Glowy or Not

Last updated: October 2026

I have combination skin that gets oily in the T-zone, and I’ve been using treatment products like vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide and exfoliating acids for about 4 to 5 years now. They’ve helped with wrinkles, oil, pores and dark spots. I haven’t had dark spots for years, and my skin looks brighter.

And here’s the thing: I don’t use many expensive products. I know most students don’t have much money to spend on skincare, because I was the same. Expensive doesn’t mean it works better. You need to find the products that suit your skin the most.

So in this post, I’m sharing the affordable treatments I’ve actually used, a simple weekly routine built around them, and a few other budget picks that US beauty bloggers and editors like, in case mine aren’t easy to find where you live.

The treatments I use, one by one

1. Vitamin C: SOME BY MI Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum

Price: $23 for 1 fl oz (30 mL) at Vitacost

What it’s for: brightening and evening out skin tone

I use this almost every day. Before it, I used Innisfree’s vitamin C serum. Along with my other treatments, it’s part of the routine that keeps my skin looking brighter.

Tip: Use vitamin C in the morning. The Ordinary recommends keeping vitamin C and niacinamide in separate routines, so niacinamide goes in the evening.

2. AHA/BHA toner: SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner

Price: $18 for 5.07 fl oz (150 mL) at Vitacost

What it’s for: gentle exfoliation, oil and clogged pores

A mild acid toner is an easy way to keep pores clearer between stronger treatments, and together with my other treatments it’s helped with oil and pores in my T-zone.

3. Peeling: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Price: $9.50 for 1 fl oz (30 mL) at The Ordinary

What it’s for: a stronger weekly exfoliation for texture, pores and dullness

This is the famous red peel. I only use it once a week, because I also use other treatments. According to its directions, you should use it no more than once or twice a week and leave it on for 10 minutes at most before rinsing. It also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen the next day is a must.

New to peels? Start with just a small amount and spread a thin layer. Don’t put too much on, because it can sting and hurt your skin. You can also rinse it off earlier than 10 minutes the first few times.

4. Retinol: SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Reactivating Serum

Price: About $23 to $33 for 1 fl oz (30 mL), depending on the store and sales

What it’s for: fine lines, wrinkles and texture

I use this once a week. I keep it to once a week because I also use VT’s PDRN Reedle Shot on other nights, and I don’t want to overload my skin.

5. Niacinamide: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and SOME BY MI Yuja Niacin

Price: $6 for 1 fl oz (30 mL) at The Ordinary (also comes in 60 mL)
SOME BY MI Yuja Niacin Anti Blemish Serum is $23.69 for 1.69 fl oz (50 mL) at Vitacost

What it’s for: oil control, pores and brightening

I’ve used niacinamide from both brands. The Ordinary’s is one of the cheapest treatments you can buy, and it’s a great place to start if you have oily skin.

My weekly routine for oily and combination skin

Here’s how these products fit together in a week. Two main rules: one strong treatment per night, and always calm your skin after a treatment. Never use the peel, retinol and Reedle Shot on the same night.

Every morning

1. Gentle cleanser
2. Vitamin C serum
3. Light moisturizer
4. Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher

Evenings

Night	Treatment	Notes
Monday	Reedle Shot	Calming step + moisturizer after
Tuesday	Rest night: acid toner + niacinamide	Moisturizer after
Wednesday	Retinol	Calming step + moisturizer after, skip the toner
Thursday	Reedle Shot	Calming step + moisturizer after
Friday	Rest night: acid toner + niacinamide	Moisturizer after
Saturday	Peeling solution (10 minutes max, then rinse)	Calming step + gentle moisturizer after
Sunday	Rest night: niacinamide + moisturizer	Give your skin a break

Always calm your skin after a treatment

After a peel, retinol or Reedle Shot night, your skin needs a little care to recover, so don’t skip this step. Before my moisturizer, I use a calming, hydrating product. These are the ones I reach for:

• Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum: $21.60 for 1.69 fl oz (50 mL) at Vitacost
• VT Cosmetics PDRN Essence 100: $34.56 for 1.01 fl oz (30 mL) at Vitacost
• innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum: $25 to $42 at innisfree ($30 for 2.7 fl oz/80 mL, $42 for 130 mL, or $25 for a refill)

Honestly, any calming product with vitamin B5 (panthenol) works well too. Other soothing ingredients to look for are centella asiatica (cica) and ceramides. On treatment nights, skip anything with acids or strong fragrance, and keep the rest of your routine simple.

