How to Do My Walmart Skincare Routine for Spring

First, an overview of all the brands in this routine:

To start the day, my face wash pick is Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. This is a cult classic gel cleanser that has been a bestseller since the 1990s! I love that it’s non-foaming and free of harsh sulfates, so it won’t strip or irritate your skin. Plus it has papaya enzymes for an ultra-gentle exfoliation.

Next, I’ll pop on a couple of Patchology FlashPatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels in lieu of eye cream. If you haven’t tried these before, you are in for a real treat! They’re immediately cooling and refreshing, while infusing the delicate eye area with ingredients that hydrate, soothe, brighten and reduce puffiness. They’re the best way to fake a good night’s sleep in just five minutes.

Next comes serums, and these two from Versed are both great options that you can mix and match. (Yes, Versed is at Walmart now!) 

Versed Just Breathe Clarifying Serum is ideal for controlling oil and preventing breakouts. It has niacinamide, willow bark and zinc, which will help to reduce excess sebum production, calm inflammation and take down redness. 

Versed Stroke of Brilliance Brightening Serum is a radiance-boosting serum with an array of actives. Think: vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbyl phosphate (one of the best brighteners), licorice root and algae extracts (which inhibit pigmentation) and niacinamide (which fades discolourations).

For lightweight hydration, Versed Dew Point Moisturizing Gel-Cream is one of my favourite moisturizers. It has a non-greasy gel-cream texture that feels weightless on your skin, but it is also surprisingly nourishing. It’s packed with humectants like aloe and glycerin, plus squalane to lock them in, and is free of fragrance and silicone.

Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is one of the best mineral sunscreens I’ve found (and it also happens to be one of the most affordable!). It gives you broad-spectrum UV protection with 20% zinc oxide, in a lightweight but moisturizing formula that is both silicone-free and fragrance-free. It’s suitable for babies and adults alike, and is non-whitening and non-greasy. Highly recommend!

My last morning step is a little Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream on my lips, cheeks and eyelids. Rather than a cream, it’s more of an all-purpose skin balm, made from just six all-natural ingredients. I like to wear it as a lip balm and a highlighter for a subtle glow. You can also apply it on dry skin patches or irritations, or even use it as a regular moisturizer or eye cream.

Before I wash my face at night, I always put my hair into a ponytail, and these Slip Pure Silk Skinny Scrunchies are truly the best. They’re made of pure silk, so unlike rubber elastics, they won’t tug or break your hair, nor do they cause creases. 

I’m all about a double cleanse in the evening, starting with micellar water on a cotton pad. I’ve long been a fan of Bioderma Sensibio H2O, a French pharmacy staple that makeup artists swear by. It does such a good job of removing even waterproof makeup (with no need for rubbing), and yet it is incredibly gentle and safe for sensitive skin and eyes. I always have a bottle of this in my arsenal!

After the first pass with micellar water, I like to use a gel cleanser to get my skin thoroughly clean. Versed Wash It Out Gel Cleanser is a gentle, pH-balanced formula that all skin types can use. Not only is it sulfate-free, it’s also infused with moisturizing ceramides to prevent that tight, “squeaky-clean” feeling that some gel cleansers can cause. 

If I need a deeper clean (like when I’ve been wearing heavier makeup), I’ll use my trusty Foreo Luna. This is a pulsating silicone cleansing brush that removes 99.5% of dirt and oil, along with makeup residue and dead skin cells. It comes in the Play Plus 2 size, above, which is the most affordable, as well as the Mini 2, which allows you to adjust the intensity. 

After cleansing, I recommend toning and exfoliating with a mild acid, and with the Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner, you can do both in one step. This is one of the Korean skincare products I always recommend, for all skin types. You’re getting a gentle 0.5% dose of salicylic acid in a base of soothing, hydrating aloe vera. 

(For a stronger exfoliation, Walmart also carries my beloved COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, which has a higher concentration of BHA to exfoliate, brighten and unclog pores.)

For years, A313 Cosmetic Cream with Retinyl Palmitate has been my go-to retinoid, and guess what? You can find it at Walmart, too! (I told you they had everything!) This French pharmacy treatment is the strongest over-the-counter retinoid I’ve tried. It helps with all signs of aging—such as fine lines and wrinkles and loss of firmness—as well as pigmentation and even acne. Ever since I started using it, my skin has looked plumper, softer and more even-toned. I apply it all over my face, including around the eyes, and since it has an ointment-like texture, there’s no need for moisturizer.

The best lip balm is actually a nipple cream for breastfeeding: Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream. It’s made of 100% medical-grade lanolin and nothing else, and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no better ingredient for healing dry, chapped lips. I also use it on my cuticles!

Last but not least, I put on my Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask to ensure that my beauty sleep isn’t interrupted. Just like the Scrunchies, it’s made of pure silk, which is not only luxurious but also gentle on your skin. Fun fact: silk has been shown to absorb significantly less face cream than cotton, so your precious products will stay where they belong, on your skin!