When you have lived and worked with college students for a decade, you know a thing or two about “back to school”. There’s a lot of preparation for your new digs – bedding, cookware, and Pinterest-inspired DIY decor galore. And prepping for your actual classes by purchasing textbooks and major-related supplies. Shout out to all my design majors spending quadruple digits on supplies every semester. Y’all are the real MVPs. But, of course, there are the other situations you want to be prepared for. Nothing hurts your confidence more than feeling like a hot mess while you’re navigating campus life. So I have decided to bestow upon you my wisdom 😉 Here are my recommendations for can’t-live-without beauty products to get you through all that college life throws at you!

Scenario #1: You hit snooze one to many times and know you have to find a way to create teleportation just so you can get to class on time. You were planning on meeting your friends for lunch afterwards so you really don’t want to rock the real “le no makeup look”.

Solution:  Just splash some water on your face and put on their five products in less than five minutes. Beautycounter’s Dew Skin does triple duty as a moisturizer, SPF, and base in one handy pump package. And their Lip Sheer in Petal is moisturizing and subtle on any skin tone so no worries if you have no time for perfect application. Japonesque’s eyelash curler will help make you look more awake while Physicians Formula’s mascara will add some volume and definition with smudging and clumping. And, if you’re like me, filling your brows is a most for a polished look. Just a few swipes in sparse areas is enough. Now you’re ready to get to class. But about that bedhead….grab a baseball cap and show some school spirit. Your hair needs a break from washing and styling anyways!

Scenario #2: Friday night is your student organization’s first big social event, and you are so excited! You have a cute dress, sparkling shoes, and a big pimple on your cheek.

Solution: Wash your face with an oil-based cleanser. This cleansing oil by Josie Maran has a linoleic acid base, perfect for oily skin. Once your face is clean and dry. Dab a clay or sulfur-based spot treatment on the blemish. Zabana Essential’s makes an amazing french clay spot treatment that has consistantly dried up my blemishes overnight. In the morning, go make up free to allow your skin to breathe and heal.

Scenario #3: You spent the afternoon biking (or scootin’) around campus and now your hair is a windblown, tangled mess.

Solution: Before you try to rationalize just cutting it all off (the lob is still in!), grab The Honest Company’s conditioning detangled and the Tangle Teezer brush. Spray the detangler allover wet or dry hair and start brushing with the tangle teezer, starting at your ends and working your way up. And now that your hair is straight and tangle-free, grab some hair ribbons to take with you next time. A bun or braid will help protect your hair during your next ride.

Scenario #4: You’ve been schlepping across campus (another situation where teleportation needs to be discovered), and your face is now super greasy.

Solution: Grab a couple blotting sheets and go to town. These bad boys from Boscia are amazing and removing every last trace oil without disturbing makeup. Once you have blotted away all the shine, hydrate with the Beautycounter Rose Water Uplifting Spraty. Your face now has a nice, healthy glow instead of a 1000W shine.

Scenario #5: The social with your student organization was such a success! You had a blast with your friends, but you are ready to get some cuddle action from your pillow – you AND your face of full makeup.

Solution: Keep a stash of face wipes in your nightstand to help curb the temptation to fall asleep without removing your makeup. I try to not buy too many products just for my face and this baby wipes from The Honest Company work great for makeup removal.

Scenario #6: You’re just about to sit down for a mega marathon of studying before a midterm when hungry pangs strike.

Solution: Grab 12 oz of ice cold water or non-dairy milk and mix with Vega One Nutritional Shake. This is one of the best meal replacement shakes on the market. Gluten-free and sweetened with stevia, this meal shake contains 20 grams of plant-based protein, 6 servings of greens, 50% of your daily food-based intake of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, 1.5 grams of Omega-3s, and is only 160 calories! I buy the natural (unflavored) version to mix into juices sometimes, but the French Vanilla, Chocolate, Berry, and Vanilla Chai are all really delicious. You may be wondering what this has to do with beauty. Well, you are what you eat, so choose your quick meals wisely.

For more information on the Beautycounter products mentioned, check out their website or shoot me an email! Thanks for reading!