August 2016 - Macarons & Mascara

How To Survive Back-To-Back Classes (With No Breaks In Between!)

August 29, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 11 Comments

how to survive back to back college classes

Last year, I had a lot of gaps in my schedule — like, I’d have my first class at 10a.m., then a FIVE-HOUR break, and then class again. I learned how to deal with that in a way that worked extremely well for me, but this year I have back-to-back classes almost everyday, and while it might not be my favorite way to set my schedule, I’ll have to deal with that too. I know multiple classes in a row can be extremely exhausting (with good reason!) so if you’re worried about your back-to-back schedule (a.k.a. days that never seem to end) then, don’t worry, I totally feel you. We’ll just have to survive them together!

1. Eat a proper breakfast.

I’m not kidding about this; no matter how many jokes you hear people making about having gum for breakfast, or not eating since lunchtime yesterday, working on an empty stomach is NOT a laughing matter. If you have seven hours of class back-to-back, you won’t be having a grand time when you feel like you’re about to throw up because you haven’t eaten all day. Make yourself some breakfast, even if you have to wake up 30 minutes earlier to do it. In my post on how to make college life easier, I talk about a super cool frying pan that’s perfect for your dorm room and can help you cook breakfast efficiently, so you should check that out! I like to have my favorite cereal in the morning, and if I don’t eat that then I have scrambled eggs on some toast. It’s very possible to eat like a queen (maybe not the queen) while you’re in a dorm room. For tips on that, be sure to check out my post on how to cook meals in college.

2. Pack a quick snack.

Of course, you’re still going to get hungry somewhere in between even after having a good breakfast, so be sure to pack a snack. Most professors don’t really care if you eat in their class so long as you clean up after yourself and don’t make too much noise. You can likely get away with this easily if you’re in a large lecture hall (my freshman year, I used to eat a complete breakfast — sausage, eggs, hash browns — in my biology lecture), but if your class is tiny and you don’t want to piss off your professor, explaining your schedule to them and asking if it’s okay for you to sneak a quick snack during class can alleviate any of your worries.

3. Don’t stay back to try to speak to the professor in between classes.

I know, that sounds terrible — don’t get me wrong, speaking to your professor if you have questions or don’t understand the material is extremely important, but when you have back-to-back classes you can’t really afford to be late to your next class. Sometimes, 7-10 minutes to get to speak to your professor AND get to your next class won’t be enough. Besides, most professors would just tell you to come to their office hours with questions, anyway, so do yourself a favor and just hurry off to your next class. You can email them your concerns or visit their office hours for their full attention.

4. Get to your next class early so you can get the seat you want.

This ties into my previous point on why you should just email your professor rather than hang back to speak to him or her. If you hang back, you probably won’t make it to your next class on time and you’ll likely end up with a sucky seat, because people have no chill and will take your seat (though, we don’t technically own the seats) even though they’ve been sitting elsewhere the entire time already. Believe me, people can be savage when it comes to classroom seating. Last semester I loved sitting with my friends in this one class that I had right after another class, so if I didn’t make it to the fourth floor library classroom on time, someone else would take my seat (grrrr!).

5. Stay hydrated and get proper sleep.

I always bring water with me wherever I go. In my tips for saving money in college post, I suggested using a refillable water bottle so that you can save money and sip on it throughout the day. Besides, you’ll need something to wash down the snack you packed for yourself. Also remember to actually sleep! Despite how many all-nighters people brag about pulling when they get to college, not sleeping is actually not cool — it makes you miserable and unfocused. You will seriously feel like crap. If you don’t get enough sleep the night before, you’ll hardly be able to pay attention in any of your classes, so you’ll basically be a zombie all day long. This might sound very diva-ish but I always get eight hours of sleep because I know I can’t do anything properly with fewer; even six hours is a red flag for me. You won’t have any time to nap in between classes because, well, there is no in between classes if your schedule has you going to lecture halls one after the other!

6. Do all the homework that needs to be done ahead of time.

You don’t have any breaks in between classes to finish up the conclusion for your research paper, so make sure you get it completely out of the way ahead of time. You may also find that you have multiple exams in one day because of this type of schedule. Procrastination will NOT be your friend, so make sure you plan your time well so that you aren’t scrambling around for slivers of free time to study, or read an extra chapter, or wish that you hadn’t skipped your assignment so you could finish watching Grey’s Anatomy (love that show too much btw!!).

7. Use your “days off” wisely.

If you have a lot of back-to-back classes then chances are you might also have at least one or two days during the week where you have ZERO CLASSES. If this is you, I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda jealous. But really, days off mean nothing if you don’t use them wisely. As amazing as it feels to just kick back and browse Instagram and watch movies, make sure that this isn’t the only thing you do during your free days. Use your free days to get started on work that may be due in a few days or in a week or two. If you’ve fallen behind on school work or you just haven’t been able to understand the recent course material taught then you should use your day off to seek help and try to understand everything.

8. Stay as engaged as possible in every class — no nodding off!

Sitting and having to retain focus for a long time isn’t my specialty. I simply suck at it. I might be as attentive as a hawk for the first hour and then it all goes downhill from there. If you’re like me then you probably know that, like, six straight hours of class SUCKS, and sitting there while your brain is basically mush doesn’t make it any better. Stay as engaged as possible so that your brain stays as awake as possible. I find that when I actually raise my hand to participate in class (answer a question, ask a question, contribute to conversation, etc.) not only do I feel more active, but for some reason time seems to go by faster. I don’t know, that could just be me talking crazy, though. But my insanity aside, even doing small things like stretching before your next class begins can really help wake you up. Avoid napping during class — especially in those huge lecture halls!

9. Make friends in your classes.

I love talking to people before and after class, and just sitting with my friends during class. I don’t know why but having friends around you makes everything more lively and therefore more tolerable. If you aren’t lucky enough to have some of your friends in the same classes as you, make some new ones! Simply making small conversation with a classmate regularly is also great. I actually feel like I hate people a little less when I smile and speak to someone, haha!

10. If your schedule is too much for you, consider dropping a class.

This is one of the most important things to note when trying to survive a full back-to-back schedule: if you are struggling to keep up with it all, simply drop a class. Trust me, I know the feeling of wanting to take the maximum number of credits so that I can graduate on time (or even early, but one step at a time, haha). But loading yourself up and feeling miserable because of it is not worth it in my opinion. If you need to take a winter class or two because you couldn’t handle the extra class during the fall or spring semester, then so be it. Sure, you might be spending some more money on the intersession classes, but at the end of the day your personal well being is way more important.

