I'm really sorry this is a bit late for my usual Wicked Wednesday post. As you can see (from the title) I am a bit stuck on post ideas. So any suggestion or request that you have is more than welcomed!! Plus, I'm really busy. I have a 1500 word report to finish by Friday. It may not seem like a lot but it's a really tough report and I have a presentation to do tomorrow on top of that.
Anyway, enough with the moaning and complaining. Let's get on with the 5 random facts!
Random Fact #1: I have a terrible habit of toucing my hair... constantly! I can't go 5 minutes without running my fingers through it or playing with it. I've been trying to correct myself for quite some time now and still am. My coursemates probably think that I'm the bimbo of our lot, seeing as we're meant to be the " elite group of nerds".
Random Fact #2: I don't shave or wax my legs... ever! I'm sure I've just widened quite a few pairs of eyes with this statement. I have few and rather fine hairs on my legs so there really hasn't been any need for me to shave or wax them off. My mum is really lucky. Her legs are practically hairless (well, that is not true but it appears so anyway). So I've inherited a bit of that. Though I must say that I have been considering waxing because I can see those hairs and peer pressure/society's expectation is starting to take its toll...
Random Fact #3: I'm sure I've mentioned this before; the first makeup item that I owned is a Bobbi Brown eyeshadow palette, at the age of 18. So I did not start wearing makeup until I was 18. I still love and use it.
Random Fact #4: I don't drink alcohol. It has many bad "side effects"/consequences. This will be a whole topic/post for another day. However, I do take a sip or two from my boyfriend's wine glass occasionally.
Random Fact #5: Despite having an obsession/infatuation with makeup, I do not wear it on most days. So you'll see me out and about bare faced. At most, I'd just wear a coat of mascara and a slick of lipgloss.
Care to share a random fact about yourself? I'd love to hear about it.
Bonus Random Fact: this blog is turning 4 soon! Keep your eyes peeled for a big giveaway!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
University Surival Guide: Last Minute Study Tips for Exams
If you're a university student in Australia, chances are you only have a week left till Swot Vac (exam revision "vacation"). So you haven't been really studying this semester because life, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest just got in the way. That's okay. We've all been there or are there. As part of my University Survival Guide, I've put together some last minute study tips (also known cramming tips) for you. I do not encourage you to keep doing this. My next post will be on tips for studying consistently and I will explain why then. But for now, on with the cramming!
You'll be getting a week of Swot Vac and two weeks of exam period (may vary between universities). Let's run with a bad case scenario: you have 5 exams to study for and they are not evenly spaced out. The pink week represents Swot Vac and the blue weeks represent exam period.
Here's how I'd study for these 5 papers.
What I do is start with the last paper and work my way to the first paper before working my way back to the last paper. On days where I put two subjects, I'd do them in that order. For example, for the 11/6, I would study subject B in the morning and early afternoon and then study subject A in the late afternoon and evening. I made 7/6 to 10/6 flexible because it depends on how difficult your subjects are. So you may choose to study the difficult subject for more days.
This is how I study. It may or may not work for you. It is a just ROUGH GUIDE. I cannot guarantee you a pass or flying colours with this method, after all you are cramming. It's up to you to do the studying.
Other tips
Do you have any last minute studying tips? Do share.
You'll be getting a week of Swot Vac and two weeks of exam period (may vary between universities). Let's run with a bad case scenario: you have 5 exams to study for and they are not evenly spaced out. The pink week represents Swot Vac and the blue weeks represent exam period.
Here's how I'd study for these 5 papers.
What I do is start with the last paper and work my way to the first paper before working my way back to the last paper. On days where I put two subjects, I'd do them in that order. For example, for the 11/6, I would study subject B in the morning and early afternoon and then study subject A in the late afternoon and evening. I made 7/6 to 10/6 flexible because it depends on how difficult your subjects are. So you may choose to study the difficult subject for more days.
This is how I study. It may or may not work for you. It is a just ROUGH GUIDE. I cannot guarantee you a pass or flying colours with this method, after all you are cramming. It's up to you to do the studying.
Other tips
- Get enough sleep every night. Your brain will process things when you sleep and you'll remember things better.
- If you have difficulty remembering something, write it out. You'll remember it better.
