Skincare Tips I’ve Learned From Reddit to Save Money, Time, and My Skin

A lot of us have killed many an evening going down the reddit hole, and while much of it is entertaining, is it time well spent? Here, we do the culling for you to offer some of the best reddit tips on skincare that’ll save you time, money, and your complexion.

Reddit is one of my favorite places on the Internet. I know it gets a bad rap as being a cesspool of nonsense, but as long as you stick to the cool subreddits, it’s lit!

My two favorite subreddits are /r/skincareaddiction and /r/AsianBeauty. I’ve been a lurker on both pages for years and have learned countless tips that have saved me money, saved me time, and just made my life and skin SO very happy. Let’s dig in and check out these reddit tips, shall we?

Cut your exfoliating pads in half to double the amount and save money

When I lived in Southeast Asia, I had a really hard time getting products, so I had to get a bit inventive and creative to help my products last longer. You’d think being in Asia would mean I’d have even more access to K-beauty or Asian beauty in general, but you’re wrong. My favorite brands, like COSRX, were nonexistent in the stores.

One of my favorite products is the COSRX One Step Pimple Clear Pads. I knew that I’d have a hard time getting them again once I ran out, but then I read a tip on reddit that changed my life: Cut your pads in half to make them last longer! This works with any type of exfoliating pad, from the COSRX ones to the regular ol’ Stridex. One half of the pad is definitely enough to use over your whole face, and you double the life of your product! And because I’m extra, I now have a special pair of “skincare” scissors that I keep sterilized and clean specifically for this purpose.

Wait 20 minutes after applying AHAs/BHAs/retinols before continuing on your skincare routine

When I first read this reddit tip a couple of years ago, I was like, “no girl.” I’m not making my already long ass nighttime routine even longer by adding in an extra 20 minutes of just waiting around. But curiosity got the best of me, and I started applying my exfoliating products and waiting. First, it was only 5 minutes, then 10, and then finally I made it up to the full 20 minutes. And guess what?

That sh—t works.

Why does it work? Well, when you apply a chemical exfoliant (formulated at the right pH), it lowers the pH of your skin to help the acids to their thang. By immediately putting on your moisturizer/serum/whatever your next step is, you basically raise the pH of your skin so the exfoliant isn’t as effective as it could be. This doesn’t mean it WON’T work if you can’t wait or you’re low on time, but waiting even just 5 minutes gives your chemical exfoliators a chance to do their job. Wins all around!

Don’t dry your face after you wash it and move on to your essence/toner step

I was a devout member of the “use a towel to dry your face” club for years. I thought nothing would ever drag that precious white towel out of my hands. But I read another tip on reddit a few years ago that had me shook. Don’t dry your face after you wash it. Instead, move straight on to your essence step.

The theory behind this is that when you don’t dry your face after you wash it, the water acts to hydrate your skin, along with whatever essence you’re using. When you think about it, it does seem kinda counterproductive to dry your face and then use a product to hydrate it again.

Since I’ve incorporated this little tip into my routine, I’ve noticed by skin is visibly more hydrated. I don’t get those little crepe-y fine lines around my eyes and nose and my products just seem to sink in a little better.

Cut open the sheet mask package to get out all that lovely essence-y goodness

Maybe I’m hella late, but whenever I used to use a sheet mask, I’d just throw the sheet mask on and throw the packaging away. I had NO idea just how much product I was wasting! But thankfully, another reddit tip came to my rescue.

Most sheet masks come with a ton of extra leftover essence. Instead of throwing away money, I cut open the pouches and apply a little bit of the essence before I put the mask on, and then I pat on the rest of the leftover essence after I remove the sheet mask. I also use the extra essence to hydrate and moisturize my hands and my décolleté area. (P.S. Don’t neglect your neck when you do your skincare routine!)

Check out more sheet masking extras to help you get the most of your sheet mask here.

Do you have any fun, life-changing reddit tips? I’m always looking for ways to get the most out of my skincare, so share with me!