Between lectures, homework and nights out, often students’ self-care suffers significantly. I have regularly witnessed my friends shuffling into bed after a night out clubbing, makeup still caked onto their eyes, bleeding onto their pillows, and bequeathing morning acne on their faces. As a busy student, I have a few habits that can help your routine without breaking the bank...

Gentle Cleanser / Bar Soap

In the colder months, it’s important to use a cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin on the face and body. My best recommendation for timeliness and effectiveness is a bar soap that has very minimal ingredients and is fragrance-free. I use the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleansing Bar, and when not in the shower, the Youth To The People superfood cleanser.

Silk Pillowcase

I have tried and failed many times to wear a silk wrap or bonnet to bed, as inevitably it ends up on the floor. If you have sensitive skin or curly hair, you need a silk or satin pillowcase. This is an added skin and hair boost, especially if you are too busy to care much for your skin health otherwise.

Dye-Free Washcloth

If you are a student like me, the majority of face-washing occurs in the shower, as I don’t usually have the time to wash my face at the sink. Lately, I have been cleansing my face with a washcloth once a week, for an extra bit of gentle exfoliation. I would recommend doing this step as the last step of your shower routine, so that any body wash or shampoo residue is cleaned from your face.

Oil Cleanser

After a night out, too many times have I seen my friends fervently scrub their skin with makeup-removing wipes. These demon towelettes aggressively irritate the skin, are terrible for the environment, and are often ineffective at removing makeup without significant effort.

Far more effective are oil cleansers (or cleansing balms), that dissolve makeup and buildup quickly and effectively, without irritating the skin. Just make sure to use a water-based cleanser after to free the residue from your skin. My favourite oil cleanser is the Farmacy Green Clean Balm.

Heavy Moisturiser

In the winter months, our skin becomes more vulnerable due to drier, colder weather. This can lead to drier, flakier skin that struggles to maintain moisture. The best way to combat this is to use a heavier moisturiser, especially to bed, when our skin becomes particularly sensitive to water loss. I use Vanicream Moisturising Skin Cream – it isn’t the most fancy or expensive, but it is my holy grail. Any heavy moisturiser with simple ingredients (fragrance and alcohol-free) will do. If I’m having a breakout I typically apply an acne patch during this step, like the Cica Pimple Patches from Bahama Skin.

Read the full Hot Press Student Special Part 2 in our current issue – out now: