Boost Your Confidence By Changing 1 Thing In Your House

As a kid, I wasn't the prettiest. But looking back, I saw myself as worse than I could have. Recently, I've realized one thing that greatly contributed to it...

Lighting.

That's right. Every time I looked at my reflection, I could see every imperfection in that bathroom mirror highlighted - parts of myself that most likely weren't even visible when going to the school building or even just after stepping out of the bathroom!

My current bathroom had a couple bulbs go out, and one of them were replaced with a super bright fluorescent bulb. That's when a lightbulb went off (ha, ha) and I realized, if you want good light when you're taking photos, why not have good light where you see yourself daily?

Mirror pics are usually closer to the way we see ourselves, aren't they?

Your bathroom lighting could be affected by a number of things: type, number of bulbs, location, and amount of outdoor light seeping in. We should be accepting of our superficial imperfections because you're beautiful the way you are. My suggestion would be to adjust the lighting of your mirror in a way that feels flattering to you. By no means does it have to be glamorous movie lighting, but you deserve to see yourself as pretty as you look at your reflection every morning! :)

xo San

How To Eat Healthier

People often think I am anorexic or dieting. In reality, I am trying to be health-conscious. As a child, I ate like a child, not knowing any better. Whatever cookies and chips I could get my hands on. Not so bad when you're six-years-old (besides the poor eating habits it may breed), a bit worse when your metabolism slows down and you start realizing that cardiovascular disease is one of the top killers. All in all, teaching us as kids how to read nutrition facts labels was useful!

And to maintain healthier eating with the knowledge of the portions of all sorts of fats and sodium you are consuming, I have gathered these things that I try to follow to be and feel healthier! You literally are what you eat, since your body breaks down the food into its elements, and less of the bad stuff helps you feel less tired thoughout the day. And healthier food gets you more energy! Hoorah~!


Therefore I present to you how I "diet" aka how to eat healthier, and not consume so much junk:

1. Shop consciously.
Most obvious of all, don't buy junk food. If you don't have it stored at home, there's no temptation to eat it. You're more likely to grab a healthier snack if you get hungry if those are what you have on hand. Make a shopping list of the foods you mean to get beforehand so you don't grab things off the shelf that you know you'll regret later.

If you do need to grab some random foods, make sure you look at the labels. Does it have excessive fat? Sugar? If the answer is yes, look for a healthier alternative.

2. Watch your portions.
Make sure that when you eat, don't eat until you're full. Prepare a set amount you know will keep you satisfied and don't overeat, perhaps by using a certain bowl or plate. This is something I have to constantly remind myself about, because I think I need (or want lol) to eat more when I don't have to.

3. Eat to avoid hunger.
Weird concept, right? In essence, don't starve yourself - if you don't ever feel hungry, you're less likely to overeat because you think you need more food. Have a three hour long class? Bring something healthy to eat beforehand to stave off any hunger pangs that might cause you to snack during class or binge later.

Personally, when I had to be at college for the whole day basically, I would eat a granola bar before every lecture, which kept me perfectly satisfied until mealtimes. FiberOne bars are my love.

4. Eat when you're hungry. 
Another strange thought. But just eat a little - hungry before bed? Eat a small snack (and if you've only bought healthy things to store in your pantry as I've mentioned earlier, it shouldn't be too bad either), and not a whole meal. Otherwise, it might imbalance your appetite for following days.

Furthermore, when you're going to have the occasional not-so-great food, fill up on healthier food beforehand so you'll feel more full after having those empty calories that you know would surely leave you hungry for more.

5. Keep track.
If you grew up on the school system I have, you've recorded everything you've eaten for at least a few days as an assignment. I've found that doing this at least a few times a week can be insightful to what you're putting into your body. You know what you should cut down on, and perhaps more importantly, what you are missing. There are a lot of essential vitamins and minerals that I lacked in, and most likely contributed to my perpetual college tiredness.

6. Do things you know makes you want to eat less.
No one wants to eat when their teeth are minty and fresh. If you feel like eating just for the sake of eating, but don't wish to, brush your teeth. Wear a retainer if you have one. Chew some gum.

7. Keep a schedule.
Eat only at times you assign yourself (maybe all mealtimes and a snack between each one), and at all other times, keep yourself busy and away from tempting food.

