FACE

Every busy girl’s dream is to have a quiet night in with her favorite candle burning, while reading her favorite book in the tub.

After a year full of beauty brands’ promises of grandeur and miracles, College Gloss is here to give you a detailed guide of the best in skincare. We haven’t left ANYTHING out! Remember, beauty doesn’t have to be expensive, just smart.

Cleansers

1. Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser ($9.29, Target) is one of those products that everyone, from beauty editors to dermatologists, swears by. It is sensitive, and you can use it even if you are also using acne medication or other topical creams. And, if you are wondering, this gentle formula will remove your stubborn waterproof mascara. It’s a win-win.

2. Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple ($19, Beauty Bar) is perfect for all skin types. And it removes every drop of makeup on your face, from that annoying lash glue to your favorite eyeliner! Not every cleanser that is gentle enough for any skin type can also fully remove makeup like this one.

Moisturizers/Toner

Oily/Combination Skin: Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($25, Nordstrom) has been a holy grail product for women between the ages of 13 to 50 for some time. Many customers have praised this baby for its lightweight, moisturizing quality. Its sensitive formula has been a go-to moisturizer for those with the most sensitive and acne-prone skin. Give it a try, and tell us what you think! We promise you will not be disappointed. This is a CG all-time favorite.

Dry Skin: Dry-skinned ladies: we know, we know, all those YouTube gurus and beauty editors seem to ignore your needs. There is an excessive amount of information on oily/combination gals, but few details on your skin type. We recommend Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($24.50 Nordstrom). A bottle of this is sold every 4 seconds, that’s how good it is!

Acne-Prone Skin: We highly recommend Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($25, Nordstrom) for acne-prone skin, because of its sensitive formula, but if you are looking for a more aggressive treatment, try Vichy NormaDerm Triple Action Anti-Acne Hydrating Lotion ($23.50, drugstore.com). We don’t mean to gush, but this product is truly magical. Results are visible within three days after use! This magic potion will unclog your pores, clear your blemishes and blackheads, all while controlling your oil production.


Sunscreen: Our top sunscreen pick is Neutrogena Healthy Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 with Helioplex ($10.31, Amazon). If you are looking for a lightweight moisturizer that will not irritate your sensitive skin AND has SPF, this is for you! And, you can’t beat the price. Helioplex was designed by Neutrogena: “The sunscreens in Helioplex™ further protects skin by absorbing and transforming UV light into a harmless form of light," says the Antiaging-wellness website.

Oily Skin Toner: Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion #4 ($12.50, Nordstrom) is the champ! This will aid in unclogging your pores and controlling shine! After a few weeks, your complexion will be smoother and cleaner.

Eye Care

Dry/Puffy/Fine Lines: If you have super dry eyes that require extra attention, pick up Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye ($36, Kiehls). This is a super hydrating formula with all-natural ingredients that decreases fine lines, dryness and puffy eyes by the crack of dawn! Try it out, we promise it will not disappoint!

Everyday: Garnier Anti Dark Circle Roller ($15.99, Amazon) is a great pick-me-up in the morning, is super lightweight and does the job! Note that this is not enough coverage for extreme dark circles.

Exfoliating Products

1. Our favorite pick for everyday upkeep is Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($40, Beauty Bar). This is appropriate if you are searching for something gentle to help the texture of your skin. Ladies, if you are someone who suffers from an oily T-zone and a few minor bumps, spoil yourself and indulge in this luxury product! It is also great for our girlies who suffer from acne, as it contains salicylic acid, and its rice enzyme component helps with the restoration of your skin!

2. Clean & Clear’s Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser ($6.29, Amazon) is another winner. “The microbeads help loosen blackheads, but they’re smooth and won’t scratch your skin, and the benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria,” according to WebMD. Any girl who tries this will be sure to swoon over its ability to exfoliate and slough off dead cells.

Wipes

CG’s favorite pick is Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes ($11.95, Amazon). These refreshing towelettes clean your face, remove makeup, exfoliate, tone and moisturize all in one swipe. It even suits all skin types. You will be hooked once you try it!

