Freshman year can get expensive, I know that, but what if I told you you could win $150 right now? What would you do with it? Well, as some of you may know, some of my beautiful blogger friends and i started running an instagram giveaway for a $150 venmo gifting! You don’t have to worry about a check getting lost in the mail - no hassle, no bs - all you simply need to enter is a venmo account (or paypal, if that’s what floats your boat)! It is so worth entering, so if you haven’t already, go enter right now! Now that we’ve got the business side of things covered, there are SO many things you can buy RIGHT NOW for $150, whether it’s one big purchase, or a few smaller items that all go together! Before we go into freshman year, we are constantly shopping for things and spending money like crazy. So, I wanted to share some practical (but also fun) ideas that you could spend this $150 on! Let’s get into it! A Nespresso Machine Essenza Mini $149.00 We all know that coffee is a necessity in college, so why not save a little money and have your own starbucks in your dorm? YES - this machine makes LATTES! So long, crappy Keurig coffee! This machine is SO cute and comes in a few different colors to match your vibe. It's nice and small, so you should be able to fit it in virtually any size room, whether it's a single or a double, (or if you're living in an apartment like me), it will fit virtually anywhere! Bedding from DormifyFinding cute bedding on a budget can feel impossible sometimes, but thankfully, Dormify knows what's up and has you covered! They have super cute comforters and duvets at lower prices than you would find somewhere like PB Teen, or even Bed Bath and Beyond. Dormify can be a one stop shop for all of your dorm room essentials, but if you start by finding your bedding first, it will be much easier to find decorations that match your vibe! Wall Decor from PBTeenPBTeen is another one of those places, like Dormify, that can be your one stop shop for every dorm essential you may need. They are a bit on the pricier side, but the quality of their product makes the price worth it. Here, I picked out a few staple statement pieces that will keep your dorm looking chic and put together! I know a calendar might not be on your “must haves” list, but trust me on this one, writing down your assignments in a place you will see them makes a world’s difference when it comes to your GPA (check out my other tips here). Fabric garland is just one of those things that can really bring a room together, especially if you hang it under the Decorative Cable System that is holding up all of the pictures of your cute friends! An Outfit for Recruitment from NordstromHaving a solid outfit for recruitment can make a huge difference when it comes to that first impression. Day 1 is always going to be a bit more casual than this, but I would argue that your second day is the most important anyways because that is the day you are really locking in your Pref. This is the PERFECT outfit for day 2. You aren’t going to as many houses, so the sandals over sneakers makes this outfit really come together. However, if you wanted to wear this for day 1, swap those sandals for a plain white sneaker and you’re good to go! Skincare Products from DermalogicaFreshman year is full of nights where we get ready, go out, and forget to take off our makeup when we come home. After one too many of these nights, I started to not feel confident in my skin. My face was full of acne and scarring and it took me so long to find a product that actually worked for me. Well, if you’re like me, you can stop looking now. Dermalogica is one of those companies that I can’t rave enough about. Their products have changed my skin drastically. After about a year and a half of using it on and off, I feel that I can go out in public confidently without a drop of makeup on my face. Their 16.9 oz bottle of cleanser literally lasts my boyfriend and I MONTHS before we have to buy a new one - YES, we both use the same bottle. Seriously, try it. Have I convinced you to enter the giveaway yet? It’s amazing how much we can actually get with $150, whether it’s one big splurge or not! So, I’m gonna leave this short and sweet because seriously, if you have made it this far without going back to enter the giveaway, props to you. The giveaway ends on THURSDAY 7/30, and the winner will be announced the following day! Stay happy, stay healthy, and for God’s sake, please wear your mask. xo, The Undergrad P.S. This post was not sponsored by any of these companies, I genuinely just love them! ☺
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Some of you may be thinking, Millie, you go to school in Utah, but you’re from California, so why are you on the east coast? Well, let me tell you. It has always been a dream of mine to live on the east coast. I’ve loved it ever since I was young. I originally wanted to go to college out here, but frankly, I went to the U because if for whatever reason I needed to get home fast, I could, and I’m also saving a lot of money through their residency program to get in state tuition! As many of you know, I have been interning for The Enough Podcast since September and have loved every second of it. It is based here in Baltimore, so my boyfriend and I talked it over and realized that it might be a good opportunity for us to save on rent by living with his parents and for me to work in person at my internship. Contrary to what my parents may think since I’m all the way across the country, this has been such an impactful experience for my career. Since I have been here, I also got a job with Mint + Major and have been working on some graphic design projects for them. I have made the best of friends with our little team and hope to continue with them remotely in the fall! But, let’s be real, that isn’t all I’ve been up to. the trip outLet’s start at the beginning. Gage and I decided that since I would be working, I should have my car. So, we packed up all of our stuff into my little Volkswagen Golf and hit the road on May 31st. We stopped in Denver for a night so that I could see my best friend, Sarah, and we could get a good night’s sleep before the 25 hour drive we had ahead of us. We left Denver around 5am and started heading east. Gage nor I had seen most of the Midwest and we were so surprised with it. It was gorgeous. We listened to all sorts of podcasts along the way, some fun ones, but mostly true crime to keep us engaged and awake. Podcasts we listened to:
The worst part of the trip? Definitely hitting Ohio at 3am and having a podcast playing about haunted games you should never play. Thanks for that one, Gage. All in all, though, we had a fantastic time on the road trip and everything went very smoothly. We are pro roadtrippers together, so we are excited for the trip back! boston A few weeks into our time here, I ended up having a weekend off, so Gage surprised me with a trip up to Boston since he knew that it was on my bucket list. Can someone say best boyfriend ever?! We booked a cute little hotel room and spent most of our days taking walks and exploring the city. Since I love dark tourism, we visited the Salem Witch House and went to all of the spooky little spots. We also walked around Cambridge and saw Harvard for the first time, and boy, it really did make me wish I did better in school, but I’m happy where I’m at! We got some amazing pizza for dinner in Brookline and went for coffee on the harbor the following morning before hitting the road. It was a short trip, so we are probably going to go back (maybe even this weekend), and go a different route to see some new states! I love how close everything is out here because weekend trips are SO easy! deep creek lakeAnother thing we have been doing a lot is making trips up to Deep Creek. We have gone up for three different weekends now and I am in love with the area. I am such a lake girl, so being back on the water has been so good for me. There, we spend most of our days swimming, laying out on the dock, and playing cornhole up on the deck. Nights are for bonfires, family dinners, and s’mores. Getting up there is a nice little getaway from the world around us. There isn’t any phone service, so it's easy to unplug! I have loved every second of my east coast summer. I love the friends I have made and the memories that will stick with me. I came out here completely cut off financially from my parents, so it was a really great learning experience for me! I've been learning how to budget even more than I did before and have been really feeling like an adult for one of the first times in my life. I love it out here and can’t wait until the day I can make the move permanent. What has your summer looked like? Send me a message, or reach out on Instagram! Xo, The Undergrad I know you all may be thinking Well, well, well, Millie, long time no talk. And yes, I have been pretty MIA when it comes to writing blog posts, but I have had a lot going on! For those of you who may not know, this summer I made the big jump from staying at home for quarantine in California to working at a big girl job across the country in Maryland. I started the drive out with $500 for gas and food and that was it because I am an independent woman. I know this seems impossible to do at this day in age, but trust me, moving across the country with only $500 is possible, but you’ve gotta have the right support system. I highly recommend doing it - it’s very liberating, anyways moving on. I will do a separate blog post this week, probably on Friday, to