I spent years buying expensive skincare that did nothing. Then I started actually researching ingredients instead of listening to influencers. Here's what stuck:

1. A gentle cleanser with ceramides — Stop stripping your skin. Your moisture barrier is everything. CeraVe or La Roche-Posay, $12-15.

2. Niacinamide serum — Pores look smaller, texture improves, redness calms down. The Ordinary makes one for $6. Six dollars.

3. A vitamin C in the morning — Game changer for dull skin. You don't need the $80 one. Timeless or Good Molecules, $10-20.

4. SPF 50 that doesn't feel gross — If you skip sunscreen, everything else is pointless. Find one you'll actually wear daily. Supergoop or Beauty of Joseon, $15-20.

5. Retinol at night (start slow) — This is the anti-aging ingredient that actually has decades of research behind it. Start with 0.025% and work up.

Total cost: under $70 for a complete routine that outperforms most $200+ routines.

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