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A care package is always a welcome surprise for college students. We put together our favorite care package ideas for college women with some necessities and others that will just make her smile.
We have you covered if you want college care package ideas for guys.
College care package ideas for college women
1. Open When Envelopes (Amazon)
Your daughter will be thrilled when she opens a box of 12 “open when” envelopes. Fill them with notes, gift cards, small photos…and each one will be a wonderful surprise….just when she needs it.
2. Blissy Silk Pillowcase (Amazon)
Blissy pillowcases are 100% Mulberry Silk. These amazing pillowcases are made of hypoallergenic fabric and your daughter can wake up without bed-head! The cooling properties in Blissy cases may also help her have a more comfortable night’s sleep. Available in a dozen+ colors and three sizes.
3. notes to self socks®
Help your daughter remember how much you believe in her with notes to self® positive affirmation socks. We love their singular messages, variety of styles, and gift packs — the only thing better than one pair is two. Or, three. Or, four…
Use discount code GROWNANDFLOWN to receive 10% off your $75 or more order.
4. Sol de Janiero Hair and Body Fragrance (Amazon)
Sol de Janiero has become an incredibly popular cosmetics brand and this is just one of the heavenly perfume mists they offer.
5. Crossbody Belt Bag (lululemon)
We’re in love with the belt bags at lululemon and this clear one is stadium-ready for any security restrictions that exist at her campus for college came day or to attend a concert. Your daughter will LOVE this in her college care package.
6. Casegrace Mini Jewelry Box (Amazon)
A mini jewelry box is excellent for travel and for storing special pieces at college. This compact case is available in six pretty colors and fits in a drawer in a dorm room for safekeeping or slips into a bag if she wants to take jewelry along with when she travels.
7. Apple AirPod Pros(2nd Gen) (Amazon)
With the 2nd generation of AirPod Pros, there’s now up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous model. If your daughter is having difficulty blocking out noisy roommates and hallmates, this could be a fantastic care package or birthday gift.
8. Anker Power Bank (Amazon)
Having a charged phone is your daughter’s #1 safety tool and this compact power bank by Anker will help her stay charged even if she is gone from her dorm all day long. This 3-in-1 charger features a 10,000mAh power bank, a foldable charger, and a built-in USB-C cable for an iPhone 15 Series, Galaxy, or MacBook.
Find a similarly sized Anker power bank for iPhone 14/14 Pro / 14 Plus, iPhone 13 and 12 Series phones here.
9. Supergoop! Play Lip Balm (Amazon)
Your daughter will love this broad-spectrum SPF lip balm with hydrating honey, shea butter, & sunflower seed oil. In a crowded market of lip balms, this one gets great reviews. I love mine!
10. Bliss Hand Cream (Amazon)
She will also love to receive this Bliss hand cream with a lemon and sage fragrance.
11. Essie Treat, Love & Color Nail Polish (Amazon)
Your daughter can polish her nails without needing a top or base coat with this line of Essie polishes. Gorgeous colors, too.
12. Stanley (Stanley)
These travel mugs come in many pretty colors and are super-popular. Stanleys are made of stainless steel and keep drinks cold for up to 11 hours. Plus, they are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Get 20% off most Stanley products with code GROWN20.
13. Sol de Janiero Brazilian Lip Balm (Amazon)
Lip balms are one beauty product your daughter can never have too many of and she would love this one from top brand, Sol de Janeiro.
14. Birdie Safety Alarm (Amazon)
Get your daughter a Birdie safety alarm — it sounds loud when pulled to draw attention if she is ever in an unsafe situation.
15. Tea Assortment (Amazon)
Your daughter will feel comforted and loved with this assortment of herbal teas from Tea Forte.
16. Microfiber Hair Wrap Towel(Amazon)
These are so useful for drying hair and gentler on the hair than using a regular towel.
17. Do Your Laundry (Amazon)
Since day one we have loved this book, and it is a G&F favorite volume to send to college daughters. Becky Blades is the uber-talented author and illustrator who wrote these words of encouragement for her off-to-college daughters. She left a blank page for you to add your love note to your daughter.
