Make This Semester a Breeze with Our Top 10 Back to School Staples

As we head towards the end of the summer, we enter an exciting chapter of the year: back to school season! A new school year brings endless opportunities to unlock your full potential in all areas of your life, and just because it means the start of 8am call times, it doesn’t have to be all bad. One perk of starting a new semester is shopping for your back to school staples, and yes, skincare, makeup and hair & body care DO count as essentials. Below are our top 10 editor-approved staples to grab for the upcoming school year that will streamline your full-body beauty routines and make this semester a total breeze – think luscious hair, soft skin and an underrated treatment to level up your study breaks. Keep scrolling for all the deets.

No. 1

P.CALM - Centella Trouble Spot

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - P.CALM

We’re sure you’re familiar with the running joke that a pimple will pop up whenever you have something important to do, and more often than not this happens just before the first day of school, if not on the actual day. Get the P.CALM Centella Trouble Spot to ease any blemishes that crop up unexpectedly, and allow the Centella, Panthenol and Onion extract-spiked formula to work its magic on soothing troubled skin and reducing excess sebum. Simply dot it on affected areas at bedtime to wake up with a calmer complexion.

No. 2

SKIN1004 - Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - SKIN1004

The viral SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ now comes in a mega-sized bottle that holds double the volume of the original, so you’re never without your favorite SPF. It houses the same beloved Cica and Hyaluronic Acid-spiked formula that calms and hydrates the skin simultaneously. As the silky texture blends into the skin, it leaves no white cast or greasiness behind, instead imparting a dewy finish that’s pure glass skin goals.

No. 3

ViCREA - & honey Melty Matomake Stick Super Hold Step4.0

Courtesy of Japanese Hair Care Brand - ViCREA

Got a presentation coming up and need to look profesh? The ViCREA & honey Melty Matomake Stick Super Hold Step4.0 keeps your flyaways and stray hairs held back with its strong-hold formula, dispensed easily with a macara-esque wand that tames an unruly mane in seconds. This styling stick is enriched with Honey, Royal Jelly and Propolis extracts to maintain soft and conditioned strands for an elegant, put-together look. Now that your hair’s perfect, you can focus on making those presentation slides the same.

No. 4

Purito SEOUL - Cica Clearing BB Cream

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Purito SEOUL

Spilling the secret weapon to perfect no-effort skin every single day: the Purito SEOUL Cica Clearing BB Cream. This beauty balm balances an uneven skin tone while calming irritation and retaining moisture, leaving behind a natural finish that will have your classmates wondering if you’re wearing makeup at all. It’s made to be used by all skin types and can be built up without it becoming cakey and heavy, depending on your coverage preferences.

No. 5

Skybottle - Perfumed Hair & Body Mist + Body Wash Muhwagua Set

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Skybottle

Everyone needs a signature scent they can envelope themselves in every day, and our pick is the Skybottle Muhwagua Set that spotlights the elegant woody aroma of Fig. Notes of Fig fruit, leaf and tree come together for an uplifting green scent in both body wash and hair & body mist formulas. The former gently exfoliates the skin and maintains optimal pH balance with AHA and fruit extracts, while the latter uses Snow Lotus extract to keep your skin and strands conditioned alongside smelling irresistible.

No. 6

numbuzin - No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - numbuzin

Don’t let your natural radiance get sapped away by late nights in the library or juggling school and your part-time job – get your hands on the numbuzin No.5 Vitamin Concentrated Serum to maintain that luminosity and glow. The booster features a medley of glow-boosting ingredients, including Glutathione, Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Tranexamic Acid, to reduce skin tone unevenness, fade dark spots, and restore a dull complexion back to a strong, glowing state.

No. 7

Kao - MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask

Courtesy of Japanese Skincare Brand - Kao

The Kao MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask is such an underrated treatment that totally deserves more hype. What it is: an eye pack that sits atop the eyes and alleviates overworked, strained eyes with heated steam. This steam bath releases any tension the body is holding on to, soothing the mind to help you fall into a deeper state of relaxation – sounds like just the thing for a study break or your school night bedtime ritual. Take your pick of natural and restoring fragrances, or go au naturel with the unscented version.

No. 8

Kaja - Juicy Glass Lip Oil

Courtesy of Korean Makeup Brand - Kaja

Who said you had to sacrifice shine for nourishment or vice versa? The Kaja Juicy Glass Lip Oil ticks both boxes, delivering an instantly plumping effect supported by Vitamin Tree Fruit Oil and fruit extracts. One swipe of the plush large applicator gets you a deliciously glassy sheen that imparts a subtle cooling sensation, rounding off both your skincare and makeup routines. Lips feeling a little parched? Need a gloss to top off your lip combo? This lip oil gets the job done.

No. 9

aromatica - Rosemary Dry Shampoo Powder

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - aromatica

Whether you’re washing your hair every other day to prevent drying out your mane, preserve dyed color or simply because you don’t have enough time, the aromatica Rosemary Dry Shampoo Powder is here to save your scalp. This dry shampoo contains Cotton Seed extract and botanical starches to absorb excess oil and odor, as well as Rosemary Leaf extract and Argan Oil to nourish the hair and scalp. As it works its magic, expect a visible reduction in oiliness and improved hair volume.

No. 10

Purito SEOUL - From Green Cleansing Oil

Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Purito SEOUL

At the end of a long day, remove every speck of dirt, debris and buildup from your skin with the Purito SEOUL From Green Cleansing Oil. Gentle and deeply nourishing, it’s made with only 10 essential ingredients to minimize irritation and relieve dryness. The unscented oil emulsifies into a rich milky texture that effectively lifts impurities, keeping the skin feeling soft and bouncy. We love how it’s a refillable bottle, which means you can cut back on unnecessary plastic waste and save money when buying refills, instead of brand new bottles.