Across Oakland University’s campus, skincare looks different for every student. Some rely on multi-step routines with specific products, while others stick to simple habits or skip routines altogether. For many students, skincare functions as a form of self-care shaped by stress, schedules and campus life.
Savannah Villerot, a freshman majoring in criminal justice, said maintaining a skincare routine helps create consistency during busy days. Her go-to product is a Goodlight cleanser, a Korean skincare brand discovered at Ulta Beauty.
“It’s amazing. I love it,” Villerot said.
Villerot said her routine happens twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. While consistency is a goal, student life can interfere.
“Sometimes you’re going to forget, and that’s fine. As long as you try to keep it on a good schedule, I think you’ll be good,” Villerot said.
For Jae Young, a fourth-year communications major, skincare became a priority more recently. Young said she began paying closer attention to her skin over the past two semesters, especially during Michigan winters.
“One thing I could not go without is my Neutrogena moisturizer with SPF, especially in the winter because I have really bad seasonal allergies and my skin gets super irritated.”
Young said keeping a routine that is simple makes it easier to maintain. Her morning routine includes toner and moisturizer, while nighttime care focuses on acne control and reducing irritation.
“I try to keep it as simple as possible so it’s easy to maintain,” Young said. “Two to three steps, that’s it.”
Stress from campus life has noticeably affected her skin, particularly during midterms and finals. Young said late nights of studying often disrupt her routine and make it harder to restart healthy habits.
“The more stressed I am, the more I break out,” Young said. “Once the ball is rolling, I can usually maintain it, but getting back into it is hard.”
Not all students rely on product-based routines. Sadie Heman, a third-year environmental science major, said her skincare habits are simple but nonnegotiable.
“I can feel it when my face needs to be clean,” Heman said.
Heman said soap and water are essential and that washing her face every night remains a priority regardless of schedule demands. Reusable cotton cloths are used, and the routine stays the same even on busy days.
“Just wash your face every day. It takes 10 seconds, just do it,” Heman said.
For Autumn Franz, a first-year education major, skincare is also minimal. When asked which product mattered most, Franz pointed to a basic necessity.
“Water,” Franz said.
Franz said rinsing her face daily is typical, with occasional moisturizer when skin feels dry. Past experimentation with products led to the conclusion that lifestyle habits play a larger role in skin health.
“I think I’ve realized it’s just my lifestyle,” Franz said. “Diet and stress really affect my skin.”
College life encouraged experimentation when breakouts appeared, but Franz said managing stress and eating healthier would likely have the greatest impact. Patience and observation were offered as advice for students starting skincare routines.
“Try a lot of different things and keep track of what each thing does for you,” Franz said. “You’ve got to figure out what works.”
Although routines vary, students across campus described skincare as more than appearance-focused.
Whether through detailed regimens or simple habits, many said caring for skin helps provide stability amid the demands of college life.