11. At the end of the day, take some time to chill.

Without a doubt, you’ve had a long day, and even though you may be *super* eager to crack open even more textbooks after class is over for the day, at least take a brief moment to relax at the end of the day. I like to chill for about an hour — watch something on Netflix, play on my phone — before I go back to filling my head with journalism knowledge for class. Giving yourself some time to take a load off is a key ingredient for surviving such a full schedule — don’t overlook the power of some R ‘n R!

What’s your schedule like this semester? How do you plan to survive it?

13 Tips For Saving Money In College

August 25, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 2 Comments

So you’ve probably heard over and over again that “college is expensive” and “you’re going to spend a lot of money,” and I can tell you with absolute confidence that all that is 100% true if you don’t know how to save a couple of bucks. You will find yourself buying things in a hurry — cold medicine during flu season, headphones to replace the ones you just lost in the library — and the expenses can add up pretty quickly. Now, I’m not saying that being a penny pincher is the best way to save money because, let’s face it, sometimes you shouldn’t deny yourself some things that are absolutely necessary. But you can save yourself from spending extra money.

I’m not necessarily going to say things like, you need to aggressively coupon (even though couponing is super cool!) because let’s be real, we’re probably too lazy to clip coupons let alone search for them in the first place! Even if you don’t label yourself as a broke college student, you’ll still want to save some money for a rainy day.

1. Don’t buy all of your textbooks new.

In fact, it’s better if you can completely avoid buying any textbooks at all. Rent used copies of the books you need because school bookstores are seriously expensive and you can get a book elsewhere for much cheaper. My freshman year, I spent almost $500 on science and math textbooks and I will never forget how much of a waste that was, especially since I ended up changing my major!! For more on how to buy textbooks like a savvy, money-saving pro, check out my guide to buying textbooks.

2. Don’t make impulsive purchases.

Sometimes I see really pretty things that I really want to buy (sound familiar?) but then I think about how angry I’ll be at myself when I actually buy it and visit my wallet again to see that I spent a lot of money on the item. That’s usually enough to convince me that the instant gratification of purchasing said item isn’t worth dishing out the extra dough. Here’s another rule to help you really think a potential purchase through: if you will only use or wear the item once or twice you should probably skip it. When I’m buying clothes I try to think of at least three or four other outfits I can create with a top or bottom before I decide to buy it.

3. Don’t order food multiple times per week.

If you have a meal plan, actually use it! I know sometimes campus food is less than desirable, but even then there’s always something that will make a fulfilling meal. There are so many takeout places around my campus — pizza, Chinese, Greek — so it’s very easy to just order something when you don’t feel like walking to a dining hall, but you can actually make a bad habit out of eating out all the time. Limit yourself to only ordering food once per month, or better yet, only when you want to celebrate a birthday in your group of friends. This will seriously help you save a lot of money!

4. Don’t waste your meal plan on junk food all the time.

I love a chocolate bar as much as the next sugar-loving college kid, but buying snacks with your meal plan is the easiest (and quickest) way to spend out your balance and have to start paying for meals with cash. You likely paid a lot of money for the meal plan, so I doubt you want to go into your wallet for meals on campus. Besides, snacks on campus are WAY more expensive compared to the prices you’d pay at off campus retailers. Buy actual meals with your meal plan — snacks are good in moderation. My college has an app that we can download on our phones that tells us the remaining balance on all of our campus accounts, including the meal plan. So if I’m ever unsure of how much money I have left, I can always take a quick peek and know what I should cut back on so that I don’t run out of money early.

5. Use the free resources on campus.

Some college medical centers provide students with free medicine for colds, headaches, and allergies, so if you feel allergy season coming on and you forgot your medicine at home, run over to the medical center to grab a few free packets of medicine instead of spending money on it elsewhere. Your college will also provide free academic help for some classes, so this is a great alternative for paying for a tutor, just make sure that you make the effort to engage so that you can get the most out of it. Also, I had no idea that my college gives out free copies of the newspaper in several places around campus (as a Journalism major, reading the newspaper is essential to the course work because we get quizzed on the front pages every week). I didn’t want to pay for the subscription (haha, no) so it was a major relief to find out that I could still study for my quizzes for free!

6. When you go out, always create a budget for yourself.

If you brought $400 in cash to college with you, DON’T bring all $400 when you go out to dinner with friends at Applebee’s! Decide on a budget and stick to it. Don’t have any shame in telling your friends that you’re going to skip dessert because you don’t want to spend another dime. Your budget should work for you.

7. Avoid smoking and drinking.

These products can really eat up your money, so cut back on them or avoid them all together. Vice items can also be addicting, and that’s where your piggy bank might run into some trouble…Bragging about how much alcohol you just bought for the lit dorm room party you’re about to throw might feel awesome, but then a quick look in your wallet might make you wish you hadn’t spent all that money!

8. Only use your credit card in absolute emergencies and make sure you can pay it off!

I’m not an avid user of credit cards, but from what I know about them, you should make sure that you’re able to pay off whatever purchases you made, because otherwise you’ll have to pay interest. If you’re going to use a credit card, make sure you partake in good credit-building habits because your parents won’t always be able to help you pay off your purchases.

9. Use Spotify to listen to music for free.

If you need to listen to some tunes while you work up a sweat at the gym, don’t pay for your music — use free services like Spotify or Pandora. I have really liked the songs I’ve listened to on Pandora, so that’s probably going to be my go-to music service for studying, working out, and just chilling. What songs are you currently obsessed with? Let me know in the comments!

10. Stop buying plastic water bottles; use a refillable one instead.

Don’t spend money every time you need a bottle of water — that stuff is expensive AF in college. I get a large refillable water bottle so when I’m thirsty I just go to the nearest water fountain for a refill. I got my water bottle from PINK and it holds 24 oz., which is great so I can sip on it throughout the day and add more water as needed. I keep a case of water bottles in my room just in case I don’t have time to refill a bottle and I just need to grab a bottle and run out of the room, but I make sure that I never purchase loose water bottles from dining halls!

11. If you can’t finish a meal, save it for later rather than throw it out.

I’m not saying you should salvage every crumb and toss it in your mini fridge, but if you left a significant portion of your meal uneaten, you can definitely pack it away for dinner (or breakfast the next morning!) so you don’t have to spend money again for your next meal. I have done this many times in the past, and sometimes it works out really well for me when there are torrential downpours outside and I don’t want to walk outside to the dining hall. Keeping tupperware or resealable bags is perfect for doing this.

12. Carry a snack to class with you on long days.

If you carry a snack in your backpack, you’ll be way less likely to spend money on a snack in the dining hall in between classes when you get hungry. I like to carry a banana and a granola bar (and water, of course!!). It’s not a full meal but it keeps me going until my classes are over for the day and I can hit up a dining hall with friends or take food back to my room.

13. Take care of your belongings.

Don’t toss your headphones around anyhow — you might lose them or they might break and you’ll need to buy another one! Taking care of the items you currently have is one of the easiest ways to save money, because then you won’t have to put out money for anything that’s damaged. Take good care of your laptop, phone, anything technology related (and, you know, super breakable), and even try your best to keep your clothing in good condition so you don’t feel the need to re-buy things you already have.

I hope these tips can really save you some cash this semester! If you loooooved what you read and looooove my blog in general, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @jay_su_ I’d love some new Twitter friends!

How do you save money in college?

12 Things I Learned From My First NYC Editorial Internship

August 22, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara Leave a Comment

12 Things I Learned From My NYC Internship

This summer I had the amazing experience of interning at Revelist.com, a super cool, super badass site for millennial women that publishes articles on a variety of topics. I was a lifestyle intern, which meant that I would cover stories related to food, beauty, and style, to name a few. I also ended up doing a few articles on viral videos and the occasional celeb post. My internship was located right on 5th avenue in New York City (I know right!!!!!!!!) and while I have had my work published online in various places before, this was my FIRST EVER INTERNSHIP. And it was just the other day that I declared myself as a Health Science major and thought I was going to med school (haha, funny!). I learned a lot of things from the experience that I really want to tell you about in case you would like an editorial internship, or you would like to go down the same career path as me!

1. Your basic knowledge of organization will save you.

Sometimes you’ll have a really busy day where you get multiple assignments, and as I said in my post on things to not do at your internship, you need to make sure that you don’t leave the office without completing all of the assignments for the day. It’s not like a classroom assignment where if you don’t finish you can just come back another day and pick back up where you left off; things are really fast paced and you need to get today’s headlines out today. This is where some organization comes in. On days when I had multiple articles to finish and multiple other things to do, I created a to-do list in the exact order that I wanted to do them (in order of importance and time-relevance, of course). This helped me keep my focus so that I could carry out all my tasks properly.

2. Do things right the first time.

Don’t rush to finish an assignment because then you might have to go back and fix whatever mistakes you overlooked. This didn’t happen to me but it’s always something you should remember no matter what type of job you do. Plus, keeping this in mind will also remind you to go back and review your work before you submit it to your boss. I have found that when reviewing my work, better ways to say some things came to mind and it ultimately made my articles way better. You should also use this chance to watch out for any grammatical errors.

3. As an intern, you need to be a go-getter.

There’s no room to be lazy! Plus, you’ll need all the practice you can get, so don’t try to dodge a pitch your editor sends your way. My first time being assigned a celeb post, I was a little worried because I actually don’t pay much attention to celebrities at all and even though the Kardashians are always making headlines, I still never knew anything about their lives, so I thought this assignment would be a little challenging for me. But it ended up being just fine because I researched what I needed to know and I made note of any improvements I could make for the future. It’s okay to take on things that are a teeny bit out of your comfort zone!

4. There was no coffee-fetching, or personal errands to run.

I know a lot of people think of coffee-fetching when they think of an editorial internship in New York City, but mine wasn’t like that at all. I was treated like any other employee and never made any personal errands. I know those horror stories are insane, but just know that not every experience is going to be like that.

5. You can’t be shy to reach out to people outside the office.

I did a bit of emailing to photographers and PR reps for inquiries, and I know it sounds terrifying but they’re people just like me and you, so it’s not as scary as you might think it is. In the future you might be reaching out to people for actual interviews and maybe even meetups so you definitely have to learn to shed some of your shyness in this field.

6. Having an internship while you’re still in college is a great idea.

I know many people decide to have an internship after graduating from college and I know some people think that that’s exactly how it should be, but getting an internship as a current college student really showed me how different things can be when you’re doing assignments in a classroom setting vs. doing them at a real platform (more on that later). I got some great experience and I definitely think that my approach to articles and headlines has changed a bit, so it’ll definitely give me an upperhand when I start classes again, and I’d be more than happy to help out any classmates too!

7. I want to work in lifestyle after graduation.

At first I thought lifestyle was about healthy eating and tips for improving your life, but then I realized that in the media industry, ‘lifestyle’ covers much more — beauty, style, food, dating, etc. This was an important thing for me to know because in the future I may have been looking for ‘beauty writer’ positions and not having much luck, whereas I should’ve been searching for ‘lifestyle writer’ positions. It seems to me that companies usually use the term lifestyle when seeking a new member for that specific team. It was definitely a lot of fun to work on this team and I can definitely see myself on lifestyle in the future!

8. I don’t just want to write.

I also want to be in front of the camera in the future and go out and travel to write articles. One of my co-workers was particularly inspiring and me realize that in the future I want to do fun (and even crazy) stuff in front of a camera for millions to see and know my face. Live it up, right?

9. If I had to pick just one category to write about, I have no idea what I’d pick.

Like I said, I want to be on the lifestyle team in the future, but I don’t know if I’d want to focus specifically on just beauty, style, or food — I just can’t choose because I love them all! Some of my style posts have been really popular, so that’s encouraging, but hopefully I’ll end up working somewhere where I don’t have to commit to just one category.

10. Commuting to the city is TIRING.

An hour and a half each way can be very…ugh, especially when the train is really crowded. I learned that bringing a book (and not relying on the fleeting wifi to use your phone) is a great way to pass the time. I also picked up on some safety tips that I may do an upcoming blog post on. While I don’t have to live in the city to work in the city, it just may make things a bit easier for me.

11. Writing at an internship is VERY different from writing for a class assignment.

So I touched on this before, but yes, it’s VERY different. I’m not saying you should b.s. class assignments because they’re just for class, but at an internship there’s no professor to slap you on the wrist when you forget to fact check and say, “fact check next time.” No, failure to do this could cost you your job, and you’re making the platform look bad when you forget to do something like this, or completely overlook it. Writers are responsible for fact checking!! Also, in class you may have a week to do an assignment, but in the industry your editor may ask you to have a story ready in an hour.

12. I love being able to insert my personality into my writing.

This is probably one of the biggest things that pushed me to become a journalism major and want to write for magazines. I simply love being sassy on paper, and I write the way I would speak to a friend. You can’t exactly do that in a bunch of other fields, but I love being witty and devising clever puns that I get to share with millions of people. When I look for a job in the future, I’ll definitely look for one that allows me to do exactly that!

So that was what my experience was like as an intern this summer (for the first time ever!!!!!!!) I really feel like I’m doing extremely well for myself (more on this in my NYC Conference post) and I truly feel that I’ve found my calling.

How was your summer and if you’ve had an internship before, what was your experience like?

9 Things You Need To Make College Life Easier

August 18, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 5 Comments

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

What’s a huge investment, can be super stressful, but can also be really fun and totally worthwhile? College, of course! Yeah, there will definitely be some moments of victory and some moments of eye-rolling chaos, but there are also some things you should have on hand to make things a lot less ugh and a lot more YAS! I was lucky enough to be able to receive some of these game-changer items in my BabbleBox College Shevival Box (how cute!!). Yep, you know things are serious when I use the word ‘game-changer.’ So before you leave for college, make sure you pack these items to have more of those ‘like a boss’ moments!

1. Lip balm.

You’ve probably seen me profess my undying love for lip balms in my college beauty essentials post, and I’ll admit, I’m basically bonkers for lip balm; I hoard that stuff like it’s my job and I have no regrets. But can you blame me? Lip balm keeps your lips super soft and super moisturized, and if you’re like me and hate that dry, tight feeling of your lips when they aren’t hydrated, you can definitely find a deep appreciation for taking care of them. So instead of constantly licking and picking at dry, chapped lips during class, keep some lip balm in your backpack. Palmer’s FlipBalm is my new favorite. The packaging reminds me of a cute, little, colorful egg and you just have to flip it open to unveil the smooth lip balm inside — you can literally do this with your thumb. You can apply this while you’re hurriedly walking to your 8a.m. class without missing a beat! It comes in Creamy Coconut, Ripe Mango, and (my favorite) Juicy Watermelon.

They’re made with natural ingredients like cocoa butter and raw Shea butter. My family is Caribbean so I grew up using products containing those ingredients and LET ME TELL YOU, they are fantastic for the skin, which is why I love seeing them used by many brands. This lip balm is extremely moisturizing, and the soft, supple feel lasts for a really long time.

2. A durable backpack.

Don’t put yourself through the agony of buying a no-good backpack that can barely hold three books and will break on you a month into the semester. College isn’t like elementary school where you felt like you needed to have the coolest or prettiest looking backpack in order to feel like a cool fourth grader. Honestly, no one cares if your bag is a monochromatic mass, or decked with colorful buttons and flowers. Invest in a backpack that’s strong and big enough to fit everything you need on a daily basis. I’ve been using the same one for the last two years, and I’ll be using it for a third year!

3. A cute camera.

Because it’s college, we all know you’re going to want to take pictures of everything: your freshly decorated dorm room; hangouts with your new college bff; homecoming festivities; the campus — you get what I mean. So do your phone storage a favor and don’t take a hundred pictures with it! You’ll need all that valuable storage space for downloading some awesome apps college students need. Get a good camera, like FUJIFILM’s Instax Mini 70. It’s an instant camera that lets you watch your beautiful pictures print right before your eyes in like 90 seconds (mine is in the color Canary Yellow).

The prints are about the size of a credit card and they’re so perfect for hanging around your dorm room — easy dorm decor literally at the touch of a button! I have been DYING to get an instant camera for a while now, especially since I’ve been getting more and more into photography. The camera itself is small and perfect for carrying in your backpack, because you never know what kind of action you can capture on campus (trust me, there’s always something photo-worthy!). And, yes, that down there is a selfie that I took using the cool selfie mode on this camera. How do I look??

I really hate buying things that are time-consuming to set up and use, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the only ‘setup’ I needed to do was place the film pack in the camera and start taking pictures — I was printing pics in a snap and maybe having a little too much fun.

4. A planner.

Between you and me (and anyone else who knows me), I’m a planner junkie. If planners were kale, I’d be the healthiest eating person in the world. But alas, they’re not kale, but they are great for planning ahead, jotting down assignments, and basically helping you get your crap together when you feel like your crap couldn’t possibly be more far apart (please excuse my lame attempts at being funny). Don’t underestimate how easy a good planner can make life. Instead of having multiple homework assignments strewn across different pieces of paper, your planner will be the one and only place for you to create those important reminders. There are so many cute ones to choose from, and some even offer daily bits of motivational quotes to keep that smile on your face.

5. Pens, pens, and more PENS.

What else are you going to use to fill up your planner??? I mean, I guess you could use pencils but they’re so boring; colorful pens are way more fun. I like to use colorful pens when I’m studying or annotating my notes because they make it easier for me to see what things I’ve added, like summary points. Pens from Zebra Pen are great for adding splashes of color to an otherwise monochromatic page of notes.

The Sarasa gel pen ink’s formula is really smooth and it dries really quickly, so you don’t have to worry about smudges, and we all know how cringe-worthy smudges can be! I’m seriously loving my Z-Grip Plus Ballpoint pens and the F-301 BCA pen, which writes in black! And to make things even more fun and colorful, the Zebra Pen H-301 Steel Highlighter is great for highlighting key points when studying, and other important information. You’ll be able to spot the most important points from a mile away (okay, maybe from your bed). You’ll probably never leave your dorm room without these ever again.

6. Dry shampoo.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a situation where you just simply didn’t have enough time to wash your hair, girl, I feel you. Your coursework, extracurriculars, social life, and even part-time job may keep you running on a tight schedule, but using dry shampoo is the easiest way for you to get fresh feeling hair without waking up extra, extra early to wash it. It has saved me so much time on those days when I just can’t, though it shouldn’t be used as a permanent substitute for washing your hair! Just give your hair a good spritz and you’ll be good to go!

7. Cleansing cloths.

So I have a confession to make: I’ve had (more than one of) those days when I was fast asleep one minute and then the next gaping in horror at the clock on my my desk because it’s 7:40a.m. and my first class starts at 8a.m. Aaaaaaand, of course, I hadn’t brushed my teeth, hadn’t showered, had no idea what I was going to wear, hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, need I go on? I may have skipped showering in the morning a few times to make it to class on time in this situation, and as someone who’s a fan of showering in the morning, I felt like I still wanted a way to stay fresh. Simply Sensitive Cleansing Cloths from Summer’s Eve® are probably the answer to all of my fresh feeling prayers. They’re lightly scented (available in Island Splash® and Sheer Floral®) and feel so nice and refreshing on my skin, and because they’re great for sensitive skin (which I have) I don’t need to worry about getting any rashes or weird reactions. But if you’re convinced that you’ll never wake up late for class and have to skip showering, you can still use these cloths when you’re on the go, like working out at the campus gym, because they’re small and fit conveniently anywhere.

8. Tupperware.

Even if you pack just one food storage container, I guarantee you will use it, especially if you plan to cook yourself some meals in college. You’ll need tupperware to store any leftovers, which is way better than leaving it in the pot or pan you cooked it in until you’re ready to eat it again! Likewise, if you find that you bought a little too much food from the dining hall, storing the extra inside of tupperware and keeping it in your fridge is also a great way to save food and meal points. And if your college dining halls follow buffet style dining, you might find yourself walking out with full containers of food on a regular basis. Btw, if you want to see what other things you should pack for college, check out my ultimate packing list.

9. A non-stick pan.

A girl’s gotta eat (those dining hall prices are through the roof!) so the GreenPan Mini Ceramic Non-stick Square Egg Pan is an absolute must! First of all, it’s so cute and small, so it definitely won’t take up much space at all in your dorm room (and we know how precious space is). It’s absolutely perfect for making a quick breakfast in the morning before class (especially since you won’t need much oil to cook in it, and you won’t be treating burns thanks to the stay-cool, non-stick grip), and I don’t know about you, but the interesting square shape of the pan really spoke to my creative side, so I used it to make Oreo pancakes for breakfast! They were fantastic and ready to eat in almost no time. Everyone else in your residence hall would be totally jealous of your breakfast! If you’re curious about my enviable recipe for Oreo pancakes, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to share it with you!

But I couldn’t stop there so I also followed the recipe in the mini recipe booklet that came with the pan in my BabbleBox to make French toast! I didn’t have any blueberries on hand, and I hate maple syrup so I just gave it a very generous dusting of powdered sugar. It was SO delicious, and very photogenic if I do say so myself.

And because I love ya and hope that you eat like a queen in college, don’t forget to use this Back To School Promotion Offer for 20% off your GreenPan and free shipping. The code is SCHOOL20 and it’s valid from 8/14-9/4. Enjoy!

So all that being said, I think it’s pretty fair to say that I’m even WAY more excited for the new semester to begin, so I can tackle it prepared!

What are some things you won’t leave for college without?

The Ultimate Guide To Buying Textbooks In College

August 15, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 4 Comments

With tuition to pay, dorm essentials to buy, and general back-to-school shopping, you’re probably wondering, can college get anymore expensive?? Yes, yes it can. Possibly more stressful than college move-in day is textbook buying for your classes. It isn’t like high school where you got your textbooks for free and had to give them back at the end of the year (sorry, we’ve kissed those days goodbye the instant we bought our colleges’ crewnecks and sweatshirts). Textbooks are expensive! My freshman year, I spent close to $500 buying textbooks for my classes — some of them were absolutely necessary for homework; some of them I would’ve been completely lost in class without; and some of them just sat there. Yep, took up valuable space on my already cluttered desk and collected dust.

Since saving money in college is literally a breath of fresh air, I’ve compiled all the textbook buying tips I’ve amassed over these last few years of going through it. WARNING: tips in this blog post may be more awesome than they seem!

1. Avoid buying textbooks before the first day of class.

I was always that kid who thought that because a textbook was listed for a class it meant that it was necessary, and therefore I must buy it. Sophomore year I was so annoyed when I ordered like three different textbooks for ONE class only to have the professor tell us during the first week that we won’t be using the books at all! As you can imagine, that’s a huge waste of money. Your professors might tell you that you won’t be using a textbook, or they might tell you which ones are actually useful for the class, so don’t plan ahead by buying your books before classes start!

2. Avoid getting textbooks from your university’s bookstore.

It’s no secret that items on campus are outrageously overpriced, and textbooks are no exception. Don’t be surprised if you see your school’s $100 textbook elsewhere for like $85. Buy a book from the school bookstore if you really can’t get it cheaper elsewhere, or if the book you need was written by your professor (in which case, there’s no way you can get it elsewhere!).

3. Talk to students who took the class before you did.

Ask them if they used their textbook (and how often), and if the book is necessary at all. Some questions I like to ask are: where did you originally get the book and how much did you pay? How did you use the book to study (i.e. outline chapters, highlighted, etc.)? Did the book help you understand the class material better? Can I still understand the material and do well in the class without the book? You can even ask if they’d sell their old textbook to you.

4. Do you need the textbook for homework?

If your textbook is essential for completing homework assignments, then unless you can find a free copy online you’re going to have to get a physical book. Some classes only give you assigned textbook reading as homework, but I have found that whether or not you actually spend three hours doing the reading, it isn’t even helpful for some classes because the professor might not go over it, or what you learned in class that day is different from what you read in the textbook. If this sounds like the type of ‘homework’ you need your textbook for then you should probably skip it. But sometimes you just can’t get out of getting the book…For my Italian class freshman year, all homework assignments were online and we needed a unique access code that CAME WITH THE TEXTBOOK in order to complete homework, so watch out for that!

5. Is the textbook only going to be used as a reading supplement in the class?

This is kind of what I was talking about before. The textbook is only a little extra reading in case you get lost in the material, and even though the professor assigns it on the syllabus, he or she doesn’t ever refer to it in class. You should use your discretion for this one. Give yourself a few weeks and if you think that you might fall behind on the material then you can decide to get the textbook.

6. Rent books instead of buying them.

This is a super easy way to save money — even at your school’s bookstore! Most of the rentals I’ve gotten were less than $15 each, and the most expensive book I’ve ever rented ended up being $40 by itself. Just remember to return your textbooks at the end of the semester so you won’t be charged extra for it! There are also websites that let you rent textbooks, but more on that later.

7. Rent + Used = match made in heaven.

Sure, you can rent a brand spanking new textbook that has that new book smell, OOOOOOOR you can pay even less for renting a used textbook. The price difference may not be super dramatic, but if you love being as frugal as college students come, every dollar counts! This is my preference when it comes to spending money on books so much so that if a bookstore associate tells me that I can only rent the book if it’s new I’m actually very disappointed! Usually, used textbooks might have a few sticky notes on random pages, some underlining, and some highlighting, but there’s nothing too serious like pages falling out, ripped book covers, or mold growing between pages. You can write in the textbooks so long as it isn’t a copious amount to make the bookstore decide to not take the book back.

8. Intensely search for a free copy online.

Don’t give up if you can’t find a PDF to your textbook after viewing search results on page one!!!! I personally can be really impatient when I can’t find the results I’m looking for and I just give up and succumb to paying extra money for my books, but maybe if I had dug a little deeper — taken even just an extra 40 minutes to search online — I might’ve been able to find PDFs to a couple of books. I know surfing the web for free copies of textbooks isn’t the most appealing thing to search for (trust me, I’d much rather be drooling over pretty notebooks, planners, and cupcake recipes online) but giving this a good shot can definitely save you some major dough!

9. See if you can borrow the book from your school’s library.

I had no idea that some textbooks were actually available in my school’s library!! I was contemplating renting this expensive textbook for one of my journalism classes last semester, when a classmate of mine told me that he just checked out that textbook from our university library. Needless to say, I abandoned any intention of putting up money for that book and hauled ass to library to snag a copy for myself. Before you even think about renting the match made in heaven, see if the library has the book so you can borrow it for an entire semester for just $0. My one caveat with this is that if the library does happen to have the textbook, it likely only has one or two copies, so you need to jump on that before anyone else does!

10. Buy textbooks from students who are selling theirs.

Many older students sell their textbooks on Facebook, so you should definitely pay attention for an opportunity to buy a used book from a peer. Even though they want cash for their books, they aren’t going to charge you an arm and a leg because they know that if they were in your position, they’d likely say, “hell no” and walk away from that price. Don’t underestimate the power of empathy, my friends. Sometimes they’ll even throw in a study guide or class notes, so you might actually get some bang for your buck.

11. Order books online.

After I completely screwed myself over freshman year from buying all my textbooks NEW from the BOOKSTORE, I decided to give online textbook ordering a try, and for the most part, I was very satisfied. Last semester, I spent no more than $120 total on textbooks. I rented used copies of EVERYTHING I decided to get, and I actually felt like I had come out on top of this wild textbook hunt for once. I used Chegg.com because my roommate used it the semester before and it just seemed really easy — search for your books, create an account, order. At the end of the semester, you just log back into your account to print out the shipping label to return the books, pack them into a box (doesn’t have to be the one they arrived in), slap the label on there, mail it out and boom, you’re good to go. My Chegg order also came with some free samples of things like Vitamin C supplements, Tide laundry pods, and a coupon to use on this website I can’t remember the name of! That was a pretty nice surprise. What are some other online services you’ve had success with for renting or buying books? I’d love to know in the comments!

12. Avoid sharing textbooks with your friends or other students.

I know, you’ll get to save some money because you might both pay for half of it, or maybe your friend already got it and agreed to let you use it from time to time, but this can actually be really inefficient, especially if you actually need the textbook for a good chunk of the semester. You’ll have to go through the stress of figuring out a textbook sharing plan, and there could be conflict if you both paid for half of it but one of you doesn’t get as much textbook time as the other does. You’re better off finding some other way to have access to the textbook, trust me.

13. Find the price that best suits you.

Sometimes you’ll have to do a little extra work to find the best deal on a textbook you’ve decided to pay for. What’s most important is what you can afford and what you’re willing to pay, so don’t feel like you need to make decisions about textbook purchases as soon as you set foot on campus!

What are your tips for buying college textbooks and getting the best deals?

The Ultimate Guide To Dorm Decor + Free Wall Art Printables!

August 10, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 8 Comments

If you’re as excited for the Fall 2016 semester as I am, you’re probably already scouring Pinterest for really cute dorm decor ideas. I don’t blame ya; there are some seriously drool-worthy dorm rooms on Pinterest…if dorm rooms were food that you could drool over, I suppose. Bottom line: those decorations are perfect and we’re excited to make our dorm rooms even half as pretty. Not gonna lie, you might find yourself spending a lot of money to have the Pinterest room of your dreams, and sometimes you’ll buy decorations and in the end you’ll realize that you didn’t even use them (been there, done that!). So before you run to the nearest Target or Michael’s for string lights and chic wall art, here are some decorating tips that are practically life-savers!

1. Check your school’s list of prohibited items.

I’ll say that again to emphasize how important this is. CHECK YOUR SCHOOL’S LIST OF PROHIBITED ITEMS. Some of those super pretty decorations, like string lights, may be PROHIBITED at your school, and there would definitely be consequences if you’re caught with them in your room! I saw these really cute pineapple string lights (I may have a slight obsession with pineapple-themed things) but I can’t use them for decor because string lights are prohibited at my school. Knowing what things aren’t allowed can save you some major cash when shopping. If you aren’t super sure about this whole ‘prohibited items’ thing, check out my post on things that aren’t allowed in dorm rooms and what you can bring instead.

2. Don’t buy anything that needs to be hung via nails in the wall.

You aren’t allowed to damage the walls in any way, so steer clear of anything that requires you to hammer a nail into the dorm room wall. Sure, this might be your chance to use the mini toolkit you’ve been itching to use, but trust me, you’d rather not. Instead, bring painter’s tape (the blue tape) or command hooks for taping and hanging things. These are very easily removed and don’t leave any marks or dents on the walls. If you need to mount things like an art canvas, mounting tape is the way to go. Just don’t press it into the wall too hard because you may not be able to remove it completely when you need to.

3. Set a budget for yourself.

Avoid spending like $100 in dorm decor. I don’t think anybody needs that much decor, but maybe that’s just me. Having a budget for decor is super important because there are other (more important) things you need to buy for college, so you, quite literally, can’t afford to get super caught up in the too beautiful decorations. Think about what you want your room to look like and come up with a small list of decorations you might need, so that way you don’t go all decor-crazy in the store! Figure out approximately how much money you might need for that stuff and that’s your budget. It also helps if you take some time to really look for other ways you can get the item for cheaper.

4. Come up with a color palette for your room.

I know, that sounds way more intense than it actually is! Basically, what I mean is that you should pick two to three colors that will be your theme. I picked black, white, and light blue, so my bedding, storage boxes, and a few other things are in those colors. This makes it easier for you to match things and really make your room look put together.

5. Dabble in some DIY.

Many DIY projects are so easy to do and you can really personalize them to your liking. I love watching DIY dorm decor videos on YouTube and I always feel really inspired. The milk bottle flower holder in my main blog photo is actually a little something I made myself, and since I already had some of the materials I only spent about $2 for the glitter and a cheap bunch of flowers from the 99 cent store. I painted it that shade of blue because my room’s color scheme has been white, black, and blue since freshman year and I plan to keep it that way. Don’t be afraid to try some cute DIY’s for your room and don’t forget to really have fun with it!

6. Spice up bland walls with some wall art.

It’s no secret that dorm walls are pretty bleh, so you’ll have to work your magic to make them a little more enjoyable to look at. Last year, I printed out some quotes I thought were really funny or so me and I taped them to my wall, and I used sparkly decorative tape to create a border around them like a picture frame. It came out looking pretty great if I do say so myself.

In case you can’t see it clearly, it says, “Some people just need a high-five. In the face. With a chair.” That is LITERALLY my mood 100% of the time, which is why I thought it would be perfect for my wall. If Googling funny quotes doesn’t do it for you, there are lots of cool blogs and websites where you can download wall art completely free, and the art is SO pretty! I basically plan to decorate my wall in printable wall art with decorative tape borders. So here’s your first piece of wall art for your room: I created this FREE printable wall art (below) because I love giving you guys free, pretty things!

Just click right here to download your free wall art! I also have a second version of that printable in case you want something with a little more pizzazz. Click here to download that one.

Because I love decorative tape so much, I bought another roll for only about $2.99 to create the perfect fake picture frame for my wall art.

Yay for super chic, fake picture frames made out of tape! I know it looks a bit weird because of my camera angle, but I promise you it’s much cooler in person!

7. Get pretty pillows.

Using pillows or pillowcases with really pretty print, patters, or quotes on them is an easy way to jazz up your room while making a purchase that’s actually essential for dorm rooms. You don’t really need too many extra pillows, though, so try to avoid buying like three throw pillows (they may prove to be really annoying to have around). You can get two regular sized pillows and one decorative pillow, for example. Alternatively, you can just use two pillows that have really cute designs on the cases. I once saw these super cute pillowcases that are plain white with eyelashes printed on them. So cute and so appropriate for bed decor!

8. Make your room extra cozy with a rug.

Rugs can really bring a room together and make it look extra comfy. Sure, it can also make a room look smaller, but they’re still really cute. If you’re a rug-type of person or you just like having something warm and soft to put your feet on (or you don’t mind setting aside some time every week to clean said rug) then you should definitely invest in one for your room. There are so many really cute and really quirky ones that you can get. I personally am really feeling those white, fuzzy ones, but I know they’ll get dirty quickly and honestly, I don’t think I’ll have the time I think I will to keep it clean, so I’m trying not to fool myself. But you can try getting a colored rug that matches your room’s theme.

9. Add some more life to your room with tiny, potted plants.

I really hope to buy tiny succulents for my room this year because they’re really cute and just having plant life form in your presence can be relaxing and give your room an overall more relaxed vibe. Of course, you can get plants in whatever size you’re cool with (or whatever size your university allows) but if you want something that will take up minimal space, fun size is always great. Just be sure to check that plants are allowed in your dorm room first!

10. Put up some personal photos.

This is an easy, and heartwarming, way to decorate your room with things you already have. You may have seen those cute hung photos on string with clothespins on them — a super cute way to decorate your pictures. You can use photos of you and your family, friends, and other people and things that are important to you. You can also tape them to your wall in any fashion you want.

11. Show off with some monogrammed items.

Monogrammed items are really cute and often really simple. Something as small as a coffee mug with your initial on it can make your desk look so cute! Honestly, anything monogrammed adds a personal touch to any space, and there are so many different things to choose from!

12. Less is more.

This is one of the biggest pieces of advice EVER when it comes to dorm decorating. Adding too much stuff can definitely make your room look and feel extremely cluttered (and dorm rooms are small to begin with!) You don’t need string lights AND garlands; you also don’t really need monogrammed wall art AND 3D initials to stick to your wall. Also keep in mind that you’re going to have to bring everything back with you at the end of the year, so choose carefully!

13. Decorate ONLY your side of the room!

Pretty much don’t be that character in the movies who thinks that the entire room belongs to her because that’s extremely unfair to your roommate(s). If you think a rug would look cute by the door, but the door is on your roommate’s side you need to be considerate and respectful of what your roommate decides to do with her space. Likewise, if you have the window side and your roomie thinks that plants on the windowsill would be absolutely darling, she needs to respect your side as well to avoid conflict.

14. Do something that’s YOU.

At the end of the day, your room is representative of you, not the edgy, glam girl down the hall, not the boho princess on Instagram; YOU. Don’t try to turn your room into something you aren’t because you’ll just feel out of place in it. Also, remember to just have fun with everything!

What’s your favorite way to decorate your dorm room?

5 Things To Do Before You Meet Your Roommate

August 6, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 5 Comments

Your roommate is going to be a huge part of your college life whether you plan to try to be besties with yours or ignore them day in and day out (but try not to decide on the latter). Unless you’re dorming with a friend from high school, you’ll probably be rooming with whatever stranger was paired with you, usually according to preferences you chose in a survey. Whether you’re excited or nervous (or both) about move-in day when you finally get to meet said stranger, there are some things you definitely need to make sure you do beforehand.

1. Email them to say ‘hi.’

This actually isn’t as weird as you might think it is, even if you aren’t usually the type to be bold and reach out to someone. It shows that you’re friendly and open to getting to know them, and honestly it’s nice for everyone to at least know that they might actually get along with their roommate. It doesn’t have to be a longwinded email (unless you want it to be); you can just introduce yourself as their roommate, ask how their summer has been going so far, and say that you can’t wait to meet them. Trying to make contact ahead of time will also make you both feel more comfortable around each other on day one, because at least by then you’ll both know a little more about each other.

2. Ask their likes and dislikes.

When you get to the room, you’re going to have to fill out roommate contracts. This is basically your co-habitation constitution and you SHOULD take it seriously! This is sort of an ‘ice breaker’ for the two of you to say what things get on your last nerve so that you can both try to avoid annoying the hell out of each other. Asking this ahead of time can prepare you for what’s to come. One of their dislikes might come as a surprise to you and you might not know how to react to it. You won’t always agree on everything with your roommate but at least this way you’ll have a few days or a few weeks to think about the situation before move-in day.

My roommate for sophomore year was a girl I met freshman year in one of my classes and we got closer as roommates. I had a really bad experience freshman year with my roommates leaving the window wide open all the time even when it was brick city outside (and MY bed was next to the window!!!), but luckily my roommate had a similar experience and we could both agree on that dislike. This is also a great example of how getting to know each other’s likes and dislikes can draw you closer together!

3. Figure out who gets which half of the room.

Settle this ahead of time so that regardless of who arrives to the room first, you already know which side is yours and you can just go to it and begin unpacking worry-free that your roommate will suddenly bust in with an awkward, horrified look on her face because you took the side she wanted. Also be forward about what you would like. If you really want the bed near the window but don’t say anything, don’t hold a grudge if your roommate takes it. If you both end up wanting the same side of the room, you have time to figure it out in a civil manner that won’t cause anyone to get butthurt.

If you’re tripled (like I was for a semester my freshman year!) you might have a little extra figuring out to do…Some triples have three beds but only two desks, two dressers, and two closets, so you’ll definitely need to work out who’s sharing what with whom. Hint: you definitely DON’T want to save this conversation for move-in day! My freshman year, I had the type of room I just described and I realized that it was actually a lot more difficult to share the space than I had anticipated, especially since not all of the things I’m telling you about were discussed beforehand (whoops). If you want me to do a future post on surviving a triple, definitely let me know in the comments!

4. Find out approximately what time they’ll begin moving their things into the room.

This is so that you avoid arriving at the same time as them. I know, that sounds terrible but let me explain! I usually try to avoid arriving at the same time as my roommate so that we can each have our space when moving our lives into the room. The room WILL be small and everyone WILL have a considerable amount of stuff to move into the room, so the more breathing room you and your families have to do that, the less stressed everyone will be and the easier it will be for you to get done quicker. You don’t want anyone getting in your way, and likewise, no one wants you trampling over them and their items either. I find it much easier to arrive before my roommate so I get all of my things settled. Then, when my roommate and her parents come in, I give them the space they need. If my roommate got there before I did, I’d want her to do the same for me, so it’s only fair. Of course, you can always offer to help your roommate move in (that’s always really nice) but if you aren’t needed, stay out of the way.

