I built a clean skincare routine for just under S$130 to see if I can get clearer, brighter, and more hydrated skin after two weeks

There’s always a preconceived notion that natural or clean skincare products tend to be more expensive than conventional ones by all your household beauty brands.

Because of the price tag, we often dismiss natural skincare formulas for fear that they will put a dent in your bank account if you wish to incorporate one or more into your skincare routine.

But, what if we tell you that that’s not always the case?

Keep reading, as I share with you how I managed to hop on the clean beauty bandwagon and used a range of natural plant-based skincare products from aspurely, a homegrown clean skincare brand, for no more than S$130.

First, let’s dive in to learn more about the essential skincare products that are in my new routine.

Meet the essential skincare products from aspurely

My clean skincare routine is very streamlined with only the essential products from aspurely you need for skin maintenance: a cleanser, toner, and moisturiser – and I’m going to share more about each of them with you here!

aspurely Natural Amino Acid Cleansing Foam

I start my daily routine with the Natural Amino Acid Cleansing Foam (S$49), a deep-cleansing foam cleanser made for time-starved urbanites as it saves time by pulling double-duty to remove light makeup while cleansing away dirt and impurities without leaving your skin taut or disrupting your skin’s delicate natural barrier that protects your skin cells from “bad guys” like UV radiation, pollution, bacteria, dirt, and toxins.

Now, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that cleansing is hardly the most glamorous step in a skincare routine, but in many ways, it’s the most important.

I don’t blame you for seeing it as more a chore than a treat but a cleanser that’s both functional and sensorial can make this daily task a little bit more enjoyable – and I found it in aspurely’s clean cleansing foam that feels like a cloud and smells like citrus heaven, thanks to a blend of sweet orange and lavender essential oils in the formula.

Not only does the cleanser do its job seamlessly while giving your skin – and senses – a spa-like treatment, you’ll also notice your skin texture becoming softer and more refined while your skin’s radiance, brightness, and clarity improve after each wash.

This is all thanks to PeachPurify™, a complex in the facial cleanser that’s packed with flavonoids such as kaempferol derivatives which are known for their antioxidant, detoxifying, and purifying properties that can enhance your skin-cleansing results.

aspurely Restorative & pH Balancing Toner

Then, I move on to the Restorative & pH Balancing Toner (S$49), which improves skin’s luminosity and firmness while rehydrating and rebalancing the skin’s pH balance.

The idea is to keep your skin barrier slightly acidic as you may be faced with a host of skin issues if your skin’s pH skews one way or the other – too alkaline and your skin is going to look flaky and red; too acidic and you’ll be more prone to inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and acne.

With a mist spray format, I can easily mist it over without the need for a cotton pad to gently clarify my skin and refine pores. In fact, I also keep it by my work desk during the day as a quick pick-me-up to refresh my skin!

In this formula that’s free of alcohol and synthetic fragrances, you’ll find buddleja extract that’s certified by EcoCert and COSMOS.

Also known as summer lilac or butterfly bush, it’s a mountain flower grown in the Swiss Alps that’s said to help neutralise free radicals and delay the signs of skin ageing while providing skin-calming action thanks to its ability to adapt to high levels of solar radiation.

aspurely Ultra-Regenerative Moisturiser

Once my skin is thoroughly cleansed and toned, it’s time for the Ultra-Regenerative Moisturiser (S$79).

Powered by organic glacier willowherb found in the Swiss Alps, this ultra-lightweight moisturiser delivers intense hydration, prevents moisture loss, and aids in the restoration of skin elasticity and suppleness without leaving behind any greasy residue.

If you’re struggling with maskne like me, this moisturiser will definitely come in handy as it can tackle breakouts caused by prolonged maskwear thanks to glacier willowherb’s anti-inflammatory, sebum-regulating, and skin-soothing properties.

With this trio of benefits, you can also say that the skin-calming formula is especially beneficial not just for those looking for vegan, non-toxic skincare to treat atopic dermatitis, eczema, or rosacea but also as aftercare following prolonged sun exposure, hair removal procedures, laser treatments, facial peels, and aesthetic treatments.

In addition, the multi-tasking moisturiser contains microencapsulated hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, enabling a slow release of the active ingredients over time to help plump up the skin and minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Apart from offering anti-ageing properties, the formula is also capable of rebalancing the skin’s sebum level and microbiome as its hero ingredient that I mentioned earlier, works like a natural prebiotic bioactive.

