These are the cheap beauty and skincare products that all college students should stock up on. They save you time and money.
For college freshmen (or any girl who likes an organized makeup bag), it is important to stock up on essentials that you will actually use. Cost and time are major factors in determining what products will become part of your beauty routine. You’re not going to be spending your days waxing your legs when you have four chapters to read, a 1,000 essay to write, and a few parties you’d like to attend. You also don’t want to spend your entire student loan on skincare products, so I’ve made sure that every product featured here is wallet-friendly too.
These are the 10 budget-friendly beauty products that every college student should have in their shower caddy:
1. Clean & Clean Morning Burst Facial Cleanser
It is very likely that you will be stuck with one early 9 AM class–or a 12 PM class that always seems too early because you were out too late. To make getting up easier, look for an invigorating face wash. The fresh citrus scent and bursting beads in this face wash will stop you counting sheep, so you can focus on some more complex math.
2. Clearasil Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream
Sorry to break it to you, but graduating high school doesn’t make you immune to zits. Don’t believe what they say about stress not making you breakout because a pimple always seems to pop up right before exams start. This acne treatment clears existing spots and helps prevent new ones from coming up.
3. Neutrogena Deep Clean Oil-Free Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes
We’re all guilty of slacking with makeup removal–college student or not. These pre-moistened wipes remove dirt, oil, and makeup. Keep them in your purse for days when you’re extra sweaty (read: exams), or use them when you’re too lazy/too drunk to wash your face.
4. Old Navy Flip Flops
They’re not technically a beauty product, but they are an essential bathroom product. It is a worthwhile investment to spend a few dollars on a pair of sandals that will protect your feet from all of the nasty stuff on the communal shower floor. i.e., other people’s hair. It’s also much easier (and cheaper) to prevent foot fungus/warts than to treat them.
5. Bath & Body Works Shower Gel in Velvet Sugar
You should be purchasing a liquid body wash for the same reasons you need to buy shower shoes. Do you really want to use your bar of soap after you dropped it on the floor of the shower that 400 other stinky college freshmen are using? I thought not. You won’t miss your boring bar of soap when you use this shower gel; it smells good enough to eat.
6. Gilette Venus Spa Razor
If you couldn’t be bothered to buy shaving cream before, college probably isn’t going to change that. Plus, who wants to carry an extra product to the communal bathroom? This razor has built-in shaving gel bars, so it doesn’t irritate your skin like when you dry shave without shaving cream. All you need to do is add water, and stubbly leg hair will be a thing of the past.
7. Batiste Wild Dry Shampoo
I cannot say enough good things about dry shampoo. It can give your hair a bit of extra volume, and most importantly, it can keep your mane looking fresh when you have no time to wash it. You may be cramming for that midterm, but that doesn’t mean you have to turn into a grease monster.
8. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
The too-cold, highly-chlorinated water at your school can leave your skin a bit parched. (That and if you drink cocktails in place of water). Look for a moisturizer like this fragrance-free one that you can use on a daily basis. And make sure you get one that has sun protection. We all know how important it is to wear sunscreen, but applying it on a daily basis just doesn’t happen, so get your SPF protection from your moisturizer.
9. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash
Multi-purpose products are great because they save you time and money. Plus, they lighten the load you have to lug down the hall to the bathrooms. This nourishing body wash has three moisturizers to soften your skin, so you don’t have to worry about applying lotion post-shower.
10. Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Calming Face Mask
You spend hours hunched over a textbook in the library and memorizing ridiculous theories that you will probably never use, so you deserve an indulgent beauty treatment to help you relax after a long day. If you have access to a bathtub that isn’t completely disgusting, get some nice-smelling bubble bath, or buy a luxurious face mask–or make your own.
(Photo: Sherrie Smith/Shutterstock)