This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Picking up your skincare and beauty products at the drugstore is not a bad idea. There’s absolutely no need to spend a ton of money on these products, but you should still be careful about the choices you make–especially if they’re going on your skin every day.
There are plenty of cheap drugstore options that will make your skin looking flawless (and you can read more on that here), but there are just as many choices that could be doing the opposite for your skin. With that in mind, keep reading for the 4 drugstore products you should avoid for younger-looking skin.
Heavy Concealer
There's nothing wrong with using drugstore makeup, but you should still be paying attention to the formula and making sure to avoid any products that will weigh your skin down. Stephanie Koutikas, makeup artist and creative director at Mehron Makeup, explains to Byrdie, "Too much coverage can bring an aging appearance to the skin and can highlight wrinkles and lines in this delicate area."
Avoid any heavy concealers in the drugstore makeup aisle and keep your eye out for moisturizing, lightweight formulas.
Physical Exfoliants
Although you should talk to your dermatologist before throwing out all of your exfoliating face washes, it's a good rule of thumb that chemical exfoliants are more useful than physical ones. In other words, your drugstore face scrub might not be doing your skin any favors.
New York City-based dermatologic surgeon Dr. Dendy Engelman tells Fashionista, "Generally for the face, chemical exfoliants are the best option for ridding the skin of dirt and grime and not causing irritation. Physical exfoliation can be too harsh on the skin if not done properly or too frequently."
Moisturizers with Fragrance
Speaking to Dermstore, Sharyn Laughlin, board-certified dermatologist and medical director at Laserderm Ottawa, explains the problem with products with fragrance.
"Dermatologists do not like fragrance or perfumed products," Dr. Laughlin says. "They are often complex chemicals with irritant or allergic effects."
Chemical Sunscreen
"Chemical sunblocks that include ingredients such as oxybenzone or avobenzone can cause irritation and dryness. For gentler options, reach for physical sunblocks with zinc and titanium dioxide instead," dermatologist Kristina Goldenberg tells Dermstore.
If you're using a product everyday, which is how often you should be wearing sunscreen, you should make sure it's not one that causes dryness and irritation that can exaggerate any signs of aging.
