10 best skincare products under $50 that we have tried and genuinely recommend

Here at Yahoo Canada, we like to shop. Actually, that's an understatement — we love to shop. Our shopping editors research, review and write about products every single day, and our wider network of freelancers is just as keen. One of the things we love to shop for is skincare — specifically, affordable skincare. Life is expensive, so if you can find something that truly works and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, well, that's a win in our books. Below, you'll find a curated list of 10 skincare products the Yahoo Canada team has tried and would genuinely recommend . Everything on this list is under $50 and truly is worth every single cent. Since picking up The Ordinary's Niacinamide serum, it's become a staple in my daily skincare routine. It's one of the rare skincare products that I've actually gone through the entire bottle and have repurchased several times. Following cleansing and toning, it's the first product I apply before moisturizing and applying makeup for the day. The serum has a lightweight texture that sinks into the skin quickly, but doesn't provide much hydration on its own. So, unless you already have extremely oily skin, you'll likely need to layer on a facial oil or moisturizer to lock in moisture. That said, I've seen a dramatic improvement in my skin's texture since using the serum, especially on my forehead. My skin is prone to closed comedone breakouts (otherwise known as the little flesh-coloured bumps that annoyingly seem to pop up out of nowhere), but I've found they're much less frequent when I consistently use the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum. Words by Kate Mendonca I love CeraVe products, and this one is no exception. It's gentle on my eye area, and after using it for more than a year, I saw significant improvements in my dark circles and under-eye puffiness. I love how the CeraVe cream moisturizes without irritating my sensitive eyes. It absorbs quickly and is a great primer for my under-eye concealer. Each application requires just a few dots of the product, so the little tube goes a long way. Words by Sarah DiMuro I have been using the Hanyul Yuja Brightening Sleeping Mask with Vitamin C and Niacinamide on and off for a year now, and honestly, it remains one of my favourite skincare products. I have always struggled with hormonal acne and over the past year, I have tried to be more diligent in my stressed-out skin routine: I am using my red light mask daily (I swear I see a difference), retinol every other night and this vitamin C mask on the other nights. Whatever the reason, I swear my skin hasn't looked this consistently good — and acne-free — in a very, very long time. The leave-on jelly mask is infused with Korean yuja, vitamin C and two per cent niacinamide to brighten and even skin tone. My skin has felt softer and brighter, in addition to having fewer pimples. I will be re-purchasing this mask long after it's gone — I love it. Words by Kayla Kuefler, Senior Shopping Editor L'Oréal Revitalift is a line of products that has worked wonders on my middle-aged skin, and its hyaluronic acid is no exception. With 1.5 per cent pure hyaluronic acid, this serum is hands down the best of the best. I now understand why it's the first product Eva Longoria puts on her face each morning, calling it the "basis of [her] skin." Longoria says, "You can't lay good makeup on bad skin," and credits the Revitalift series of skincare products as skincare products she "can't live without." Honestly, I couldn't agree more. It feels a little thicker, which is exactly what my super dry face needs. It has micro-epidermal hyaluronic acid, which can penetrate deeper into the skin to improve the look of wrinkles. Sometimes, this was the only product I used at bedtime, and I would wake up to plumper skin. You also don't need to use a lot of it to see a difference. Count this as one celebrity-loved product that actually lives up to its claims! Words by Sarah DiMuro I love how multifunctional The Ordinary's Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner is. It really does feel like the answer for all my skincare needs: pigmentation, exfoliation, odour, dandruff — the list goes on! I can't think of another product that does as many things and does them well. Glycolic acid is what's known as an alpha-hydroxy acid or an AHA, which is a popular ingredient in the skincare world. To put it simply, this compound gently exfoliates the skin by removing dead skin cells so new cells can grow in their place. What makes this acid special is that it has the smallest molecules in the entire AHA family, meaning it can easily penetrate pores, which encourages collagen production and kills the bacteria that create body odour. This product outperforms any traditional deodorant I've ever tried, keeping me smelling fresh for hours. I apply a generous amount in the morning, and I'm kept odour-free all day long. Words by Vanessa Nigro I have repurchased these retinol eye masks multiple times, and I can't get enough of them. Something about an eye mask makes me feel a little luxurious, and I love it. It's perfect for self-care moments (which I suggest everyone has more of). These restoring patches don't sting my under-eye area as other products do, and they're super cooling, too. And the best part? They ring in at just about a dollar per mask. Words by Melina Brum, Shopping Editor If there's one product that has transformed my skin more than anything else, it is Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner. I have oily skin and other than prescription retinol, I don't think a product has made a bigger — or better — impact than this toner. It's designed to hydrate, gently exfoliate and minimize the appearance of pores, and I promise you, it does all of those things and then some. Even when I think my skin is clean, I use this toner and am always shocked by the results. I love it, I swear by it, and as you can see, I squeeze every last drop out of the bottle! Words by Kayla Kuefler In the past, I've struggled with dry and dull skin. I often hesitate to try new products as my sensitive skin is prone to reactions. However, the Hydro Boost Gel Cream is dermatologist-recommended, so I decided to give it a go. Off the bat, the texture is incredibly smooth. It feels intensely moisturizing when you slather it on, and while it takes a minute or two to absorb fully, you feel the hydration immediately. I've used the gel cream for more than a year, and my skin has never felt so soft and revitalized — largely thanks to the hyaluronic acid. The product moisturizes overnight with glycerin and vitamin B5, leaving me with a bright morning glow. Words by Nicole Garbanzos "I loved how hydrating the Biossance eye cream was," my mom told Yahoo Canada . "The texture is great. It left my skin really moisturized." This fan-favourite eye cream from Biossance is designed to firm and lift, visibly brighten, and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area. The vegan formula — sugarcane-derived squalane, marine algae and paracress extract replace any animal-derived ingredients — is whipped into a "really nice" texture that sits well under makeup. Overall, "it was really nice," she said. "Very hydrating and brightening." Words by Kayla Kuefler's mom, Joanne. With regular use, this easy-to-apply retinol stick will help improve the tone and texture of your eye area, reducing the appearance of puffiness, dark circles and fine lines. Formulated with powerhouse anti-aging ingredients such as retinol, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, as well as collagen-boosting Bakuchiol, this lightweight product is moisturizing but not greasy. It really does help with fine lines: As long as I use it at least once a week, it reduces the appearance of fine lines. It's also important that, between uses, you keep your skin well hydrated, as this will help prevent skin from tugging during application. Words by Sarah DiMuro Let us know what you think by emailing us or threading us @yahoocanada . Follow us on TikTok , WhatsApp and Instagram .