explain in depth everything that I have been up to since my last blog post and all the deets of the road trip, but for now, here's a little overview of what's been going on! I drove across the country in 2 ½ days, got a fantastic job, spoke on a podcast, visited Boston, and have spent many days enjoying the lake. Now, that’s enough about me. I want to start talking to our lovely recent high school grads (congratulations, btw) and tell them everything they need to know about rushing this year. (obviously, if you are already in college and planning on rushing, this is also for you) We all know, thanks to the wonderful Miss Rona, that recruitment will be looking a LOT different this year, and will most likely look different for every school. I’m not going to be giving you a step by step on how it is all going to go down, because even our chapters don’t necessarily know that yet, but I will give you a little bit of advice. The most important piece of advice to remember? Just because recruitment is online doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rush! Repeat that. Now, repeat it again and keep saying it to yourself until you believe it. I cannot stress enough how important rushing is. This is a time that we should be wanting to go through recruitment more than ever. With classes most likely being online and many schools having to change their dorm policies to only have one person to a room, it can be so nerve wracking to find a sense of community at a new school, potentially in a new state, in the climate that we are in. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, I’m not a sorority girl, I won’t fit into any of the sororities. Well, get those thoughts out of your head because they are just straight up lies your brain is feeding you that are rooted in a fear of not fitting in. How do I know these are lies? Because I thought the same thing during recruitment. I thought I was going to get dropped from my dream house, which I did and I dodged a bullet with that one, but I discovered a whole new love for a chapter that I actually fit into. I am a firm believer that there is a sorority that is made for everyone, even if it takes going through the whole recruitment process and getting your heart broken by multiple chapters. Yes, you heard me right - getting your heart broken. Some people are lucky and their recruitment goes smoothly and they get everything they want, while others have to make a lot of tough decisions, whether it’s deciding to continue with a house that they don’t like right away, or picking your new favorite house after your top house drops you. Recruitment throws you through the wringer for sure, but in the end, it’s all very worth it. Once you are through recruitment, you tend to find your place and your people pretty quick. If you don’t feel like you fit in with your pledge class, don’t worry! The older members will most likely take you under their wings and help get you more connected in the chapter. Once you get your big, you will really start to feel connected! This connection is what’s crucial to develop this year. Because of Corona, we may not get the same opportunities to connect with others on campus that we would typically get while we aren’t in a pandemic. Dorms will look different, dining halls will look different, classrooms will look different. What isn't different? The opportunity to find a connection with a sisterhood. This should be where you start. There are a few things that you should remember to do before rushing. Since this recruitment season is already looking different with being able to talk to sorority girls before rushing (this is at least the case at our school, maybe not others), reaching out to people is very important, but you want to make sure that you shed a good light on yourself since you are a potential new member to their chapter. Here are a few ways you can prepare yourself: 1. Know your worth and don’t be shy about your talent and accomplishments! You want to show them your strengths and show them what you would be able to bring to their chapter. How did I do this? I posted a lot of my graphic design on social media leading up to recruitment and talked about the app I was creating at the time. This showed that I could bring creativity and leadership to the chapter. Think about what your strengths are and how you could display them to your peers. If you can’t think of how to do that without telling them, no worries, you will be asked a lot of questions during recruitment that will give you the opportunity to talk about those strengths. 2. Clean up your social media Remember when you were a junior in high school at your first party and you posted a picture with that white claw in your hand? No? Well, more often than not, there is going to be one of those pictures deep in your feed and you’re going to want to delete it (or archive it, we won’t know). A big thing sorority girls look out for on social media is the presence of alcohol or drugs in the same photo as people who are under 21 years old. We look out for this because, well, that’s illegal and it’s actually something your future employers will look out for as well. I know it may seem like a dumb rule, but it is really just to prepare you for the future. This does not mean you can’t drink or partake in the devils lettuce if that is what you prefer! Of course you can do anything at your own risk, just be safe and smart about it. 3. Be authentic This is my last, and best piece of advice I could give you for recruitment. Believe it or not, we can tell when girls aren’t being real and they are just putting on a show to try and get into the top house (shoutout to DG for being voted favorite sorority on campus for the past two years). We can also tell when girls give us the cold shoulder because they only want to focus on getting into a specific house. Neither of these things are attractive to a recruiter. Be your true and honest self. If someone reaches out to you asking if you have any questions, follow up with them. Ask the tough questions to make sure that you would be a good fit. All we ask is that you are a good human and just be yourself. If you aren’t being authentic, you may end up somewhere that you end up not liking in the long run! Well, I know that there is a lot of (probably repetitive) information here, so I am going to leave it at that. If you have any questions about rushing or what my recruitment experience was like, don’t hesitate to reach out and send me a message! Recruitment is one of my favorite times of the year, so I have a big passion for it and can help calm all your worries about it. Until next time, stay happy, stay healthy, stay real. xo, The Undergrad Being a young woman in college, we always have pressure on us to have an outfit for every event. Whether it's a frat party, sorority recruitment, job interviews, or formals, we need outfits - and that can rack up a bill! One thing we may not have been taught in high school was how to shop smarter, especially since our parents were paying for our clothes the majority of the time. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, but this was definitely something I struggled with, and I know I’m not the only one. With that said, let’s dive right into it! us.shein.com Shein is definitely one of my go-to online shops for when I’m in desperate need of some new clothes that are cheap and cute. They add new items to their website everyday and are always caught up on the latest trends. Personally, I do a lot of my shopping for sorority events and frat parties on this website because I can get at least 10 items for $100. This shop is great for bulk shopping to stock up for different events, vacations, or even just your everyday clothes! I just did a HUGE $250 shopping spree here and got 20 different items, including matching sets. My package should be coming soon and I can’t wait to do a review for y’all! vicicollection.com Vici is one of my go to stores to buy outfits for special events. They always have the cutest formal dresses for under $100, and their quality of clothing is amazing. I have dresses that I have bought both in store and online that have lasted me over 3 years! If you are looking to spend a little bit more for something you know you will wear again, this is definitely your place to shop! I have bought just about every dress for pref day, formals, and weddings from this store, and I would definitely give it a 10/10. target.com Target is usually a given when you are looking to spend less on clothes, but I want to throw it in here specifically for when you are shopping for clothes for a job interview. Target has an amazing selection of professional clothes that are relatively cheap. Now, I’m not saying everything is going to be under $20, and yes it might rack up a bill, but this is the place to go when you need that one staple outfit to make a great first impression to a potential new employer. They have the cutest power suits and blouses, and you can even top off the outfit with some cute accessories and shoes! amazon.com Now, a lot of people tend to forget that amazon has some amazing clothing lines that sell through them. I check out their deals almost every single day, just to make sure I’m not missing out on some major deals from my favorite brands. They carry big brands like Levi’s, Ella Moss, Adidas, Nike, and Calvin Klein, just to name a few. They also provide lookbooks and sections based off of trends that are circulating in the moment! Don't forget - They also offer a prime membership for students so be sure to utilize