Keep it Cute for Class

Rewind to the first few weeks of the semester. What do you see? Ladies with polished makeup and sleekly styled hair strutting to class in trendy outfits and oh-so-adorable shoes, right?
 
Now fast-forward to the present. It’s quite apparent that some of you have already begun to let yourselves go. In your defense, buried under the stress of endless reading assignments, papers, part-time jobs, and club meetings, it can be hard to squeeze in time to get dolled up.
 
So I came up with a couple of speedy ways to keep you looking pretty and put-together without sacrificing time or comfort.
 
Hair
Whether it’s short or long, curly or straight, braided or locked; achieving great looking hair in the morning can be a challenge when you’re racing against the clock. But scoring a nice hairstyle doesn’t have to be time-consuming.
 
To liven up a messy bun, try adding a sparkly headband. Headbands, especially those with a cute ornament on one side, are also a great accessory for girls rocking shorter locks.
 
If you aren’t a fan of headbands, switch things up with a loose side braid. It takes under 30 seconds to create and works well with both fine and thick hair. Allow wisps of hair to frame the face for an effortless, boho effect.

 
Like to wear your hair loose? Take a cue from Beyonce, who rocked the September cover of InStyle with sexy, tousled waves. Avoid boring looking hair by plaiting two French braids at night. In the morning, undo the braids, slather in volumizing mousse, finger comb and voila! Gorgeous, beachy waves in seconds.
 
Accessories
Earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces are the icing on top of any outfit and I never leave the house without donning at least one. They are the quickest way to skyrocket the plainest of pieces from average to awesome.

 
To stand out in a crowd of ladies sporting lived-in jeans and comfy hoodies, be sure to add classy earrings or a unique statement ring to your ensemble. Dangly feather earrings, which are currently très trendy, look fierce and edgy peeking through loose locks.
 
Open to a little glam and sophistication? Sleek your hair back in a chic pony and slip in a pair of oversize gold or silver hoops, as suggested in Glamour’s October issue.
 
Scarves are also an ideal way to personalize your outfit and pull your look together. They add character to plain tops and help dress up simple cardigans.
 
Word to the wise: Allow one accessory to take center-stage and let the others play a supporting role. Never pack on a slew of bold pieces at once.
 
Makeup:
Late night study sessions and early morning lectures can leave skin appearing dull and lifeless. Brighten up your visage with a tinted moisturizer that will illuminate and even out your tone without appearing heavy or cakey like some foundations. It can be applied swiftly with your fingers to help get you out the door in record time.
 
To instantly wake up tired eyes, Seventeen.com suggests applying a shimmery shadow to the inner corners. This tip should make your peepers appear wider and livelier.

 
Don’t forget the lips! Leave the boring lip balm on the dresser and reach instead for a lip gloss in your favorite shade.