It’s that time of the year again! Summer’s over and for those of you who are heading back to college, that means it’s time for school supply shopping. Shopping for school can be stressful so we’ve narrowed it down to the best of the best to save you some time. Check out all of our back-to-school essential picks below.
Editors’ Picks: Top 6 beauty essentials for back to school season
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
Sometimes when you’re feeling tired or it gets too late you might be feeling too lazy to wash off the makeup on your face and that’s okay! But don’t use makeup wipes because they are really harsh on the skin. Instead, use micellar water it’s just as fast and won’t irritate the skin. You can’t go wrong with Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Water! It has a gentle formula and is great for sensitive skin.
$21, shoppersdrugmart.ca
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Skin
You don’t have to do a ten-step skincare routine but having hydrated skin is a must. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel is lightweight and will leave the skin feeling soft and supple. It’s great to wear underneath makeup and is long-lasting.
$22, walmart.ca
Kate Somerville EradiKate
If you’re someone who tends to get zits when you’re stressed then you need this Kate Somerville product. The Kate Somerville Eradikate is a blemish-banishing acne treatment that helps minimize the appearance of your pimples. Only apply it to your zits because it’s made with the highest level of sulfur so it can dry out the skin. This stuff will help heal your zits in no time.
Pixi DetoxifEYE
If you got dark baggy under eyes from staying up to late then pop on these hydrogel eye patches from Pixi. These babies will not only help depuff but the hyaluronic acid and cucumber will help nourish and hydrate the under eyes.
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$34, shoppersdrugmart.ca
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra-Fluid Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF50
If you want to stay youthful-looking for as long as possible never skip out on applying your sunscreen. This La Roche-Posay sunscreen will not only protect your skin from UV rays but is lightweight and has a glowy finish. You can purchase the one without a tint if you prefer but a little bit of a tint helps even out the skin tone if you’re skipping makeup.
$36, shoppersdrugmart.ca
Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb
In need of that extra hydration effort? Let’s face it, school dorms, classrooms and even condos let alone on campus’ have some of the worst air quality…so we could all use a little extra hydration boost. Belif Aqua bomb is truly one of the best things to exist, offering just a little more oomph than the great bang-for-your-buck Neutrogena option above.
$50, sephora.ca
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Editors’ Picks: Top 6 style essentials for back-to-school season
Fjällräven Kånken Totepack
The Fjällräven Kånken Totepack is a great choice because you can wear it in multiple ways. It’s lightweight and durable and has an inside pocket that fits a 13-inch laptop. It’s got lots of pockets and comes in a variety of colours.
$120, altitudesports.ca
Beis Messenger Backpack
Shay Mitchell not only makes stylish bags but also functional bags. This bag fits a 13-inch laptop and can be worn in three ways. You can wear it as a briefcase, backpack, or over the shoulder. It’s got quite a few pockets on the inside so you can stay organized.
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$128, beistravel.com
Roots Sweatsuit Set
A cozy matching set is a must. They’re especially useful on exam days. Sometimes you just don’t want to think about what to wear and just want to grab something that’s comfortable but nice.
$84+, roots.com
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lululemon Align High-Rise Pant 25″
Lululemon pants are not only great for the gym but they’re also great if you want to achieve that model-off-duty look. Whether you’re going to class or just grabbing coffee you’ll look great in these. Another great option is pretty much anything from the Gymshark lineup.
$98-128, lululemon.com
adidas Originals Adilette Comfort Slide
Everyone needs a good pair of slides they can just pop on and head out the door. These slides are lightweight and comfortable. These are just what you need when you’re feeling too lazy to put socks on.
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$45, champsports.ca
Nike Air Huarache
If you’re going to be commuting or walking a lot to get to your classes then you need these sneakers. They’re made for running so they have cushioning so your feet will never get sore.
$160, footlocker.ca
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Editors’ Picks: Top 6 tech essentials for back-to-school season
Apple MacBook Pro 13″ Notebook
If you’re heading to college you need a laptop that has a long battery life and one that has lots of storage space. This one has 256 BG of storage and a fast processor.
$1500+, staples.ca
HP DeskJet 2742e All-in-One Printer
Having a printer on hand is always helpful. This baby allows you to make copies and scans. The price is right and it’s convenient because you can print from your phone if you get the HP Smart app.
$70, walmart.ca
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Sandisk iXpand Go 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive
A flash drive is great to have on hand in case you want to transfer your files and work from a different device. A flash drive is also a lifesaver when your storage gets full on your laptop and you need something to transfer the files over.
$55, bestbuy.ca
15 Feet Power Bar Long Extension Cord Indoor
If you have lots of devices that need to be charged an extension cord is a must-have. This way you can charge everything at once rather than one waiting for one thing to fully charge.
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$40, amazon.ca
Bose QuietComfort In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones
If you’re someone who prefers to work in the quiet and find yourself working from a noisy café or living in a noisy household noise cancelling headphones can be a saviour. These headphones come with a charging case so that you can get up to 12 hours more playtime.
$250, bestbuy.ca
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iPad
If you got lots of reading to do and don’t want to carry all your books on you an iPad is just what you need. This iPad works with the Apple Pencil which is great for taking notes during class and highlighting important information in your ebooks.
$590, walmart.ca
Editors’ Picks: Top 6 home essentials for back to school season
Mainstays Waterproof Mattress Pad
If you find the dorm room mattresses uncomfortable a mattress pad is just what you need. This one fits mattresses that are up to 16 inches. It’s super easy to clean and will protect your mattress from getting dirty.
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$25, walmart.ca
LED Desk Lamp
If you’re looking to add some light to your workspace this is a great option. It has three colour-changing light modes and you can adjust the brightness.
$27, amazon.ca
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Over-The-Door Mirror
An over-the-door mirror is great if you have a tight space. This one is super easy to set up and will look great with your decor no matter what.
$45, walmart.ca
KSCD Laundry Tote Backpack
Whether you plan on doing your laundry on campus or waiting until you get to your parents’ house you need something durable to store all your dirty clothes. This tote is lightweight and has got adjustable straps. You can even use it when travelling or as a gym bag.
$32, walmart.ca
Shower Caddy
If you have roommates and our sharing a shower then you need a shower caddy. This one has three compartments so you can keep your bathroom essentials organized.
$20, amazon.ca
Nespresso® Vertuo Next Coffee & Espresso by De’Longhi in Chrome
If you’re addicted to Starbucks like the best of us, but trying to stick to a budget during the school season, the Nespresso is a perfect addition to your space. It’s a small footprint, easy to use and maintain, and you can now access Starbucks pods at your local grocery store and even the Starbucks creamers in the dairy aisle, which will have you making your favourite Caramel macchiato from home at a fraction of the cost. Combining the delicious creamy Nespresso coffee and iconic crema, with the Starbucks flavour you know and love. Need a more affordable option? Bed Bath & Beyond also carries the Keurig® K-Express Essentials Single-Serve Coffee Maker which is a great alternative and there are Tim Horton’s pods available for those too.
$259.99, bedbathandbeyond.ca