1. Brighten your smile. Teeth naturally darken with age, but college life may bring diet habits that speed up the staining process. This includes smile-spoiling foods like coffee, cola and red wine. Thankfully, you don’t have to switch to decaf. There are plenty of fast, affordable whitening products available that fit a student’s budget and busy lifestyle.
• Product pick: In two easy steps and two minutes a day, Supersmile Professional Whitening System helps you achieve a brighter smile. This kit contains  Supersmile Whitening Toothpaste to deep clean and whiten and Supersmile Whitening Accelerator Component to boost the bleaching effects for whiter, brighter teeth in no time.
2. Maintain healthy habits. The typical campus lifestyle is a crazy combination of classes, social gatherings, sporting events and studying — leaving little time for sleep, exercise and relaxation. According to experts, this lack of balance is a top trigger for health problems — including sickness and stress — among college students.

How to look and feel your best? Carve out time for sleep, relaxation and exercise by creating — and sticking to — a weekly schedule. Use it to balance classes and social events with stress-relieving physical activities like yoga and pampering skin treatments. If this is a struggle, seek advice from your school’s counseling or health center.

• Product picks: Thalgo L'Oceane Vitality Vial contains a nourishing cocktail of nutrients and sea minerals that boost the health and function of cells.

Aromatherapy helps to calm the mind and restore the senses, a bonus for stress relief. Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Body Wash is infused with chamomile and rosemary to relieve your mind and soothe your muscles.

3. Update your ‘do. When it comes to the latest hairstyles, it’s like the trendsetters had college students in mind. This fall it’s out with fussy, polished locks and in with easy-to-achieve, laid-back looks. Plus, there’s an easy style for everyone: Choose from sleek, straight tresses with a side part, wavy sleep-inspired locks, a high textured bun, soft bouncy curls or a retro, tousled pony-tail with loose wavy strands that frame your face.

• Product pick: While most students have no trouble achieving the bed-head look, you can polish it up with Frederic Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting and Texturizing Spray Gel. This hydrating spray enhances hair’s texture while adding volume for an edgy, glam look that’s just messy enough.

4. Repair damaged locks. For most students, summer is packed with friends and fun, with little time set aside for serious hair care. Ladies Home Journal points out that for many, September brings lifeless, sun-damaged locks. To nurse your hair back to health, try these strategies: Trim your locks, rehydrate with a moisturizing shampoo, avoid over-styling with hot tools and don’t wash too often.

• Product pick: Transform thirsty, damaged locks with Alterna Caviar Overnight Hair RESCUE. Proteins, vitamins and amino acids penetrate strands to improve texture, strength and shine.

5. Update your arsenal. Still clinging to old products? Whether you’re waiting for that bright orange eye shadow to become trendy again or reserving the last few drops of sunscreen for next summer, it’s important to remember that most beauty products — including moisturizers and makeup — have expiration dates. Expired formulas lose efficacy and may harbor dangerous bacteria or other germs.

Going back to school is a great opportunity to refresh your beauty arsenal by throwing away expired products. Plus, it helps to save space in your dorm room or apartment while ensuring an effective, safe beauty routine.

As you update your arsenal, consider buying travel-size kits in place of full-size formulas. In addition to saving space, travel-sized products are ideal for testing new treatments, saving money and avoiding expired products. Find out when specific products expire in our article here.

• Product pick: Save space without skimping on your skin care steps with  AHAVA Best of Beauty Travel Kit. Great for all skin types, this multitasking set contains nourishing Mineral Hand Cream, hydrating Mineral Foot Cream, invigorating Mineral Shower Gel, a restorative Cleansing Cream, a purifying Mud Mask and a conditioning Smoothing Moisturizer.

6. Discover beauty on a budget. Going back to school isn’t cheap. Pricey textbooks, tuition and basic supplies often leave little wiggle room in your wallet to afford an updated arsenal of cosmetic, hair and skin care formulas. But you can work within your budget.

Look for 2-in-1, multipurpose products that offer more bang for your buck. Also — as you look for affordable formulas — always inspect the label to make sure that the product contains ample amounts of the active ingredients you’re looking for and few fillers like water and alcohol. Learn more about how to make use of wallet-friendly beauty products in our complete guide here.