What this means is that the fast-absorbing formula has the ability to deactivate harmful acne-causing bacteria and tone down skin redness and inflammation while promoting the proliferation of “good bacteria” to keep skin strong and resilient for a healthy, mattified finish.

I’m also certain that you’ll appreciate the moisturiser’s airless pump packaging like I do because it allows you to get to every drop of the product without needing to scrape the insides of the bottle.

If you did the math, you’re probably wondering if I made a mistake in the calculation – how would these items add up to under S$130 based on the prices I shared above?

Well, here’s my “hack”: you can get them all – in full sizes no less – a Starter Pack for just S$123 instead of the usual price of S$177 if you had bought them individually!

How my skin fared after trying aspurely’s essential skincare products for two weeks

After trying the skincare for 14 days, I’m pleasantly surprised to see that my skin looks fresher and feels healthier with a more even skin tone.

My T-zone isn’t as oily as before, and it’s also no longer as dry on the cheeks. In fact, I even noticed a slight glow on my otherwise lacklustre complexion.

What I like about the aspurely’s Essentials Collection is that it has the ability to rebalance my skin’s sebum, natural pH levels, and microbiome to improve my skin’s overall health alongside its texture, firmness, radiance, and clarity.

And with the affordably priced Starter Pack, I definitely can give clean skincare products more airtime in my daily skincare routine.

Supplement your morning skincare routine with aspurely Anti-Pollutant & Infrared Hydrating Sunscreen

During the day, it’s crucial that you protect your skin with a trusty sunblock – even when you’re staying indoors to work from home.

In fact, it’s a big misconception that there’s no need to apply sunscreen when you’re not heading out of the house as UV rays can still creep in through windows and glass doors and wreak havoc on your skin.

To keep your skin protected, aspurely has you covered with its Anti-Pollutant & Infrared Hydrating Sunscreen (S$69) from the Essentials Collection.

The four-in-one sunscreen, which offers SPF 20 PA+++ protection against UVA and UVB rays, infrared, blue light, and environmental pollutants, is powered by AntioxidantEntada™, a complex that’s abundantly rich in phaseoloidin, which is a potent antioxidant highly valued for its ability to defend the skin against both indoor and outdoor radiation.

Additionally, this ingredient boasts anti-inflammatory properties, which is especially helpful for protecting and soothing the skin while keeping premature skin ageing at bay.

You can also count on this non-sticky daily-use sunscreen to provide moisture and nourishment to keep skin healthy and velvety smooth without any greasiness or tackiness.

At the same time, the non-comedogenic, silicone-free formula also helps brighten and unify the skin tone without clogging pores so that your complexion radiates even sans make-up.

It’s worth noting that aspurely’s Anti-Pollutant & Infrared Hydrating Sunscreen is a mineral (a.k.a physical) sunscreen, which safeguards the skin by creating a physical barrier that reflects UV rays away. In comparison, chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the UV rays and converting them into heat before releasing the heat through the skin.

Since mineral sunscreens tend to contain active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, the Anti-Pollutant & Infrared Hydrating Sunscreen will give a tone-up effect for a brighter complexion.

To avoid the mismatched two-tone effect, I highly recommend taking the time to apply the non-toxic, chemical-free sunscreen so that you can build up the coverage you want and blend it thoroughly and seamlessly.

You even have the option of wearing the sweat-proof formula under makeup – I find that it works best this way and it even helps my foundation look better.

About aspurely

Proudly Singaporean, aspurely is a clean skincare brand inspired by nature and science with a focus on pure, efficacious ingredients, and formulas thanks to the founder’s years of research and development experience.

All aspurely products are made of 100% plant-based ingredients, and they are all free of synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, silicones, paraben, sulphates, and alcohol, making the formulas very mild and gentle even on the most sensitive skin.

Formulated in aspurely’s own laboratories in Singapore, each formula is developed with active ingredients that go deep within the skin to help it continuously renew and restore itself back to its pure, natural state by re-energising ageing skin cells, protecting the skin from the environment, and teaching it to rehydrate and rejuvenate itself over time.

You can shop aspurely’s range of clean skincare at aspurely’s official e-store, KrisShop, and Lazada as well as authorised stockists such as Thomson Medical Centre’s retail pharmacy, Little Babies, Agape Babies.

This article is brought to you by aspurely.