For years, I was very cheap with what I’d spend on body care… I mean ultra cheap. If it wasn’t on a buy one get one free sale or if I couldn’t coupon to get it near free, I wouldn’t buy it. I was trying to be as frugal as possible with everything, and the strategy did help my finances over time, but it left my skin in just ok shape at best. It was clean but never felt hydrated enough, appeared very dull, and was rough. As I met my savings and debt-payoff goals over time, I started to indulge in better quality products. I’ve purchased a few high-end items (mainly higher end skincare), but I still don’t spend a lot of money on body care – though I’ve certainly stepped up my game. It took some trial and error, but I’ve found affordable products that I love and continue to repurchase. They’ve completely changed the appearance and feel of my skin. I can’t believe I didn’t use them before. There was definitely room in the budget for them. So, without further ado, here are the affordable body care products that you MUST add to your rotation!
Olay and Dove Body washes
I don’t know why it took me so long (years, smh) to try Olay body wash, but honey, it’s a game changer – especially this one! I’ve tried a few, and my favorite by far is their Cleansing and Nourishing Body Wash with Vitamin B3 and Hyaluronic Acid. My skin is left clean, soft, smooth, and feels so hydrated. There are some days that I’ll even skip lotion after my shower because there I don’t feel the need to use it. Pair this body wash with a good quality bathing net, exfoliating gloves, or loofah, and you won’t even need to use a body scrub. I also love the Dove body washes. They have a nice fresh scent and are ultra hydrating as well.
Pro-tip: Pay attention to whether or not your body wash also has the same ingredients that you’ll find in good quality skincare. Body care products that are marketed to nourish dry skin and/or contain hyaluronic acid are going to do wonders for your skin whether or not your skin is considered dry. The extra moisturizers and moisture attracting ingredients are what make the difference. Not all body washes are marketed as ‘nourishing’ or for dry skin, so make sure you read the labels to ensure that you get the moisturizing benefits.
EcoTools Loofah
I’ve used a few different loofahs over the past year but noticed my skin feeling sore and achy – almost like the loofahs were too rough and actually damaging my skin instead of giving me the light exfoliation I was looking for. So, I did some research and found out that the loofahs that I was using were made of plastic. The plastic itself actually can scratch your skin, which is why mine started to feel sore. As the plastic is used and gets older, it rips and tears and the torn plastic also scratches your skin. Crazy right?! So, I did a search for loofahs made of other materials and came across EcoTools. Their loofahs are made of recycled nylon which is much gentler on the skin while still delivering a great clean and non-damaging exfoliation. These quickly became my favorites.
Gold Bond Ultimate Lotion and Creams
If you have not tried the Gold Bond lotions and creams, you are missing out! I’ve tried a few different ones by this point, but my go-to for my body right now is the Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion. The Ultimate Healing line contains aloe and is marketed for dry skin. It contains 7 intensive moisturizers and 3 nourishing vitamins to “penetrate 10 surface layers of skin deep for nourished and healthy-looking skin”. I shower at night and apply this lotion after my shower. My skin is still so nourished and hydrated the next morning that there is no need to re-apply. It’s like magic.
An absolute game-changer for the softness of my feet has been the Softening Foot Cream. Y’all know there is nothing cute about rough feet, no matter what color you may have on your toes. I’ve found myself exfoliating my feet and pumicing my heels less over time since I’ve been using this cream because there’s simply no need to. With the body wash and loofah that I use, applying this cream is the only extra step I need to keep my feet soft and smooth. (See how all of your products can work together?)
Finally, before bed and after applying a cuticle oil, I use the Healing Hand Cream. It absorbs nicely into the skin and, like the other products I use, is very hydrating. Being in my thirties, I’m focused even more now on keeping a youthful appearance to my hands, and this cream helps me maintain that.
So! Pick your favorite body wash and grab these other items, and you’re on your way to clean, smooth, and soft skin for less than $30! I’ve been able to find a few of these at my local BJ’s Warehouse or even Amazon and buy them in bulk. You can often find a Subscribe & Save deal or coupon on Amazon that will make them cheaper to buy there than at Walmart or Target. I highly recommend you try out these products! You’ll thank me later 🙂
Amazon Links for Bulk Purchase
BJ’s Wholesale Links for Bulk Purchase
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream
Some links used are affiliates from which I earn a small commission. This does not change your shopping or purchase experience and is at no cost to you.
Thank you in advance if you choose to use them!
Jan's Life 