Semester Beauty Essentials

Image credit: Image by brunamereu from Pixabay

Hot girl summer has officially turned into hot girl semester – and looking your best means feeling your best as you start walking back into those classrooms.

Making time for a comprehensive makeup routine in the morning isn’t always practical. While we all strive to have the dedication of that classmate in your 8 a.m. with perfect winged eyeliner and falsies, for most, getting back into the swing of classes means simple, natural makeup that keeps you on schedule and looking refreshed.

Tinted moisturizers and BB Creams are a cult favorite for countless demographics – those with dry or combination skin, fans of natural or low-coverage looks, students on the go – and there are so many on the market.

“Tinted moisturizers are my favorite way to speed up a getting-ready routine,” celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman told Self Magazine. “The best ones pack a punch of skin beneficial ingredients and SPF with a flattering finish.”

Bareminerals’s Prime Time BB Tinted Primer has a moderate tint for decent coverage and protects skin from sun damage. First Aid Beauty also offers a tinted moisturizer with SPF, but with a more extensive shade selection. It was also rated best tinted moisturizer for sensitive skin by Good Housekeeping.

Now, between classes, group meetings, clubs and those library naps, you’ll need your makeup to last all day. That’s where a trusty setting powder comes in. Maybelline’s FIT ME! Set + Smooth Powder is a reputable favorite, especially for those on a budget. Kat Von D’s Lock-It Finishing Powder is another high-rated matte pressed powder for a natural but long-lasting look.

Chapstick is another crucial basic for a healthy, refreshed look. But you can one-up regular old lip balm with tinted lip balm! Burt’s Bees is 100% natural and comes in six different everyday tones. It’s significantly easier to apply and reapply than standard lipstick.

We’re also a fan of Milk Makeup’s new Kush Lip Balm; it’s super hydrating and available in five shades, including clear.

One last essential to keep you looking your best? Dry shampoo.

“When my hair’s straight, I use it like once a week,” said Ashlyn Liverman, a sophomore kinesiology major. “But some dry shampoos leave white flakes in your hair.”

That’s a valid concern for many dry shampoo users, an issue that products like Amika’s Perk Up Dry Shampoo strive to avoid. Amika’s dry shampoo is great for naturally cleaning and refreshing scalps with hair of all types and textures. It also blends into dark hair so there’s no residue. Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is great at keeping your hair looking, feeling and smelling clean too – leaving you no need to worry about your roots after a long all-nighter in McKeldin.

These are all super simple ideas and easily the foundation of a look that takes five minutes max. With such an effortless beauty routine, you can keep your time and focus on making every semester your best one yet.