THE BEST: 4 WAYS TO GLOW UP YOUR COLLEGE LIFE

So, you’re headed back to college and your feed is overflowing with dorm glow-up videos and campus aesthetic reels. You know the ones—crisp neutral bedding, glass jars for cereal, and 12-step skincare routines before an 8 a.m. class. Let’s be real for a sec: 1) Those creators just might have decorators, seemingly unlimited funds, or both, and 2) You’ve got something better: incredible taste, a strong, authentic sense of self, and us.

Glow Up College Life Target - 16 fl oz Drippy Glaze Mug Pink – Room Essentials™. — 16 fl oz Drippy Glaze Mug Pink – Room Essentials™

If this is your year for a full-blown college life glow up—whether that means entering a new era, owning your style, or simply wanting a more streamlined day-to-day —you're in the right place. Here are four easy but game-changing ways to upgrade your college life, complete with picks that actually do the job (and look amazing, too).

Carry It All (In Style): The Backpack That Does the Most

Glow Up college Life - Target - 20L Cinch Backpack - All In Motion™ Mint Green — 20L Cinch Backpack - All In Motion™ Mint Green

Let’s kick it off with the one thing you’ll use every single day: your backpack. College life = long days. Between lectures, labs, study sessions, workouts, and last-minute club meetings, there’s barely time to breathe—let alone go back to your dorm to regroup. You need a backpack that’s light, durable, stylish, and spacious enough to carry your entire life (but not look like you're on a hiking trip through the Rockies).

Our pick? The 20L Cinch Backpack - All In Motion™ Mint Green. It’s the perfect balance of sporty and sleek, whether you’re sprinting to class or hanging out on the quad.

If you need to have your comfort quota, it fits your cozy oversized hoodie, emergency blanket scarf, and calming tea stash.

If you’re all about sports, it holds your protein bar stash, a change of clothes, and gym shoes.

If for you, college life = social life, it has room for party essentials and backup shoes, just in case.

But if for you, college life = social media creation and expression, it holds your sketchbook, tablet, ring light, and probably a dozen highlighters.

Basically, it’s the official carry-all for your most chaotic, best-life college moments.

2. Fuel Up Like a Pro: Bento Box Energy

Glow Up College Life - Target - 6pc Bento Box Food Storage Container Black/White – Room Essentials™ — 6pc Bento Box Food Storage Container Black/White – Room Essentials™

This is the year you promised yourself you’d bolster your meal plan with healthy snacks on the go. (One person can only eat so much mystery cafeteria pasta, amirite?!). Meet your new must-have: the 6pc Bento Box Food Storage Container Black/White – Room Essentials™. It’s classic. It's minimal. It's cute. It’s light enough to toss in your backpack without a second thought and fits in a dorm mini fridge to stash late night snacks. Plus: it looks good on camera.

Think of it as your kitchen-to-campus BFF. Prepping a hearty lunch for a marathon day of lectures and club meetings? It’s got you. Packing up fresh snacks to fuel an all-nighter in the library? Also covered. It keeps your meals fresh and your college life running smoothly, one well-packed bite at a time.

Love turning the mundane into a moment? Use it to store your favorite homemade pick-me-ups—energy bites, fancy fruit salads, or that one snack mix recipe you swear by.

Are you training for this season? It’s your secret weapon for balanced meals on the go and keeping your macros on point, without needing to swing by the dining hall (again).

Making the most of these early days back on campus? Fill it with a picnic-ready lunch and share bites on the quad with your new crew. Instant friendship points.

And if your feed needs fresh content (because when doesn’t it?) the 6pc Bento Box Food Storage Container doubles as your behind-the-scenes sidekick for aesthetic restocking reels or those “What I Eat in a Day” clips everyone secretly loves.

Having a solid food storage setup adds both practicality and personality to your college life. Bonus points if you label them with mini vinyls or moodboard stickers. We see you.

3. Make Your Dorm Your Sanctuary

Glow up College Life - Target - Rolling Side Table with Lid Cream – Room Essentials™ — Rolling Side Table with Lid Crea m – Room Essentials™

Your dorm is more than a crash pad—it’s your home base. Whether you’re studying, streaming, hosting, or sleeping (what a concept!), the vibe matters. Dorms are small, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be dreamy. A few smart swaps make all the difference.

Start with bedding. The Twin/Twin Extra Long Box Stitch Puffer Comforter Ivory - Room Essentials™ - Its cloud is a cozy-cute classic that makes it easy to tidy up in five seconds flat when people drop in unexpectedly. (Or when your crush from Psych 101 needs help “studying.”)

Next, meet your new favorite sidekick: the Rolling Side Table with Lid Cream – Room Essentials™. It holds snacks, chargers, lip balm, and your late-night thoughts journal—all while rolling wherever you need it. (Study nook? Bedside? You decide.)

Top it off with a bit of personality: the 16 fl oz Drippy Glaze Mug Pink – Room Essentials™. Whether it’s filled with coffee, tea, or your latest microwave mug cake, it says “I have it together” even if your to-do list says otherwise.

If you’re into comfort and making everything a unique, relaxed experience, these dorm picks turn a shoebox room into a five-star retreat.

If you’re into sports as much as you’re into organization, functionality meets effortless style.

If you’re all about socializing, your dorm becomes the pregame/prestudy hub.

If you’re a creative at heart and want the whole world to see it, it’s a customizable backdrop for your feed and stories.

4. Level Up the Vibe: It’s All About the Details

A true glow-up in college life doesn’t just stop at function—it’s about the little things that make you feel good. Add LED string lights for ambiance, a scent diffuser for calming vibes, or an aesthetic calendar to keep track of your power moves.

This is your era. Your schedule might be packed, your textbooks heavy, and your social life thriving—but when your space, gear, and daily essentials are aligned with who you are (or want to become), everything just feels better.

Glow Up, Show Up

College life is a wild, chaotic, exciting mess—and the best version of it reflects you. Whether you're living in sweats or heels, exploring your identity through makeup, art, or memes, or becoming “That Friend” with the emergency snacks and planner—these glow-up essentials help you do college life your way.

Because your version of a glow-up isn’t about copying anyone else’s grid. It’s about showing up with confidence, comfort, and everything you need to make this year the one where you truly shine.

This article is brought to you by Target™

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