One minute, just let me put on my face...

Make- Up means something to almost all females. Some cannot leave the house without it, others save it for special occasions, most use it to cover up lack of sleep and the mother of all hangovers. One thing is for sure no one can deny the transformation that it can give us. It helps hide our least favourite parts and highlight our best. It's a girl's best friends (most of the time) and I'm pretty sure if guyliner and all other male make-up products were widely accepted the majority of men would jump on board and use it just as much too, if not more.

Bye bye hangover!

Many misconceptions have been formed by many judgmental individuals about females who wear make up on a regular basis. Murmurs of low self-esteem and references to them not being comfortable in their own skin have been made time and time again. However, couldn't that be said about anything? Why not judge someone's self esteem and confidence by the way one dresses; whether they have tattoos or piercings; if they use hair dye or their style haircut as well?  Really though these are all ways that we define ourselves, how we express who we are to the outside world and make that first impression we want to make.
It seems we cannot win because even by not doing these things we are saying something. Like it or not we are making a statement by projecting this image to the world. Women with no make-up are showing that they are naturally fresh faced and actually don't need it, maybe screaming to the world: Look at my really great genes (or maybe they bought a new pair of really great jeans and want all the focus on that, who knows!). Maybe subconsciously some want to portray to everyone that they are too busy (Exam face anyone?) or too serious to have time to put on makeup.

Serious case of exam face!

In first and second year of college we learnt about the human race's quest to achieve their aspirational self. We were taught that they try to bridge the gap between their actual self and their aspirational self through their hobbies, maybe they paint or play instruments; the sports they play, are you a strong rugby manly man or a graceful swimmer? The course they attend; the job they work; their career, or lack of; the place they live in or they car the drive; the people they hang out with or avoid and mock; or the charity work they do- the list is long. All of these things are seen as acceptable and standard ways that we all define ourselves by. Yet young women are criticised, mostly by the elders and sometimes their peers, for wearing make-up. They are told they look like a slapper, a clown or a Goth. That they look much nicer without that "awful stuff caked on their face" and that "people will know that they are lacking in self-confidence." Because being told that you look rubbish is going to do wonders for your self-belief.

A Girl's Best friend?

Is this not another form of self-expression, a way of finding yourself by experimenting with looks? Granted NOBODYS make up when they begin is perfect but that is how we learn. We make mistakes, we practice and 90% of the time we improve...maybe after several years. Also don't worry, the shameful photographs of the past that lurk in the darkness of our sock drawer will remind us if we are to forget!

Yup, pretty much sums it up...

Sure it is said that we have to love ourselves if we are to expect anyone to love us. I do believe that this is true. However, in my experience I find that make-up allows a lot of people to be more themself than when they go shiny barefaced. Some might call it wearing a mask, that those that do this are just hiding their true self from the world. That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion I actually find it allows me to match my inside self to my outside self and in fact I am a lot more forthright when I "have my face on" as some say. It's more about accepting yourself on the inside and then expressing this wonderful person you are on the outside. Does anyone else feel like this? Or am I just a little crazy.


I think Make-up is fantastic. It's great to be able to have a creative outlet every day. Ever since I picked up an eyeliner pencil age 11 and drew those fantastically grungy panda circles, that stayed with me until age 16 , I knew I had found a new canvas that I could take with me everywhere -how fun!(Embarrassing photos remain on Bebo...) I'm sure I'm not alone in this, great satisfaction can be had trying out or perfecting new looks or teaming up with your friends to transform your surprisingly willing male flatmate into a drag queen. (Note: Photos of said incident are available on Facebook for those interested!) Endless opportunities are to be had!

I'm of the opinion that once you are happy with yourself on the inside and have the self-confidence to be the best you that you can be then it does not matter what you look like on the outside. Okay I'm aware that this may sound a little like an "after school special" but it has been playing on my mind ever since I witnessed a mother chastise and almost sneer at her very impressionable young teenage daughter for wearing make-up saying she'll "NEVER get a man looking like that with all that crap on her face!" Ironically the mother had make-up on. So I guess in conclusion what I am saying is maybe the answer is to guide people and not put them down or failing that actually leave them to their own devices because like opinions, bodies and lives it's theirs and so it's that persons choice and only theirs.

Failing that or for some light relief, take some tips from this girl on how to trick people into thinking you're really good looking!

What kind of Social Network are you?

How many of you sign into facebook automatically as soon as you go online, sometimes without realising it?
Some of you will admit it; some of you will deny it, which we both know is a down right lie; and the rest of you have unbelievable self restraint and will probably rule the world while the rest of us while away the hours procrastinating online trying to choose a new profile picture or write an amusing comment.

With the advent of Smartphones FB seems to be part of everyday life.