Masks

Oily: We love, love, love Freeman Feeling Beautiful Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask ($3.99, Ulta). Wow, that’s a mouthful, but it seems like it was custom made just for college girls! It will draw out your impurities and instantly makes your skin feel soft!

Acne-Prone: DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask ($38, drugstore.com) is one of our ultimate favorites. This mask does not dry out your skin, just your active breakouts. It has the special ingredient of sulfur. Sounds scary, but it’s super effective.

Dry: We have all read about the wonders of honey and oatmeal for dry skin, but if you are not a “DIY” kind of girl, we recommend you check out Caudalie Moisturizing Cream Mask ($40, Sephora). For you ladies with dry skin, it makes sure your skin receives enough moisture over time; it doesn’t happen overnight.

After this extensive list of the best-of-the-best in skincare, we propose that you become an educated consumer. Do your research! All these products are amazing, but remember, not everything works for everyone. We are all individuals with unique skin types and different levels of sensitivity. Have fun with our guide, we truly hope it helps!

Check back throughout December for College Gloss’ Best of 2012 beauty series! Next week, we’ll give you our picks of the year for bath & body.

By: Ivanna Coello | Images: Source, listed retail stores

There is nothing more personal than the scent you choose to wear. Fragrances have history; triggering memories, emotions and even moods, our sense of smell is the most sensitive. Although many celebrities launched new fragrances in 2012, such as Britney Spears’ Fantasy Twist, Lady Gaga’s FAME and Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday, few have been coveted as the best fragrances of 2012. It is is no surprise that the classics still reign.


1. Miss Dior Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz ($82, Sephora). We can’t begin this list with anything other than this iconic perfume, the world’s fifth best selling fragrance. Whether you are searching for a fragrance that’s sweet, sophisticated, girly or sexy, this is it! Its strawberry top notes concocted with its signature caramelized popcorn mid notes make it sugary perfection. It’s sugar and spice, and everything nice; just what girls are made of. For all you Miss Dior Cherie lovers, don’t fret! Although the fragrance has been reformulated, the Cherie version is still sold at Sephora. Click here for details about the new changes.


2. Viva La Juicy 1.7 oz ($70, Sephora). This fragrance’s magic lies in its versatility: it can be worn during the day or night. It is one of those fragrances that keeps the compliments coming all day long. If you love vanilla, this will hit the spot! Accompanied with vanilla, Viva La Juicy finishes with notes of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and get this: praline, a dish made from nuts and sugar syrup. With a recipe like that, we can understand its sweet smell!


3. Enchanted Wonderstruck 1.7 oz ($49.50, Sephora). Because 2012 seems to be the year of Taylor Swift (although, which year hasn’t been since her 2006 debut?), we could not forget to include her new fragrance. It became an instant favorite to so many girls! “Wonderstruck is about that moment when you instantly feel a connection to someone, but then there’s that feeling of being completely enamored -- enchanted -- when you know a little more about that someone and still feel that strong connection,” Swift says. We couldn’t agree more! This scent makes you feel sexy and lasts fairly long!


4. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue 1.6 oz ($48, Sephora) and Chanel Chance 1.7 oz ($85, Sephora). These modern classics tie for their signature everyday clean smell. If you shy away from sweet scents, you will appreciate the floral freshness of these two picks. Light Blue’s and Chance’s heart notes contain jasmine, giving them an irresistible floral aroma. If you love the classics, like as Chanel No.5 and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, you will love the subtle elegance these fragrances have.


5. DKNY Be Delicious 1.7 oz ($65, Sephora). We could not resist ignoring this popular staple, which has probably graced everybody’s wardrobe at least once. Its citrusy goodness makes this the perfect spring and summer fragrance. Its appropriately apple-shaped package makes it resonate with younger girls as well as us college goddesses. Its fruity note of apple makes it notoriously long lasting and delicious. This fragrance always draws in compliments, and your boyfriend will love it -- citrus never fails!

Check back throughout December for College Gloss’ Best of 2012 beauty series! Next week, we’ll give you our picks of the year for skincare.

By: Ivanna Coello