Beauty

Which Skincare Items Are Actually Worth Spending On?

How do you know if skincare products are worth it? To help you learn about them better, here's a guide on skincare products including serums & sunscreens.


Lead Editor · 19 May 2021, 4:02pm

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Which Skincare Items Are Actually Worth Spending On?

The skincare industry relentlessly strives to offer a plethora of products for its consumers. And the result? We end up being more confused than ever.

Imagine, after religiously searching for a product that radiates our skin glow, we then encounter an introduction to another novel product with similar benefits. 

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Skincare can be a very expensive affair, especially if we let ourselves question a conundrum like this. By allowing ourselves to many more options, it will be difficult to cease this repeat for every skincare product that comes into the growing industry. 

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So, how can you stop this? You should only determine one difference between budget and luxury skincare products: their price tags. 

Now, which skincare item type is worth spending or saving on? Here’s what we found out.


1. Cleansers

BUDGET: You would want to save money on your cleansers. Cleansers literally just hug your skin for a couple of minutes before being washed down your sink. So, it’s safe to say that it is much more worth it to splurge on something that stays on your face for an entire day. 

The idea is to get a cleanser that does not entirely strip your skin off its moistures and natural oils, whilst at the same time not congest your pores. 

Our pick for the best cleanser in Malaysia: 

Simple Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash
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Simple Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash
Partnership with Simple
From RM16.38
See price at Lazada Malaysia
Free from artificial fragrances and dyes
No harsh chemicals
4 more points
Moisturising
Affordable
Suitable for sensitive skin
Vegan & cruelty-free

2. Toner

BUDGET: Though toners leave a cool and refreshing sensation on the face, they do not offer any special benefit and have the potential to either dry out or irritate your skin. 

The notion is that if you have the right cleanser, then toner would not be necessary unless you have really oily skin. They do help to prep the skin for other product applications. 

But it’s much more effective to apply your incoming products before your skin dries up from cleansing (Think, the skin is like a wet sponge; it absorbs better when wet).

Nowadays, there are toners that have been formulated differently to be more moisturizing and alcohol-free. They also contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or exfoliating ingredients. Lucky us, many drugstore picks have these capabilities and are as good as their luxury counterparts!

Our pick for the best toner in Malaysia: 

2 of 5
Nature Republic Soothing & Moisture ALOE VERA 90% Toner
Partnership with Nature Republic
From RM30.80
See price at Hermo Malaysia
Pleasant smell
moisturizing
Not suitable for sensitive skin
1 more point
refreshing

3. Serums

SPLURGE: To ward off any specific skin concerns, serums have higher concentration levels of ingredients to deliver effective results. They also often come in a packaging that does not compromise the quality of the formula. That’s why splurging on highly effective serums will surely bestow the benefits you long for. 

When you come across serums with price tags that aren’t reflective of their ingredients nor benefits, that just shows that these serums are not as effective. 

Our pick for the best serum in Malaysia:

Bougas Beauty Advanced Serum
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Bougas Beauty Advanced Serum
Partnership with Bougas Beauty
From RM49
See price at Lazada Malaysia
Also at Shopee Malaysia
Lightweight
non-sticky
3 more points
suitable for all skin types
improves skin texture
suitable for both men and women

4. Moisturiser

BUDGET: Truth to be told, there are tons of moisturisers that are compact with cheap filler ingredients. 

Unless your skin reacts well to the ingredients in a pricier moisturiser, you are likely to be paying for its fragrance, packaging or brand. Therefore, you may want to save on moisturisers because they contain mostly basic ingredients no matter their brand and price.

It is best to go for moisturisers that target to quench your skin’s hydration as well as gentle formulas. 

Our pick for the best moisturiser in Malaysia: 

Best skincare moisturizer for combination skin
4 of 5
Neutrogena Combination Skin Moist
Partnership with Neutrogena
From RM24.90
See price at Shopee Malaysia
Also at Lazada Malaysia
Oil-free
Lightweight
May not be suitable for dry skin
1 more point
Blends into the skin easily

5. Sunscreen

SPLURGE: Your sunscreen should be your holy grail. Make it a priority to get a good sunscreen with a good-quality formula that works well with your skin type. 

They should provide an effortless base for makeup application and avoid white splotches. Most importantly, they should withstand the scorching Malaysian heat and strong UV rays to lessen the risk of premature aging. Definitely worth spending on!

It is recommended to choose a well-formulated sunscreen that covers a broad-spectrum formula with at least SPF 30. 

Our pick for the best sunscreen in Malaysia: 

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
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Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Partnership with Supergoop!
From RM108
See price at Lazada Malaysia
Invisible formula
No white cast
Expensive
3 more points
Water and sweat resistance (40 minutes)
Can be used as a makeup primer
Only SPF 40

All in all; if you have a limited budget, it is best that you spend on skincare products that guarantee the best and simplest routine to deliver promising results. 

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