Back to School Must Haves from My Intern, Who's Really Going Back to School

My roommate Julia and I know from personal experience that when in a college mind-set we do not spend our money the smartest ways possible. We're only 19 we'd rather spend on dinner before we're sure that we've used every last drop of toothpaste.  From our experience, stocking up on the essentials before going back to school can help, this way you're not pushing your personal hygiene to the bottom of your priorities list towards the end of the semester when money runs low.  Here are some back to school rules and must haves that are worth stocking up on, no BS. Wipe away the evidence with facial wipes.

You have ten minutes until class all the way on the other side of campus.  If you just jump out of bed and go, everyone will see your smudged mascara and eyeliner and wonder why you wore so much makeup to stay in and finish The Sound and the Fury.  Good news is, it only takes about thirty seconds to wipe makeup off your face before bed.  Besides not looking like a stay out, you're skin will thank you.  Our must haves? Neutrogena's Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes in Pink Grapefruit, $5.97 at Walmart.

Avoid monthly salon visits with at-home solutions.

Along with toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner is another item that I am sure to squeeze every last drop out of.  Around two bottles can last you the entire semester. Not only do I stock up on these at the beginning of the semester to save money, but having the right products also saves me money at the salon.  I like John Frieda's Go Blonder Shampoo and Conditioner, $6.49 each.  They keep my color vibrant throughout the semester.  Don't worry, they're not biased towards just blonds either.  They have Brilliant Brunette shampoo and conditioner that brings out natural highlights and creates shine with a high-gloss finish.  It never hurts to have a fresh salon look through the semester without stepping foot in one.

Preserve your blow out, thanks dry shampoo!

Dry shampoo is new to me this year when I became more in-the-know of beauty products, but now that I've experienced it, it's going to be a must have for me this upcoming semester. My thin hair can look greasy throughout a long day, and this product can prevent that worn down look.  It also adds lift and texture for restyling, which is a great way to keep a fresh look through classes, coffees, campus errands and even into the next day.  The best part, Suave's Dry Shampoo is only $2.60 at Target.

Keep facial hair in control by investing in good tweezers.

Ok, so you don't need more then one of these but tweezers keep you from avoiding the monthly eyebrow waxes or threading sessions.  All you need to do is keep up with your eyebrows and tweeze them when you start to see hairs that don't belong through the semester. Then, when your home, you can go and get them cleaned up and reshaped. Although they are on the pricier end, Mac's Slanted Tweezers, $33 are my favorite and the easiest to use.

Avoid bad breath, because you never know... with minty gloss.

We all know that guy in class with the bad breath all too well. We also know that kid who is smacking their gum through your entire final exam.  There's a simpler, classier way to keep fresh breath.  Try a mint lip blam or gloss.  C.O. Bigelow has lip glosses that freshens breath. They have flavors that range from Vanilla Mint to Mango Mimosa and you can get them on their website for $7.50. I suggest buying a few of these, because they will go fast and when you run out you won't think it's that important to get new ones, but it is.

Petra Nemcova & I Partner with Glamour to Introduce A New Way to Shop with Your Smart Phone

Last night I had the honor to cut the ribbon with Petra Nemcova, that unveiled Glamour's Apothecary Wall in the Meat Packing District.  The wall is the first of it's kind in the beauty landscape to introduce a new way to shop for products.  As insane as the experience was, the technology behind the shopping wall is even more mind blowing!

I expected to see a backdrop that looked like a step and repeat for a red carpet, but when the curtain fell after we cut the ribbon, the whole crowd gasped as we revealed a beautifully glowing, almost 3D wall that mimicked the shelves of C. O. Bigelow.  It's gorgeous.  So gorgeous that they need to have a security guard in front of it 24/7 so club-goers don't do anything crazy around it.

You can literally shop the wall with your smartphone.  Seriously, what's next?  It's located right across the street from the Standard Hotel and you can't miss it.  All you have to do is download the free Glamour Friends & Fans app and hover a Snap Tag over a point of purchase on the wall next to the product you want.  It pulls the product up on your phone and all you have to do is click to buy.  So easy!

Petra and I shopped the wall last night before the audience swarmed it and I picked up Elizabeth Arden Prevage, Vaselline, Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy perfume and some other things along the way.  It's truly an innovation as I know I'm constantly shopping from my iPhone, but this app doesn't even bother you about your password a thousand times.  You just need to plug in your credit card number once and your phone recognizes your card's security number when you plug it in.  I encourage everyone and anyone in NYC to go check it out.  It will be up only until Feb. 20th!

Become A Real Life Sleeping Beauty, Thanks Daylight Savings!

Fall is my favorite season for many reasons, but perhaps the biggest is because we get to 'fall back' – an extra hour of sleep!  That's right, don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour on Saturday night.  Make sure you're getting the most out of your snooze with beauty loot that works best while you're at rest.  Check out my favorite finds. Bliss FatGirlSleep, $38 at blissworld.com

I've been a fan of the original cellulite fighter, FatGirlSlim, for years, but this jar of booty whip added a soothing lavender scent to their tightening complex to help you relax and sleep well as it works.  Lotus flower helps to fight the four causes of cellulite: fat storage, fat burning, water retention and slackened skin.  With continued use, I've seen an improvement on my thighs, but must note that when I stopped using it, the horror came back.

Algenist Overnight Restorative Cream, $90 at Sephora

As you sleep your skin cells turnover, which makes nighttime the ideal time to really take care of your skin and use the right ingredients.  I was introduced to this face cream about a month ago and love, love, love it.  I'm a fan of the light, creamy texture as it feels heavy enough for nighttime, but not like I'm wearing a mask.  Made with alguronic acid, which was extracted from a microalgae cell, it works overnight to even out skin tone and fight fine lines and wrinkles.

Fekkai Protein Rx PM Repair Strengthener, $65 at fekkai.com

I'm obsessed with hair treatments of all types and normally do masks in the shower.  This one is an overnight treatment that I sometimes use (you should use nightly if you have really damaged hair).  Proteins help to rebuild your strands (and let's be honest, we all can use a bit of help).  I find that after I wash it out in the morning my hair is super soft and shiny. Tip: After putting it in your hair, comb it through with for even distribution and then braid your hair or wrap it in a bun to keep the product out of your face while you sleep.

C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm, $7.50 at bigelowchemists.com

You need to coat your pucker!  Your lips are an extension of the skin on your face so the skin cells are turning over during the nighttime, making it the best time to moisturize and take care of them.  This isn't just another small tube of chap stick.  For $7.50 you better be getting something good and I promise, you are.  I love my cherry chap stick sometimes, but I feel like it just coats the top of my lips protecting them from the wind and outside elements.  This stuff actually penetrates them and moisturizes all night long.  Trust me.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand & Foot Cream Duo, $16 at usa.loccitane.com

This is the best stuff.  I've been addicted to the hand cream ever since I've been introduced to it about five years ago when I worked at Cosmo and no matter how many different kinds I try in between tubes, I'm constantly going back to it.  Don't forget to moisturize your hands and feet before getting in between the sheets.  Loaded with shea butter, this duo is a steal!  Tip: Wear socks to bed and wake up with super soft toes!