I am finally starting at my new University tomorrow (college for some of you) after deferring for 9 months. I thought I'd do an organisation themed post this week to encourage some of you to also be organised or give an idea to those of you just starting Uni.

I am the type of person that makes lists and uses a diary all year round, even when I'm not at school, so naturally I am a very organised person. I even coordinate my makeup by brands/shades/product lol. These are a few tips, ideas and things I use in my own life that you could easily apply to yours to make schooling a little easier. I will also share what is in my bag for Uni, because who doesn't love to snoop inside other peoples bags!!

The Essentials

• A laptop! This is first up because it is the most efficient way to make notes, do your assignments as well as contact your tutors or lecturers.
  Generally assignments are all submitted online so it makes it easier having your notes on your laptop in the same place where you would be typing up your assignment. You can also easily access readings no matter where you are.
• A notebook - if you prefer handwriting lecture notes OR you are doing art based subjects it may be easier for you to be able to physically write/draw it out. I know I sometimes prefer to write things down because it helps me to remember things better as I am going over what I write in my head.
• Your best friend, a diary. There is no way you can keep on top of your due dates, commitments, timetables etc without having it all set out in front of you. Unless you have amazing memory and stress doesn't make you forget what you need to be doing or where you should be. Having a diary is what helps me be on top of everything and removes a lot of unnecessary stress.
• Highlighters & Sticky notes. I like to label my notebooks into sections whether it be by subject or by category. Plus I like to highlight and colour-code important information. I find this helps a lot, especially when it comes to exam time since it makes finding information a lot easier and I know what is important and what isn't as necessary.
• Lots and lots of water! At Uni it can be easy to forget to keep hydrated and after long hours listening to people talk and concentrating you can become dehydrated and have a headache. Water will help keep you awake especially if its an early start. Also, don't forget the healthy snacks such as nuts, fruits or yoghurt (sugar fixes such as chocolate won't fulfil you in the long-term!)
• Display folder - to store any loose papers or notes. They are the easiest to lose and its so much easier having them stored away in one place.
• USB or HardDrive - Always, always, always back up your work!!!
• Last but definitely not least is your chargers - The last thing you want is your laptop going dead mid-lecture and you don't even have a notebook to write in. This has happened to me and it was not a fun experience 😂

What's in my bag

Before I get any questions or in case you were wondering I purchased my bag for $39.99 at Zara. It is a pale blue colour and is completely hollow inside so it fits a lot and lets me put in smaller bags/pouches to organise my things.

On a daily basis my Uni bag contains:
My laptop, diary, notebook and purse. As well as my pencil case which holds my pens, pencils, highlighters and sticky notes. I always have my reading glasses on me as I suffer from eye strain when on my computer for long hours so that's important for me to wear when I get a headache. Depending on the hours I'm at Uni I decide whether I need a snack or lunch but I do carry money in case I want to buy something from the cafe too.
If I am getting the train that day I will also have my sketchbook or my current novel in my bag to entertain myself.

Of course I have a little pouch containing my makeup - lip balms, lipstick & powder are my essentials.

Extras
Since majority of us practically cannot live without our phones I discovered an app that helps manage your classes and assignments all in one place. The app is called My Study Life (I've linked the website as you can also use it there but just search for it in your app/play store).
This app allows you to input all information about your classes such as the room, teacher, time etc. You are able to colour code each subject so you can easily distinguish what you have on at certain times when looking at the calendar within the app.
Not only does it set out your timetable for you but you can also input your holidays, to do lists, assignments, reminders and exams. It is a very handy little app to have and I was so excited when I discovered it late one night while browsing my play store.

Last but not least is your electronic notebook and that is - OneNote. This is where I like to put all my lecture or tutorial notes as well as other information specific to each subject. I will include an image of how I set mine out for this semester to give you ideas:

You are able to set out your "notebook" however you wish but it makes it very easy to have all your notes in one, organised place.

Hopefully this post has been helpful and given you some new ideas when it comes to studying. These tips could also be applied to high school and I wish you all luck with your studies!

Also if any of you were wondering I am currently doing my Bachelor of education (primary). You would have probably noticed that based off my subjects haha.