that! I love utilizing thrift shops for when I need something really fast, but don’t have a lot of money. There is a pair of shorts I wear a lot and post a lot in (because they are my favorite shorts in the world), and I actually got them for $4 at a Goodwill. They are men's Levi’s that I cut myself and it was the best investment I have ever made. I rarely ever buy shorts from stores because I am bigger in the thigh region, so I can never find anything that fits right. Thrifting pants and turning them into shorts is definitely the right move if you have the same problem as me because you can tailor them to your liking! I also love utilizing thrift shops for themed parties because you can find just about any outfit/costume within minutes! I like to shop at stores who tend to have a lot of great sales as well! I check on these stores’ websites once a week or so, just to see if anything new has been marked down! Some of my favorites: ★Madewell Great for jeans, blouses, dresses, and accessories ★Nordstrom/Nordstrom Rack Great for getting all of your shopping done in one place ★Urban Outfitters Great for accessories and fad trends ★Carly Jean Los Angeles Great for getting your basic outfit staples ★Top Shop Great for fad trends, bathing suits, shoes, and bags ★Old Navy Great for bathing suits, loungewear, and basic outfit staples With how many questions I get asked about where I shop, I thought that I would just make this post short and sweet so that I don’t overload you with information. I’m excited to say that I will be making a LIKEtoKNOW.it soon, so you will be able to access information about any outfits I post soon! I have loved sharing all of my favorite stores with you, and if you have any stores that you swear by that aren’t on this list, shoot me a message! I would love to connect. xo, The Undergrad ★ trigger warning: narcissistic relationships ★ I already know that today’s topic is going to be controversial, so let me preface a few things - I understand that there are plenty of high school sweethearts that get married and live a wonderful life together, however, I also understand that people stay in their high school relationships throughout college because it’s just what feels comfortable, but the relationship falls apart later on in life. I’m the kind of person that likes to stay hopeful in relationships. Going off to college, all four of my roommates and myself came into our college experience in a relationship in one way or another, whether it was something long-term, short term, or casual. We all had hope for our relationships, even though none of us were actually in a relationship with someone who went to our school. Now, living in a space with four other girls who were also in long distance relationships was comforting at first, but within a few weeks, our relationships started dropping like flies. We were all very supportive of each other, but once the third breakup happened, there started to be some resentment from those who weren’t in relationships towards those who were. After a semester of getting drunk phone calls at 3 am almost every night, I realized that I couldn't do it anymore. I had to let this person go, even though they had been a large presence in my life for the past 4 years of high school. Before I ended it, I really analyzed the relationship. What was making it not work? Was it just the distance? Or had I just been trying too hard to make it work for too long? Whatever it was, I was burnt out and our relationship was running on fumes. I quickly realized that my relationship from high school wasn’t made to last because that's all it was - a high school relationship. When I use this term “high school relationship,” this is what I mean. This relationship was based on convenience. It wasn’t based on love or respect. It was very petty and there was virtually no communication skills between the two of us. In high school, we would be going on dates one minute, then breaking things off and seeing other people the next. This pattern between us went on for years. Throughout this pattern, I had developed this sense of not knowing who I truly was. Everybody knew us for always being together, whether we were dating in the moment or not, and it really took a toll on me because I didn't know myself outside of this relationship since I wasn’t experiencing any personal growth. This relationship actually prevented me from experiencing self growth. I was constantly pushed to look a certain way and act a certain way and do certain things that don’t align with my character today. I was a completely different person who was stripped of her identity in what I now know was a relationship with a narcissist. If I gained weight, we weren’t dating anymore. If I missed a party, he would meet someone else there and blame me for not being there. If I needed to hear a familiar voice to talk down my anxiety, he would be too busy to answer his phone. Yet, I was expected to pick up the phone when he called, stay faithful at parties that I went to without him, and not make comments on his body since his was in “good condition” by his personal definition when mine wasn't. When college started, He started love bombing me, trying to get me to not leave. He would call me on my walks to class and before bed. He even got me an expensive christmas present as a last attempt to save the relationship, but I couldn’t do it anymore. I was drained. When I came back to school after christmas break, I decided that I was going to live my best single life and manifest happiness. I started going out with my friends more because there was no phone call I had to wait for. I started talking to more people in my classes because I didn’t feel guilty for talking to other guys. I was glowing with happiness and it showed in everything I did. If I hadn’t put myself out there and started living my best life, I wouldn’t have met the man I am with today and love so much. A little less than a month after we got back to school, I went to a party with all of my friends and started talking to this guy that I really hit things off with. We talked, we kissed, we exchanged numbers, and had a really good night. For the first time in a long time, I had finally felt respected by a guy and I was truly happy about it. After this night, we started hanging out more and going on dates. We spent so much time together that my roommates eventually didn’t even need to ask where I was when I didn’t come home. They knew I was with someone that made me happy and that they could trust to keep me safe. Gage, my now boyfriend, has been the best thing to ever happen for me. He is my biggest supporter and my best friend. He was the first man besides my dad to tell me that I was beautiful and he has made me realize my self worth. He pushes me to do my best everyday and makes communication easy. We have been together for a little over a year now and I wouldn’t trade our time together for the world. I am finally feeling like myself again. Not every high school relationship is going to be narcissistic. Like I said before, I know that there are plenty of high school sweethearts out there that have very successful relationships. These signs are more for the people who are unsure if their relationship is going to make it through college. Here are some red flags: ★Your relationship is one-sided One of you puts more effort into making the relationship work than the other ★You question your self worth Your partner makes you feel that you aren't enough for them, even if its just sometimes ★You question your identity You feel like you're not the same person you used to be OR you wish that you could try something you wouldn’t be able to while in your relationship ★You can’t communicate without someone being petty Neither of you have worked out a way to communicate respectfully and efficiently - anything can turn into a fight ★You fear that your partner is a narcissist Your needs aren’t being met and your partner blames you for that rather than taking responsibility. Now, I'm no relationship expert, but I do know what it's like to be in a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships are ultimately the ones that are successful in the long run. They are what make you feel like the best version of yourself. They are what make you feel truly loved by your partner. A few things that go into a healthy relationship: ★Trusting your partner You and your partner have mutual trust. You can honestly share anything with each other and expect them to treat you with respect ★Practicing good communication You talk things out regularly. You avoid arguments by talking about what upsets you right away rather than letting it bottle up ★Supporting one another You and your partner encourage each other to be the best versions of yourselves. You celebrate the good stuff together and you grieve the bad stuff together ★Having time to yourself guilt free Sometimes, we can all use a break. You or your partner can go out with friends or make a self-care appointment on your own and feel good about it without a guilt trip ★Making sure you and your partners needs are met You and your partner communicate what you need from one another, whether it is mentally, socially, or physically, and you are able to meet those needs and/or compromise if those needs can’t be met right away. I wanted to share my story today because it is getting to that time of year where people going into college are beginning to question staying in their relationships for college. I was one of those people who definitely questioned their high school relationship