Think your skincare routine is too expensive? This financial expert explains why it’s an important investment

Drink plenty of water: Drinking water makes a huge difference when it comes to how hydrated your skin feels. When I was younger I tried out so many products to help with dry skin but once I started drinking more water, I saw a difference quickly. To make sure I’m drinking enough water every day, I have a reusable water bottle I fill up each morning that goes with me pretty much everywhere! 

Minimize everyday stress: Stress can wreak havoc on your skin and I’ve certainly experienced this first hand with stress-related breakouts.  

Don’t touch your face: I’m guilty of this one sometimes! Touching your face all the time can cause skin irritations and breakouts because it’s so easy to transfer oils, dirt and even bacteria from our hands to our faces. This is something my mom would always tell me when I was younger! Sometimes I touch my face without even thinking about it, so I’m also very particular about washing my hands often throughout the day.

I don’t consider skincare to be a frivolous purchase, but I can see how it may be seen that way by others, especially from a money savvy angle. It’s absolutely important that you take care of your basic needs first, like paying your bills on time and buying groceries, but it’s also important to make a little room in your budget for selfcare—and taking care of your skin is a great form of selfcare.

Buying skincare doesn’t need to break the bank, and you don’t need a cabinet full of products to have healthy skin. You work really hard for money, so it’s really important that you take care of yourself without feeling guilty about it. It’s all about incorporating what you need into your budget and planning for your selfcare accordingly— guilt free! 

Social media can create a lot of pressure, especially with haul videos that can tempt you to spend impulsively, so it’s important to have your personal intentions set to keep you grounded. 

Start by determining what your budget is for skincare and beauty products that won’t impact your key financial goals. You can have a dedicated line item for your beauty and skincare needs in your monthly budget, so it’s always accounted for.

Next, if you are constantly feeling the urge to spend, it’s ok to unfollow or mute the accounts that create that trigger. It’s also a good idea to establish the practice of asking yourself if you really need the items you’re buying, or if you’ve been influenced on social media. Give yourself time, whether it’s 24 hours or even a week, to think through your purchase before buying.

Following this approach can help you navigate social media’s pressure/influence and be more intentional about your spending decisions. 

I’m very mindful about managing stress because I’ve experienced burnout and stress-related migraines in the past. My top ways to combat stress are:

I make sure to exercise often, whether it’s a brisk walk, a Peloton ride or a YouTube workout.

Practicing mindfulness and journaling. I have a daily 5-minute journaling practice that helps me stay grounded without being overwhelming or feeling like a chore.

Eating healthy and getting plenty of sleep and rest.

Keeping a daily to-do list where I can prioritize what’s most important for that day.

Being intentional about making time outside of work to spend with my family, meet up with friends, read a good book or catch up on a favorite show.

Tapping into the calming effects of aromatherapy. I have diffusers in my office and bedroom with my favorite essential oils.

Finally, every now and then, I’ll do a social media detox and disconnect for a few days.

The average American spending $322.88 annually (which breaks down to $26.90 a month) on skincare doesn’t surprise me at all. Skincare has become a significant aspect of selfcare for many people, and there’s such a wide range of products available at various price points.

That said, whether this amount seems reasonable or not really depends on the individual, what their income and budget are and also what products they think are essential in their skincare routine.

I think this is a reasonable amount to spend on skincare and repurchasing products that you find work well for you.

Navigating beauty stores with tempting products while staying within your budget can be tricky, but there are strategies to help you stay focused.

Start by assigning a fixed budget to your skincare purchases, based on what you can afford and keeping your financial goals in perspective. Then before you go to the store or shop online, make a list of the specific products you want to buy to avoid impulse spending. If it’s a product you’ve not tried before, be sure to do your research, read the reviews and compare prices. You should never feel pressured to purchase an item because it’s on sale. Remember, there will always be another sale coming up!

If you’re starting on financial literacy later in life, know this: It’s not too late, it just requires intention and focus. To catch up, it’s important to educate yourself on financial concepts like budgeting, saving, investing and paying off debt.

You can leverage online resources (Clever Girl Finance has over 30 completely free courses), and financial literacy books to help you learn more about money management. It’s also important to not just set goals but assign timelines to your financial goals, and track your progress. Your goals can include things like ensuring you max out your annual catch-up contributions to your retirement savings, creating a solid emergency fund and creating a debt payoff plan so you can eventually free up that money to save even more money.

If your schedule permits, it’s also a good idea to explore other income streams like a part-time job or side hustle to help accelerate achieving your goals. Having a serious/focused accountability partner or joining a supportive online community can help you stay focused. And if you need, consult with a financial professional for guidance or to help you create a plan. 

Most importantly, stay focused on the goals and intentions you have set for yourself, take consistent action and avoid comparing yourself to others—it’s the thief of all joy.