2020-2021 was a very introspective time for me and I felt like I was no longer excited about the green beauty community because of the continued lack of inclusion and diversity, and also the hypocrisy that a lot of brands demonstrated when it came to addressing certain social issues. I think a lot brands are now trying to be more inclusive, so I look forward to revisting them in the future.
I recently got back into Asian skincare products (mostly K-Beauty) and my skin and wallet have never been happier! I also realized that having a more minimal skincare routine works best for me and although I am still curious about trying out new skincare products, I no longer have FOMO over the latest releases because I already have a pretty solid line-up of reliable products that I know work for my skin. I also realized that buying a bunch of eco-friendly products was just as wasteful as buying regular products when it came to my overall consumption habits, so my current goal is to continue supporting eco-friendly and/or cruelty-free products whenever possible and to aim for progress not perfection.
I love that everything on this list is under $20, so it’s affordable but at the same time, you don’t feel like you’re missing out compared to other products at higher price points because the products are both effective and enjoyable to use.
My skincare favorites of 2021:
- Heimish All Clean Balm (Retail: about $13-$15) – This is a vegan cleansing balm that has a light fragrance and is great for anyone that enjoys double-cleansing to remove SPF and/or makeup from the day. I love the cute colorful packaging and I feel like the 120 ml size has lasted me such a LONG time. This cleanser also reminded me how much I enjoy balm cleansers.
- Some By Mi – AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Cream (Retail: about $17) – This is a nice lightweight cream that reminds me of belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb. I’ve gone through almost 2 of these jars in the past year and I would repurchase again in the future. This was my most used moisturizer last year and I really enjoyed using it. However, I really want to find a cruelty-free and/or vegan alternative that ideally comes in a pump bottle package vs. a jar, so the hunt continues….
- Mizon Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Eye Cream (Retail: about $14) – This eye cream has a thicker texture than the Some By Mi cream, but it still sinks into the skin very easily. I’ve also tried Cosrx’s version of their snail eye cream and I prefer the convenience of Cosrx’s pump packaging to Mizon’s jar packaging. I’m not really sure if I have a strong preference between the two products beyond the differences in packaging, but I would recommend trying out either brand if you’re looking for an affordable eye cream that uses snail mucin as a primary ingredient.
- Biore UV Watery Essence – SPF 50+ PA++++ (Retail: about $15) – I love everything about this sunscreen, except for the alcohol scent, which comes on pretty strongly at first, but then dissipates once it’s applied to the skin. There is no white cast or chalkiness. It ‘s also super lightweight and a dream to apply. I’ve worn this at the beach and never gotten sun burned, even after forgetting to reapply. Since I like trying out different sunscreens and I’m trying to find a cruelty-free alternative that I love, I probably won’t be repurchasing this one right away. However, I would still recommend it for its efficacy and affordability.
- Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (Retail: about $17) – This essence is kind of life-changing tbh. My skin feels super soft, even through to the next day when I use this product regularly. The texture is definitely slightly goopy and may take some time to get used to if you’ve never used any snail skincare products. However, I don’t find it to be overly goopy or sticky and it applies really easily to the skin. You just have to give it a little bit of time to absorb into your skin just like any other essence or serum. On lazy skincare days, I will just use this and maybe an eye cream after cleansing.
I usually buy my products through YesStyle because they often have good deals and sales, but there are other retailers that also carry them online and in-store! If you’d like to support this blog, please use my YesStyle referral link here if you plan to purchase anything. You will enjoy extra discounts on your order while I will receive YS Points in return. 🙂
Let me know what your favorite products were in 2021 in the comments!
jessmeandering 