going into college, and I ignored all of my worries, making things harder for myself in the long run. I have learned so much about relationships since I started college and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without ending that high school relationship and cutting off communication with that person. Gage makes me feel like I am the best version of myself. I have gained so much confidence, self love, love for him, and trust. I know not every relationship looks the same, but what the relationship is based off of should typically look the same. Find someone who encourages you and supports you guilt free. Find someone who will be your best friend through all of the good and the bad. Find someone who lets you live your best life. Happy dating! xo, The Undergrad College is so exciting! If you are reading this, you are probably heading into your freshman year, and let me tell you, freshman year is a blast. However, it can feel difficult if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into! My freshman year was one of the most fun and exciting years of my life so far. I met my best friends, my boyfriend, and joined a sorority that I couldn’t imagine not being a part of. You are going to run into some bumps in the road, it happens, but you are going to have such an amazing time. It is most likely your first time living on your own and having complete freedom from your parents, so take advantage of that! College is a time to try new things and find out who you really are! Here are a few things I learned about my freshman year: Living in the dorms is such a crazy experience. When I was living in the dorms, We didn’t have an option to have completely gender separated dorms. If your school offers co-ed dorms, I highly recommend it. These dorms have such a social atmosphere and I made some of my best friends my freshman year through the dorms. We would get big study groups together and hang out in the common area in our free time. We had our own little family made up of the people on our floor and it made us feel a little more at home! Speaking of feeling at home, decorating your dorm is such an important thing to do in my opinion. No, you and your roommate don't have to match, but when you make your area personalized to you, you’re bound to feel more comfortable in it! Personally, I decorated my space in my room very similar to how I would have it decorated at home - lots of pillows, my guitar sitting in the corner, and my desk space organized with more makeup than school supplies. Throughout the year it definitely changed, but there were a lot of items I found very helpful while I was making the transition to dorm living! ✰ A Bed Shelf with USB ports for charging This was definitely one of my favorite purchases for my dorm room. I had no choice when it came to lofting my bed, so the bed shelf allowed me to keep my phone charging next to me at night, and even fit my hydroflask! It was a great alternative to a night stand and saved a ton of space! ✰ Space Saving Hangers I loved having these space saving hangers because I was sharing one closet between 3 girls, and I personally have a lot of clothes. We all got different colored hangers as well, so we knew where each person’s clothes ended and the other’s started. Having the majority of my clothes at school helped me with my transition of living away from home because I never had to think about all of the things I left behind! ✰ Cute Organizational Bins I used these bins for just about everything! I used plastic bins to organize my drawers and wire bins to store things that were sitting out on my desk or in my closet! We used them for our medicine baskets, our laundry supplies baskets, and our cleaning supplies baskets! It took the ugliness of what was in the basket away and made them cute enough to just leave out in the room if needed! ✰ Coffee Machine Now, I made a deal with my parents that I would wait to get a new computer until mine died if I could get a Nespresso Machine instead, and well, It was the best decision I have ever made. Being able to make lattes right there in my room was SUCH a money saver. I rarely went out for coffee, and if any of my friends wanted to get coffee and chat, I was just able to make them a cup and we would hang out in my room or in the common area! If you’re smart about it, you may even be able to create an underground coffee shop on your floor and make some money off of it! Now, I could go on forever about what you should have in your dorm, so when it gets closer to when you would be buying things to move into your dorm, I will have a whole post for it! But for now let's move on to… Rushing was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. Almost everyone in my family is in greek life, so there was a lot of pressure put on me to rush, and I almost didn’t go through with it! I believe that even if I didn't rush my freshman year, I would have ended up rushing at some other point throughout college, but I am so thankful that I did it freshman year because I created some amazing memories with my pledge class and made some of my best friends! Even if you don’t think you want to rush, try it anyways! Depending on the school you are at, recruitment may last anywhere from 3 days to one week, so you aren't going to have to commit to being in a sorority on the first day! Go to day 1 of recruitment, and if you don’t like it, then drop out of the process! It's no big deal! But, you may be surprised at some of the houses! Every house typically has something that fits everyone's personality. Another big reason that you should rush is that being in a sorority can look amazing on a job application in the future! It shows dedication, a heart for volunteering, and leadership (if you decide to take a position). I know when we think about sororities and recruitment, we tend to think about that viral video of all of the sorority girls saying “we’ve been waiting for you all summer,” and yes, the singing like that does happen, but that only happens during recruitment. The rest of the year, we are committed to academics, philanthropic work, and supporting each other in any way! And even if you do commit to a sorority, you can always drop it after your first year if you end up not liking it. But I cannot stress enough how important it is to still give it a chance! As we all know, with college comes lots of parties. You may be surprised to know that it isn't just the frats that throw parties on campus. Lots of the sports teams decide to throw parties as well! However, who is throwing the party does not matter as long as you know how to party responsibly. My #1 tip is to bring your own water! There is going to be some point in the night when you want it, but you aren’t going to be able to get it. Throw a mini water bottle in your purse, or even carry around your hydro. Not only will this help you stay hydrated, but you will thank yourself in the morning. When it comes to drinking, try to bring your own drinks. We have all heard the nightmare stories of girls getting drugged at frat parties, and even though I haven't heard about this happening to anyone I know, it is still something that happens, especially at big party schools. To make yourself even safer from this happening, make sure to bring someone to the party with you! If you are out with your friends having a good time, you’re less likely to take a drink from a random guy that you don’t know! Party culture can get crazy, so make sure you are drinking responsibly, utilizing ride sharing apps, and if you do go home with someone that you met at the party, make sure to be safe, respect yourself, and get tested regularly for STDs. It is so so SO important to talk to your roommates before living with them to make sure you all get along well because crazy roommates do exist. Last year, I had a roommate that had no respect for boundaries, would constantly forget her key, and come back to the dorms blasted and wake all of us up at 3 am. If your roommate starts to turn into a nightmare, don’t worry! There are definitely ways to get around it! Make sure you create a roommate contract when you first move in! That way, it is clarified in writing how you will handle disagreements and things that make you uncomfortable. We were required to do this through our RAl, and I am so grateful that we had it. When you first move in, you will probably want nothing to do with your RA, but if you get into a situation where your roommate becomes a nightmare, they will become your best friend. If you explain what is going on in your room, they will do their best to assign you to a new room, or remove that roommate from your room! So, don't fret if your roommate isn’t who you expected them to be. I eventually want to do a separate blog post for each of these topics, so I am leaving it brief for now. Freshman year is so exciting and there are so many things to look forward to! Push yourself to try new things and meet new people! Have the time of your life! You only get to live your freshman year once, so go all out and do what you want, but try not to get into any trouble! Congratulations on making it to college! You’ll have a blast. xo, The Undergrad Periods suck, there is no doubt about it. They cause us to be bloated, irritable, and fatigued, but in some instances they can cause us some serious pain. Many young women deal with cramps at some point during their period, but what a lot of women don’t know is that it’s not normal to have that pain interfere with your daily activities. In my personal experience, there are a few