Welcome to the seventh annual College Beauty Awards, featuring 92 tried-and-true beauty products worth adding to your cart this year. Our Gen Z readers (including our InfluenceHer Collective award-winning influencers) sent in thousands of makeup, skin care, and hair care recs that make up the winners below.
We know it can be hard to find products that are actually worth your money, so we took out the guesswork. All of these products were put to the test and vouched for by our community, so you can be sure they're worth the hype. Get ready to revamp your routine — your makeup bag will thank you.
Explore By Category
Viral Faves
Best of The Ordinary
Body
Fragrance
Hair
Makeup
Skin care
Nails
Play the beauty bag game
Viral Faves
With every scroll on your FYP, you’re hit with dozens of beauty products that influencers apparently swear by. But which ones are really worth it? These products below are all over social, and should be in your shopping cart, too.
Soft Pinch
Liquid Blush
Rare Beauty
Hair Oil
Bread Beauty Supply
Glazing Milk
Rhode
Pradascope
Mascara
Prada
Easy Bake
Loose Powder
Lip Glowy Balm
Laneige
Peel Off Lip
Liner STAY-N
Glowy Super Gel
Witch Hazel Toner
Saie
Thayers
Sacheu
Huda Beauty
With ingredient-first, quality formulas at a price point that won’t cause a stress zit, it’s no wonder why The Ordinary has become a fan fave. You may know the brand for its viral products, but we’re always eager to test its newest products, like the Sulfur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate, to shrink pimples quickly.
Best of the ordinary
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Scrubs and lotions and oils, oh my!
Take your glow to the next level with these winning body care essentials. As our Gen Z readers will tell you, they all deserve a spot on your bathroom shelf.
Body
Stainless Steel
Gua Sha
SACHEU
Classic Whip
SPF 30
Vacation
Energizing Dry
Body Brush
Keys Soulcare
Cashmere Shave Oil
EOS
Venus MoistureGlide Razor
Gillette
Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Cerave
Body Badalada Lotion
Sol de Janeiro
The Glow Getter
Multi-Oil Body Wash
Naturium
Hydration Boost Serum Body Wash
Dove
Tropic Glow Firming Sugar Scrub
Tree hut
"These scrubs have been a staple in my shower routine for over three years, and are a game-changer when it comes to shaving my legs."
- Samantha, 19, College of New Jersey
Elevating your aroma isn’t just about a bottle of body mist anymore. Curate your signature scent with these luxurious perfumes, hair oils, and three-wick candles. With these fragrances, you’ll walk into a room and have everyone thinking, “Who is she?”
Fragrance
With 8 a.m. classes and long nights in the library, nobody’s got room in their schedule to hit the hair salon. This collection of essential products will give you fresh blowout energy and nourish your mane at the same time.
Hair
Tropical
Dry Shampoo
Batiste
Pure Clean
Styling Gel
Garnier Fructis
No. 7 Bonding Oil
Olaplex
"It tames frizz, smells good, and is the perfect finishing touch!"
- Grace, 22, George Mason University
Daily Moisture
Renewal Conditioner
Pantene Pro-V
Curl & Shine Shampoo
SheaMoisture
Paddle Hair Brush
Wet Brush
Thermal Brush
Wavytalk
Airwrap
Multi-Styler
Dyson
Native x Girl Scouts Peanut Butter Cookie Body Wash
Native
Angel Nova Eau De Parfum
Mugler
Champagne Toast
3-Wick Candle
Bath & Body Works
Honey-Infused
Hair Perfume
Gisou
You Solid Perfume
Glossier
Vanilla Musk
Fragrance Oil
Nemat
Libre Eau De
Parfum
Yves Saint Laurent
Raspberry Ripple Cologne
Jo Malone
Wonderbloom
Eau De Parfum
Vince Camuto
Cheirosa 71
Perfume Mist
Sol De Janeiro
Born in Roma Donna Extradose Parfum
Valentino
Refresh your beauty bag with these top picks from cult-favorite brands. By adding these products to your GRWMs, you’ll feel effortlessly polished — whether you’re going for a clean girl look for your lecture or a full beat for a GNO.
