Best Anti-Aging Skin Care for $17 or Less

Updated on June 18th, 2024

There’s a myriad of anti-aging beauty products out there. And each claims to erase 10, 20, or 30 years from your face.

All that youth comes at a price, though. Even the drugstore lines will set you back about $20 a bottle. By the time you’ve invested in the day cream, night cream, serum and face wash, you’re pushing a cool $100 for a one-month supply.

I don’t have a $100 monthly budget for wrinkle care and I’m guessing you don’t either. So I set out to find effective and popular anti-aging products priced at $20 or less. You know, so you can look great and save for your kid’s college tuition at the same time.

The products that made the cut had the right price and a strong history of positive user reviews. Know that these may not be the right products for ultra sensitive skin or skin moisture barrier damage.

You’ll see a few names you know — Cerave and Olay for example — and also a few cult favorites that you hadn’t heard of. Enjoy!

Cerave retinol serum

Retinol is the gold standard in over-the-counter anti-aging ingredients. Add in hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides and you have a power-packed solution to smooth out those fine lines and brighten your overall skin tone. It’s even better when those respected ingredients come with a trusted logo like Cerave’s on the label.

This is a lightweight, gel-like serum you can layer underneath your regular moisturizer or eye cream twice daily.

What people say

On Amazon, Cerave’s retinol serum has more than 21,000 ratings with an aggregate score of 4.6. One user calls this serum a game-changer, while another says her skin looks brighter and less tired.

Tree of Life Vitamin C serum

Vitamin C has brightening and smoothing powers that seem like magic, but it’s really just science. Vitamin C can bind to the melanin in your skin, which ultimately works to minimize dark patches and smooth your skin tone. Vitamin C also boosts collagen production, which can counter the usual ravages of aging.

This serum by Tree of Life is gentle to use, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested. It also carries a very friendly price tag.

What people say

The Tree of Life Vitamin C serum has more than 130,000 Amazon ratings, with an aggregate score of 4.4. Amazon additionally reports selling more than 6,000 of these babies in the month of February, 2024. Customer Olha describes this serum as, “Great product for daily skin routine, absorbs well and gives pretty glow to your skin.”

L’Oreal Revitalift

Any product that does double-duty automatically gets a second look from the Budget Fashionista. This Revitalift formula has SPF 25, so there’s no need for added sunblock. I think that saves you, what, $40?

Pro Retinol and Centella Asiatica work together to increase cell turnover, and smooth and firm your skin. Even better, this little bucket of youth costs less than two venti macchiattos.

What people say

Revitalift with SPF has a 4.6 rating from more than 2,700 reviews. One shopper says, “To date, this IS my favorite moisturizer. Great humectant, and over time, I know it has worked to keep my skin cells plumped and elasticity restored and maintained.”

Olay Total Effects 7-in-1

Thousands of women swear by this product, because it delivers a multi-pronged attack against aging skin. The formula relies on vitamins and anti-oxidants to:

1. Moisturize
2. Even tone
3. Brighten
4. Smoothe lines and wrinkles
5. Reduce the appearance of pores
6. Firm
7. Reduce dark spots

Yep, that’s seven.

What people say

Olay’s 7-in-1 treatment has a 4.6 rating from nearly 2,500 reviews. One shopper says, “It really works. It removes dark spots, makes your skin glow. My skin looks younger and smooth…radiant.”

Cosmedica Skincare hyaluronic acid serum

Cosmedia’s formula is effective at pulling moisture into the skin for a visibly plumper, younger look. The serum achieves this result with three simple and natural ingredients: distilled water, sodium hyaluronate, and benzyalcohol.

Apply this hyaluronic acid serum before your moisturizer, day and night. Or, mix it into your moisturizer and apply both at once. At less than $10 a bottle, this one’s a steal.

To study up on hyaluronic acid and how to use it, see: Treat Wrinkles After 40 With These 7 Powerful OTC Skincare Ingredients.

What people say

This powerful serum has reviewed by more than 46,000 users with a solid, 4.4-star rating. It’s also one of the best-selling products in Amazon’s Beauty and Personal Care category. One shopper says, “I’ve been using it daily for almost three weeks now, my face is softer and plump, cannot live without this bae! 😍”

L’Oreal Collagen Filler

L’Oreal’s Collagen Filler is the poor-girl’s substitute for collagen injections. Granted, you won’t get the same results — but you also won’t get needles stuck in your face.

The product contains collagen and moisturizing ingredients to keep your skin hydrated and fill in lines and wrinkles over time.

What people say

L’Oreal’s cream has 60,000 ratings on Amazon, with an aggregate score of 4.5. One shopper says, “Skin is definitely more moisturized, plumper, and feels way more hydrated. It has not made me break out, and when I use it at night my skin feels moisturized when I wake up!”

Anti-aging on a budget

You can fight wrinkles without dropping three digits every month. Look for low-priced products that contain respected ingredients and perform double- or triple-duty. Then, use your product as directed and give it time to show results. It’s always smart to take a before pic, so you have an objective view of how your skin looked when you began the treatment. Hopefully, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results!