days out of the month where I have to plan to stay home and do nothing, all because my period pain takes over my entire body - sometimes to the point where I can’t even walk without someone helping me. Although it feels like it sometimes, I know I’m not alone, so I wanted to clear the air and tell you everything there is to know about period pain and how you can control it! Starting at the basics, menstrual cramps are throbbing and cramping pains in your lower abdomen that can come 1-3 days before your period and peak around the 2nd or 3rd day of your period. Some women get cramps that they can barely feel, while others get cramps that are unbearable. The reason we get cramps is that when our uterine lining sheds, our uterus is contracting. These contractions are caused by hormonelike substances called prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation, triggering the uterus to contract. Did you know that your cramps could be more painful because you may have an underlying condition? Now, this may sound scary, but these conditions don’t affect your health too much. However, it is still important to see a doctor if your cramps are interfering with your day-to-day activities. Some of the symptoms that may indicate an underlying condition that you should look out for are dizziness, pain radiating in your lower back and upper thighs, nausea, sharp/stabbing pains, and migraines. Here are details on a few of these underlying conditions: Endometriosis Endometriosis is something we have been hearing more and more about in the media. Some people mistake their painful periods for having endometriosis, but did you know that it's a condition that needs to be surgically diagnosed? Endometriosis isn’t just a painful period. What happens when you have endometriosis is that the tissue that lines your uterus becomes implanted on the outside of your uterus. It begins growing along the outside of your uterus, and most commonly on your fallopian tubes. When you go in for surgery, your doctors are actually able to remove these growths, which could potentially reduce your pain greatly. Endometriosis is also genetic, so if someone in your family has it, it’s likely that you have it too if you are experiencing painful periods. This is the condition that I resonate most with because my sister has it. I personally haven’t gone into surgery yet, but based off of my symptoms, I’m on the same track as my sister. Personally, I feel sharp, stabbing pains in my lower abdomen and it hurts so bad that I need to grab onto something around me in order to keep myself up. Uterine Fibroids Uterine fibroids are another type of growth that can cause your periods to be painful, but these are inside of your uterus. They are noncancerous and grow along the wall of your uterus. They range from sizes that can’t be seen with the human eye, to large masses that may distort the uterus. Many women experience these at some point in their life, but they go undiagnosed because they often don’t show any symptoms. But if you are worried you may be showing symptoms, here’s what to look out for! If you’re experiencing periods that are lasting for more than a week, heavy periods, frequent urination, constipation, or backaches and leg pain, then you may want to ask your doctor about examining you for uterine fibroids! Cervical Stenosis Cervical stenosis may be something you are already aware of if you have spinal stenosis. Cervical stenosis isn’t as extreme as Endometriosis or Uterine fibroids because there aren’t any growths involved! This condition affects women that have a small cervix opening that affects the flow of their period. With this smaller opening, women feel a lot of pressure and pain in their lower abdomen because the normal flow of their period is being blocked. Some women are born with this condition, but some develop it over time! There are some medical procedures that can be done to help widen this opening, so talk to your doctor if this is something that you may be worried about! Ever since the beginning of humanity, women have been dealing with periods and have learned remedies that work for them! Some swear by exercise, some swear by medications, and some swear by herbal and topical remedies. Personally, exercise makes my cramps worse, but I have found a good combo of Midol, green tea, and a heating pad that works pretty nicely for me! There are many other remedies that I have read about and that have been suggested to me, so I’ll tell you all about them so you can find what works for you! Yoga I have tried yoga a little bit on my period, but I haven’t tried any stretches that target the tension in your lower abdomen, so I am excited to find a yoga routine that is perfect for my period! I have heard that people swear by this to reduce the pain in their lower back and upper thighs, as well as target their core to reduce their cramps. There are a ton of youtube videos that give virtual yoga classes that target period pain, so go and check them out! Essential Oils I use essential oils to reduce my migraines when I’m on my period and they work like a charm for me. Sage Oil is good to use if you need to reduce pain. If you’re looking to reduce inflammation, Rose Oil is best for you. Lavender Oil is probably one of the most versatile essential oils out there, but it is great to use in a diffuser to reduce your anxiety and irritability. Peppermint Oil is my personal go to for migraines - just massage 1-2 drops into your temples for some immediate relief! If you’re looking for something that works all around, try the Progessence Plus Oil from Young Living! It uses a mixture of different oils that help soothe pain and boost your mood! I highly encourage you to research find oils to incorporate into your daily routine that are specific to your needs, especially on your period, because they’re great natural healers! Medical Marijuana Now, I know this is a VERY controversial topic, but it’s 2020 and I am here openly talking about periods. With that said, I think it’s an important choice to throw in here, just in case there is someone out there that can really benefit from it. Medical marijuana has all sorts of health benefits when it comes to reducing pain. It is a great alternative to pharmaceuticals because it is only addictive in 10% of users. It’s a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent. It helps greatly in reducing migraines, back pain, and cramps themselves! I know many people who have benefitted from medical marijuana and reducing their period pain, but these are people with underlying conditions (including chronic pain, which can be caused by painful periods) that qualify for a medical card in their state. If this is something that interests you, talk with your doctor and visit a Qualified Medical Provider (QMP) in your area to discuss your options Medication This is typically everybody’s go to, but it’s still important to know about all of the options that help! I personally swear by Midol Complete, which can be bought in just about any drugstore imaginable. Many people also use Advil or Tylenol Extra Strength, but they don’t always do the job. Did you know that you can get a higher dosage of ibuprofen that is safe for you to use with a prescription from your doctor? I didn’t find this out until last year, so I’m sure that there are others out there that have no idea as well. Other prescriptions that you can get to help cramps, especially if you get them not just on your period, is birth control! I know bringing up the topic of birth control to your parents or healthcare provider can be scary if you're going on it for the first time, but there are lots of available options out there where you can get it on your own and online! Personally, I use The Pill Club. I love using them because I was connected with a doctor that I was able to send all of my symptoms to, and they were able to get me the right prescription shipped to my house! If you want to continue with taking medications, but they aren’t quite doing the trick, talk to your doctor about the pain you are having and see if you can get a prescription for these higher doses of ibuprofen or birth control! Do your research and talk to your doctor about what would best suit you. Now these are only a few of the many remedies out there, but some of them may be things you haven’t tried before, so take control and go try them if they seem right for you! On top of some of these remedies, I also still use a heating pad and drink hot tea regularly to soothe the pain, but that doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. I know I don’t typically discuss medical topics on here, but I’m glad I got the opportunity to give a little more insight into why we may have painful periods to all of you! It’s time to stop letting your period pain control you. Talk to your doctor and try new remedies! Find exactly what works for you and take control. You truly can conquer your period pain, it just takes some time, so in that time, stay happy and stay healthy! You are stronger than your period. xo, The Undergrad *all medical information was sourced from Mayo Clinic
We are in a weird time, that’s for sure. Quarantine is not easy. Every email and we send consists of something like, “hope you are doing well during this crazy time,” and, “stay healthy!” I for one struggled with this new normal a lot towards the beginning, and although we are finally starting to see a potential end to the madness, I have started to feel much better about the whole thing and I’m finally starting to feel comfortable with it all.
