Just my stream of consciousness

I'm pretty sure that most of us know the basic of skincare such as; cleanser, exfoliator, toner and moisturiser, but do you know everything in between? Nowadays Korean skin care has become so popular that the jargon can be a tad confusing. Today I am here to try and help you with all of this new skincare terminology!

Toner/Refersher/Softener | Typically have a watery consistency with the aim of removing leftover dirt and excess cleanser and rebalancing the skins pH. Nowadays, you can get toners for just about any skin ailment there is, from dry skin to dull skin. It preps your skin ready for the next step by helping your skin absorb product more readily making latter products used more effective. Often applied with hands and patted on for extra hydration!

Ampoule | Contain much more active ingredients compared to serums hence why they are usually used after the toner step in your skincare routine to be the most effective and are called super serums or a booster. Due to the high concentration of active ingredients, they tend to be on the pricier size, but ampoules are more often used sparingly/temporarily as a skin rescue solution, specifically targeting skin concerns.

Essence | Thinner in consistency compared to a serum, quite similar to a lotion. Adding an extra layer of hydration to your skin and supposedly works by increasing cell turnover time, helping your skin recover faster.

Serum |  Mainly are used to target certain skin concerns such as: brightening, wrinkle care, pore tightening, whitening etc. as they are able to penetrate into deeper layers of your skin. It also preps your skin for moisturiser, so it can work more effectively.

One Step at a Time | You are not going to land the perfect job instantly. You will get there in good time, baby steps!

Create Realistic Goals | You have to accept that fact that you may not get your dream job straight away. Start small.

Broaden Your Outlook | Do not limit yourself. Don't let your academic credentials hold you back by letting you think that you cannot excel in any other field. You can do whatever you want, it will just take time and commitment.

Get Organised | Plan, plan, plan. Take notes and start researching about things you want to do. Having a list and ticking things off will help you keep everything in order.

Express Yourself | If you're angry be angry, if you're sad be sad! Do not bottle your emotions up because it is extremely self destructive. Talk to people if you have to!

New Interests/Hobbies | Being fixated on one topic will be exhausting and repetitive. By going out doing new things and learning new things, you will feel overall much happier, as opposed to being sat at home doing nothing! It can be just as simple as reading books!

The season of winter is almost upon us, do you know what that means? Hot drinks, warm fluffy socks, blankets and of course CHRISTMAS! But, unfortunately it is getting colder which means my skin is becoming dull and dry and all sort of things that I can be without. So here are a few tips for you guys to help you combat dull skin!



Exfoliate | Getting rid of dead skin cells is the fastest way to brighten up dull skin. As new skin cells are uncovered, it allows your skincare product to penetrate your skin more effectively. However, do not exfoliate too much because this can have the undesired effect of dry and irritated skin, once a week will suffice!

Moisturise | As winter approaches, the weather can have detrimental effects on your skin, so it is very important to keep your skin moisturised. You should switch to a thicker moisturiser to lock moisture in and to combat the harsher weather.

Drink Water | You have to keep hydrated inside and out. Drinking more water (if you don't already) will help if your skin is dehydrated and dull. It will help get rid of toxins in your body more easily. Don't expect instant results, stick to it for a few weeks, your skin will thank you.

Highlighter | This tip may not be to everyones taste, but personally I love highlighter. It can give you a natural glow and really brighten up your face, making you look fresher and younger.

The scrub contains oatmeal so it is not as abrasive as other scrubs out there! It has a scent, predominately honey (who saw that coming), which I am personally not a big fan of..however the scrub does the job and leaves my skin nice and refreshed! Not red and raw from being too abrasive!

However, personally I can not stand the smell, so I probably will not be repurchasing! But, if you want a nice exfoliator which smells like honey and is gentle on your skin, this is the one for you.

Hello! September is upon us..the month of the back to school stuff. So I am here to shed some of my experiences and things I learnt in my first year, which will hopefully help you guys. I know all too well of the stuff they don't tell you in college, that will happen in university, seeing as they tend to concentrate on pretty much only the academic side!



Social Life | Making friends at uni is no different to making friends in college or in any other work place. However, there are so many more ways to make friends..from; flatmates, people in your lectures, clubs, bars, night out and even through other people. The main thing is to not be afraid, everyone in their first year is pretty much in the same position as you, so try to make as many friends as you can. It is also helpful if you make some extra friends on your course, because then you can help each other out in regards to uni work! Don't be afraid.

