What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “college student”? Broke. Between school work, late night soirées, and boy drama, how do you keep your skin acne, stress, and hangover-free, all while staying in budget? Here are some cheap, easy tips to keep a glow all year long.
The biggest tip I can give is to find and keep a routine! Our skin needs our constant attention, especially when we are up all hours of the night studying (or partying).
1—Cleanse. Start with a cleanser. My go-to is Bioré because it is cheap. Another go-to brand is Neutrogena. You can also try a micellar cleansing water, which is basically holy water that removes makeup, oil, and dirt without the hassle of actually washing your face. Try this one from Garnier ($9).
2—Exfoliate. About once a week, you should exfoliate. Exfoliation makes your skin silky smooth and makes you glow like the sun, but don’t do it too much! Your skin will become dry and sensitive, which is what we are trying to avoid. I use the Blackhead Eliminating Scrub ($8) from Garnier to give my skin that extra glow.
3—Tone. Next, tone up. The whole point of toner is to balance your skin in between oily and dry and wipe away all dullness. H2O+ Beauty Elements Hit The Matte ($18) is great because it lacks the alcohol that most toners have, saving dry skin. If your skin is prone to acne or oil, try this Neutrogena Toner ($9).
4—Serums. This step is where you can pick any problem spot and find a magic potion to fix it. College is the beginning of pesky under-eye bags, so try BioRepublic Lost Baggage Under-Eye Masks ($5) or the Andalou Naturals Luminous Eye Serum ($16) to brighten up. There are so many to choose from that don’t require a $50 purchase!
5—Moisturize. Moisturizers can be tricky and sometimes scary, especially for people with oily skin. I use the Oil-Free Combination Skin Moisturizer ($12) from Neutrogena. It goes on light and not sticky, perfect for use under makeup or just by itself. Also, try to buy one that has SPF in it to protect yourself from the damage of UV rays. Moisture is a key part in obtaining that wanted glow, so don’t skip it!
6—Spot treatments. Last, but certainly not least, there’s spot treatment. The best, most magical product I have ever used (no dramatics) is tea tree oil. I use one drop in my pump of moisturizer to rub all over my face, and a little dab on any acne or dark spots. Try this one from The Body Shop ($10)!
Have any other suggestions or cheap tricks? Love these brands or this routine? Let me know below in the comments!
