15 Christmas Must Haves for College Students

1. A Silk Pillowcase
My hair is 100% suffering from brittleness and breakage this seasons and every website I have visited has demanded I get a silk pillowcase to help with this issue. A silk pillowcase creates less friction, reducing hair breakage and split ends. These pillowcases are also supposed to reduce the tangles you get while sleeping AND are better for your skin as well. Silk is hypoallergenic and won't steal the nightly moisturizer you put on like a cotton pillowcase would and supposedly reduces wrinkles too.


https://amzn.to/2NRJy5j

2. Cake Dry Shampoo
I absolutely love this dry shampoo. Most dry shampoos have that awkward day old, baby powder smell, but this one genuinely smells like CAKE! It's a great price, and in addition to making your hair look clean, it is also volumizing which is great for people with thin, limp hair (like me).


https://amzn.to/2KpPlNf

3. It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Spray (with keratin)
Oh, the wonders of this product. This is an essential for any of you ladies who use too much heat on your hair or have abused it with color. It is truly a miracle. It helps with tangles, dullness, dryness, the list goes on and on. It's a bit pricy, but worth it for how well it works! Plus, this bottle has added keratin.


https://amzn.to/2Xg85Us

4. A Comfy Cute Pajama Set
As a college student I practically live in pajamas while studying. Most of my pajamas are made up of Walmart sweat pants and big comfy shirts - I never truly invest in a nice pajama set because I'm too busy being a broke college student! I love this set and the variety of colors it comes in (pink and black is my favorite color combo)! This set has awesome reviews, are super soft, and are made of high quality material so they'll actually last. I've included two links below for both the shorts and long pants sets.


(Shorts Set)
https://amzn.to/37aIf8T
(Pants Set)
https://amzn.to/2Of95nS

5. TruSkin Products (Wash, Rose Water Toner, Vitamin C Serum, and Retinol Moisturizer)
The rose water toner particularly is on my wish list this year since I am running low, but this whole skin care line would make a great gift set. I can personally vouch for TruSkin products and how amazing they work for your skin. I have been using the complete set for almost 2 years and they never disappoint, plus they are a super fair price! Both the facial wash and serum contain Vitamin C which plays an important role in collagen synthesis. The only thing to be aware of is that any products you use that contain retinol should be used at night, as they make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Retinol is meant to decrease wrinkles and aging lines, so don't reverse its affects by wearing retinol products in sunlight!


(Just the face wash)
https://amzn.to/2KkMl4A
(Just the toner)
https://amzn.to/2XgkMhZ

6. A Good Watch
This is on my list because I will be heading to an accelerated nursing program next year and a digital watch is required for our uniforms. I am including two options here - a budget option (my choice, because I'm not too fancy) and a splurge option. The budget option is only $20 and has outstanding reviews! Even if your college student isn't going into a nursing program, watches can be great gifts - they're fashionable and often have extra features which are good for students who are invested in their fitness and health.


The Budget Option
https://amzn.to/2qTB4l3

The Splurge Option
(Series 3) https://amzn.to/2NPlkIB
(Series 4) https://amzn.to/2Okv7Wq
(Series 5) https://amzn.to/2rMMojh

7. Bamboo Toothbrushes
For the eco-friendly college kid in your life...these bamboo toothbrushes are cute, biodegradable, and would make an awesome stocking stuffer. Pairing this mini gift with some charcoal tooth powder makes for the perfect dental pampering kit.


https://amzn.to/2Qi3YG5

https://amzn.to/2CJw0lE

8. A Diffuser and Essential Oils
Most college dorms don't allow candles and air fresheners like Febreze can have ingredients that aren't great for the environment. Diffusers and natural essential oils are a much more eco-friendly option and can be extremely soothing for those cram session headaches. I like the Zen Breeze brand because it is trustworthy and has a soothing blue light - it comes in two shades of wood grain.


https://amzn.to/2Qh6Gvz

9. An Ipsy Subscription
My dad has gifted me an Ipsy subscription for the past three years or so and I LOVE getting my monthly make-up fix. College students don't get a lot of mail, and receiving this package every month is the gift that keeps on giving. This is how I've found some of my favorite products, from highlighters and lipsticks, to moisturizers and primers.