.8. Stay hydrated.
It's often said that you can mistake thirst for hunger - and drinking water is good for you! I like to carry a water bottle with me at all times so I can grab a drink first, instead of a snack.

9. Inform, therefore condition yourself.
If you know the effects, both negative and positive, of different foods and ingredients, you're more likely to gravitate to foods that you know are healthy and don't have detrimental effects on your health. Read up on your foods, but make sure they're from reliable sources.

10. Be vegetarian.
An extreme, but do you know how much fat is in a regular hamburger versus a vegetarian hamburger? Yeah. It's awesome, and tastes awesome. And you're not eating dead animals. Win-win. Just remember to supplement your nutrients so you don't lack anything your body needs!


These are things I've known before but definitely had to refresh in my mind, as I'm living away from home for the first time and have to make all of my choices, including that of my daily diet.

A healthier lifestyle shift is going to be more beneficial rather than a temporary fix that isn't going to last or make you very happy. If you're going to "diet", make it a change to your diet and eating habits!

How To Get Good Grades In Your College Classes

With classes starting again tomorrow (omg but not really that exciting with having countless "first days of school" within the last three years), I wanted to re-remind myself and tell anyone who cares to read this how to have a successful quarter! Which feels really imperative with all that tuition money and parking fees ahh.

I started out with most of these habits which is why my good ol' first quarter went pretty awesome in fall of '11 was it?, but I later slacked off and my grades and self-esteem with understanding and such all decreased. Thankfully, last quarter I was able to reevaluate study habits and made myself go strong the whole time despite having other troubles - it is possible! Here are the guidelines on how to get those 4.0's.


1. Plan your classes and pick your professors early.
Make sure you know what you want to take, so as soon as you're allowed to register for the next quarter, you can jump on it without being indecisive and ending up on waitlists. Pick good professors for the classes you want to take by asking around - question classmates who've taken the classes you want how well their teacher taught, how the workload/tests were, etc. (But keep in mind just because it was easy/hard for them doesn't mean it will be the same for you! I've taken some good teachers despite what others said about their teaching style.) Or of course you could always check out the Rate My Professor website to confirm your decision! No matter what the class is, if you have a teacher whose teaching you don't comprehend (or who gives out tests on material that wasn't covered /ugh), it will be exceedingly difficult.

2. Balance your time.
Know how you're going to manage your time before you do anything. That being said, make sure your subjects are balanced with maybe 1 hard course and 2 intermediate, or vice versa (do not take all 3 hard courses unless you know you can handle it - you will die). You want to be able to have enough study time to conquer all you need to do for all of your classes, so plan this chunk of time out! And this is so important - to leave time to sleep!!! You can study your butt off one night, but the next time you show up for lecture it will be hard to understand anything and you will have to work twice as hard to understand the material on your own.

3. Read your textbook.
It's sometimes the most boring thing in the world, but just do it. (Try to convince yourself that this learning is exciting :D) You'll be so much less burdened later. Know what material is going to be covered beforehand (this should be listed in your syllabus, and if not, just ask your professor), and then read the textbook sections before you show up to lecture. You'll be able to follow along so much easier and won't have that huh-I-don't-get-what's-happening feeling the whole time. Take notes while you read so you can save all the important parts for review later (typing out notes is super easy and makes it esasy to find things later! ctrl+f). Of course we know and have experienced some classes that don't require reading pages upon pages and the teacher covers everything - if you find out your class is like that then whoohoo jackpot, but always do this anyways for at least the first few weeks. It's better to stay ahead than to fall behind.

4. Study and review as you go along.
Let's face it, not studying can be fun, but the chances of getting the grade we want after cramming for a test is pretty close to none. Falling behind makes us feel overwhelmed, so keep up as best you can. At the end of each chapter or section, make sure you understand all that you need to know for the exam later. You will be so much less stressed come the time of the test, and will have all you need to know ready. Use your time wisely and review with your notes that you wrote/typed from your textbook! See how this all connects? The most practical way to do this in my case is to use the notes to create flashcards and then quiz myself. I just use my mascara index cards to do this hehe.

