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Pace | Style > Beauty

5 Back-To-School Skincare Essentials 

Sierra Vendas Student Contributor, Pace University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pace chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

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While in many ways returning to school for my senior year feels frightening, I have also been seeking comfort in the knowledge I have accumulated over the past three years. What I have realized is that there truly is peace in routine and a certain relief that accompanies planning ahead. One goal I had before returning to school was to nail down my morning and nighttime routines because the last thing I want to be concerned about after getting home from a long commute is cleanliness and comfort. That being said, the following are among my favorite back-to-school skincare essentials. 

  1. Acne Foaming Cleanser by Good Molecules, $12

I have long been a fan of Good Molecules. Not only do they aim to keep their products affordable, but their products are relatively safe for acne-prone skin, at least in my experience. I like to use this cleanser in the shower after an exhaustive NJ Transit ride. Leaving no residue, it makes me feel genuinely clean and refreshed.

  1. Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches by Good Molecules, $18

These eye patches are a new addition to my daily routine. They make me feel more composed, energized, and as if I am doing something small to take care of myself amidst the back-to-school chaos. And once again, they are from Good Molecules, which makes me feel a little better about using them on my sensitive skin.

  1. Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm by EADEM, $24

EADEM is an up-and-coming brand that I have been eyeballing for quite some time now. It is clear that the company values diversity, and their creative direction feels incredibly authentic to the founders Marie Kouadio Amouzame and Alice Lin Glover. My first introduction to their product line was with their Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Butter Mochi, the clear and unscented variation. The metal applicator creates a nice cooling effect. I also appreciate that it is never sticky once applied and it lasts several hours without another application necessary. Recently, I have been wanting the Fig Sauce shade, which is a rich, rosy color. They also have new fall shades: Churro de Canela and Coquito Dulce — one a cool-toned brown and the other a shimmery pink.

  1. APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Facial Cream, $15

This K-beauty brand is consistently at the top of my list. I previously discussed their toner pads, but after trying their facial cream, I am even more impressed with the brand. Their products make me feel extremely clean and the moisturizer is incredibly light. It was a perfect summer product because it never felt overly heavy on my skin. In general, I feel that Korean skincare products tend to be much healthier for my skin, but it certainly depends on the product. 

  1. Daily Vitamin C Korean Brightening Toner Pads with Niacinamide by Innisfree, $28

After using up all my APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Toner Pads, I wanted to experiment with a new brand and stumbled upon Innisfree’s Vitamin C Toner Pads. While I still like the others, I appreciate that these contain Vitamin C, which has proven skincare benefits. My only complaint with these is that they leave a bit of a residue on my skin and feel only a little slimier. Regardless, it is a solid product and it doesn’t make my skin flare up.

Sierra is a senior at Pace University studying Digital Marketing with minors in Graphic Design and Special Events Marketing. She is a fourth year staff writer for Her Campus at Pace and enjoys writing more humorous pieces about pop culture and marketing.

In addition to Her Campus at Pace, Sierra is also the President of the Pace Advertising Club and Co-Manager of Pace University's IDM Lab. She enjoys brainstorming for all of these organizations and especially likes that they expose her to people of all backgrounds and industries.

Outside of school and work Sierra spends most of her time listening to music, watching rom-coms and sit-coms, shopping, going to museums, or exploring new places to eat. She likes a variety of different musical artists and will never turn down the opportunity to go to a concert. Sierra frequently watches the movies "A Rainy Day in New York" and "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" but is no stranger to shows such as "The Office" and "New Girl." Sierra is also interested in museum hopping however her favorite exhibits remain at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.