5 Back to School Skin Care Tips for College Students
Back to school looks different for many this year. Some students are back on campus in their dorms. There are safety restrictions and distancing. Other students are doing a hybrid model, where they are doing both virtual and in-person coursework. And others are completely remote. While back to school is different this fall, I wanted to share some skin care tips that all college students should find helpful.
I remember my college days quite clearly, even though I have been finished for well over 20 years -- and I also remember that it was easy for me to fall into poor skin care habits. Establishing a solid skin care routine is important.
Even though you're young, it is never too early to start getting your skin in shape. Years down the road, you will be thankful you did. College students tend to be in a hurry and don't always take the best care of their skin. I can say that from my own experience.
If you follow our 5 simple steps, your skin will be in tip-top shape without taking too much time away from your studies or your social life.
1. Never ever go to bed with your makeup on.
This is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Your pores will become clogged and the environmental toxins, debris and excess oil will sink in. Over time, this will result in a dull skin tone, acne breakouts and skin looking older than it is. After you brush your teeth, take off your makeup. I promise that when you are in your 30s and 40s, your skin will look better if you do this now at 18.
Our Advanced Botanicals Facial Cleanser will be an essential for you. Just a couple of pumps, massage it into damp skin and follow with toner. If you are still experiencing some oiliness and acne -- common at this age -- check out our cleanser with Rosemary and Lemongrass.
2. Don't share makeup or makeup tools.
It can be tempting, but do not do this -- ever. When I was in college, I shared a bathroom with four other girls. Makeup brushes were openly shared and it seemed as if the contents of our makeup bags were communal property. I can vividly remember watching my friends share mascara before going out at night. The same happened with lipstick.
Do not -- I repeat, do not do this.
Sharing makeup is opening up the potential for serious infections down the road. You could get pink eye, herpes infections on your lips, staph infections, impetigo and other serious infections from the simple act of sharing makeup tools and makeup products.Products formulated with water are especially susceptible to being a breeding ground for bacteria. Do not share your makeup. It is simply not worth the risk to your health.
3. Apply sunscreen daily.
This is, perhaps, the best preventive action you can take. It should be a non-negotiable step to your skincare routine. Not only will you help protect yourself from skin cancer, but your skin will look younger years down the road because it won't be as damaged by UVA and UVB rays.
You may not see an instant benefit to your skin by using sunscreen now. Think of sunscreen as insurance for your skin. While you may not reap the visible benefits now, it is worth the long-term payoff. At your age, you most likely be able to use this in the morning as your sole moisturizer. Using a mineral sunscreen is a wise choice.
4. Eat your fruits and veggies.
I can tell you that I had many choices in the dining hall, but my mom wasn't there to make sure I ate my fruits and veggies. I drank soda pop instead of water. I made Pop Tarts in my dorm room and ordered pizza regularly. I confess that I even ate canned Beef-a-roni COLD out of the jar. I guess this was a form of rebellion.
Eat as many fresh, whole foods as you can and drink lots of water. Your skin will benefit from this. I recommend eating lots of berries and carrots.
Why? Berries are thought to help the skin boost collagen production. Plus, many berries are packed full of antioxidants to help combat free radicals. They also contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E, which are beneficial to the skin. Carrots are rich in beta carotene, which gets converted to Vitamin A in the body. They are also rich in Vitamin C.
Eating abundant fruits and vegetables is not only healthy for your body, but it's also something you can do to make your skin radiant and healthy. Drinking water rather than sugar-packed drinks also will benefit your skin. When you drink water as your primary beverage each day, you are flushing out toxins. This is good for your skin, too!
5. Enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy.
When you have papers due, it can be hard to relax. When there are deadlines and midterms, students easily get stressed out. Stress, though, can wreak havoc on your skin.
Plus, we all know that we are still experiencing a pandemic. Stress is all too common.
There was an article not too long ago in Skin Inc. about new medical research linking stress to inflammatory skin conditions such as Rosacea, psoriasis and acne. At Seed, be believe in the mind, body, spirit connection. The use of essential oils for aromatherapeutic benefits is becoming more common, thankfully.
If you are looking for a care package to send your college student, check out our Lavender Deluxe Set. With 100% natural lavender essential oil, our set includes everything your student needs for some pampering, all while soothing the senses!
New Back to School Problem: Mask-ne
Mask-ne? Yes, acne can be aggravated underneath our masks. Other skin side effects, from chapped lips to redness may occur. If you wear a cloth mask, washing it is SO important. Be honest. When you were in college, how often did you do laundry? Chances are, you were like me and waited until you had practically nothing left to wear. Or, if you were like my brother, he waited until breaks so he could bring all of his laundry back home for my mom to wash! I remember being a kid and my job was to match up all of his socks after they came out of the dryer. What a task!
Laundering your masks is very important, though. In addition to obvious reasons with germs, bacteria from your skin will be on your mask and if you keep wearing the same one without laundering, that bacteria will be pressed right into your skin, which will cause many problems.
Your skin care regimen is very important right now. It doesn't have to be fancy. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize. Apply your moisturizer prior to putting on your mask. Apply lip oil as needed to keep those lips soft.
Most importantly, enjoy your school year -- however it may look.
You don't need a complicated routine to maintain skin health while away at college. Just remember that you are worth the couple extra minutes of pampering! Have fun and enjoy a safe year away at school.
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