It wasn’t easy to get out of my slump, but once I did, my whole perspective on the situation began to change. I started quarantine with a lot of anxiety. I had come into it after having a few family emergencies and abruptly leaving home after spring break because of potential lockdowns that turned into real lockdowns later on. I had had a few online classes before, but I’m the kind of student that requires a routine and a traditional classroom setting in order to be able to focus on my work properly. None of my professors required us to meet on Zoom and just posted all of the notes for us to copy down on our own time. To some, this may sound like a luxury, but at the beginning of everything that was about to happen, this was my worst nightmare. I tried creating my own routine in my one-bedroom 550 square foot apartment that I share with my boyfriend but I found it very difficult. Our shared laundry room no longer became usable because someone in our building was diagnosed with our beloved COVID, and things began to get very messy very quick, but it was completely out of our control. I was anxious from the mess, but with everything the media was saying, on top of the many earthquakes Utah was having, I was also too anxious to go outside. I found myself in this uncontrollable spiral of anxiety that I was afraid that I would never be able to shake off. I came to the conclusion that I needed to just try and focus on one thing at a time, whether it was school, my internship, or an activity for myself. I decided to put the blog on the backburner, only posting on the instagram with little mini-blogs, which ended up reducing my stress quite a bit, but not completely. I hit my breaking point about two weeks before finals, so with a lot of consideration, my boyfriend and I decided to pack up our bags and head back out to California to wait out the rest of quarantine with my family. Having a change of scenery was exactly what both of us needed. Both my boyfriend and I had been struggling with severe insomnia for weeks when we were back in Utah, sometimes not getting any sleep for over 48 hours. As soon as we got to California, that immediately changed. Once I saw how easy falling back into a normal sleep schedule was with the change of location, I slowly got my routine back in order. I added one new thing to my routine everyday until I had a set routine for the entire day that I was comfortable with. I am not saying that this works for everybody, but I encourage you to try this tactic in your own home during quarantine! Here is what my day looks like:
I let myself wake up naturally. I don’t have a set alarm so that my body can get the amount of sleep that it needs in order for me to feel good throughout the day. When I first got to California, I was waking up closer to 9:30-10:00 AM, but as time has gone on, I’ve been waking up naturally closer to 7:30-8:00 AM.
To get my day started, I immediately make my bed and turn on either a show or some music before going down stairs and getting a cup of coffee. Once I’ve finished my coffee, I like to do something wellness related. Some mornings I journal, sometimes I meditate, and sometimes I do 30 minutes of yoga. There are mornings that I do all three, but it really just depends on how I am feeling at the moment and how much energy I have to release.
Once I have finished my morning activity, I make my boyfriend and I smoothies for breakfast. These have been a great way to get our extra servings of fruits and veggies at the beginning of the day, giving us the energy we need to get everything we want done!
After we finish breakfast, I get in the shower and then do my makeup. I wasn’t doing my makeup at the beginning of quarantine, but once I started to get into a new routine, it made me feel really good throughout the day and made me feel more productive. I also found that putting on a real outfit, rather than just changing back into sweats, made me feel the same way. It has been boosting both my confidence and my productivity throughout the day!
Once I’m dressed and ready to go, I start working on stuff for my internship and for the blog. I Like to sit outside and get some sun while I do this because I was dealing with a lack of Vitamin D back in Utah due to my poorly-lit apartment. For me, Vitamin D plays an important role in my mental health. Growing up in California, I was exposed to Vitamin D almost constantly. Moving to a state that has seasons that require you to be inside a lot was a big change for me and it caused me to have seasonal depression, so when I do come home, I make sure to spend a lot of time outside!
Since I take my time throughout the morning, I don’t sit down to eat lunch until about 1:30 PM. I try to keep it healthy as much as possible, but I never restrict myself. Some days I have chicken salad, but some days I’ll give into my cravings and I’ll swap that for chicken nuggets. Not worrying about diets has actually helped me a lot through quarantine. I see posts all the time about diet culture and post-quarantine bodies, but in all honesty, these are toxic posts. You should be able to eat whatever makes you feel good. You do not need to be worrying about what other people think about your body, especially after being quarantined for months. If you are doing and eating what makes you feel good, then keep doing that! Don’t fall into the pressure that social media may be putting you under.
After lunch, I like to put some focus on the blog accounts. I do mini photoshoots at home and edit pictures, and even got into making Tik Toks. This has given me the ability to allow my creativity to continue flowing. I enjoy this because it all ends up going back into my work for my internship and also allows me to connect with other college girls, like myself, that are going through a lot of the same things in the moment!
In the afternoons, I also like to make time for spending some time with my boyfriend and my dog. Sometimes we take the dog for a walk, sometimes we play with her in the backyard, and sometimes we just take the rest of the afternoon for ourselves and watch a show together. Since we are sleeping in different rooms while we are staying at my parents house in order to have some alone time throughout the day, this time spent together has become really important. We have been rewatching our favorite movies and TV shows, going on drives, playing games, doing puzzles, and just sitting outside to enjoy nature. Quarantine has given us the opportunity to focus on our relationship through quality time and it has been so good for us. We are communicating better and have been more intentional with our time together.
