Routines
Affordable Skincare in SLC: How to Build a Routine That Actually Works
By Jake Howard, Licensed Master Esthetician • June 20, 2025
Let’s talk about something most people are too scared to say out loud:
Skincare is expensive—or at least, it can be.
If your entire For You Page is influencers pushing $200 serums, medical spas upselling you into memberships, or brand reps acting like a $300 moisturizer is “essential,” of course it feels out of reach. And if you’ve ever left a facial feeling like you needed to refinance your car to afford the retail shelf… yeah, I get it.
But here’s the truth, and it’s the backbone of everything I do at Rocky Mountain Skin:
You don’t need a luxury budget.
You need a curated plan.
Not curated by TikTok.
Not curated by Sephora sales goals.
Curated by someone who actually listens to you, looks at your skin, understands your goals, and respects your budget.
That’s my job.
Why Skincare Feels Complicated (And Why It Doesn’t Have to Be)
Most people come to me overwhelmed. They’ve tried a lot of things, followed every trend, mixed too many active ingredients, or bought a routine that was way too strong for their skin.
It’s not your fault. The industry is noisy on purpose.
My approach is the opposite: keep it simple, keep it strategic, and build up slowly.
You don’t start a workout routine with an elite-level training session.
You don’t start skincare with the strongest products on the shelf, either.
Your skin has to be trained.
When the barrier is healthy, hydrated, and functioning, it can handle stronger ingredients, actives work better, and treatments make a bigger impact. When we skip that step, things fall apart fast.
What a Curated Routine Actually Means
A curated routine isn’t about expensive products—it’s about using the right products in the right order at the right time.
For some people, that means:
a Target cleanser
a simple moisturizer
a mineral sunscreen that doesn’t sting
one solid serum
maybe a retinol when the skin is ready
For others, it means:
a PCA Skin retinol
an Image antioxidant
a pro treatment plan
a seasonal “skin training” upgrade
Everything has its place. Not everyone needs the most advanced formula on day one. Not everyone needs a $120 serum. But if a professional-grade product will save you time, irritation, or frustration—and your skin is ready for it—I’ll point you toward it.
Where to Save and Where to Splurge
This is my general rule of thumb:
Save on:
cleansers
basic moisturizers
hydrating toners
simple SPFs
Spend on:
retinol
mineral sunscreen (if your skin is picky)
certain vitamin C formulas
corrective serums that genuinely move the needle
Split the difference on:
exfoliants
pigmentation serums
redness or sensitivity treatments
A $15 cleanser can perform just as well as a $40 one.
A $15 vitamin C usually cannot.
I’ll tell you the difference.
Who I Work With
The people in my treatment room aren’t influencers or celebrities.
They’re real humans:
teens with acne
moms whose skin barrier is wrecked from years of harsh actives
teachers and nurses with dehydrated, overworked skin
queer clients dealing with hormone shifts
bartenders, servers, Lyft drivers
students who need routines that don’t eat their whole paycheck
Everyone deserves good skin.
Everyone deserves guidance that respects their life—not just their wallet.
If You Want Personalized Help, Here’s How to Start
Start with one visit: First visit: consult + facial, 60 minutes, $50. We talk through your skin, your goals and your routine, then I give you a facial built on what we find. No pressure, no judgment. You leave with a plan and a clear next step, even if you’re on a budget or just getting started.
Book the first visit, or see everything on the menu.
Why Consultations Save You Money (Yes, Really)
Most of the time, people overspend because they’re guessing.
They buy three serums that do the same thing.
They start a retinol that’s too strong.
They switch products too fast.
They buy exfoliants that wreck their barrier.
They mix ingredients that cancel each other out.
A consultation stops all of that.
You get a curated plan.
You get guidance.
You get a routine you don’t have to question.
Why I Keep My Studio Accessible
Rocky Mountain Skin is a solo skincare studio in South Salt Lake.
It’s private, queer-affirming, body-positive, and focused on results—not pressure.
My treatments are high-performance. My education is transparent. My consultations are accessible. And my goal is simple:
Help you get the skin you want without financial shame or overwhelm.
If you walk in with a mix of drugstore and professional products, that’s perfect. If you walk in with nothing, that’s fine too. If you’ve been using the same cleanser since high school, we can work with that.
Your skin has a starting point. We meet it.
Ready to Get Started?
If you want a routine that works for your skin and your budget, start with the first visit. Whether you need clarity, structure, or a full strategy, I’ve got you.
Book First visit: consult + facial ($50)
Your skin doesn’t need luxury.
It needs leadership.
Let’s build your routine—strategically, affordably, and in a way that actually works.