Makeup
Loveshine Lip
Oil Stick
YSL
Airbrush Flawless
Setting Spray
Charlotte Tilbury
Sunny Days
Tinted SPF 30
Tower 28
Forever Skin Glow Foundation
Dior
Hydrating Camo Concealer
E.L.F. Cosmetics
Lash Blast
Supercloud Mascara
Covergirl
Lumi Le Glass and
Glow Highlighter Stick
L'Oreal Paris
Suede Matte
Lip Liner
Nyx
Dewy Glaze Hydrating Face Primer
Ulta Beauty
Are you pinning multiple nail art ideas to your Pinterest board each week or constantly screenshotting your favorite beauty influencers’ manicures? Get those looks for less with these stickers, press-ons, and nail colors that you can apply from the comfort of your dorm room.
Nails
Shea Nail & Cuticle Oil
L'Occitane
Insta Dri
Nail Color
Sally Hansen
Gel Nail Polish
Beetles
Gloss Gel Nail
Polish Strips
Dashing Diva
Nail Lacquer
OPI
"This oil is a must if you want to have strong and healthy nails."
- Dayna, 21 , Texas State University
Chill Tips
Press-Ons
Chillhouse
Nail File
Kiss
Nail Art Stickers
Olive & June
The stress of a new semester can take a toll on your skin. Counteract the chaos (and indulge in some self-care) with these winning skin care products. From cleansers and serums to lip balms and masks, this collection will be your saving grace through finals week.
Hyaluronic Acid
Serum
GOod Molecules
Daily UV Defense Invisible Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Innisfree
Vital Hydra
Solution Mask
Dr. Jart+
Kind To Skin Micellar Cleansing Water
Simple
African Black Soap Clarifying Facial Wash
SheaMoisture
Nourishing Oil to
Foam Cleanser
Cetaphil
Moisture Surge 100
CLinique
Skin Perfecting
2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Paula's Choice
Skin Care
Methodology
Her Campus conducted an online survey in July 2025, which received responses from 167 individuals. The survey, which contained a total of 82 questions, resulted in over 5,000 product recommendations. Respondents represented colleges across 32 U.S. states. The demographic data showed that the majority of respondents were women (98%) and were between the ages of 18 and 24 (85%).
Editor: Tina Kolokathis • Designer: Audrey Wu
This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% our own. © Her Campus Media 2025
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The Ordinary
Soothing & Barrier Support Serum
The Ordinary
Multi-Peptide Lash
and Brow Serum
The Ordinary
Squalane
Cleanser
The Ordinary
Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10%
+ Zinc 1%
The Ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
The Ordinary
Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner
The Ordinary
Sulfur 10%
Powder-to-Cream Concentrate
The Ordinary
Moisturizing
Lip Balm SPF 30
Sun Bum
Creamy Eye
Treatment with Avocado
Kiehl's
Lip Therapy
Vaseline
Blushed Duo
Juvia's Place
Cheeks Out
Cream Bronzer
Fenty Beauty
Miracle Complexion Sponge
Real Techniques
Fit Me Pressed
Powder
Maybelline
Brow Harmony Precision Eyebrow Pencil
Rare Beauty
Brow Laminating
Gel
E.L.F. Cosmetics
MatteTrance
Lipstick
Pat McGrath
Eyelash Curler
Shu Uemura
Master Mattes
Palette
Makeup By Mario
Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
Stila
Good job!
Restart game
Keep scrolling for a closer look at our winning Viral Faves products.
Catch the winning products from our Viral Faves category to add them to your makeup bag.
start game
Puffer Gloss
Valentino Beauty
Lauren Reneé's Pick
“This is my current favorite fragrance to wear. The scent is very fruity and fun, but still holds a mature essence!”
“The texture glides so smoothly on my lips, and I love how hydrating the formula feels. The shade Caramel Swirl is perfect for a romantic look!”
Beauty Influencer of the Year
Brianda Gonzalez's Pick
“This collab gave me a sense of nostalgia, while still upholding the clean ingredients I love to see in body care products!”
Food Influencer of the Year
Gillian Riley's Pick
“If you've ever wondered why I have no pores, it's because of this product!”
Style Influencer of the Year
Machiami Kamara's Pick
Wide Tooth Comb
Pattern Beauty
Luminous
Hairspray
Morrocanoil
Lifestyle Influencer of the Year
@laurenreneeee
@13rianda
@lifewithgill_
@simplymachi
Make sure you avoid the makeup swatches!
Catch the winning products from our Viral Faves category to add them to your makeup bag.
Catch the makeup products and avoid the swatches!
Alpha Arbutin 2%
+ HA
The Ordinary
Creamy Eye
Treatment with Avocado
Kiehl's
@13rianda
@laurenreneeee
@lifewithgill_
@simplymachi