Great skin is not simply a genetic matter. Yet, it also takes into account our daily habits like how we eat, how we drink, how we sleep and how we take care of our skin. Thanks to state-of-the-art technological advancements, we have inherited a treasure trove of skincare items promising youth and beauty. However, we all know it’s not easy to build a skincare routine that maybe even extravagant. Splurging on high-end cosmetics seems unreasonable for many of us on the budget. You are wondering if it’s worth spending extra cash for exquisite packaging and a nice fragrance. And, they are not actually going to make your skin better.

The thing is, there is no true price point on looking beautiful. You can pamper your complexion with goodies right in your medicine cabinet. I have gotten a name, Mario Badescu – one of the most flattering drugstore skincare brands we have these days. It’s straightforward, affordable and effective without letting our purses sigh in defeat. Go ahead and try the five best bang-for-the-buck drugstore skincare products by Mario Badescu.

This cult-classic brand was established by Romanian origin Mario Badescu, a chemist and a cosmetologist. He was a diligent person who follows a unique philosophy of skincare – “Simplicity is the key to healthy, clean and radiant skin.” Mario opened his first salon in New York in 1967 and had a reputation for his European-style facials. Then, he soon developed his own skincare product line, harnessing botanical-based ingredients.

Over 50 years, Mario Badescu Skincare has been thriving on customized treatments for a number of skin conditions regarding our life cycle like acne vulgaris, aging and in-betweens. Lots of celebrities swear by Mario Badescu Skincare such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Aniston, Ashley Judd, Charlize Theron, Heidi Klum and Brad Pitt.

1. Mario Badescu – Drying Lotion

First and foremost, Drying Lotion is touted as the pick of the litter among Mario Badescu’s ideal items and an award-winning pimple triple-threat.

Formulated with Salicylic Acid as a powerhouse of purging and exfoliating activities. This beta-hydroxy acid is oil-soluble, so it’s able to deeply penetrate the teen-tiny openings of the skin. Salicylic acid removes a build-up of dead skin cells, debris and bacteria that induces congestion and provokes the pore to rupture under the skin.

Moreover, There is Calamine or Calamine lotion, which provides soothing and healing effects. It helps relieve inflammation, keep redness at bay, dry out oozing irritation and stimulate the skin’s renewal process. Thus, Calamine is usually added to zit-zapping products.

The product also contains Sulfur, working similarly to Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide. When topically applied, Sulfur tends to strip away dead skin cells, absorb excess sebum, purify the pores and dry out the surface of swollen lesion filled with pus. Sulfur can be considered a gentle alternative to those traditional acne-fighters.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion suits those who have combination, oily and blemish-prone skin types. It’s used as a spot treatment for whiteheads, blackheads and pustules. Bella Hadid and Kylie Jenner have been fans of the product.

How to use: Avoid shaking the bottle. Dip a cotton swab into the pink sediment at the bottom of the bottle and then, dab it directly onto pimples. Let the lotion join your pre-sleep regimen, after cleansing and toning. Wash off in the morning.

However, the product’s drying effects can be irritating to skin, especially sensitive ones. Then, use it sparingly and moisturize skin.

2. Mario Badescu – Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater

Mario Badescu Skincare is renowned for its facial spray. The product is loaded with a blend of potent botanicals to tune up your complexion so it’s functioning effectively.

Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) extract is a cocktail of vitamins A, C and D, fatty acids and bioactive compounds (flavonoids). It imparts moisturizing, brightening and anti-oxidizing properties. The rose extract helps increase the skin’s vibrancy, beef up the permeability barrier with a natural glow and neutralize free radicals from environmental aggressors.

Infused with Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice. We know the drill, don’t we? Aloe vera is an incredible source of hydrating, healing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents. Chock-full of vitamins A, C and E, minerals and enzymes. It tends to quench the skin’s thirst, alleviate discomfort and diminish the haggard appearance.

Plus, Gardenia Florida fruit extract has high levels of ferulic acid and flavonoids. These natural antioxidants enhance the skin’s tone, texture and elasticity as well as prevent further damage caused by exposure to UV rays and oxidizing air pollution.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater caters to combination, dry and premature aging skin types. Its water-based consistency is perfect to be a toner. Spray it all over your face after cleansing and before moisturizing. On the other hand, you can carry it in your bag for emergency top-ups whenever your skin feels dull and dehydrated. The hydrating mist claims to make the canvas stay intact all day long.

A word of caution: Maybe the consistency is quite sticky due to its comprising aloe vera. That can break you out if your skin is very oily and acne-prone.

