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Low Budget Emergency Skincare Kit – German Drugstore Edition
Today I put together a simple but full skincare routine with products you can all find at the German drugstores for a total of 27,38€! It’s not a revolutionary routine, but if the budget is tight or you’re just starting out, it’s a great selection for some gentle, hydrating products. If you like the concept, I can put together more routines like this. Please note that I didn’t try this full routine like I’m listing it here, as it’s just an example routine and not my current routine, but I tried all of these and think they’ll also work nicely together.
What’s included in your skincare kit?
Here’s the selection of products!
1. Balea Oil Cleanser, 2.55€
I’ve gone through several of these cleansers by now and I’m also currently using it in my routine. It’s an effortless, effective and affordable product. The oil is lightweight and washes off easily, I have no complains whatsoever.
Ingredients Balea Cleansing Oil
Helianthus Annus Hybrid Oil | Isopropyl Palmitate | Isopropyl Myristate | PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate | Ethylhexyl Stearate | Tocopherol | Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
2. Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Cleansing Milk, 2.95€
This is a staple for many German skincare enthusiasts. It’s gently formulated and there was a real uproar when it was supposed to be discontinued. The product is part of the regular products again though and is here to stay. It’s a non drying, gentle cleansing milk that does a good job at an affordable price. It’s not my favorite second cleanser, but it’s definitely a good option from the drugstore
Ingredients Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Cleansing Milk
AQUA | CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE | BUTYLENE GLYCOL | C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE | GLYCERIN | ISONONYL ISONONANOATE | PENTYLENE GLYCOL | GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE | METHYLPROPANEDIOL | STEARYL ALCOHOL | PANTHENOL | GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE | SODIUM CARBOMER | NIACINAMIDE | XANTHAN GUM | ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN | TOCOPHEROL.
3. Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Toner, 2.95€
Finding a toner at the drugstore is very difficult here and I’m not 100% convinced by this one either, but if the budget is tight, this will provide you with some hydration and prepare your skin for the next layers. It can’t compete with any K-Beauty toners I love, and I would always choose to invest in a toner like that, but it’s a staple for many skincare enthusiasts on a low budget.
Ingredients Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Toner
AQUA, GLYCERIN, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, PANTHENOL, CUCUMIS SATIVUS FRUIT EXTRACT, SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYL BETAGLUCAN, CITRIC ACID
4. Isana Age Performance Serum, 4.99€
Don’t get fooled by the anti-aging labels on skincare, you can use this at a younger age as well. When I first got into gentle and effective skincare, this was my go-to serum. I was still in uni and couldn’t affford to indulge in all the skincare products I wanted at the same time, and this was a wonderful drugstore alternative. It’s calming and nourishing, as it contains panthenol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, lactic acid and urea! A real gem and a serious competitor at this price point.
Ingredients Isana Age Performance Serum
Aqua | Glycerin | Panthenol | Hydroxyethylcellulose | Pentylene Glycol | Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract | Lepidium Sativum Sprout Extract | Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract | Sorbitol | Lecithin | Allantoin | Maltodextrin | Sodium Hyaluronate | Lactic Acid | Urea | Sodium Lactate | Serine | Sodium Chloride | Citric Acid | Sodium Hydroxide | Sodium Benzoate | Phenoxyethanol.
5. Babylove Aloe Vera Moisturizer, 0.95€
This product is fairly new and a real steal. For just 0.95€ you get a simple, hydrating moisturizer. Yes, it’s from the baby care aisle and yes, we are going to layer a baby moisturizer on top of an anti aging serum. Why shouldn’t we, if the ingredients and textures line up? This moisturizer is not going to perform any miracles on your face, but it’s gentle and will seal in the previous layers. It’s a lightweight moisturizer, so if you have more dry skin, you may need a little more moisture.
Ingredients Babylove Aloe Vera Moisturizer
Aqua | Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice | Glycerin | Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Ethylhexyl Stearate | Cetearyl Alcohol | Glyceryl Stearate Citrate | Stearic Acid | Palmitic Acid | Allantoin, Tocopherol | Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil | Xanthan Gum | Sclerotium Gum | Caprylyl Glycol | Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate | Ethylhexylglycerin | Citric Acid | Sodium Hydroxide
6. Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF 45, 12.99€
The most expensive product of our routine is the sunscreen. I was trying to pick a sunscreen from a German brand, but there wasn’t one I was completely happy with. From a price perspective they’re not significantly more affordable, and to be fair, this is available at some drugstores. This is a solid sunscreen staple to reach for, I’ve used up multiple sunscreens and they always worked well in my skincare routine. No whitecast on my skintone, no sticky feeling, no messy rolling up under foundation – it checks all of these boxes for a cosmetic sunscreen.
Ingredients Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butylene Glycol, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Disodium EDTA, BHT, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Limonia Acidissima Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Panthenol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Propylene Glycol, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Morus Alba Root Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Leaf Water, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Water, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Sodium Benzoate 0418
Conclusion
If you’re in Germany and need to get a full skincare kit at a low budget for any reason – maybe you’re traveling and lose your luggage, maybe you’re just starting out, maybe you run out of a product and can’t afford to buy more expensive skincare, maybe you just want to try something new – these products are nice drugstore options. They’re all gently formulated and are popular within the German skincare community.
What’s your favorite drugstore pick? Have you ever had to put together an emergency skincare kit?