- This is optional: you can wear a perfume/fragrant essential oil (such as lavender) while studying and then wear that same perfume again on the day you sit for the exam. The scent will stimulate your memory. Assign a scent for each subject.
- Take small breaks, it'll keep you sane. Don't do anything that will keep you occupied for hours (such as playing computer games). Have a snack, do some stretches instead or relax your eyes by standing outdoors and looking around for a couple of minutes.
Do you have any last minute studying tips? Do share.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
I have been trying these facial wipes for a few months now. I don't wear makeup very often and only do so when I am in the mood for it. I use these wipes to remove my makeup on the bus on my way home at the end of the day. Mind you, I pretty much only wear mascara and tinted moisturiser on most "makeup days" so they are easy to remove. I find that these wipes can remove makeup better than my makeup remover + cotton pad. The tiny little bumps on the wipes really help "scrub" my mascara off. So it essentially takes me less than 5 minutes to wipe everything off my face. This is not to say that I have not tested this product with heavier makeup. It removes heavy makeup just as effectively but you'll need two as opposed to one wipe.
I really love that this product is perfume, alcohol, colour and oil free. Perfume and colour in particular can cause skin problems/allergies because most of the time, they are artificially made. These wipes really cleanse my face, leaving my skin feeling fresh and clean. It states that it hydrates as well. Although I have not felt the acclaimed hydrating properties, I must admit that these wipes are not drying at all. So this does not replace the need to moisturise.
For me, the packaging is of reasonable quality. However, I am not a big fan of the "tape-back cover top" because most of the time it's hard to seal it back perfectly. This means that the wipes can dry up easily. So far, I have been able to keep the wipes moist and working. What I did not like about this product, especially at the start, was that it was heavy and bulky and thus a pain to fit and carry around in my bag. The heaviness and bulkiness reduces as I use the wipes of course. Nevertheless, I have found a solution to combat this problem of mine. I took a clean and new zip-lock bag and designated it as my "portable wipes bag". So every "makeup day", I would put one new wipe into the zip-lock bag before popping it into my bag and leaving the house.
This product contains 25 wipes and normally retails for AUD$7.50. I got it for $5 around sale time so it was quite a bargain! Would I repurchase this? Yes, unless I discover something better. Unfortunately, I cannot confidently recommend this to everyone because I have read a few bad reviews on this product. There are people who feel a film of residue left on their skin after using these wipes. However, like I have mentioned before, there isn't a single product that is for everyone. So if you have normal skin (not dry or oily) that is not sensitive like I do, I think it's safe to say that this product will most probably work on you. Overall, I am happy with this product.
Summary
Do you use cleansing wipes? Which brand/type do you use? I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Triple S: Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Fragrance Free Facial Cleansing Wipes Review
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| Source: beautydirectory.com |
I really love that this product is perfume, alcohol, colour and oil free. Perfume and colour in particular can cause skin problems/allergies because most of the time, they are artificially made. These wipes really cleanse my face, leaving my skin feeling fresh and clean. It states that it hydrates as well. Although I have not felt the acclaimed hydrating properties, I must admit that these wipes are not drying at all. So this does not replace the need to moisturise.
For me, the packaging is of reasonable quality. However, I am not a big fan of the "tape-back cover top" because most of the time it's hard to seal it back perfectly. This means that the wipes can dry up easily. So far, I have been able to keep the wipes moist and working. What I did not like about this product, especially at the start, was that it was heavy and bulky and thus a pain to fit and carry around in my bag. The heaviness and bulkiness reduces as I use the wipes of course. Nevertheless, I have found a solution to combat this problem of mine. I took a clean and new zip-lock bag and designated it as my "portable wipes bag". So every "makeup day", I would put one new wipe into the zip-lock bag before popping it into my bag and leaving the house.
This product contains 25 wipes and normally retails for AUD$7.50. I got it for $5 around sale time so it was quite a bargain! Would I repurchase this? Yes, unless I discover something better. Unfortunately, I cannot confidently recommend this to everyone because I have read a few bad reviews on this product. There are people who feel a film of residue left on their skin after using these wipes. However, like I have mentioned before, there isn't a single product that is for everyone. So if you have normal skin (not dry or oily) that is not sensitive like I do, I think it's safe to say that this product will most probably work on you. Overall, I am happy with this product.