18. Betty Crocker Mug Treat (Amazon)
A warm chocolate cake with chocolate icing that your daughter can cook in a microwave in one minute(!) might be a perfect indulgence after a long day of classes. Mug Treats come in many flavors.
19. Neutrogena Makeup Wipes (Amazon)
These facial wipes are the easiest way to remove makeup, especially if your daughter wants to clean her face without walking down the hall to a communal dorm bathroom.
20. Fuzzy Socks (Amazon)
Fuzzy socks are the perfect gift to get your daughter any time of year.
21. The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook(Amazon)
If your college student struggles with cooking ideas, this cookbook is designed for college students — filled with easy and simple recipes.
22. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ( Amazon)
Lineage lip products are wildly popular and this one has 48,000 4.6 ratings on Amazon. This would be a great treat!
23. Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask (Amazon)
A hair mask can protect and deeply condition their hair, making it extra soft and silky after using this.
24. Rain Jacket (lululemon)
It is possible that you daughter never really needed a rain jacket if she only had to dash from a car to school. If she doesn’t already have one, she will need to be prepared to walk LONG distances in any weather. This rain jacket has a hood, interior and exterior pockets.
25. Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera (Amazon)
Having an instant camera is so fun for taking photos with friends and having them printed on the spot. These instant photos can be used as wall decor.
26. Inspirational Stress Balls (Amazon)
Stress balls are a great care package items and fun to share with a roommate.
27. Kitsch Heatless Hair Rollers (Amazon)
The number one hair roller on Amazon, using these is a very popular way to create a long wavy curl look.
28. grace & stella Under Eye Patches (Amazon)
These under eye patches are packed with retinol which helps with the appearance of fine lines and also plumps the skin. These are ideal for helping to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
29.Tide To Go Stain Remover Wipes (Amazon)
This portable stain remover is designed to help treat and eliminate stains while on the go. Your daughter can pack them in her backpack, and if she ever drips catsup or coffee on a shirt or white jeans, these are the ideal solution for getting rid of the stain before it sets in.
30. Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light (Amazon)
This portable clip-on LED reading light offers 3 amber colors and 5 dimmable brightness levels. The amber mode filters 99.9% of blue light to protect her eyes and reduce your eye strain.
31. Eberjey Women’s Gisele PJ Set (Amazon)
These cute pajamas get excellent reviews for comfort, softness, fabric, and quality. These are available in 28 colors.
32. Aromatherapy Shower Steamers (Uncommon Goods)
Your daughter can turn her shower into a spa with one of these aromatherapy tablets. Infused with essential oils, they are available in lavender, eucalyptus, or orange mint.
33. Therapy Dough (Uncommon Goods)
Modeled after clay used in art therapy classes, these pots of aromatic therapy dough are infused with essential oils for stress relief and have been super popular in the Grown and Flown group.
34. Automet Women’s Half Zip Cropped Pullover (Amazon)
This cute pullover is made with cotton and polyester, ideal for staying warm. It comes in 32 different colors, so you can choose your daughter’s favorite color. Plus, it is machine washable for easy cleaning. This is the #1 bestseller in Women’s Fashion Sweatshirts on Amazon.
35. Sunzel Flare Leggings (Amazon)
Leggings are always useful for yoga, going to the gym, going on a walk, or simply for lounging at home. The spandex fabric is buttery soft, stretchy, and comfortable. Available in 27 colors. They are the #1 Bestseller in Women’s Yoga Pants on Amazon.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
Why You Can Trust Us:
I’m Madeleine Korn, a shopping writer and editor with years of experience researching the best products for teens, college students, and recent graduates. I stay up-to-date with trends and know which items are not only popular but also deliver real value. For this care package guide, I developed a list of the best ideas for college girls based on in-depth research. With recommendations from major retailers, trustworthy publications, and social media influencers, I selected a range of products, paying close attention to reviews and price tags.
I’m part of the Grown and Flown team which includes three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on product lists for over 12 years now, making them experts. When selecting products they survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of nearly 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults. They do opinion polls, surveys and ask open ended questions. They search for products that combine reasonable price with high quality and are recommended by our large following.
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