So, I did it. I finally sucked it up, purchased a derma roller and actually used it. Yes, I applied over 500 small needles on my face and I didn't even cry! Which is a big deal since I am usually terrified of needles.

If you've been following my Skin Diaries you would be aware that I am now left with numerous scars, mostly on my cheeks from acne, and no topical treatment was cutting it. I have done multiple peels and microdermabrasion in the past however those treatments had either a) too much downtime or b) were too expensive for a university student like me to keep up with. After a lot, and I mean A LOT of research, binge watching youtube videos and asking others who have tried it I decided to go with purchasing my very own torture device, the derma roller.

Ok, so it isn't actually that bad. The needles are so tiny and compact that you practically don't experience the sensation you are thinking. It is more ticklish rather than a painful, bloody, traumatic experience.

Purpose

If you suffer from acne scars, hair loss, fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, hyper-pigmentation, large pores, cellulite or stretch marks then you too should be considering dermarolling. 

Dermarolling creates hundreds of tiny holes in your skin which tricks your body in thinking it has a wound to heal. This results in new tissue and collagen forming which ultimately helps fade scarring a lot quicker than normal. It is 100% safe as the needles are so small that you aren't creating any major damage. I will get into the different sizes in the next section.

Needle Sizes

The size I purchased was 0.5mm mainly because I was scared and also because my scarring isn't very deep, more so red. 

The needle sizes range from 0.2mm - 2.0mm and have multiple objectives. Please be aware that the larger the needle length the more painful it can be. Numbing cream may be required for the larger sizes and 2.5mm is not recommended or safe to use in your own home!

Depending on what results you are after I will include a table explaining what each length can be used for:

Based off my research any derma rollers larger than 1.0mm should never be used on your face (unless you're getting it done professionally). Sizes 0.2mm - 0.5mm only target the top layer of your skin (Epidermis), so mainly pores, pigmentation, wrinkles and shallower scars. As a general rule 0.75mm and 1.0mm are the most ideal as they are best for all skin conditions. The last group, 1.5mm and above, are better suited for treated skin issues on your body rather than your face. Also numbing cream is recommended whereas with the smaller needle lengths it is optional.

Routine

After countless nights of researching how often I should dermaroll, what products to use, how much downtime does it require, I came to the decision that I will do it every two to three weeks. This way I am able to let my skin heal between treatments and slowly build up to either a longer needle or frequent treatments.

Before dermarolling it is important you don't have active acne or other skin issues such as cold sores/cuts as you don't want to spread bacteria and cause infection. After all you are creating small punctures into your skin and those same needles will be going across the entire area you are treating. However, if you do have any pimples at the time of treatment you will avoid that area completely to prevent possible breakouts or infection.

Ok now actually how to use the device. You want to make sure your skin is clean before starting your treatment and you also want to make sure the dermaroller is sterilised with rubbing alcohol and has run under hot water for a few seconds. I chose to avoid exfoliating prior to use and stuck to a gentle cleanser instead, just so I wouldn't irritate my skin. The next part I wasn't entirely sure about as some sites suggested to apply a serum then dermaroll whereas others say to apply the serum once the treatment was complete. For my first time I went in with the derma roller immediately after cleansing my face.

Now for the fun part! When you are ready to roll across your face work in sections. I started on my cheek and while stretching my skin with one (clean) hand I rolled horizontally, vertically and diagonally roughly 8-10 times each. Picking it up after each stoke as dragging the roller across your skin can actually damage it. I then moved onto my other cheek, forehead, chin etc and repeated the process.

After all the rolling is done and dusted I applied my serum. The one I used is the Stem Organics Hydrating Face Fluid. Another point I wanted to quickly add is in some reviews I read said to apply vitamin C serum after treatment and others said doing so would burn your skin. Please do your own research with this but I decided to keep it safe and use vitamin C serum between treatments instead.

That is pretty much it when it comes to my dermarolling routine, I kept it short and sweet. I did my treatment at night, roughly an hour before bed and avoided makeup and direct sunlight for 48 hours.

After every treatment make sure to properly sterilise your dermaroller by soaking it in rubbing alcohol for 20 minutes. Always leave it in its plastic casing when not in use and never share your dermaroller with anyone else as it is a needle. It is recommended to replace your dermaroller after 10 uses or once a month if you are using it more frequently.

