35+ Gifts for College Students, Hand-Picked by the Mom of a Freshman

I hope they don't need it, but this personal keychain alarm could be useful if they're ever in danger. Removing the top pin activates a loud siren and flashing strobe light, drawing attention to what's going on.

Her busy schedule (not to mention her social life) can do a number on her skin. These viral under-eye masks come preloaded with hyaluronic acid to help her look refreshed no matter how overbooked she is.

She'll have so much fun with this travel-friendly printer. The app connects to her smartphone or tablet, and prints straight from her camera roll. There's no ink required—just the compatible film strips.

An easy sweatsuit that also looks good? Done! This gift takes all the guesswork out of what to throw on when she's late for class.

This one is for the woman who loves her lattes. It can sit on her desk as a sweet reminder to go buy more coffee, or she can use it as a bag.

Here’s an oddly specific thing she probably didn’t bring with her to college in August. Since sleep is the key to getting through her grueling schedule, give her this pillow spray with lavender, chamomile, and vetiver to help her relax at bedtime. (It has 16,000+ five-star reviews on Amazon.)

This viral beauty gift makes a perfect stocking stuffer. She can wear it any time her lips are dry, or she can apply it at bedtime and wake up with a perfect pout. A little goes a long way, so these will last a while.

For the woman who drinks iced coffee all year long, this one-liter cold brew maker will be her new favorite kitchen gadget. Pair it with her favorite ground coffee–or even loose leaf tea because it can make iced tea, too.

This viral beauty gift makes a perfect stocking stuffer. She can wear it any time her lips are dry, or she can apply it at bedtime and wake up with a perfect pout. A little goes a long way, so these will last a while.

There's a better way to get up in the morning, and it doesn't involve scrambling for a screeching phone in the dark. This alarm clock wakes her up with a gradually-increasing light that mimics the sunrise. If she has roommates, they may all appreciate this gentler start to their day, too.

With this gym bag, his days of stuffing workout clothes and sneakers into his backpack can finally come to an end. There’s even a separate compartment for shoes and wet clothes.

For after-class snacks, this popcorn popper gets the job done. It goes in the microwave, and he can add butter or oil if he wants. Don't forget to add gourmet popcorn kernels and fun seasonings to complete the gift.

Whether he was up late studying or out late partying, he doesn't have to look wrecked the next morning. This under-eye cream with Vitamin C and caffeine can help him look fresh at his 8:00 a.m. class.

The big sound that comes out of this tiny speaker is really amazing. He can clip it onto his backpack, gym bag, or even his bike and always have his playlist wherever he goes.

I have a good feeling he'll love throwing this light-up disc around the quad. It can be used without the lights during the day but at night, with all the flashing colors, it's a lot more fun.

This one’s hyper-practical and maybe a little judgy but 1.) his room probably needs it, and 2.) he wouldn’t buy it for himself. It’s definitely an “I want to get him one more little thing, but don’t know what to buy” gift.

If he's the type of guy who needs to fidget while he studies or works, this cube is an alternative to the usual. It folds and unfolds easily in dozens of ways, and may help him focus.