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Back-to-school season is almost upon us, but it doesn’t have to be all bad.
To stave off thoughts of school work, tests and stress, why not shop the best of beauty? In the spirit of procrastination, we’ve compiled a list of user-friendly and affordable tried-and-true beauty products you can shop now at Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Target and Glossier. The best part? These products are all less than $50.
From hydrating lip balms and brightening eye masks to skin tints, this list features user-friendly items that’ll have you looking good, even during the most arduous all-nighters and lengthy study halls. Keep reading to shop till you drop.
Dearcloud X Miffy Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch & Compact Case Set
Acne patches in the shape of Miffy, flowers and apples.
You’ve got no time for breakouts when you’re stressing over exams and getting down to studying. These Dearcloud X Miffy Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches are not only cute, but effective. Retailing for $17 at Urban Outfitters, these pimple patches are hydrocolloid, a translucent dressing that creates a moist environment to help with healing. While it is usually used for medical purposes, hydrocolloid is also used to create acne patches that draw out fluid in the pimple. Gross, we know, but it works. The patches reduce inflammation and prevent infection, speeding up the healing process and reducing the look of your spot just in time for that important study date.
Fragrance can be expensive, but you don’t need $100+ to find the right one for you. Especially if you’re a student on a budget. This Matcha Mochi fragrance from Zara retails for just $15.90 and it’s pretty perfect in our book. Matcha Mochi is what we call a gourmand, or a fancy term that is used to describe fragrances with edible notes. This fragrance has yummy notes of pear, white chocolate and smooth matcha. If you’re a die-hard matcha girlie, then this one’s for you.
Dry and flaky skin and lips, begone! Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment is a tried and true for many, but if you aren’t aware of how good it is, let us fill you in. Retailing for $7.79 at Target, this ointment is ultra-hydrating thanks to its unique formula, which includes a combination of emollients and skin conditioners. The product is very thick and can be used to heal dry or cracked hands, elbows, lips and so much more. If you’ve got dry spots, this ointment can take care of them and then some. It also leaves the skin looking glossy and smooth, which is a major plus.
Milk Makeup Balmade Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm with Electrolytes in Juiced
A hydrating tinted lip balm formulated with electrolytes.
Subtly tinted and full of hydration, this Milk Makeup Balmade Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm will get you through those nail-biting exams and then some. Retailing for $18, the balm currently comes in seven shades on Ulta Beauty’s website, but Juiced is our favorite. The key ingredient in this product is electrolytes.
While the minerals are best known for quenching your thirst in products such as Gatorade or Liquid IV, the ingredient can also be used to help retain moisture as it relates to lip products. Thanks to those nifty electrolytes, the sheer pink balm is smooth, non-sticky and hydrating, offering the lips a glassy-looking sheen. You’ve also got ingredients such as banana juice, which helps retain hydration, and a mix of coconut and aloe extracts that visibly smooths texture and conditions.
When you’re busy studying and heading to class, the last thing on your mind is suncare. Enter Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen Stick with SPF 40, an easy-to-use stick sunscreen formula that you can apply on the go. Much like a deodorant, the product is a twist-up in a solid block that easily glides onto the skin, leaving no white cast or residue. Beyond its sun protection capabilities, the product is also blurring thanks to the silica powders found in the ingredients list. This leaves the skin mattified and free of oils. The product also includes meadowfoam estolide, a naturally derived emollient known for its moisturizing capabilities.
Pulled too many all-nighters? Not to worry: Summer Fridays Jet Lag™ Eye Patches are here to save the day. Retailing for $24, these patches will both brighten and hydrate the undereyes, evening the skin and hydrating for a smoother finish. The hydration boost comes from a humectant blend, while a mix of niacinamide, cucumber extract and panthenol works to soothe the under eyes. Caffeine, an ingredient that can often be found in eye patches, works to depuff, giving you that “I slept eight hours” look.
E.l.f.’s Power Grip Primer is a sticky primer that’ll have your makeup lasting longer than your long-distance college relationships. It’s also a dead ringer for Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer (but we didn’t tell you that). Retailing for $10, the gel-based clear primer moisturizes while leaving a tacky base to put makeup on top. The sticky finish works kind of like Velcro, allowing whatever makeup you layer on over it to not budge. Some key players in the ingredient list include hyaluronic acid, a hydrating agent, and niacinamide, which improves the overall look of your skin by reducing inflammation and texture. It’s also non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores.
If you do want to wear makeup when heading back to school, ease of use is a must. When you’ve got your head in the books and a busy course load ahead of you, the least you can do for yourself is get easy-to-use makeup. This Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush is not only easy to apply, but it’s also affordable too. Retailing for $30, this blush is a cream formula that comes in 12 unique shades. The cream formula melts into the skin, building up and blending in easily. Cream blushes offer a more natural finish in contrast to their powder counterpart.
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint in G2 Very Deep Warm
A watery skin tint with a buildable coverage.
As we’ve mentioned, easy and affordable products are the key to a successful makeup look, especially as a student. It’s not about creating the perfect cut-crease or spending on fancy products with claims they can’t back. Glossier’s Perfecting Skin Tint is affordable and easy to use, so easy, in fact, that you can apply it with your hands, if that’s your thing. Retailing for $28, the tint comes in 12 shades and offers the skin a light wash of coverage that can be built up. The tint is water-based, meaning it is more fluid and sheer. You’re not going to get a full-coverage moment from this product. Keep that in mind before adding to cart.
If you’re a broke college student, you’re probably not going to drop $50 to $60 on some of these fancy highlighters. If you’re living on an instant ramen diet but you still want to shine, we’ve included Pixi’s On-The-Glow Super Glow highlighter stick. Affordable and pigmented? Sign us up. Retailing for $18, the stick product glides on with ease, leaving a subtle shine to the skin. You’ve got four shades — Natural Lustre, Gilded Gold, Ice Pearl and Petal Dew — each with unique undertones perfect for an array of skin tones. We recommend applying this stick highlighter to the cheekbones, Cupid’s bow and the bridge of the nose for a dewy finish.
This one is for those who want to add a little something to their look without looking like they applied a full face prior to class. If natural is your prerogative, Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara in Drift is right for you. The mascara comes in a brown hue, offering a much subtler look than classic black. The special wand is lengthy with a curved construction that marries to the natural curvature of the eye, coating each and every lash while promoting length and volume.