Being Alone & Living on your own | Of course you have to live on your own at uni (with the exception of your flatmates of course), but sometimes it can get lonely and it is very different to living at home seeing as you are usually surrounded by family and you can go chill in your bedroom or the kitchen or the living room. At university you generally get your own room and a communal kitchen, and these are the two places where you will be spending most of your time.

Cooking | Can any of us actually cook? Well I recommend for you to bring some cook books if you can. Seeing as now you don't have your parents hounding you on how you're cooking everything wrong, ha! But, come on now, we all can't live off burgers/pizzas for a whole year. Also, you should plan your meals, or even make batches of meals in advance and freeze them. This way if you're busy with work, you don't have to worry about taking an hour or two out of the working schedule to cook. It is surprising how important preparing food, eating food and cleaning up is, plus it is quite time consuming.

Work/Work Experience & Internships | The workload in uni is quite different compared to college, as the years go on, the less and less they 'spoon feed' you, so it is helpful if you start taking the initiative in the first year. If and when you need help, remember to ask your lecturers because you are paying them £9000 a year! Especially if they are unhelpful in the actual lectures, however they should be more than willing to help. However on some occasions they can be quite mean and sarcastic but not all of them are like than. At the end of each academic year, there is generally a survey which you have to take to evaluate how you found the modules you have taken, so please remember to fill them in.

Sex | Yes, lets talk about sex. Even though some people may think going to uni implies that everyone sleeps around, it is very untrue. A lot of people at uni are even virgins, I know shock horror. So, do not feel pressured into anything and don't feel like you have to say or do anything that you don't want. Stay safe kids!

Fresher Flu | You may be exclaiming 'psh I am not going to get freshers flu!' Well you're wrong. Even if you plan to stay in your room for the whole of freshers, you are still likely to get it from your flatmates and friends and basically everyone! The way to avoid freshers flu is to not go to uni, ha Im joking. Freshers flu is usually the result of going out every night in the cold with no jacket, screaming/singing songs at the top of your lungs, not getting enough sleep, not eating properly, not getting your needed vitamins, being around new people etc. Just get enough sleep and your much needed vitamins, and hopefully if you do contract freshers flu, it will be gone in no time!

So sorry that I haven't posted in forever. I have just been really busy with some family issues, but I should be ok from now on...hopefully!

Here is a very simple and boring NOTD..however personally for me it is very different. I am the type of person who prefers to stick to darker colours because I think that I can pull them off much more easily than more pale/lighter colours on my skin tone.

I have always had this Collection French Manicure colour (103 French White) and things turned out better than I expected. Although the formulation is a tad runny and I needed to use 3 coats to get it to a sufficient enough opacity. However I really like it because sometimes when you use multiple coats, it starts to feel really thick and weird on your nail, but I have not had this problem. This may be my go to nail colour form now on!

Toothbrush/Paste, Toothbrush holder, floss & Mouthwash | Obviously these items are essential and you definitely can't forget them. But, the main thing most people forget is a toothbrush holder (well I did anyway). Its much more convenient than storing it in a cup, and some are super small and cute!

Hand wash | Everyone needs to wash their hands after the bathroom!

Shower Gel/Cleanser | You may want to invest in an extra cleanser for your shower as getting out of the shower and grabbing your cleanser (wherever it may be in the bathroom) can be tedious. However, some people just always leave their cleanser in the shower, which I personally find a tad weird ._.

Shampoo & Conditioner | It can be extremely obvious, but often we tend to overlook the things we take for granted!

Bath Rug | This is extremely convenient just so you're not walking around with wet feet, however in some circumstances it is not really absolutely necessary.

Toilet Paper |  The same as the shampoo and conditioner..you can't be too careful can you?

Storage/Hooks | Some universities may not provide hooks or small showering shelf thing (ha!) in the bathroom. Self-adhesive hooks are easily available so you can hang towels, bath robes, jackets etc!

