Whenever we think of college essentials, we tend to think of books, laptops, and other academic supplies often associated with college life. Your college experience will be so much more than academics, especially for those living on campus. You'll want to ensure that you can maintain every aspect of  your life while working towards your degree. One such aspect is your beauty routine. Sorry to say but college is no excuse for looking busted (except maybe during finals week 😉). That's why we've compiled a list of college beauty essentials you'll need to pack before you head out.

A 3 Step System

Your number 1 college beauty essential should always be a good 3 step skincare routine. Good skin care is at the foundation of every beauty routine. A cleanser, toner, and moisturizer will keep your skin in top shape as you navigate the semester. This is especially important for those with acne prone skin, as stress can contribute to breakouts. Consider our Poof It's Gone Bar Soap to cleanse and remove acne causing bacteria, our Not Today Toner to help remove excess dirt, and balance skin's pH, and our Touch My Skin Moisturizer which hydrates and replenishes moisture lost in the cleansing process.

Face Wipes or Micellar Water

We've all heard the advice that you should always wash your face before bed but unfortunately in college things don't always go as planned. Reality is there will be nights you'll be too exhausted to change into your jammies much less wash your face, and that's where good face wipes or Micellar Water comes in. You can remove most of your makeup, as well as dirt and oil without dragging yourself to the bathroom, and rest well knowing that you at least removed most of your makeup.

Body Wash

One of the top college essentials will most definitely be a good body wash. Why? Well Body Washes are much easier to store, and carry around. They are also more hygienic than bar soap that often has to come into contact with a wide range of surfaces. A great affordable body wash is Castile Soap. It's all natural, gentle, and economical as it needs to be diluted so a little can go a very long way.

Neutral Eyeshadow Palette

There will be days when you'll want to get a little dolled up for your 8 am class. Enter your neutral eyeshadow palette, this palette contains colors that can worn anywhere at anytime, and with a little skill you can easily transition your look from class time appropriate to nighttime glamour.

Eye cream

Speaking of 8 am classes, college life is going to be a lot of early mornings coupled with a lot of late nights. One of the first places exhaustion tend to show up is the eye area. A good eye cream is going to be necessary to treat all those eye bags, and dark circles you may end up getting. Eye cream is one beauty essential you're going to be happy you brought along. 

Dry Shampoo

Washing your hair every week is actually a luxury in college, but don't worry you can always fake it with a good dry shampoo. A dry shampoo is essential for soaking up those excess oils that make hair limp, deodorizing strands, and infusing hair with beneficial extracts.  

Perfume/Body Spray

Everybody wants to smell great, and being in college doesn't change that. A great perfume/body spray will come in handy for everyday use, and especially if you skipped a shower or two (lets get real here) or after working out.  

Shampoo and Conditioner

While dry shampoo is a definite life saver, at some point you will actually have to wash your hair. A great shampoo and conditioner is a must for cleansing the scalp, and moisturizing hair.

Q-tips and Cotton Balls

These beauty essentials are probably one of the most important, and also the ones people probably forget the most. Q-tips and cotton balls will come in handy when applying skincare and makeup, as well as other things you may need to get done around your dorm.

Are there any other college beauty essentials you can think of? Tell us in the comments below, our readers would love to know!