Contrary to popular belief, most college students wouldn't mind an ~upgrade~ from their usual instant ramen dinner or worn-out backpack. And as they get settled in to#collegelife, they're probably realizing now they needed some things they forgot to buy. So now is the perfect time to get that bb adult a gift that’ll make this chapter of their life so much easier.
Small gestures can go a long way. Consider upgrading their dorm roommini-fridge or gifting them a cookbook full of easy and fast recipes. You could also surprise 'em with a coffee maker that'll help them save $$$ or a desk accessory organizer to keep their space tidy and cute. All I’m sayin’ is, if I received any one of these gifts while I was in college, I would be ecstatic.
Without further ado, here is the comprehensive list of the best gift ideas for college students.
For the times they've gotta hit the books in the middle of the night and their roomie is sleeping feet away from them: This reading light will be their saving grace. It's got four different light modes—50 percent amber, 100 percent amber, 50 percent warm white, and 100 percent warm white—to choose from depending on where they're at.
Those college room dorms sure can be stuffy! Treat them to this small (but mighty!) humidifier that'll add some moisture to the air. BTW: This is a great gift for that someone who gets sick often or suffers from year-round allergies.
College is full of events—the good, the bad, and the scary. A college student sometimes needs a place to let it all out. This journal takes five minutes each morning and will have them start each day on the right note.
Whether they're pulling all-nighters or hosting movie nights, having something to snack on is key. And this microwavable popcorn popper will change the game.
if they're big on interior design
Galanz Retro Mini-Fridge with Dual Door True Freezer
if they're big on interior design
Galanz Retro Mini-Fridge with Dual Door True Freezer
Laundry day in college = lugging it all to a washing machine in the basement or a laundromat five minutes away. A quick spritz of these guys and lightly worn clothing will smell like new—so they can procrastinate just a bit longer on washing their things.
Name one college student that wouldn't love to receive a new skincare regimen as a gift... a Fenty Beauty one at that. Yeah, thought so! This specific one is a travel set—which includes a cleanser, glow treatment, toner, and SPF-moisturizer— that will make packing for home or spring break so much easier and stress-free.
Daisy Maldonado is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan who loves writing about fashion trends, must-have beauty products, and digital culture. When she's not writing, you can almost certainly find her shopping (she knows her credit card numbers by heart) or obsessing over celebrity news. Although she’s acquired an extensive closet over the years, her favorite item she owns is a Harry Styles Love On Tour hoodie she purchased at his concert in Manchester. Daisy's work has appeared on Refinery29, The Daily Beast, E! News, Allure and more. Keep up with all of her chaotic travels, NYC life and fashionable moments on her Instagram.
Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces, as well as some fashion and lifestyle. Wanna know how to get the best brows of your life? Gotchu. What about how to achieve ridiculously glowing skin, a super bouncy blowout, or exactly how to use that viral face mask? Check, check, and check. Before joining Cosmopolitan, Siena was a writer at Bustle and several other media outlets. As NYC's newest resident, she has vowed to find the best (extra) dirty martini this city has to offer—and yes, that means ~attempting~ to try every cute cocktail spot in the city (hit her up with some recs, pls). Follow Siena on Instagram where you'll see that her account is mostly dedicated to pics of her cute dog and that magazine life.
Kim Duong is the senior shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing shopping coverage online for all things fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and sex. When she's not musing about which products are actually worth your hard-earned cash, she's also writing (sometimes slightly unhinged) fashion content in print. You can find her previous writing in Refinery29, InStyle,Travel + Leisure, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram for bottomless cute dog content and did-that-really-happen-to-me story times in her highlights.