Results

I have only tried it out once so I cannot comment on results as of yet but my skin did look healthier the next day. I also found any skincare products absorbed into my skin almost immediately the following morning which was amazing. I will be sure to update you in future Skin Diaries and will also be including before/after photos there so keep your eye out for it.

In terms of pain I felt nothing, in fact it felt like a soothing facial massage. It did not feel like needles puncturing my skin at all and pinching your arm is more painful than dermarolling. After treatment my face felt itchy and looked a little pink.  For someone that hates needles I actually cannot wait for my next treatment!

Hopefully this review/guide was informative and helpful. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to comment below or contact me via Instagram DM and I will try to answer them as best as I can.


Where to purchase
I purchased mine via eBay - just search dermarollers. This was the most ideal and affordable option for me. You can also find them on banish, amazon, skin clinics and online.

Disclaimer: All opinions and information provided are based off my own individual research and experience. I am not an expert when it comes to skincare and please make sure to conduct your own extra research if you are interested in trying out dermarolling.

Lashes, lashes and more lashes. False lashes, lash extensions and lash lifts seem to be all the rage but we can't neglect fibre lashes. If you don't want to pay for more "permanent" options such as a lift and extensions or you struggle with applying false lashes (GUILTY) then brush on fiber lashes may be for you.

Brush on fiber lashes is a very simple process for you to get dramatic lashes in the comfort of your own home, minus the mess of lash glue. There are a range of fiber mascaras on the market however being cruelty free I have found the perfect option for you all.

The product I have to share with you all today is the Cherry Blossoms Eyelash Extensions Brush on Fiber Lashes. This brush on fiber lashes set is very easy to use as its three simple steps and only two tubes. First you apply the transplanting gel, apply the fibers and then seal the fibers with the same transplanting gel tube.

I wore this mascara the day I went to the tennis. It was a 36 degree day, I was sweaty and in the sun. This product claims to look fresh and not flake off as well as being water-resistant and sweat-proof. Based off my images below you will be able to notice little difference between when I first applied the lashes and after 9 hours of wear in the heat.

Throughout the day/night there was little fiber fallout however you had to look very closely to see them. Another issue I usually get with your "typical" mascaras is smudging and transfer, which thankfully did not happen with this one.

Compared to a normal mascara my lashes did feel a little heavier than usual however I soon got used to this feeling and was not aware of it afterwards. Additionally, I feel as though it adds more volume rather than length to your lashes. My bare lashes are probably not the best example as they are blonde however they are pretty long naturally so this only added slightly more length.



Something you may be thinking is if the fibers fall into or irritate eyes. I have very sensitive eyes that pretty much water regardless of what I put on them. Hence why my mascara smudges, but this mascara not only did not budge it also didn't irritate my eyes whatsoever. If you properly seal the fibers you will have very little fallout to begin with.



I found the entire application simple and time efficient since I pretty much spend a while doing mascara anyway and the removal was just as easy. Use any oil based makeup remover or coconut oil and it will come straight off!

If you don't want to fiddle with lash glue or lash bands then this is the perfect at home option for thick, "false" (in a good way) looking lashes.

Disclaimer - This product was sent to me for the purpose of this review however all opinions are 100% honest and based off my own experience. I only work with companies I would personally support or purchase from myself. For more information click here - disclaimer

The search for the perfect lipstick is never ending. They're either too pink, too deep, too milky or too brown. I am here to help you out and offer some suggestions for that "your lips but better" kinds of shades. I'm sure one of these option will suit you (light-medium complexions) so let's get straight into it!

Antipodes Healthy Lipstick - Dusky Sound Pink

Essence Colour & Care Lipstick + avocado butter - 03 Life's my runway

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Stockholm

3INA The Longwear Lipstick - 505

Hikari Shine Lipstick - Romance

Essence Longlasting Lipstick - 07 Natural Beauty

Gerard Cosmetics Lipstick - Buttercup

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip - Echo Park

Adorn Cosmetics Lipstick - Natural Pink

NudeStix Lip + Cheek pencil - Mystic