• Product pick: Save time, space and money with Korres Materia Herba 3 in 1 Cleansing Emulsion. This 3-in-1 facial cleanser dissolves away dirt, makeup and other impurities, while infusing pores with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, conditioning sweet almond oil and balancing marigold extract.
7. Experiment with makeup. School is as much about developing a sense of style and self-confidence as it is about science labs and speech class. So consider experimenting with your beauty products to see what you like best. For day, you might try a bit of gloss, tinted moisturizer and mascara. But go with a more dramatic look for nighttime, which might include smoky eyeliners, bright shades and over-the-top glossy lip colors. This fall, trendy shades range from bronzy metallics and bright reds to icy blues and purples.

• Product pick: bareMinerals Face Fashion - The Look of Now - Fab Fresh is a contemporary collection of cosmetics that includes fall’s hottest colors like lilac and bronze. Top off your going-out look by pairing Lilac Vibe Eyecolor or Blushing Bronze Eyecolor with the Wild Jungle Liner Shadow. Finish with Azalea Blush and Mini 100% Natural Lipgloss in Strawberry Shortcake (pink lilac). Downplay your look for daytime by skipping the liner and going light on the blush.

8. Identify your skin’s changing needs. What’s the most essential skin care lesson to learn before heading back to school? The condition and needs of your skin depend on many factors including temperature, humidity, sun exposure, lifestyle and age.

Most skin types are affected by changing seasons, altered lifestyle (think all-night study sessions and intramural sports) and — for those who travel far for school — a whole new climate.

How might your complexion change? All skin reacts differently. Dry skin can become oily, clear skin may develop acne and bright eyes might be prone to dark circles. Don’t stress over these changes. Instead, stay flexible with your skin care routine. If you have questions about new skin care challenges, talk to a dermatologist or campus nurse.

• Product pick: Conceal dark under-eye circles with Dermelect Revitalite Eyelid and Dark Circle Corrector. This effective treatment boasts multi-peptides to reduce puffiness, brighten dark circles and clear under-eye bags.

9. Sidestep sun damage. Even though the hustle and bustle of the school year often leaves little time for fun in the sun, SPF should always be part of your daily skin care routine. Even short-term exposure while walking to class can cause significant damage that manifests later in life through lines, wrinkles and age spots. But aging is really the least of your worries. UV exposure can lead to skin cancer. According to Kids Health, dermatologists are reporting more cases of a potentially fatal skin cancer called melanoma in teens and young adults.

• Product picks: Maintain healthy skin with Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer Untinted — an affordable, multitasking moisturizer that easily adds a healthy dose of hydrating SPF to your daily skin care routine.

If you’d prefer to have tan skin, reach for a self-tanner like Fake Bake Instant Self Tanning Spray. This fast-drying formula is perfect for creating an all-over even glow that doesn’t compromise the health or appearance of skin. Get some tips for a flawless sunless tan here.

10. Embrace a green beauty routine. Campuses across the globe are encouraging students to help preserve the planet. Embrace an eco-friendly beauty routine by looking for products that are made with all-natural or organic ingredients and packaged in recycled or sustainable materials.

Thankfully, organic products are no longer exclusive or expensive. A growing market of green goods includes formulas that are affordable, effective and specialized to meet every beauty demand. For some tips on choosing products, find out more here.

• Product pick: For a campus skin care routine that’s effective, efficient and eco-friendly, turn to Juice Beauty. Juice Beauty Organics to Glow Kit has every formula you need to maintain a radiant, healthy complexion including: Hydrating Mist to restore daily balance, Green Apple Peel to gently exfoliate and rejuvenate, multitasking SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer - Light to hydrate and protect and SPF 8 Lip Moisturizers to shield your precious pucker from the sun.

Achieve A+ beauty

Make a list and check it twice to be sure that you pack everything you need for a healthy skin care routine at school. Amid the chaos of classes, studying and your busy social calendar, remember to make time to take care of your complexion, hair and overall health. Doing so will help create a fun, unforgettable and stress-free college experience.

See also:

10 Skincare Secrets from Dermatologists Revealed

Skin Care in Your 20s

10 Skincare and Makeup Secrets from Top Beauty Pros

15 Mistakes that Prevent the Perfect Sunless Tan

Practicing Smart Sun Care With These 10 Lesser-Known Facts