I’m certainly not saying makeup is required. Not even I, a makeup addict, wear makeup everyday. But, a little mascara can take you from tired to refreshed in seconds. I always say dress for success, which is an especially important reminder on days when you feel like wearing sweatpants to class. On those, Ugh, do I really need to do this, mornings, If you take an extra two minutes to put on a little makeup, you might actually feel good enough to go to the library after class instead of burying your head in a pillow -- and who knows what might happen from there!

Tinted moisturizer.

I have both tinted moisturizer and a liquid foundation, but I use them for different occasions. While the foundation is good for a finished makeup look when I do my whole face, I don’t always need to be date-ready. Most mornings, I simply swap my regular moisturizer for tinted moisturizer with SPF. This gives me get both a nice light even glow plus sun protection in case I want to hang-out on the quad with my friends!

Mascara.

Nowadays, you can get your eyelashes tinted or even eyelash extensions, but honestly, it’s hard to find an esthetician you trust while at school, far from your usual salon. That makes mascara a perfect replacement. Besides, mascara is cheap, quick, easy and makes your eyes pop. There’s really no need to waste money on these treatments. In fact, mascara is the one item that I buy at the drugstore -- plain, simple non-waterproof mascara. Here’s a secret: most mascaras are essentially the same and it’s the wand that makes the difference. If you really want to spend $50 on a mascara, save the pricey wand when the tube runs out, and use it for a cheaper brand. If you don’t use waterproof mascara, you don’t even need makeup remover. Facial cleanser and water will do the trick. And your beautiful eyes will have popped all day!

Blush.

Blush is the perfect pick-me-up. With your skin all even thanks to the tinted moisturizer, you’ll need just a little color to make your face come alive. For those with naturally even skin, a sweep of blush still brightens your face right up. It really only takes three seconds for a little blush to define your cheekbones and create a more defined facial structure. Since you don’t want to look like you walked out of a creepy dollhouse, be sure to choose a color that matches the richness of your skin tone -- a gentler color for lighter skin, and a richer color for darker skin.

To go from day to night, all you need to do is pair these three items with your favorite eyeshadow over the entire lid and finish with the sweep of an eyeliner brush dipped in water and a dark eyeshadow along the top lash line. Add a little tinted lip balm and you’re prepped and ready to go!