We're big fans of drugstore beauty here at Who What Wear. Although I don't usually use drugstore items in my daily skincare routine, I do have a few bodycare and makeup favorites I discovered at my local CVS back in the day that I still use to this day. Dove bodywash? Check! Bioderma micellar water? Double check!
Moral of the story is never underestimate the power of a good drugstore item. Once you find one you love, the commitment can be lifelong. Like I said above, I normally wouldn't wax poetic specifically about drugstore skincare, because in the past, I just hadn't found anything in that price range that worked wonders for my skin—that is, until now. I recently gave a few items from Timeless Skin Care a spin, and I was immediately wowed. First, I couldn't believe the price points—each item is so effective yet everything is under the $35 mark. Yep, you read that right! Finally, high-quality skincare that doesn't cost a fortune! If you're curious about this unicorn of a line and want to read a few of my thoughts on it, scroll below.
This was the first product I tried from the brand, and I totally fell in love. I know what you're thinking—there's nothing special about a basic squalane oil, but let me tell you why that isn't true. This formula is so hydrating. I always wanted to find a single-ingredient facial oil that worked well for my skin because it's extremely sensitive. Adding too many different oils into the mix doesn't usually end well for me, so you can imagine my delight when I found a face oil soulmate in this little formula. Squalane is such a great ingredient for barrier repair, which is something my dehydrated skin desperately needs right now.
If you have sensitive, dehydrated, acne-prone skin, this face oil could be the one for you, too. It gives you baby-soft skin, the texture is so smooth it glides right on and absorbs easily, plus it provides long-lasting moisture. A complaint I had about most other noncomedogenic facial oil blends was that the moisture seemed to evaporate for me after 30 minutes or so, and I'd have to apply more. Not the case here! This one truly does the job.
I've always loved coenzyme Q10 as a singular ingredient, but this powerful youth-enhancing serum is packed with three ingredients that work expertly together to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. A trio of ubiquinone, Matrixyl 3000, and hyaluronic acid help the skin rebuild lost collagen.
Transparently, I'm 30 and have a tiny bit of Botox in my forehead, so I don't have a ton of fine lines to smooth, but I will say that I feel like it really plumped up my cheek area and added extra hydration to my otherwise dehydrated complexion. Matrixyl 3000 can also be considered an alternative to traditional retinoids, so it may be a good alternative for those who can't tolerate retinol.
Out of all the products I tried from the brand, this one didn't stand out as much to me. My eye area tends to get pretty dry, especially because I live in a dry climate. Hyaluronic acid also tends to be a tricky ingredient for me. When paired with the right other hydrating ingredients, it works well, but if it's pure or one of the main ingredients, it seems to make my skin more dehydrated. This eye cream has a nice creamy texture and contains hyaluronic acid, but it seemed to dry out my eye area a bit after a while. It is fragrance free and sensitive-skin safe, though. If your skin is normal or oily, I still think it could be a great option.
I don't often test new vitamin C serums, TBH. Once I find a formula I like, I stick with it. But for the purpose of this review, I decided to give this formula a try. It's a bit of a dupe for SkinCeuticals' cult-loved C E Ferulic, and I think it can honestly compete with it. I like that this formula is simple as with all other Timeless products. They're formulated with pretty minimal ingredients, so they're safe for sensitive skin. This serum definitely brightens quickly. I noticed my skin looking a lot brighter after just a few weeks of consistent use. My dark spots faded quite a bit, and I could tell it was helping to speed up skin cell turnover. What's even better is that the brand also makes a 10% concentration of this formula to support those who may have more sensitive skin.
More Affordable Skincare I Love
I haven't gotten a chance to try this one out just yet, but it's a great serum for those who are acne-prone. It helps stimulate your skin's natural healing process while calming breakouts and soothing redness.
If you love a good rose-water spray, the brand also offers this hydrating option with the addition of Matrixyl 3000 to really plump the skin.
If you have dry or sensitive skin, this cleansing oil and bodywash is a great winter staple. It's really silky yet non-greasy and relieves dryness or dehydration so quickly.
I love the whipped texture of this silky body cream from Dove. I use Dove bodywash religiously but like to bust out this cream with rice milk and macadamia during the colder months.
When I got contact dermatitis, this ceramide-rich cream was the only thing my skin could tolerate. It's free of fragrance and any other potentially triggering ingredients for those who have hypersensitive skin or are acne-prone. It's a drugstore staple I can always count on if I just need something super simple.
This lightweight moisturizer has a slick gel texture and is great for those with oilier skin.
This rich balm from La Roche-Posay is great for retinoid users. It's packed with panthenol, shea butter, and glycerin to really hydrate the skin and keep moisture from evaporating.