If you don’t use a Reedle Shot or PDRN product, you can swap those nights for rest nights.

If you’re just starting

Don’t start everything at once. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Maiman told The Everygirl she always advises starting with just one active, then adding another after a few weeks of your skin staying calm. The same article suggests starting retinol once a week and limiting strong acids to once or twice a week.

• Stick to 2 treatment nights a week at most. My week above has more because my skin is used to it after years. If you’re new, using too many treatments too soon can irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
• Add one new treatment at a time, and wait 2 to 3 weeks before adding the next.
• Patch test new products on your arm or jawline first.
• A few small breakouts in the first weeks of retinol or acids can happen as your skin adjusts. If your skin gets red, burning or very irritated, stop and give it a break.
• Wear sunscreen every single day. Acids and retinol make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
• After every treatment night, use a calming step before your moisturizer.

How to adjust through the year

• Winter: Skin gets drier, so cut back on acids if you feel tight or flaky, and use a richer moisturizer.
• Summer: Oil goes up, so niacinamide and a gentle acid toner help, but keep up the sunscreen, especially after your peel night.

Other affordable options US beauty bloggers like

If my products are hard to find where you live, these are well-loved alternatives. Each one is labeled so you know which I’ve tried.

Instead of my acid toner: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Price: $15 to $59 at Sephora
$15 for 1 oz (30 mL), $37 for 4 oz (118 mL) and $59 for 8 oz (236 mL)

One of the most famous exfoliants for oily skin. W Magazine writer Kyle Munzenrieder used it once a day and said the bumps on his forehead cleared within weeks, with pores looking smaller too.

Instead of my retinol: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Price: About $22 for 1 fl oz (30 mL) at drugstores

I’ve actually used this one before, but it didn’t work for me. Maybe it was too light for my skin. That lines up with what three Refinery29 editors found: they called it gentle and a good pick for retinol beginners who want to start low and slow, but one editor with acne-prone skin said it didn’t do much for her breakouts. So it’s a nice first retinol if you’re new or have sensitive skin, but if your skin is used to treatments, you may want something stronger.

Instead of my vitamin C: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum

Price: $20.99 for 1 oz (30 mL) at Ulta
A smaller 0.5 oz size is also available

New York skincare blogger Skincarma called it a well-rounded vitamin C serum that suits oily and blemish-prone skin, but noted it can feel a little sticky.

For niacinamide, The Ordinary is already one of the most affordable options out there, so I’d start there.

FAQ

What treatments are good for oily and combination skin?

Niacinamide for oil and pores, a BHA or AHA/BHA exfoliant for clogged pores, vitamin C for brightness, and retinol for texture and fine lines. You don’t need all of them at once. Start with one.

Can I use vitamin C and niacinamide together?

The Ordinary recommends using them in separate routines, so a simple fix is vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide at night.

How often should I use The Ordinary peeling solution?

Its directions say once or twice a week at most, for no longer than 10 minutes. I use it once a week.

Do expensive skincare products work better?

Not necessarily. I’ve used mostly affordable products for years. What matters most is finding the products that suit your skin and using them consistently.

More from Glowy or Not

• PDRN Serums Explained: Is “Salmon DNA” Skincare Worth It?
• Medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0 Review
• Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask Review

Sources

• Skinsort: The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution directions
• The Everygirl: Skincare combinations to avoid (Dr. Rachel Maiman)
• W Magazine: Paula’s Choice 2% BHA review
• Refinery29: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum review
• Skincarma: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum review
• Vitacost: SOME BY MI prices
• The Ordinary: prices

I’ve used the SOME BY MI, innisfree, The Ordinary, Torriden and VT products in this post myself. The alternatives are based on the research above. Prices were checked in October 2026 and can change. I’m not a dermatologist, so please patch test and check with a professional if your skin is sensitive.