, this is the best alternative for acne and texture, hands down.

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For day or night:

Nivea

Essentially Enriched Lotion

Body lotion is always an important staple, but it becomes especially important in cooler weather. This Nivea body lotions is one of the best for hydrating and nourishing skin, and it won't break the bank.

For day or night:

Burt's Bees

Shea Butter Hand Repair Cream

I don't know about you, but from October to March, my knuckles are permanently cracked and dry. This shea butter hand cream also has cocoa butter and sesame oil for deep moisture.

For night:

The Ordinary

Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution

I like to exfoliate once a week to brighten skin. This toner has glycolic acid to reveal bright, smooth skin whenever you use it.

Total: $109

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Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.