People always ask how I keep my skin so clear — these 2 products are my secret weapons, and they’re both under $10

Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

I’m all for self-care, but I also live in the real world on a budget. So when beauty influencers or experts reveal the secret to their flawless skin is a bevy of beauty products that each cost $20 or $30, I can’t help but roll my eyes. Good for them for having that much money to spend on skin care, but that’s not me.

Instead, I rely on two relatively affordable drugstore products to keep my skin looking its best. I’m not one to brag, but I will say that friends and family often ask what I use to keep my complexion clear. They’re usually surprised that I don’t use a long list of products but instead just two different cleansers that work really well for me.

Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity Vitamin C Facial Wash, $8.79

Credit: Walgreens

In the mornings, I wash my face in the shower with the Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity Vitamin C Facial Wash. It’s an affordable gel formula that has tiny exfoliator beads distributed throughout. I find that it delivers on all promises; it thoroughly cleanses my skin but also leaves it bright and radiant.

I add here that I have tried tons of other cleansers that you use with water. Given that I test and review products for a living, I am not exaggerating when I say I’ve experimented with a lot of facial cleansers. Whenever I stop using this Soap & Glory Facial Wash, my skin always breaks out and starts to look dull. Without fail, when I start using it again, my skin looks good again. I’ve learned my lesson now, and I never go a day without washing my face with this Facial Wash.

OXY Daily Defense Cleansing Pads, $9.07 (Orig. $9.75)

Credit: Amazon

My nighttime skin care routine includes removing any makeup with simple micellar water on a cotton pad, then wiping my face down with one of these OXY Daily Defense Cleansing Pads. You should know that these pads contain 2% salicylic acid, which can be irritating to some people’s skin. For me, it works wonders. Knock on wood, I rarely ever have breakouts, and I am convinced these Cleansing Pads are the reason why. Believe it or not, I’ve been using these pads since I was a teenager, and I still swear by them every night now that I am in my 30s.

Over the years, I’ve used countless moisturizers, serums, night creams and other skin care products. But these are the only two I always come back to. In fact, these are the only two I buy religiously with my own money. That’s how much I swear by them.

Of course, everyone’s skin and body chemistry is different, so what works for me may not work for you. That said, if you are looking to refresh or revamp your skin care regimen, the Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity Vitamin C Facial Wash and the OXY Daily Defense Cleansing Pads come with my massive stamp of approval (whatever that’s worth).

I feel like a skin care story isn’t really complete without pics, so here’s my skin in natural light with no makeup or filter:

Credit: Jeanine Edwards

If you liked this story, check out how to pull off the “no-makeup” makeup look.

More from In The Know:

Listen to the latest episode of our pop culture podcast, We Should Talk: