Back-to-School Skincare Prep

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MajorBeauty #CollectiveBias

It is hard to accept that the summer is coming to an end, but unfortunately it is true! As difficult as it can be to get out of that summer vacation mindset, the fall season will be here before we know it. The good news, though, is that back-to-school season is a fun and exciting opportunity for a fresh start. There is something kind of exhilarating about getting that new class list, stocking up on school supplies and prepping for the new year. If you are heading back to college, it is exciting to move into a new dorm/apartment and see all your friends you’ve been missing over the summer. When I was at Northeastern, we almost always took classes during the summer so that we could make time for our 6-month co-op cycles, but the start September often signaled a new dorm or apartment and a much busier campus.

The most important part, in my opinion, of handling all the changes that come with back-to-school season is being sure to take care of your body, and that means proper skincare! Today I’m sharing three of my favorite skincare products that I used religiously throughout both high school and college (and still use now).

You know not to go to bed with your make up on. We’ve all been told over and over just how bad this is for our skin and how makeup can clog pores and cause breakouts. But let’s face it, sometimes we’re just toooo exhausted to even think about properly washing up, especially after a long night in the library (or a night out on the town). I always made sure to keep a supply of these Makeup Dissolving Wipes from Clean & Clear handy in my dorm room right by my bed. They are refreshing and gentle, and it just takes a minute to wipe off all your makeup, even waterproof mascara, so you can rest easy!

In the mornings and nights when I had time for a proper bedtime skincare routine, I would wash my face with Deep Clean Cream Cleanser from Neutrogena. This is one of the most refreshing cleansers, ever. It foams up nicely for a thorough clean and rinses off easily. Plus, it leaves skin feeling ever so slightly tingly. I always thought this was a great way to get energized and brighten my complexion in the morning before class.

The last step of my essential skincare routine is moisturizer. Moisturizer, moisturizer, moisturizer. With SPF. I can’t say this enough. You might not realize just how dry skin can get throughout the day – especially if you are not careful to get 8 glasses of water in. Heading from classroom to dry classroom takes its toll on the skin. Plus, during college I got more sun exposure than I thought. Walking outdoors from building to building, sitting out on the quad with friends, or studying at an outdoor picnic table leaves you exposed to harmful UV rays. SPF of at least 15 is critical for protection (and avoiding wrinkles later on in life). I am not lying when I say I used this Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer from Aveeno every single day in both high school and college – and I still do incorporate it into my skin care routine these days as well. I love how it absorbs nicely into my skin and actually does give it a little glow. It is a great way to prep your skin for makeup – or just for a little radiance if you choose to go makeup free!

I always made a few serious Target runs before heading back to college. My mom used to joke with me that I was just heading to Boston (about 30 minutes from where I grew up), and not an isolated foreign country, and that there would be plenty of drugstores for me to pick up anything I had forgotten. I like to be prepared, however, so that meant stocking up on everything I would need for the semester beforehand, i.e., lots of makeup wipes, face wash, and moisturizer. Heaven forbid I ran out 🙂

Now you can get a great deal on these favorite products of mine: buy any one participating Neutrogena® facial, Neutrogena® cosmetic or Clean & Clear® facial product and get one 25% off from July-August 2016 AND buy one, get one 25% off select Aveeno® items from July 31, 2016-August 20, 2016. OR you can enter the sweepstakes below:

Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, and Aveeno #MajorBeauty Sweepstakes

What’s are your favorite back-to-school skincare products?
xo -L

This post is sponsored by Neutrogena^®, Clean & Clear^® and Aveeno^®. I only recommend products I use personally and believe my followers will also enjoy! Some of the products mentioned were provided by Neutrogena^®, Clean & Clear^® and Aveeno^® for this review.