Summary
- Removes makeup quickly and effectively. Perfect for on-the-go.
- Perfume, alcohol, colour and oil free.
- Cleansing; not hydratingbut not drying either.
- Can dry up if not sealed back properly.
- Bulky and heavy, especially at the start. Carry individually in zip-lock bag by refilling everyday.
- Affordable and would repurchase.
Do you use cleansing wipes? Which brand/type do you use? I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Hygiene & Makeup Go Hand in Hand
So I said I'd do a post on hygiene and makeup. As promised, here it is!
Hands
After having learnt about bacteria and hygiene in my previous post, this one is a given. Sanitise your hands or wash and dry them before you start applying any form of makeup.When applying product with a finger, opt for the fourth finger (the ring finger). It's been scientifically proven to be the cleanest finger because it is the least used finger.
Brushes
Wash your makeup brushes frequently (at least once a week) because bacteria can grow on the product left on the bristles. If you're going to use your brushes on someone else, best to wash it a day beforehand and let it air dry. After air drying your brushes, avoid leaving them out or you will have dust and bacteria landing on them (undoing the cleanliness). I normally remove dust from my brushes my dusting them off on the back of my hand and then quickly store them away in a drawer.
False Eyelashes
I find that these fine little hairs can trap dust and bacteria so don't leave them out. Keep them covered in the case that it came in. You'll be placing it so close to your eyes that dust and bacteria can transfer to your eyes easily.
Makeup
Don't share eye or lip makeup, especially mascaras. You may think that you or your friend are clean people but you will still have a certain amount of bacteria on you. The types of bacteria that you and your friend have are more than likely to be different. The last thing you want is to come across a "new bacteria" and be infected by it. If you want to know how to sanitise your makeup so that it can be used on others, watch this informative Youtube video by gossmakeupartist.
Summary
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| Source: makeupandbeauty.com |
Hands
After having learnt about bacteria and hygiene in my previous post, this one is a given. Sanitise your hands or wash and dry them before you start applying any form of makeup.When applying product with a finger, opt for the fourth finger (the ring finger). It's been scientifically proven to be the cleanest finger because it is the least used finger.
 |
| Source: beautyatskindeep.com |
Wash your makeup brushes frequently (at least once a week) because bacteria can grow on the product left on the bristles. If you're going to use your brushes on someone else, best to wash it a day beforehand and let it air dry. After air drying your brushes, avoid leaving them out or you will have dust and bacteria landing on them (undoing the cleanliness). I normally remove dust from my brushes my dusting them off on the back of my hand and then quickly store them away in a drawer.
 |
| Source: misscatlo.com |
I find that these fine little hairs can trap dust and bacteria so don't leave them out. Keep them covered in the case that it came in. You'll be placing it so close to your eyes that dust and bacteria can transfer to your eyes easily.
 |
| Source: glossandmagic.blogspot.com |
Don't share eye or lip makeup, especially mascaras. You may think that you or your friend are clean people but you will still have a certain amount of bacteria on you. The types of bacteria that you and your friend have are more than likely to be different. The last thing you want is to come across a "new bacteria" and be infected by it. If you want to know how to sanitise your makeup so that it can be used on others, watch this informative Youtube video by gossmakeupartist.
Summary
- Sanitise/wash and dry your hands before you start your makeup.
- Your fourth finger (ring finger) is the cleanest.
- Don't leave anything exposed to the air for long periods, dust and bacteria will land on them.
- Don't share eye or lip makeup. If you wish to, you must sanitise it first.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
You'd be surprised to hear that a "small debate" over one of my friend's Facebook page was the inspiration for this blog post. My friend shared a photo on her wall. It was of a couple kissing and the accompanying text was something along the lines of kissing being more hygienic than handshakes. I commented that I agreed with the statement, saying that our hands have been everywhere, touching a lot of dirty things without even realising it. There were a number of other comments as well. One particular one stuck out to me. This girl commented immediately after me, contesting that kissing was less hygienic, with a 100% transfer of bacteria. She had a good point but it made me wonder if she is studying biological/medical science like I am.