3. Mario Badescu – Buffering Lotion

Maybe Drying Lotion is not a one-and-done guaranteed solution to blemishes. Folks can switch over to Buffering Lotion that allegedly takes action on cystic acne. Its signature multitaskers are Zinc Oxide and Niacinamide

Zinc Oxide has been a derm-approved ingredient for banishing a variety of inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea and warts. Its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-infective abilities kill acne-causing bacteria and mitigate red, dreaded papules. Not to mention that Zinc Oxide acts as a mild astringent to minimize excess sebum trapped inside sebaceous glands.

Niacinamide, an essential vitamin B3, is a skin booster in the formula. It’s inclined to prevent the gland from going overboard, shrink enlarged pores and soothe the swelling of nodular acne. On top of that, Niacinamide can amp up hydration, restore the disrupted skin barrier and lessen the appearance of discolored patches and fine lines.

There are Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Glycerin and Allantoin. They potentiate the benefits of the active ingredients, but also inhibit over-drying and scarring to improve the look of troubled areas.

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion is used as a spot treatment. Shake the bottle before use. Get one to two drops of the lotion on your clean fingertips and pat it upon the bumps. Do not layer moisturizer then. Leave it on overnight and rinse off the next morning.

Cystic acne is a daunting, excruciating form that lives under the surface and never comes to a head, as opposed to run-of-the-mill zits. Make sure that you cleanse your face twice a day and incorporate the lotion in your skincare routine. Resist the urge to pick on the bugger.

4. Mario Badescu – Glycolic Foaming Cleanser

To expedite the skin repair, you can give Glycolic Foaming Cleanser a whirl. This double-duty wash liberates pores from impurities and preps your skin for other products.

Glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), primarily works as an exfoliant. It sloughs off the outermost dead layer of the skin to motivate cell turnover, smooth out signs of aging and unveil a healthy glow. Moreover, with a small molecular structure, it can permeate our hair follicles and loosen up accumulated oil, debris and pollutants for combatting congestion and hence, breakouts.

Rich with Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) leaf/root extract. Its high levels of bioactive compounds (polysaccharides and flavonoids) possess emollient and therapeutic properties. It helps promote moisture retention, balance the acid mantle and relieve irritation or redness. Therefore, the Marshmallow extract thwarts the product from stripping your skin of its oils and causing a taut, dry sensation.

At the same time, you can indulge in Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) flower extract. The botanical is commonly found in skincare formulations for its hydrating, soothing and healing effects. It replenishes the protective barrier and calms sensitive skin that is afflicted with itchiness, scaling and eczema.

The Glycolic Foaming Cleanser ultimately refines pores, reveals a clear, resilient-looking complexion and encourages the dermal absorption of toner, serum and moisturizer. The chemical peel suits the majority of skin types. However, it comes with some caveats. The glycolic acid and fragrance of the cleanser may be irritating to those with sensitive skin.

Don’t use the product on a daily basis. Over-exfoliating will take its toll on your skin. Apply it one to three times a week at night in place of your regular cleanser.

5. Mario Badescu – Seaweed Night Cream

Skincare ritual requires multiple steps to put your best face forward. Eventually, we slather on Seaweed Night Cream to lock in the good stuff.

Souped-up with the extract of Fucus Vesiculosus ( bladderwrack), known as a type of brown algae (seaweed). Abundant in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and bioactive elements all of which are responsible for its age-defying, soothing and moisturizing abilities. It helps ward off flaking, ease inflammation, stimulate the skin’s elasticity, maintain smoothness, correct discoloration and offset oxidative stress.

Simultaneously, The combination of collagen and Sodium Hyaluronate triggers the skin to repair itself.

Collagen is one of the main structural proteins of the dermis and serves as a building block of the skin. It contributes to cell regeneration, reduces the loss of volume and firmness, makes the skin hold onto moisture and counteracts facial muscle contraction as a culprit behind the formation of wrinkles. Collagen can be an antioxidant and a moisturizer.

Sodium Hyaluronate is a powerful humectant that is capable of binding up to 1000 times its own weight in water. Its topical application helps bind moisture to the skin, improve transdermal water loss and enhance the appearance of parched skin. When your skin is hydrated properly, it, in turn, promotes collagen synthesis, delays extrinsic aging and plumps wrinkles.

Layer the seaweed night cream over your serum before bed. At night, the skin is inclined to switch on its recovery mode and absorb those active constituents better. I’d highly recommend the product to combination, dry and aging skin types. Speaking of folks with oily, acne-prone skin, the product may exacerbate oiliness, shine and clogged pores.

I really hope that the post is adequately informative about Mario Badescu Skincare. Well, to be honest, those five items might not work that great for all of us. But, I believe that they are beneficial to a certain degree. If you have any ideas or questions, we are looking forward to hearing you out. Thank you so much for spending your precious time on my blog! Stay strong and beautiful!