A lot of changes have occured with Social Media in recent years with many big main Social Networking players biting the dust (R.I.P. BEBO) and others such as MySpace having to re-emphasise their niche of being a platform for emerging talent to have any chance in surviving. More and more people are going online or feel the pressure to have some sort of presence on these "Online Communities" as the view that there's something wrong or dodgy about a person if there's no profile of them whatsoever on any site (not that we were searching that much or anything!) has infiltrated our brains.

Pressure to join...incase people might talk about us and we can't see because their page is private!

Midway through 2011 Google challenged the current "Ruler" of Social Media, Facebook, by introducing their Google + site and continues to challenge it by the introduction of Google Plus Your World at the beginning of his year.Still relatively unaffected by new kids on the scene Facebook seems to have become the standard platform where people let their voices be heard on the Internet. Even with the much talked about new layout that has been introduced with coverphotos for people profiles that makes it look "more like BEBO's hot older sister" and its "stalker friendly " timelines, Facebook's grip on us appears to be holding strong. We use it to connect,share, make plans, RSVP, shop, complain, praise, with or about everybody and everything.

So if Facebook is for everybody and their dog Im going to talk about a small few of the rest of the Social Network sites, the ones where we join to really "express who we are" that I have had some experience with.

There's  Twitter which allows us to update everything we do as we do it and is brilliant for people who are always on the go, doing something, promoting something or want to know what their favourite celeb is doing right.at.that.moment. I've recently blown the cobwebs off my account and started tweeting again only to realise that just like last summer I still do not do a lot of extremely interesting things during my day. I'm still as much of a broke student as I was then! #ifonlythedolepaidustogotocollege

Tumblr is great for sharing beautiful pictures you have taken or more often than not that other people have taken, doing a spot of writing if you don't want the pressure of a regular blog and after time it almost sets a mood board of the persons over all personality or funnily enough their mood for that day. It's dare I say it a little artsy,alternative and maybe a smidge hipster or very "Landan" chic, great for expressing the aul' creativity without actually having to do a whole lot. In fact one can spend a whole day reblogging without meaning to, even  especially when there's an assignment deadline the next day. (Before I get any backlash for the hipster comment I have an account myself and reblog the s...ugar out of other peoples pictures also.)

So many pretty pictures to brighten up an otherwise dull day!

LinkedIn is everybody's best foot forward Online and the site we pray will come up first when our future employers google our names. It's great for networking and connecting with former bosses and people in industry. Also, it's a way of repenting for all those shameful BEBO photo's that refuse to disappear from google search long after our accounts are deleted.

Blogs. This is where we rant, use personal stories to make a point or ramble about everything and nothing in general. It's a great way to express yourself whether you want to be a writer or not. It's an online space that can expose you the most to the most amount of people, which can be a very good or very bad thing depending on what you have written or who you have ticked off by it.

As for Myspace holding the title for the place to be found or newtork for music talent, I fear it seems to be struggling, especially with three music sites that are growing on the scene that have come to my attention: One is Bandhappy which while it is not quite a social networking site it has the potential to expand into this, I mean come on it allows people to get one-on-one live lessons from their idols through skype(or a system similar) and also Lastfm or more Apple's Ping which is on track to become the two main places for serious musicians to network.

It's amazing to think that by being on each of these sites it almost defines us to everyone else. So what are all of your predictions for the next Skynet...I mean market leader? Will Facebook remain up on top with their Facebook music due out in the next few months or will Google+  and Twitter's increasing popularity completely swipe the rug from under its feet?  Or will it be a complete underdog to capture our laptops, smartphones and ipads hearts?

This year a smart resolution perhaps!

Happy New Year everyone!

Well I cannot lie and pretend that the cliche is not true because last year flew by too quickly! I can't believe that on top of being in my final year, I am already in the second half of the college calendar!

2012 arrived in the blink of an eye!

It is safe to say that the majority of my very vague yet ambitious resolutions made last year were far from achieved. Ambiguous aspirations that I would "get better" at the piano, become "more"  healthy and draw "regularly" (I even looked up the price of a sketch diary on amazon for this one, oh the enthusiasm!) were vowed. Unfortunately,apart from random bursts of gusto dotted throughout the year none of my goals appeared to take shape or come close to being successful. I did, however, manage to improve my procrastination skills and ability to be a lazy bones to no end.

Me, a picture of motivation and zeal.

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one Year and out the other."

 While this is a rather terrible pun I have to agree that it pretty much sums up my previous New Yearly attempts at self improvement! Even the few goals I have managed to maintain for a while are pretty much forgotten about by the next year regardless of whether or not they are accomplished. This year is going to be different though! Yes, I have said this every other year as well but now I have a plan. 

From now on I am just going to have to be smart about my resolutions!

Each of them will have to be:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Yes, this is from a management book but who better to listen to when trying to organize myself! If this framework is a proven success within a business then it will definitely enable me to succeed in my personal goals!

The key to success?

Hopefully this will be the key to actually getting me motivated enough to go through with all my plans. I might even go all out and nerd it up by keeping a journal on my progress... Stay tuned!