Back-to-School Beauty: 10 Essentials for a Teen’s Simple Routine

The beauty world is ever-expanding, with seemingly endless product categories launching every day. And as a teen (or a mom of a teen) heading back to school, navigating the aisles of Sephora and Ulta to figure out which products are actually necessary can quickly turn into a day-long chore.I remember heading off to my first year of college in 2017 and being severely underprepared in the beauty department. Everyone had the latest Naked Eyeshadow Palette and a spectrum of BUXOM lip gloss shades, and there I was with my three-shades-too-light drugstore concealer and that’s about it. Of course, you should never buy cosmetics just to fit in, but if you want to lean into the beauty world while keeping your skin healthy and looking and feeling your best, consider this your back-to-school makeup, skin, and hair shopping list.After witnessing my fair share of teens lathering on anti-aging serums, I can confidently say that you do not need a 12-step skincare routine to have your beauty bases covered. The products below are the essentials I’d actually recommend for back to school, whether you’re a total beauty beginner or already have your routine down.1. CleanserArguably the most important beauty step of all, a face wash should be step one of any skincare routine, creating a clean canvas for whatever skincare and makeup comes next. Washing away makeup, sweat, and oil that accumulates throughout the day is especially important if you’re acne-prone. You don’t need anything fancy here, either. Keep things simple with a gentle cleanser like CeraVe’s Foaming Facial Cleanser or Sofie Pavitt’s Cleanser.2. MoisturizerSimplicity is key when it comes to a teen skincare routine. Beyond cleanser and sunscreen, a moisturizer is really all you need to keep your skin hydrated and your routine uncomplicated. If your skin is on the oily side, look for a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula like The Inkey List’s Water Cream. Dry skin will appreciate something richer, like La Roche-Posay’s Double Repair Moisturizer. And if you fall somewhere in between, Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is a great no-fuss option.3. Face SPFEven if you’re heading off to college somewhere that rarely sees the sun (like my alma mater in upstate New York), a lightweight face sunscreen is always a must. Look for an SPF 30 or higher that you’ll actually enjoy wearing every day. I love Beauty of Joseon’s Day Dew Sunscreen for a lightweight, glowy finish, while Supergoop!’s Glowscreen gives the skin a little more radiance if you want your SPF to double as a makeup base.4. A multitasking hair toolOne hair tool that combines several styling steps in one will make anyone’s life so much easier. If you’re trying to look presentable for class but have less-than-ample time to get ready before an 8 a.m. lecture, a blow-dryer brush can be a total game changer. Wavytalk’s Hair Dryer Brush is an easy one-and-done option for a smooth, bouncy look. And if you’re willing to splurge for extra attachments, Shark’s FlexStyle can dry, smooth, curl, and volumize the hair with just one multiuse tool.Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.5. Facial towelsAs an acne-prone girl, face towels genuinely changed my skin. Instead of dabbing my freshly washed face dry on the same bath towel that has been hanging in the bathroom for who knows how long, I started using disposable face towels. They’re an easy way to keep your post-cleanse routine a little more hygienic, especially if you’re sharing a dorm bathroom or dealing with acne-prone skin. Clean Skin Club makes durable towels that are large enough to cover your entire face.6. A claw clipYes, claw clips have become something of a status symbol in recent years, but they’re also genuinely useful. They’re an easy way to style your hair with minimal effort and, perhaps most importantly, keep it out of your face when you’re busy locking in on your homework. My hair is almost always held up by an Emi Jay clip when I’m working at my desk, and the brand makes them in tons of cute colorways.7. Hair maskShampoo and conditioner are the bare minimum for a hair routine, but if you want to give your hair a little extra TLC, a weekly hair mask is an easy addition. Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask is a great option for dry or damaged hair, while Pattern’s Intensive Conditioner is especially nice for curls and coils.8. ConcealerYou definitely don’t need a full face of glam for school, but having a concealer on hand is always a good idea. Whether you’re trying to disguise the evidence of a late night studying or covers up a pesky breakout, a buildable formula cover exactly where you want it without making your whole face feel like it’s covered in makeup. Tower 28’s Serum Concealer and e.l.f.’s Soft Glam Satin Concealer are both lightweight, buildable options.9. BlushIf you want to add a subtle flush to your face and feel slightly more put together, blush is one of the easiest ways to do it. You can tap a tiny amount onto your cheeks with your fingers and blend it out in seconds, making it particularly beginner-friendly. rhode’s Pocket Blush or Saie’s Dew Blush are both simple-to-swipe on options with plenty of shades to choose from.10. MascaraAnd last but certainly not least: mascara. It’s one of the few makeup products that can instantly make you look a little more awake without requiring an entire makeup routine. L’Oréal Paris’s Panorama Mascara volumizes and lengthens with just a few swipes, plus comes in a bunch of colors like classic black, brown, and navy. Swipe on a coat before class and call it a day.Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.