In the late afternoon, I love to start winding down right before dinner. I typically take off my makeup and change into something more comfortable. After a healthy dinner, I like to do something self-care related. Sometimes that’s a facemask, sometimes it’s doing my nails, and other times it’s catching up on a show that I’ve been watching on my own time. I also like to do a lot of my photo editing during this time, just so that I’m keeping myself busy.
I’ve been trying to get to bed around 11:00 PM, so with my extra time before bed, I make sure to straighten up my room and put together any laundry that I want to get done the next day. I finish off my nightly skincare routine, turn on a show (yes, I’m a TV sleeper, don’t judge me), and climb into bed! Now this may seem like a lot to do throughout the day, but like I said before, I slowly built up to this! I don’t always get everything done that I want to get done, but that’s okay because it’s quarantine. If you take anything out of this, I want you to take these few things: ★If you are spending quarantine with a significant other, make sure that you are both making time for yourselves and time to spend intentionally with each other! ★Giving into diet-culture during quarantine will not do you any favors, unless it is truly what makes you feel best! Just don’t put others down by making jokes about post-quarantine bodies. This is a form of body shaming and that is not okay ★Do what makes YOU feel best throughout the day! If you want to spend your time trying new things, then try new things! If you want to stay in bed all day, then stay in bed all day! Listen to your body and your mind and don’t push yourself too hard. Conquer quarantine your way! Like everything I post, my routine was created from my personal experiences during quarantine. I am doing what makes myself happy and you should too! Focusing on how you are feeling rather than what other people are saying about what you should be doing will take a lot of stress off your shoulders and will help reduce your quarantine anxiety! Let’s keep in touch! Let me know how you have been conquering quarantine! Hopefully we will all be out of this soon, but in the meantime, stay happy and stay healthy! Xo, The Undergrad
College is stressful. There is no doubt about it, especially in this time of online classes with a pandemic going around. I hear a lot of the term “sophomore slump” being thrown around here and there from my friends and peers, but I didn’t quite understand it or why it happens until this year.
I experienced this feeling of the sophomore slump at the beginning of this school year because in retrospect, a lot was going on and I felt like I just couldn’t keep up. My friends and I were unexpectedly kicked out of our house the same week that we had sorority recruitment, I had to find a place to live by myself for the first time, I found out I couldn’t take a little with the rest of my pledge class, and my friendships had a lot of pressure put on them after the housing got split up. I felt lost and didn’t even want to be at school anymore. I felt anxious and like I had no friends after my best friend had transferred, even though I was the one distancing myself. I noticed that many of my friends at other schools were feeling the same way. They were feeling lost and anxious all of the time but they had no idea why. I have now realized that this is what everyone was talking about. This is the sophomore slump. And even though we feel like we are experiencing it alone, we aren’t! Now, I think everyone is beginning to feel this sophomore slump, no matter what year they are because of COVID-19. Many of us have had to move back home when we were least expecting it and get used to this whole new routine of online school. We were all looking forward to finishing out the semester with our favorite people by our side, but now we can’t. This hits us so hard. This can cause us to feel alone while we have to socially distance ourselves and can cause us to feel anxious about our grades as we are getting used to a new form of curriculum. But what exactly are the true signs that we are experiencing the sophomore slump? Symptoms include:
The good news is, this slump doesn’t last forever and there are actually ways that we are able to pull ourselves out of it! It can be from something as simple as keeping a daily planner/journal to even going and talking to a therapist. Here are some of the things I have done and that my peers have dont to get out of their slumps! If you’re experiencing: a drop in grades Try: keeping a daily planner/journal A drop in grades can be really tough to deal with, but it’s never too late to try getting them up. Keeping a planner or a journal is a great way to keep all of your thoughts on track and keep you liable for your assignments because they are written down somewhere you can find them. Physically writing down what your assignments are also makes your brain remember them easier! With a daily planner or journal, you can also keep track of your mindset throughout the month with a “mood tracker.” A mood tracker can be helpful and let you know when you need to take a break and when you need to take time for yourself. Your mindset plays a major role in your grades. If you are feeling anxious or stressed all of the time, your grades are more likely to slip! If you haven’t read it yet, check out all of my tips for boosting your GPA here. If you're experiencing: lack of motivation Try: going for a walk or run Exercising is a great way to get your endorphins going. If you have noticed that you are lacking motivation lately, try and get yourself in the habit of getting out and going for a run or even just a walk. It is a great way to clear your mind and focus on taking care of yourself. Once you are done with your little workout, you’ll start to notice that you actually want to do more! I have a friend who was feeling unmotivated and she made it a habit to go to the gym every morning to start her day with a good headspace, which in return, helped boost her motivation! If you’re experiencing: a sudden urge to transfer Try: getting involved on campus If you haven’t rushed a sorority yet, or don’t think it’s your thing, you should still go for it! It’s never too late! Rushing is one of the easiest ways to get yourself more involved and create bonds with like-minded women! Not all sororities are the same which is why giving recruitment a chance is so worth it! Already in a sorority? Run for a position or keep your eye out throughout the semester for new positions that open up and apply for them! Honestly, this is one of the major things that pulled me out of my slump. I ran for everything I possibly could, and although I didn’t get any of those positions, I still felt better about putting myself out there and automatically felt more involved. If your school doesn’t have greek life, don’t fret! Join a club or find a place on campus where you can volunteer. Just making an effort to be on campus in general will allow you to feel more involved and at home! If you’re experiencing: anxiety and/or depression Try: finding something to distract your mind Like i said in my first tip, journaling is a great way to keep your mind on track and to get all of your thoughts out. If calling a loved one and talking to them about your day helps, then do that! Personally, my greatest distraction is keeping myself busy, which in all honesty is a big reason as to why I started this blog. I found that just my school work and my internship weren’t quite filling up the amount of time I would have preferred to keep my mind busy and stimulated, so I started a blog to try and help young women like myself! If simple distractions don’t work, speaking with a therapist could be very beneficial. I know many people who have both hated it and benefited from it, so it should never be ruled out until you try it! I know in the midst of all of the craziness that is going on in the world, it’s easy to lose track of what’s important - putting ourselves first. Mental health is so extremely important in college. We have surprises around every corner, and unfortunately right now that means cutting our semester short. However, we need to continue checking in with ourselves. What can we do that can allow us to avoid the sophomore slump. Take care of yourself! Draw a bath, slap on a face mask, and just go to town in your journal. You would be amazed at how much your mind will be cleared just after taking those 20 minutes to yourself! Stay healthy, stay happy, and never hesitate to reach out when you need to! xo, The Undergrad
From stress to partying, there is no doubt that college can wreak havoc on our skin. I personally have had very acne prone skin since a young age and it took me years to figure out what works to control it. When I was going into freshman year of college, I felt like I had finally gotten my acne under control. Fast forward two months later, I had found myself in the same cycle of terrible skin, even though I had felt that I was doing everything I could to keep it under control. Little did I know, I was experiencing new kinds of stress that made my skin go crazy - and going to frat parties and wearing a full face of makeup didn’t help either.
From Christmas break to spring break, I dedicated time to getting my skin back in shape and I have been addicted to my skincare routine ever since. Now, do I still get bad breakouts? Absolutely! But I do feel like I have them more under control than I did before, and they go away much faster! I also have built up the confidence to walk out of the house without a single drop of makeup on because of how much this skincare routine has helped me! With that said, let’s jump right into it. take off your makeup everyday, but ditch the makeup wipes.
I cannot stress enough how important taking off your makeup at the end of every day is! Taking off your makeup at the end of the day is one of best ways to keep your skin clean and healthy and is the easiest way to prevent breakouts. The end of the day looks different for everyone. For some, it’s after their classes are done, but for others it’s after a night out with friends. If you put on your makeup right before you leave and take off your makeup as soon as you get home, it lessens the amount of time that the makeup sits on your face and can help prevent those nasty breakouts.
Now, you may be wondering why I say ditch the makeup wipes. Truth is, makeup wipes don’t get everything off of your skin! Yes, they can get the majority of your makeup off, but a much better alternative is a makeup eraser towel with some cleansing oil. Not only is this a much more efficient way to get your face thoroughly clean, but it also reduces the amount of waste you are emitting. The average woman uses 1-2 makeup wipes to take off their makeup, and some do this multiple times a day! That means you can go through up to roughly 60 makeup wipes per month! Not only does this get expensive in the long run, but that is so much waste that is released out into the world! Here are my favorite makeup removers:
Makeup Eraser
$20 Ulta | MakeupEraser.com
Neutrogena Ultra Light Facial Cleansing Oil
$9.99 Walmart | Target | Neutrogena.com don’t wear makeup every single day.
Like I said before, the less time makeup is on your face, the easier it is to keep it looking healthy! I know too many people that put makeup on every single morning, even if they are just sitting at home throughout the day. If there is a day where you know you won’t be doing anything, then there is absolutely no reason to not let your skin breathe for a day. I used to wear makeup everyday because of the insecurities I had with my acne, but as soon as I made sure that there were 2-3 days out of the week that I didn't wear makeup, I began to see a difference in my skin. Doing this also boosted my confidence because the more I went out in public without makeup, the more I felt comfortable in my own skin. Within a few weeks, I began to get compliments on how amazing my skin was looking, even without any makeup on and it made me feel the need to almost ditch makeup completely. Not wearing makeup became my form of self care and now I try to only wear concealer and mascara throughout the day unless I’m going out!
Here I am with no makeup July 2018 vs. February 2019:
All it took was cutting out wearing makeup as much as possible and giving my skin the attention it deserves!
don’t use harsh scrubs everyday.
Exfoliating is great for your skin, but not if you do it every single day. I exfoliate 2-3 times a week with a scrub-style face wash, but use a gentle cleanser the rest of the week. When I have a breakout, I swap my facial cleanser for an acne bar and it works wonders! Exfoliating everyday or using an acne bar everyday can dry out and strip your skin, but using a gentle cleanser helps keep the moisture locked in and will prevent damaging your skin! Many people think that you have to stick to only one product to wash your face once you see it working, however many face washes don’t target every need for your skin. Find a few products that work for you and implement them into your daily routine!
Here’s what works for me:
★Gentle Cleanser
★Exfoliating Scrub
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub
$4 Target
★Acne Bar
Truly Clear Acne Bar
$19.95 Amazon | TrulyClear.com moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
It's common to think that you don’t need to be using moisturizer or eye cream on a daily basis until you are older to prevent wrinkles. The harsh reality is that we are already at that age where wrinkles are beginning to form, so using an eye cream and moisturizer everyday makes a huge difference in the long run. I also like to incorporate sunscreen into my daily routine to give that extra layer of protection to my skin. However, you can’t skip moisturizing on days you use sunscreen! I typically use moisturizer, eye cream, and sunscreen at the start of my day and then just use moisturizer, and sometimes a serum at night! It is honestly two minutes out of your whole day, so it is an easy thing to fit into your routine!
Products I love:
★Moisturizer
Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream
$24.95 Ulta | Neutrogena.com
★Eye Cream
Dr. Brandt Needles No More: No More Baggage Eye Cream
$42 Ulta | DrBrandtSkincare.com
★Sunscreen
Sun Bum Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 30
$9.99 Ulta | TrustTheBum.com
★Serum
Odacité Bl+C | Pimples Serum Concentrate
$36 Amazon | Odacite.com treat yourself to a face mask.
Treating yourself to a face mask 1-2 times per week is the perfect way to give your skin the reset that it needs. Even these past few days, I was going through a bad breakout that made my skin look dull and feel gross, but as soon as I used a mask for brightening, my skin began to heal itself before my eyes. The redness and size of my breakout had reduced immensely and my skin finally had that glow that I had been hoping for all week! I use face masks as a form of self care and a way to show my body the love it deserves. There truly isn’t a better feeling than drawing a bath, putting on a face mask and just simply ~vibing~. Do yourself and your skin a favor and make time to make this treat into a habit!
Masks I swear by:
★For Tightening and Cleansing
Freck Beauty Foreclay Cactus Clay Mask
$22 Urban Outfitters | FreckBeauty.com
★For Brightening
GLAMGLOW Flashmud Brightening Treatment Vitamin C Mask
$25 Sephora | GLAMGLOW.com
★For Hydrating
Karuna Hydrating + Face Sheet Mask
$28 (pack of 4) Amazon | KarunaSkin.com
Now, I am definitely NOT a skin expert, so you can take what I say in whatever way you want. However, these habits have been working for me and for the people who have helped me develop these habits. Yes, college is stressful and it takes up a lot of our time, but it is time that we put some of that stress on the backburner and focus on taking care of our bodies! Feeling confident in our own skin is what allows us to get our there and be boss ladies. We have the confidence to go for the things we want. Our bodies are our homes and we need to show it a little love and a solid skincare routine is the way to do that!
Have some tips you would like to share? Shoot me a message or comment below! Xo, The Undergrad |
AUTHORCamille Baron is a 20 year old attending the University of Utah and is in her third year as a Strategic Communications major. She strives to educate college women like herself to achieve their full potential in all aspects of life. ARCHIVES
July 2020
CATEGORIESAll Business And Professional College Culture Education Health And Wellness Self Care Travel |