Beauty survival tips for Grad school

Time—this illusive creature is something you learn to cherish when you’re working 50 hours a week, taking classes at night and maybe (just maybe) having an actual life. It’s exhausting just thinking about it. But nothing annoys me more than wasting the time I do get on time consuming beauty regimens in an effort to look less like an extra on The Walking Dead. The undergrad days of looking fresh and rested surviving on pizza and power naps are over. Let’s face it – we’re older, life is harder and it’s no longer acceptable to rock a messy bun and yoga pants during the hours of 9-5, Monday through Friday. That’s why it’s so important to set yourself up for success before you even leave the house. By packing a few cosmetic “survival” items, you can begin to gain some control over a long day’s draining effects.


Now, I would like to preface this post by saying that I am all about women empowerment—I could talk all day about it, but ladies, just because you feel like you could fall asleep standing up at any moment doesn’t mean you have to look like it. Your face is the first thing people see and first impressions say a lot. It’s a fact that pretty people not only make more money, but they are also more likely to be perceived as trustworthy when compared to their less attractive counterparts. I’m not suggesting that you need to learn how to contour like a Kardashian, but there are a few simple tricks to help fight the signs that you are indeed an overworked grad student.

Here are my 5 beauty essential items to keep your power look in play -- all day.

1. Tarte Not So Slick Oil-Absorbing Blotting Papers – Ever look in the mirror at the end of the day and notice that your forehead is so shiny that it’s creating a reflection? – yikes! Not any more with these bad boys. These oil-absorbing sheets soak up the excess oil that builds up during the day to give your makeup an instant freshness reset. And guys, don’t be shy -- you can use these too!

2. Simple Eye Roll-on – Late night studying? If you’re like me, you know the frustration caused by under eye bags. They can make you look like you haven’t slept in weeks and there is not enough concealer in the world to hide these things. I love using this under eye-roller in the morning to shrink eye bags. In 2 minutes you will look more rested and ready to take on the day!

3. First Aid Ultra Repair moisturizer – If I were stranded on an island and could only have one item with me, it would be this moisturizer. It’s non-greasy and goes on well at any time of the day. It’s also a great gender neutral product -- my boyfriend uses this as much as I do!


4. Klorane Dry Shampoo – In case it wasn’t clear from the first item on this list, oil is something I constantly battle. I’ve also been “blessed” with thick hair making it very time consuming to dry and style. This process can take up to an hour and a half – ain’t nobody got time for that! Dry Shampoo has been my best friend while in grad school. It
gives hair a fresh look and this brand in particular is as moisturizing as it is oil absorbing. Not to mention it cuts the time I get ready in half giving me more time to focus on important things, like studying.

5. Urban Decay Eyeshadow primer – Say you have a big meeting or a presentation, it’s nice to shake things up a bit with some fun eye shadows. But something happens between the hours of 9-5 that resembles what I can only imagine to be the look of somebody caught in a rainstorm. This stuff will be so smeared by the end of the day that it looks like I encountered a force 5 hurricane while walking to class. But taking a few extra seconds to put this primer on before will save your face for when your work day takes you into the night.