Looking for affordable, effective, and sensitive skin-friendly skin care that you can buy right in-store at your local Walmart? I’ve bought and tested half the skincare section at Walmart throughout my years of struggling with dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin. I’m also a very frugal gal so I’m also keeping everything in this guide super affordable!
Here are the most effective (and budget-friendly) skincare products for sensitive or acne-prone skin at Walmart!
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Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream is basically the dressed-down version of the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, but this brand has actually been around since the ’70s! This is an extremely rich and creamy moisturizer that’s fragrance-free and it’s specifically formulated for treating dry, irritated, and sensitive skin.
While this cream is very rich it does not leave any greasy residue on the skin. It absorbs very quickly and leaves the skin feeling plump and hydrated. This is suitable for all skin types but those with oily skin may not enjoy the rich texture. You can buy a ginormous tub of 16oz of product for only $13.43 at Walmart. If you’re looking for a cheaper option than the cult favorite CeraVe, you can’t go wrong with purchasing this brand. It comes in a hygienic pump container that makes it easy to dispense just the right amount and you don’t have to worry about scooping out product and potentially getting dirt/bacteria in the tub.
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Next up from Vanicream is another wonderful skincare product that’s great for any skin type but especially for acne-prone and sensitive skin, the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser! This cleanser does provide a surprising amount of foam but it is extremely gentle and non-stripping. Usually, excess foaming action is a red flag for those of us with dry skin but this formula has been simply wonderful on my dry skin. It has just enough cleansing action to remove makeup and any dirt and oil buildup from the day.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Daily Moisturizing Lotions
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream was (and still is) an absolute game-changer for my dry acne-prone skin. This cream has an extremely similar texture to Vanicream but absorbs quicker and has a slightly more watery consistency. It’s insanely hydrating and will benefit anyone struggling with dry or flaky skin. I also highly recommend this as a winter moisturizer and you can also slather on a thick layer of this in the evening as a sleeping mask. All CeraVe products are formulated with their blend of 3 essential ceramides. Ceramides are lipids that help retain and restore the skin barrier and prevent water loss in the skin.
The CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion also contains the same enriching blend of ceramides but in a lighter lotion feel. This is a great option for those with oily skin or if you don’t enjoy the feel of thicker creams. It’s my go-to everyday lotion in the summer and anytime I’m feeling a little oily. It’s still very hydrating but definitely on the lighter side than the moisturizing cream formula.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Foaming Cleansers
The CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a gentle milky cleanser that just barely suds up but provides a refreshing and non-stripping cleanse. Just like the rest of the CeraVe family of skincare, it’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and non-irritating. This product is perfect for anyone struggling with severely dry skin, as it’s the perfect balance of cleansing and hydrating.
The Equate copycat formula of the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is also shockingly good! If you are looking at the two products side by side, the coloring on the Equate formula is slightly more white while the textures are identical and they perform exactly the same. I actually tried washing the left side of my face with CeraVe and the right with the Equate dupe, and I honestly could not tell the difference. If you don’t mind the generic packaging definitely save yourself some money and buy the store brand!
If you wear makeup or have combination or oily skin I would recommend that you look towards the Foaming Cleanser instead for an extra boost of cleansing action. The Cerave Foaming Cleanser suds up to give a lovely foamy cleanse that will take up light makeup and leaves the skin feeling refreshed with zero of that dreaded squeaky clean feeling. It’s formulated with:
- Ceramides 1,3 and 6-II
- Hyaluronic acid that draws in moisture
- Niacinamide to help calm irritated skin
Equate also has an awesome dupe of the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser as well! The Equate Foaming Facial Cleanser is a measly $2.87 at my Walmart verses the almost $11 for the CeraVe product. I’ve been swapping back and forth between the Equate and CeraVe cleansers for a few weeks and they are almost identical. The Equate foams up just a tad more but my skin doesn’t feel dryer or stripped at all when comparing it to the brand name cleanser. I highly recommend trying out the Equate product if you are on a tight budget! If not, CeraVe constantly runs $3-4 coupons in the Sunday paper so you could also save a few bucks using those.
PanOxyl Foaming Acne Wash
The PanOxyl Foaming Acne Wash has a 10% concentration of benzoyl peroxide which helps kill acne-causing bacteria and exfoliate excess dead skin cells and sebum that clog pores. It’s great for daily use with almost all skin types! If you have extremely dry skin you may want to only use this every other day, but it’s definitely worth your time if you’re struggling with sensitive acne-prone skin.
I featured PanOxyl in my article on how to treat and get rid of body acne. You can really multitask with this cleanser and tackle multiple areas of the body with just this one product! It’s very helpful for healing acne on the back and shoulders; you can just keep it in your shower caddy to keep your entire body exfoliated and glowing.
Coppertone Pure & Simple For Face SPF 50
Coppertone Pure & Simple is a extremely affordabe $3.97 and is:
- Water Resistant 80 minutes
- SPF 50
- Reef Safe
- Mineral Sunscreen
- Fragrance-Free
- White cast warning for deep skin tones
You can re-apply this sunscreen over previous applications with zero pilling and it doesn’t feel greasy or sticky. This feels slightly moisturizing and matte to the touch after drying but leaves the skin with a subtle glow. It also contains tea leaf and giant kelp extract! If you want to find even more cheap sunscreen options check out my guide on 8 Budget-Friendly Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin.
Spring Valley Hyaluronic Acid Serum
You’ve probably bought supplements from this brand before, they don’t carry a huge spread of skincare but they’ve put together some really great formulas! “Spring Valley Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a luxurious, lightweight moisturizer that provides a simple way to get that coveted, youthful glow.”
Hyaluronic Acid helps draw moisture into the skin and is a must-have skincare ingredient for anyone with dry skin. But be aware, you always have to apply an occlusive product (aka a lotion/cream) on top of HA to seal that moisture in. Apply HA to damp skin and then seal the deal with your favorite moisturizer to get the most hydration!