Start the day off bright this school year

Start at night

A bright morning starts with a smart night. Start your skin care at night so your skin can effectively rejuvenate while you sleep. Try a brightening mask such as the Boscia Bright White Mask (sephora.com, $38) which uses whitening agents to even your skin tone and brighten your complexion. Another product to try is Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial (sephora.com, $48), which combines stabilized vitamin C and rose oil to brighten and moisturize your skin while you dream.

Hot and cold

When you wake up, take two washcloths and run the first under very warm water. Place over your face and feel your pores open and skin refresh. Next, rinse the second washcloth in cold water and place over your face to invigorate your face and body. To perk up your eyes, keep an eye treatment gel like Lather's Toning Eye Gel with Vitamin K (lather.com, $28) in the fridge and place under your eyes after you wake up to look instantly awake.

Smile wide

Use a tooth whitening toothpaste that also helps improve the health of your mouth, like Colgate Total Advanced Fresh + Whitening toothpaste (drugstore.com, $4), followed by a whitening mouth rinse to make your smile gleam.

The white smile diet >>

Illuminate your skin

Using a foundation brush, apply a luminous base all over your face. Look for one that provides light, even coverage and has light reflecting minerals, such as Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup (sephora.com, $38). If you are in a hurry, simply apply an illuminating tinted moisturizer such as Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Illuminating (sephora.com, $43). If it seems too "glowy," mix in a matte tinted moisturizer to create the perfect balance for your skin. Some days you might need more and some days a little less.