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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 – ZEDEV Store (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. She’s Birdie Safety Alarm 3.0 (Amazon)
Get your daughter a lightweight and compact Birdie safety alarm. She can quickly activate the LOUD siren and flashing strobe-light to create a diversion and call attention to situation if she feels threatened. This is the #1 bestseller in Security Horns & Sirens on Amazon.
3. Kyle Cavan Jewelry (Kyle Cavan)
Send your daughter off to college with a piece of jewelry from Kyle Cavan’s stunning collegiate jewelry collections – featuring 300+ officially licensed schools and organizations including sororities. Make their gift extra special by personalizing it with a handwritten sentiment. It’s the perfect gift they’ll love to wear for years to come. Use code G&F15 at checkout for 15% off (Some exclusions apply. Limited time offer).
4. How to Start: Discovering Your Life’s Work (Amazon)
Jodi Kantor is a New York Times bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize- winning journalist, and a mom of two. She has advice for young adults who need her insight and encouragement about how to start their careers.
5. Owala FreeSip Stainless Water Bottle – 24 Ounce (Amazon)
The Owala water bottles are some of the prettiest bottles we have seen. The double-wall insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours; wide opening makes cleaning easier and also easier to add ice. Look at all the wonderful color combinations to find just the one your daughter would enjoy.
6. Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice from Dear Sugar 10th Anniversary Edition (Amazon)
For more than a decade, thousands of people have sought advice from Dear Sugar, the pseudonym of bestselling author Cheryl Strayed. This 10th edition of Tiny Beautiful Things is a collection of the best of Dear Sugar in one volume and includes six new columns and a new preface by Strayed. When your daughter needs some recreational reading to take a break from school work, this could be just what she would love.
7. M-Bestl Microfiber Hair Wrap Towel (2 Pack) (Amazon)
These are so useful for drying hair quickly and helping to control frizz.
8. All About Vibe Pet Pillows (Amazon)
Is your daughter missing her best buddy back at home? Think about sending her a pillow with their likeness on it. They are available in three sizes – mini (10″) small (16″) and medium (22″)
9. Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone (Amazon)
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.
10. Sol de Janiero Hair and Body Fragrance (Amazon)
Treat your daughter to one of the Sol de Janiero scents.
11. K18 Leave-In Hair Mask (Amazon)
A hair mask can protect and deeply condition their hair, making it extra soft and silky after use. This award-winning hair mask can be applied after your daughter shampoos her hair. The best part? No rinsing after so she can wash, mask, and go. This is the #1 bestseller in hair masks on Amazon
12. KDG Motivational Stress Balls – 4 Pack (Amazon)
Stress balls are a great care package items and fun to share with a roommate. We love the inspirational sayings on this set – these are messages of empowerment your daughter would LOVE to hear from you!
13. Glocusent Extendable Book Lights for Reading at Night (Amazon)
This extendable clip-on book light delivers 30% wider coverage and up to 65 lumens with eye-friendly, even illumination. It features three color temperatures, five brightness levels with memory, and a unique sleep-aid mode with timers and gradual dimming. The rechargeable battery provides 9–80 hours of use and charges quickly via USB.This is a hardy little light for her to use if she is reading in her dorm bed late at night and does not want to disturb her roommate.
14. Crest 3D Whitestrips Whitening Treatments – 44 Strips (Amazon)
Your daughter will want to look her best and this white strips kit will be a nice treat for her in a college care package. This is the #1 bestselling Teeth Whitening Strips on Amazon.
15. Kate Spade Small Travel Jewelry Case (Amazon)
This cute travel jewelry case works both in her dorm – as a safe space to store her necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets – and if she wants to take them in her luggage when she is traveling. Several trendy designs available.
16. Neutrogena Make Up Remover Wipes – 2 Packs 25 count (Amazon)
Taking off makeup and cleaning your face at the end of a busy day is a breeze with Neutrogena makeup remover wipes. She can take care of this in her dorm room and doesn’t need to trek down to the communal bathroom to use soap and water. This is the #1 bestseller in in Facial Cleansing Cloths & Towelettes on Amazon.
17. Celavi Korean Face Mask Sheet Set – Pack of 12 (Amazon)
Help your teen pamper themselves with this face mask set, featuring collagen, seaweed, honey, pomegranate, aloe vera, vitamin C, acai berry, tea tree, avocado, ginseng, cucumber, and charcoal.
18. Essi Nail Polish (Amazon)
Send your daughter new nail polish and Essie has so many colors to choose from nearly nudes to her college colors.
19. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen (Amazon)
Send her a bottle of this award-winning sunscreen by SuperGoop! so she has it handy when she is outside on the quad with her new friends on sunny weekend days.
20. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted LipBalm (Amazon)
Clinique makes this lip balm in three amazing colors – Black Honey, Nude Honey and Pink Honey – and you might be tempted to send one of each!
21. Blue 84 Store College Apparel (Amazon)
Help her rep her college with more college merch! Perfect for game days, classes, and more. Amazon has lots of options, so find her school, and you can get her a T-shirt, hat, and more! Find lots of schools here.
22. Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oil (Amazon)
A glossy lip tint that delivers a pop of color and deep hydration without feeling sticky. Made with nine nourishing oils and vitamin E, it leaves lips soft, smooth, and beautifully shiny.
23. Glossier Balm Dotcom Lip Balm (Amazon)
Another option is a tinted balm that does more than just moisturize lips. Available in a variety of shades, it adds a subtle wash of color while nourishing dry lips, and it can also be used on cuticles, elbows, and other dry spots.
24. amika soft strand stars nourishing wash + care set (Amazon)
A complete hair-care treat featuring full-size shampoo and conditioner plus travel-size hair mask and detangling primer. Together, they nourish, deeply moisturize, smooth, and protect hair for softer, healthier-looking strands.
25. MERIT Flush Balm Cream Blush (Amazon)
This creamy tint works on both cheeks and lips, adding a natural pop of color without requiring much effort.
26. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder (Amazon)
This pressed powder helps set makeup and smooths the look of skin. It’s perfect for quick touch-ups between classes, before going out, or whenever she wants her makeup to look fresh.
27. Salt & Stone Hand Cream Hand Lotion (Amazon)
This fast-absorbing hand cream leaves hands soft and moisturized without feeling greasy, with a fresh, spa-like scent that makes everyday self-care feel a little more special.
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 14 years now, making them experts. When selecting products they survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of more than 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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