If move-in day kinda makes you nervous (it’s okay if it does) check out my post on tips to make move-in day easier!

5. Find out if the two of you will share any items.

If you’re both willing to share some items like a tv or a mini fridge, then it can be pretty easy to come up with a plan for sharing. Keep in mind that although some people are ready and willing to split items, there are also some people who aren’t so cool with doing that and that’s okay. If you personally aren’t up for sharing, then you just need to politely say that you’d rather have your own item. Likewise, if that’s how your roommate feels, you should respect that. Some items that are totally shareable include mini fridges (a 3.0 cubic foot one is pretty good), a tv, a full-sized mirror, and if your school allows it, a microwave. You might also want to discuss if the two of you will share cooking items such as pots and pans if you’ll be cooking in the communal kitchen.

I don’t suggest splitting the payment on anything big you want to share because then there’s always going to be the question of who should take it home at the end of the year. You might want to keep the tv at your house since you paid for half of it, but your roommate might also think the same thing. Pick an item and bring it if you guys want to go that way. Also, if you promise to bring something for the room, try to follow through on it because your roommate will be counting on it.

So I kinda suck at closings (because I always want to keep talking!) but I really hope you find these tips useful. Even small gestures like simply emailing to say ‘hi’ can honestly have a big impact on your relationship with your roommate.

What are some other things you should do before you meet your roomie?

10 College Beauty Essentials

August 2, 2016Jasmin - Macarons & Mascara 6 Comments

I love talking about beauty, and I also love talking about college. And that’s how this post came about! In all seriousness, the stress of packing for college can make us do some crazy things…including forgetting to pack some really essential beauty items. Now, I love my lipstick, eyeliner, and mascara, but I’m not going to tell you what lipstick shades you need for the fall, or everything you need to pack in order to do full-face makeup because not everyone enjoys diving into makeup and I don’t want to assume that we all do. Plus, it’s not exactly ‘essential’ if we can do without it without giving it a second thought (my dear red lipstick, I’m deeply in love with you but I can, in fact survive college without you).

So for the sake of short and sweet intros, let’s talk beauty essentials…

1. A really good facial wash.

I can’t stress enough how important washing your face daily is, but it’s just as important that you remember to use a wash that has everything your skin needs. When you’re in college, you’ll find that you don’t have as much time to run to the pharmacy and grab skin products. In fact, when you’re on campus the nearest pharmacy might be a 15-20 minute drive away in the car that you don’t have on campus! Pack a face wash that suits your skin type and any skin concerns you may have, and use it day and night to keep your face clean.

Also, in case you’re interested, I also have a post on important ways we can pay more attention to our skin.

2. Sunscreen!

Listen to all those skincare articles and the fabulous beauty bloggers who tell you to keep sunscreen as your beauty bag staple. It’s still bright and sunny when you first start college in August — even in September — so make sure you protect your skin from damage caused by the sun. You never think that it’ll be your skin that gets damaged until it actually happens to you.

3. Nail clippers.

Everyone clips their nails — even lovers of long nails and the nail polish obsessed (like me!). But sometimes people forget to pack their nail clippers and it’s sometimes hell to find someone who’s willing to lend a pair. I’d also say that you shouldn’t forget to bring a nail file because your nail might break (annoying!) and you’d want to file it down asap. There’s nothing more annoying than having jagged nails!

4. Lip balm.

I. Live. For. Lip. Balm. If you aren’t a lipstick kinda girl, you should definitely at least carry around lip balm. The colder it gets, the drier your lips will get and you NEVER want to lick your lips because that actually dries them out even more! Lip balm is overall great for keeping the skin on your lips healthy and moisturized, and there are so many good ones to choose from. Bonus points if you get a lip balm with SPF, and if you take it up a notch and get a gentle lip exfoliator.

5. Makeup remover wipes.

Even if you don’t wear makeup you can still benefit from use makeup remover wipes. They’re great for taking with you to the gym so you could give your face a quick swipe after a rigorous workout. They’re also fantastic for just making your face feel refreshed after a long, hard day in class or a study session. My favorite two brands for makeup remover wipes are Neutrogena and ELF (believe me, I’ve tried so many wipes and many of them don’t cut the mustard!!!).

6. Dry shampoo.

Dry shampoo can be a major time-saver, especially as a busy college student. I’m going to be honest here and say that sometimes I really want to wash my hair but my schedule has me put it off for a day or two. I know, you might be turning up your nose at that, but guilty as charged! When my hair is a little too greasy for my liking, I spritz some dry shampoo into it and it works really well to absorb some of the extra oil. Just remember that you shouldn’t use dry shampoo as the ultimate substitute for washing your hair because it’s not meant to work like that. You also don’t need to stock up on it; one can of dry shampoo is more than enough for the entire school year!

7. Hair ties.

As college students, we’re never short of tea and iced coffee (God bless), but for some reason our hair tie game needs work. Major work. We all know the struggle of not having a hair tie to pull back our hair on an extremely windy day, or to keep our hair from being plastered to the back of our neck when we sweat at the gym. Bring many hair ties and keep them all organized in one place so you don’t lose half of them!

8. Q-tips and cotton pads.

These are perhaps one of the most forgotten beauty essentials, yet one of the most important. Aside from using them to clean your ears, you can use Q-tips to clean up any makeup smudges quickly and precisely. Psst, they’re also great for cleaning and applying ointment to cuts and scrapes, but that’s a story for another time! They’re also awesome for cleaning up excess nail polish you might’ve gotten on your skin after doing your nails.

9. Nail polish.

Now, I know not everyone wears nail polish on the reg. but hear me out. You can actually use this nail candy in some non-beauty related ways. When I was younger and had to wear a school uniform (ugh, those were the days), sometimes my stockings would begin to rip, so to prevent further damage my mom would apply some clear nail polish to the source of the rip. Worked like a charm! Got too many keys to count hanging on your keychain? Use nail polish to color them so you’ll always remember what’s for what. Do you know any other awesome uses for nail polish? Comment below!

10. Eyeliner.

I know I said I wouldn’t focus on actual makeup, but in all honesty, almost every college girl will use eyeliner at least once in college if they haven’t already, so you might as well come prepared. You might apply a quick swipe of eyeliner for a night out or a job interview, and you don’t need to buy $20 eyeliner; a simple eye pencil will definitely suffice. Eye pencils are also very inexpensive and won’t take up a lot of space when you pack for college. If there’s just one makeup product every girl should bring to college it would probably be this.

So I hope that you really consider packing these beauty essentials for college because, believe me, they’re super worth the buy and the attention! Don’t overlook these items because whether you wear makeup daily or not, these are items that will greatly benefit your college beauty bag.

What are your college beauty essentials?