The Freshers Skincare Survival Guide
Welcome to your freshers skincare survival guide: the handy 101 on surviving the madness of fresher’s week whilst keeping your skin as glowing as your upcoming grades!
Fresher's Week is the ultimate rollercoaster of emotions: from moving away from home for the first time to dealing with those all-nighters (whether that’s to study or to party!) – it can all take a huge toll on your skin. But worry not, as we’re here to share our top student skincare tips.
1. Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is a must regardless whether it’s fresher’s week or not, but did you know that it’s just as important to hydrate your skin from the surface, too?  There are a few ways to do this with your skincare and self-care routine, let’s explore them.
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Try A Hydrating Face Mist
A hydrating face mist will keep your skin’s moisture levels topped up throughout the day, plus it’ll give you a refreshing pick-me-up, too. We love the iconic Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray for Sensitive Skin. This OG has long been a beauty blogger favourite thanks to its soothing, anti-irritating properties. Its low mineral content and neutral pH reduces sensitivity and restores skin balance, plus, it can be misted onto your bare skin or over your makeup, making it super versatile.
Use A Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is known as a moisture magnet – it attracts water and keeps your skin hydrated for longer. HA serums are a popular choice in people looking to boost their skin’s hydration levels, and our customers love Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum. This budget-friendly serum works to quench even the most parched skin and is made from a 98.35% natural, cruelty-free, vegan-friendly formula.
Take A Hydration Supplement
If you want to help your water intake go further, you can increase your hydration with an electrolyte-based drink. Ancient + Brave True Hydration takes inspiration from the natural electrolytes that are found in coconut water to deliver water to your cells. This not only supports proper rehydration, but it also supports your mind and body and helps to enhance recovery and mental clarity – the perfect drink for busy students!
Invest In A Hydrating Moisturiser
Moisturising your skin daily is essential to help keep your skin barrier strong and healthy. Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer has a concentrated 30% hyaluronic acid complex which contains three molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid to hydrate the deeper layers of your skin. The soft and weightless formula helps to plump the appearance of your skin, leaving it beautifully glowing.
2. Cleanse Twice Daily
Clean skin is healthy skin, so don’t forget to cleanse twice a day – especially if you’re wearing makeup, sunscreen (a daily must!), or are out and about in the big city where daily debris and pollution can easily build up on your skin.
A gentle cleanser, like CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser works to cleanse and hydrate your skin without disrupting your skin’s natural protective barrier. The hypoallergenic formula is fragrance free and is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types.
If you’re trying to remove stubborn eye makeup, a micellar water would be a great addition to your skincare collection. Another cult favourite product in the skincare world is Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water. This budget friendly skincare staple is perfect for sensitive skin and works to remove makeup, pollen, impurities, and even fine particles with ease. Even better? The no-rinse formula makes it even easier to use after a heavy night out.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Did you know that beauty sleep is real? (No, we’re serious!) Your skin rejuvenates itself while you sleep, so getting enough rest is essential for a healthy glow. Make sleep a priority to your health and wellbeing routine and aim for seven-to-eight hours nightly.
Struggling to switch off and rest? We have a dreamy solution. NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist helps your mind and body to relax and unwind ahead of a restful night’s sleep. With its 100% natural fragrance and scent of freshly cut lavender, the tranquil mist creates the most perfectly calming atmosphere to help you drift away.
4. Make Sunscreen A Non-Negotiable
When it comes to non-negotiable skincare for students, any member of our FTF team will tell you that one practice you should never slack on is applying a daily sunscreen. A real skin essential, a good SPF not only helps you to preserve your skin’s youthful appearance for longer, but it also protects your skin against sun damage and skin cancer. You should wear an SPF30 or higher every day, come rain or shine.
A great sunscreen for students is Altruist Sunscreen SPF50. Affordable, lightweight, and nourishing, this water-resistant SPF is 5-star ultra-UV rated. It’s also non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores or exacerbate breakouts. Win, win!
Applying your sunscreen just once in the morning isn’t enough to keep your skin protected all day, so don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen every two hours, even more so if you’re swimming, perspiring, or towel drying. For handy on-the-go top-ups, we love Hello Sunday The Retouch One - Face Mist SPF30. This spray and go formula gives UVA, UVB, blue light, infrared, and pollution protection, along with a hydrating hit of skincare ingredients, including vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, to nourish and hydrate your complexion.
5. Eat A Balanced Diet
We know it can be super hard to eat a balanced diet when you’re a student, from finances to the pizza parties, sometimes eating your fruits and veggies just doesn’t sound as appealing. But trust us, eating a balanced diet will really help not only with your overall health and wellbeing, but also with your skin. When you fuel your body with nutritious food on the inside, it shows on the outside. But what about if you’re really struggling to get those nutrients you know you need? Enter supplements!
It’s important to note that in no way are supplements there to replace a healthy diet, they’re there to accompany it. Supplements can be a great way to give your body and skin a boost. We love DR.VEGAN® Daily Multi-Vitamin that’s packed with 24 essential nutrients and works to support your energy, immunity, skin, hair, nails, digestion, mental performance, and mood.
It's also worth mentioning that to help you eat a balanced diet, it’s not about what you can take away from your daily food, but what you can add. For example, add a side salad with your pizza order, or throw some veggies in your curry takeaway order to up those vitamins and minerals in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re missing out.
6. Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Although a lot of fresher’s week activities include alcohol, those cocktails and shots are a major contributor to dehydrated skin, leaving your complexion looking dull and lifeless. Drinking in moderation is key, and drinking water between your alcoholic beverages will really help (both your skin and your hangover!)
7. Have A Pamper Routine
Keeping up with your new student lifestyle can be tough, so set yourself a regular pamper routine to enjoy some ‘you’ time to rest rejuvenate. Here at team FTF, we’re big fans of having a night in with our favourite beauty products, and one of our favourite ways to unwind is with a skin-boosting face mask. BEAUTYPRO CICA & NIACINAMIDE Blemish Control Sheet Mask is great for calming your skin and minimising inflammation – you’ll love it if you have acne or blemish-prone skin.  Infused with cica, the mask boosts collagen production and antioxidant levels in your skin, and the addition of niacinamide and chia seed helps to reduces redness, regulate sebum production, and minimise your pores.
If your skin is more on the dry side Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Sheet Mask is a great alternative. This anti-ageing face mask gives your skin an immediate burst of hydration. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it helps to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, giving you a dewy, fresh, and more radiant complexion.
Remember, fresher's week is all about having fun, but taking care of your skin doesn't have to be a chore. With a little effort, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a glowing complexion and unforgettable memories. Wishing you all a fun-filled fresher’s week from all of us at team FTF!
Shop The Post
Suitable for all skin types, especially dry and mature skin, Q+A Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum adds volume, moisture, and luminosity to the skin.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser 236ml is a non-foaming, gentle and hydrating cleansing lotion formulated with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Sheet Mask is an anti-ageing face mask that provides the skin with immediate hydration and is infused with Hyaluronic Acid to help reduce the appearance of fine lines for a dewy, fresh,...
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