10. Bonsai Tree Starter Kit
This is a great way to liven up a college dorm a little bit. Since you can't have pets in college, why not have a plant? This kit comes with everything you need, including a beautiful wooden box that will fit all your little tree friends (which makes it easy to transport them for road trips home for breaks).


https://amzn.to/2CJpVFV

10. A Nintendo Switch
If you know a college student who likes video games, this is the ultimate gaming platform. The Nintendo Switch can be used as a portable gaming system or can be hooked up to the TV and played on there. For only $20 a month you get access to a classic Nintendo Games vault which has classics like Dr. Mario, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and more! You can also use this system to watch YouTube or Hulu.


https://amzn.to/2CIILgj

11. Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation
This is the one makeup product I am willing to splurge on (and by splurge I mean spend $25, which is more than I usually spend on my drugstore makeup). This is a great product for people like me who aren't willing to wake up an hour before class to do a full face of makeup. This concealer stick provides nearly full coverage and won't make your face break out! Swipe it on your problem spots (or your whole face if you choose), blend it in, and you're ready to go.


https://amzn.to/2qY6NBj

12. Brown Sugar Scrub
At college we don't get the benefit of soothing baths and luxurious bath bombs, but we make do. A great way to pamper yourself is with sugar scrub. Brown sugar scrub in particular smells amazing (there are other options too like coffee scrub or Himalayan salt scrub). This particular scrub is alcohol and sulfate free, meaning it doesn't dry out your skin. It is moisturizing and exfoliating!


https://amzn.to/2OjjsH4

13. New Luggage
I wound up moving halfway across the country for college and made the mistake of purchasing the largest suitcase I could find. This means every time I flew I had to pay an exorbitant luggage fee. A carry-on size suitcase is an essential for college students - especially since I ended up studying abroad and attending sociology conferences out of state. These babies end up paying for themselves in the long run. I would recommend getting a half hard shell and half soft shell suitcase like the one linked below. This adds support, but also allows for expandability if needed. This brand offers cases in pink, grey, and black.

https://amzn.to/2Oi9l5D

14. A Luxurious Face Mask
This one is a little pricy, but I think it is one of the coolest items on this list. It comes with a super soft application brush AND its pink! This mask is made of Australian pink clay, tightens your pores, and is made by a brand that is known worldwide for their products. I am also a fan for Glam & Glow masks which are also pricy, but even sheet masks are great for pampering and can be a great stocking stuffer.


https://amzn.to/2XdxHS0

15. A JBL Speaker (Waterproof)
These speakers are a favorite among college kids, and I know from personal experience that colleges often use them as the "grand raffle prize" events. These speakers work amazing, are waterproof, and come in a variety of prints and colors (including pink, are you noticing a favorite color them here?)


https://amzn.to/33LkvpQ

15 Bonus Items:
- Slippers or Mocassins
- A Facial Ice Roller
- A Hair Mask
- Argan Oil (Marrakesh is my favorite and it smells INCREDIBLE)
- A Portable Coffee Mug or Water Bottle
- Comfy Throw Blankets
- MeUndies Subscription
- Adidas Leggings or Sweatpants
- Gift Cards (Gas, Starbucks, Amazon, Victoria's Secret)
- Fun Scrunchies (Better for your hair than traditional hair ties - come in velvet, cotton, etc.)
- A Polaroid Camera
- Colorful Rain Boots/Jacket (for Spring)
- Fun Stance Socks (These socks last forever)
- A New Wallet
- AirPods/Headphones

Affiliate Disclosure: Keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. I recommend these products based off of personal opinions, experiences, and quality reviews. The decision is yours, and whether or not you buy something is at your own discretion :)