10-Minute Skincare Routine for Busy Students

Girl applying face mask to her skin looking into a mirror

Let's face it, as a student, time is a precious commodity. Between lectures, assignments, and having a social life, finding time for a full skincare routine can feel like an impossible task. But don’t worry, effective student skincare doesn't have to be time-consuming (or pricey!).

In today’s post, we’re going to discuss why skincare matters, and how you can pack a full routine into just 10 minutes to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy.

Why Skincare Matters

Before we dive into the 10-minute student skincare routine, let's quickly discuss why skincare is important, especially for students. Your skin is your body's largest organ, and it deserves some TLC. A good skincare routine can help prevent acne, reduce redness, and slow down the ageing process. Plus, taking care of your skin can boost your confidence! Win, win!

The 10-Minute (Or Less!) Routine

Daytime Student Skincare Routine

Cleanse
Cleansing your skin on a morning helps to remove any impurities and excess oil that's built up on your skin overnight.  A water-based cleanser is ideal for oily skin, while a cream cleanser is better for dry skin. For a gentle morning cleanse, we recommend [coat]s Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. This hydrating, non-foaming cleanser gently yet thoroughly removes makeup, dirt, and excess oil. Formulated with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin, the pH-balanced formula deeply cleanses without drying, leaving combination or dry skin supple, hydrated, and visibly refined.

Moisturise
Don't forget to moisturise every morning to add hydration and nourishment to your skin. Daily moisturising is essential for a healthy skin barrier and a glowing complexion. Don't forget to extend your skincare down onto your neck and chest, too. Our customers like Nip+Fab Teen Skin Oil Control Moisturiser that helps to hydrate your skin whilst also keeping you shine-free throughout the day! Working to help prevent excess oil build-up and breakouts, the wasabi extract cream prevents bacterial growth to keep your skin clearer. 

SPF
Sunscreen is a daily essential to protect your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays. These rays are present come rain or shine, so it's super-important to remember this step. Don't forget, you should top up your SPF every two hours or more frequently if you're swimming, perspiring, or towel drying. Altruist Sunscreen SPF50 is a lightweight, water-resistant formula that offers superior protection against UVA and UVB rays without irritating your skin. Enriched with a paraben and fragrance-free composition, it absorbs quickly, leaving a smooth finish. Trust in its 5-star ultra-UV rating for dependable, broad-spectrum care at a budget-friendly price. 

Girl touching her face applying skincare


Nighttime Student Skincare Routine 

Pre-Cleanse
Your pre-cleanse removes the surface makeup and debris from your skin and is the first step in preparing your skin for your following products. Using an oil-based cleanser, like Mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil, will help to break down the impurities and remove even waterproof mascara. Infused with vitamin E, the cleanser helps to protect your skin against free radical damage, and works to prevent premature ageing to help keep your skin youthful and rejuvenated. 

Cleanse
Next it's time for your water-based cleanse. This step removes any deeper impurities from your skin, and removes any dregs that your first cleanse didn't quite catch. We recommend a cleanser like Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser. With a skin-caring blend of vitamin B5, the cleanser works to maintain your skin's pH to preserve your microbiome, leaving your skin feeling balanced and hydrated. 

Treat
If you struggle with acne or are using targeted treatments for other skin conditions, then now is the time to apply them. Teen and tween skin can be particularly prone to acne breakouts due to excess oil, so treatments like Biretix Duo Anti-Blemish Gel make a really great addition to your routine. The light gel formula has anti-microbial properties and is combined with salicylic acid and RetinSphere Technology that works to clarify your skin without causing irritation. Gentle but effective, the gel can be used on even sensitive skin as part of your post acne routine, or spot treatment maintenance.

Moisturise 
All skin, whether oily or dry, needs moisturiser. For nighttime, we recommend a slightly richer formula like Bondi Sands Sweet Dreams Night Moisturiser. The science-backed cream delivers moisture to your skin with its hyaluronic acid and squalane formula that hydrates and nourish your skin as you slumber, helping to aid your skin in it's process of repair and rejuvenation as you snooze. Wake up to plumper, bouncier, more radiant skin,  

Shop The Post

Sold out
Coats Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 150ml[coat]s Gentle Hydrating Cleanser 150ml
Altruist Sunscreen SPF50 100mlAltruist Sunscreen SPF50 100ml
Altruist Sunscreen SPF50 100ml

£4.60 £5.75 20% offsaving
Mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil for All Skin Types 195mlMixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil for All Skin Types 195ml
Mixsoon Bean Cleansing Oil for All Skin Types 195ml

£19.20 £20.95 8% offsaving
Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser
Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser

£10.00 £12.50 20% offsaving
Biretix Duo Anti-Blemish Gel
Biretix Duo Anti-Blemish Gel

£28.00

Enjoyed our post and fancy reading another? We think you might like The Freshers Skincare Survival Guide; discover affordable student skincare to keep your skin glowing through Freshers Week and beyond!