Anyway,
to the main point: hand hygiene, how much do you know about it? We all
know that we should refrain from touching our faces with our hands
because we'd be transferring more bacteria on to it. However, how many
of us actually successfully reduce this pimple-inducing habit? Being in
public places and using public items don't our case either for we use
our hands a lot: keyboards and mice at uni computers, toilet door
handles, picking up stuff that we've dropped onto the ground. We don't
know how clean the previous few hundred people who have touched the
object were. Studies have shown that one of the main ways bacteria are
transferred is through our hands (this includes health care settings). On a side note, let's not forget that we don't go around kissing everyone and everything and that we secrete enzymes and anitbodies in our mouths to combat bacteria. So I still say it's more hygienic than handshakes.
I, for one, touch my face a lot, be it removing a strand of hair from my face, resting my forehead/cheek on my hand or covering my face in frustration. So I always have a hand sanitiser in my bag. I sanitise my hands after using a uni computer, before and after eating, before applying moisturiser/sunscreen on the bus. Even if you don't have a hand sanitiser, always wash your hands with soap; there's always a sink nearby. And please DON'T forget to dry your hands. Bacteria love moisture, they thrive in damp/wet environments (remember, life began with water). If you don't dry your hands, you're pretty much culturing bacteria on them.
I firmly believe in drying towels
straight after every use because a damp towel habours a lot of bacteria
as well. Imagine using a damp towel. You'd be increasing your chances of
face and body acne with all that bacteria rubbed all over you. All you
have to do is hang outside where there's lots of sunlight (don't bother
with the dryer), the UV rays do an excellent job of killing bacteria.
You may say that your towel gets dried anyway even if you don't dry it
under the sun. Well, that doesn't mean the bacteia evaporates with the
moisture. Don't forget to do the same for your hands towels too (except
you don't have to dry it after every use, just the next morning).
I hope you found my tips useful. If you already know all of this, great! I find that a lot of people don't. If you can't help but touch your face many times throughout the day, do your best to remember to use the back of your hands instead (because they don't come into contact with things as much). Lastly, I'd like to add that not all bacteria are evil pimple-inducing, illness-causing little buggers like the media portrays them to be. More than 90% of them are our friends, contributing to our immunity, ecosystem and various industries (think alcohol, food, cosmetics, biotech). My next post will be on hygiene and makeup.
Summary
Wicked Wednesday: Hygiene to Reduce Chances of Acne/Pimples
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| Source: makeupandbeauty.com |
You'd be surprised to hear that a "small debate" over one of my friend's Facebook page was the inspiration for this blog post. My friend shared a photo on her wall. It was of a couple kissing and the accompanying text was something along the lines of kissing being more hygienic than handshakes. I commented that I agreed with the statement, saying that our hands have been everywhere, touching a lot of dirty things without even realising it. There were a number of other comments as well. One particular one stuck out to me. This girl commented immediately after me, contesting that kissing was less hygienic, with a 100% transfer of bacteria. She had a good point but it made me wonder if she is studying biological/medical science like I am.
 |
| Source: ladyspeak.com |
I, for one, touch my face a lot, be it removing a strand of hair from my face, resting my forehead/cheek on my hand or covering my face in frustration. So I always have a hand sanitiser in my bag. I sanitise my hands after using a uni computer, before and after eating, before applying moisturiser/sunscreen on the bus. Even if you don't have a hand sanitiser, always wash your hands with soap; there's always a sink nearby. And please DON'T forget to dry your hands. Bacteria love moisture, they thrive in damp/wet environments (remember, life began with water). If you don't dry your hands, you're pretty much culturing bacteria on them.
 |
| Source: meishifangzhi.en.made-in-china.com |
I hope you found my tips useful. If you already know all of this, great! I find that a lot of people don't. If you can't help but touch your face many times throughout the day, do your best to remember to use the back of your hands instead (because they don't come into contact with things as much). Lastly, I'd like to add that not all bacteria are evil pimple-inducing, illness-causing little buggers like the media portrays them to be. More than 90% of them are our friends, contributing to our immunity, ecosystem and various industries (think alcohol, food, cosmetics, biotech). My next post will be on hygiene and makeup.
Summary
- Cut down on the face-touching. If you must, try to use the back of your hands
- Have a sanitiser ready in your bag or wash your hands well and dry them.
- Dry your towels under the sun. Bacteria thrive in moist environments.
- Not all bacteria are bad!
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