For 2024, back to school makeup is all about wearing makeup that makes you feel good. Whether that means a full beat that requires a 5AM wakeup call or a 5-minute face that you can apply on your morning bus ride– there’s no one right way to wear your makeup. But, if you’re ready to experiment and try some new looks, we’ve got you covered with plenty of options. With Maybelline’s approach of highlighting a different facial feature each day of the week, you’re sure to look your best and have fun along the way as you discover which look is right for you.

A good makeup routine for school depends on how much time you have to spend or how skilled you are at doing your makeup. But, we have plenty of tips and tricks to help you ace whichever look you choose. A good place to start, though, is with a simple makeup look for school: some concealer, mascara, and lipgloss will get you out the door while looking polished– you can always add on once you’re more comfortable. As you figure out which routine works for you, we recommend experimenting with new looks and products– that’s the best way to learn what you love.

Choose a few of your facial features that you want to highlight and that will help determine the best simple makeup look for you. For some that may mean concealer, mascara, and lipgloss, but for others, a simple makeup look might be totally different. If you love your eyes and your lips and want to make them pop, go for mascara and lipgloss, but if you’d rather go for a super natural look with minimal makeup, try brushing up your brows and add a few dabs of concealer to areas you want to even out. It’s a bit like a choose-your-own-adventure– pick two or three areas you want to focus on and make that your customized approach to simple makeup for school!

Depending on what kind of makeup you’re wearing to school, your makeup bag may have different things in it, but one item that’s usually a staple in everybody’s bag is a trusty lip gloss. There’s no limit to how many times you can swipe during the school day and it comes in handy, especially after lunchtime. If you have oily skin and want to de-grease mid-day, it can be helpful to have a mattifying powder, but if you’re on the dry end of the spectrum, a refreshing face mist can be a game changer. There’s no reason to carry every single product with you every day, though, so narrow it down to a few go-tos that you find yourself reaching for time and time again.