L-R | SpeedDial, Ruby Woo, Plumful, Please Me, Lustering, Brick-O-La

L-R | SpeedDial, Ruby Woo, Plumful

L-R | Please Me, Lustering, Brick-O-La

Glasses/Cups/Mugs |Cups and mugs are a must seeing as you're going to be drinking a lot of tea and coffee! Also having a travel cup is useful for lectures you plan on going to at 9am. Glasses are also a must seeing as you will also be drinking a lot of alcohol...or water.
Plates & Bowls | You need these to eat on! It is also important to buy more than just one plate and bowl just incase some go missing (plus you can store spares in your room).

Cutlery | Forks, knives, table spoons, teaspoons are all a must! Buy in excess because it is better having more than none at all. Ikea sell cutlery for super cheap but you get a lot in return!

Pots & Pans | My parents and myself were in the mind set that seeing as I would only be cooking for myself, I would not need big/medium pans, and that small pots and pans would suffice. I was wrong, is pretty ridiculous buying a tiny frying pan because you're not going to be able to cook much apart from half an egg!  You should try to get regular sized pots and pans because its quite easy to cook way more than you intended and if you do, you can freeze that food for the future! Being a student is hard...

Kitchen accessorises | These include; Oven mitts, baking trays, spatulas, wooden spoons, colander, chopping board & kitchen towels. Funnily enough, you can disregard these items prettily easily, however, they are essential..even if you are just cooking chicken nuggets.


Salt & Pepper | Not just salt and pepper. Maybe some spices, stock cubes, sugar? At least pretend you're going to be cooking so your parents aren't bothering you about you eating nothing. (sigh)

Toaster & Kettle | Usually university kitchens come with these but some don't. (a kettle is usually definitely provided) So it is a good idea to have these, also if you're moving some to an area which typically uses soft water to an area which uses hard water, you may want to get your own kettle because limescale is a bitch.

Washing up liquid | Don't forget your gloves and sponges! (stuff like this will get stolen/used up so quickly!)

Cooking Oil | As before...at least pretend you're going to try to cook yourself some nutritious meals?

Laundry Basket | Yes. You will be doing laundry. Yes. You may shrink half of your wardrobe. But, by having a laundry basket (I'm not implying that it will help unshrink your jumpers ha) you will have a much cleaner room, seeing as you aren't throwing your dirty clothes all over your floor, plus it is much easier to transport to the laundry room.

Clothes Rack/Storage boxes | Depending on your bedroom size, you may want to consider some extra storage as some universities do not offer sufficient storage space. They can also be used as decoration if you obtain super cute boxes. By being in possession of a clothes rack you can hang clothes which required to be hung and you also have more space, therefore more clothes!

Bedding | Majority of universities do not provide; duvets, pillows, duvet covers, pillow covers, pillow protectors, mattress protector (a must!) So you must bring these. The beds at university generally are single, however, I personally have a double duvet with a single bed and it's SO comfy.

Books & Bookends | Every good student needs their core module books as well as other books to occupy you during stressful times. Surprisingly, I found out that personally, during university you obtain a lot of free time (after you acknowledge: lectures, practicals, socials, coursework etc.) usually between lectures, where you can read a nice book. Bookends are also awesome to have, as they keep books up on your shelf rather than all over your desk and floor...no one likes to be awoken at 3am by books falling over. Its pretty terrifying.

Rug | This is completely optional, but university carpets tend to be pretty horrible, so having a big rug to cover it up it always good and it adds subtle decoration to your room, this will make your room much more homely and less foreign.

Hangers | Need I say more? Last time I forgot hangers and I ended up chucking my coats EVERYWHERE.

Mirror | Some but not all universities provide a mirror within the actual bedroom (In an ensuite room there is usually a mirror), so a mirror could be handy for; taking pictures, seeing if you look presentable for a lecture, seeing if you look presentable for a night out etc. Plus, it would be a big shock going from having big mirrors at home, to small mirrors at uni

Slippers/Robe | As a consequence of living in university accommodation, you have the inevitable fire alarm, so it is extremely convenient to have a robe that you can cover yourself up with, especially if the fire alarm goes off at 3am and you're in your jammies. Slippers are also nice to have because I really doubt you will want to be walking barefoot into the kitchen.

Towels | Not just body towels...but, hand towels, face towels, hair towels..
Tissues | You will get ill and you will need tissues. Having a bedside box of tissues will save you a few trips to the bathroom to get toilet roll.