5. Be prepared for class.
Know when exams are, when labs are, when homework is due, etc. Write this all down in a planner or calendar you look at daily so nothing will sneak up on you and you won't fall behind. If you do get assigned outside work, do it as soon as you get it. Make a daily/weekly checklist of things you need to finish, including reading chapters. If you have questions, make sure you have them when you go to class so you can ask your teacher in person, or go to their office hours. If you have a question at home that you need answered asap, email them! It's so much easier to complete a class successfully when you get your confusions cleared up. Plus, then the teachers know you for being the responsible student you are when you make the effort to communicate with them.

6. Stay motivated.
It's really easy to not want to do these things, but when you realize you feel this way, then that's the first step in picking your classes back up. If you're feeling discouraged to study, etc. remember why you want to finish school, whatever your reason may be! To work towards your dream job, to become stable to support a family someday, to make money to buy a pony and barn... We all have different motives, use them to inspire you to work hard!


I see so many people struggling after transitioning from hs to college and wish everybody knew these things earlier, but if you read these tips it's sure to be quite a bit easier - it's just up to you whether you want to follow them or not ;) Good luck with the upcoming quarter!

How To Clear a Stuffed Up Nose Trick

Not really pertaining to beauty, but it's cold season where I live and not being able to breathe at night makes for sleepless hours. This is a method I found out years ago that clears up your nose when it's seemingly unsolvably clogged when you lie down.

• Sit/stand up
• Try to breathe through your nose as normally as possible (no deep breaths)
• On an exhale, exhale as much air out as you comfortably can
• Pinch your nose with your fingers
• Bow your head (so your face is parallel to the ground)
• Nod your head repeatedly until you feel a difference
• Breathe as normally as possible through your nose when you're done (again, still no deep breaths)

It sounds hilarious, but it works! I wish I'd known about this when I was a kid. I always got some sort of cold every single year and hated when I couldn't breathe at night. If you've never tried this trick before then be excited to get your next cold! ;) Hope this helps!

Monolid Eye Makeup Basics & Tips

Having monolids, also called Asian eyes or eyes without a crease, can be tricky, especially because it's not that easy to follow conventional makeup tutorials! (Huhuhu but that doesn't stop me from watching Miss Phan!) But once you've mastered the basics, it's a piece of cake!

1. Pick the right products.
A primer is a must. Gel liners are good for the area that is hidden when you close your eyes - they stay on for the most part. (I've found pencil and liquid liner always smeared with all the constant contact of the lids every time you blink!)

2. Emphasize the center.

Slightly. Some monolids have a straighter shape on the upper lid due to the lack of a crease. You don't want your eyeliner to be too thick on the outer or inner corner, but going a little thicker in the center makes for rounder looking eyes. Once you're sure all your liner is visible when your eyes are open (see below), then you can adjust the shape.

Emphasize it here!

3. Using eyeliner: focus on the upper lid.
Eyeliner is key key key. One of the beautiful things about monolids is that you can change your eye shape with your handy eyeliner, without the restriction of a crease line. If you have monolids, you've probably noticed that any liner you apply to your upper lashline disappears as soon as you open your eyes. While it has no problem showing up on your lower lashline, you want to avoid putting it here too much because they make the lids look quite heavy.

Begin applying eyeliner with your eyes open. I find it easiest to make a mark in the center while you have your eyes open, and then working from there!

As you can see, there is going to be space on the hidden area of your lid that you have to fill in later, but in the meantime, just focus on making a defined visible line, following the natural curve of your eye. It's always easiest to do this whole process with your eyes open. You can later adjust the shape to your liking.

Lined upper lashline!

Then, fill in the space that isn't visible when your eyes are opened last.

4. Using eyeshadow: don't blend too much!
Eyeshadow has been a tricky thing for me when it comes to my monolids. I always strayed away from using any because I found it overwhelmed my eyes and made them look smaller instead of bigger, so I just admired all the pretty colors and palettes from afar. But that doesn't have to be the case!

Now I find eyeshadow to be very usable, helping create depth to my depthless eyes. When applying eyeshadow, instead of applying it to the "imaginary crease area" around your eyesocket and blending, just apply it directly above your eyeliner in a straight line/v-shape/other shape, without any blending (except the edges perhaps, I like to taper where it starts or ends). Or do very minimal blending, because I find that eyeshadow can outweigh the eyeliner and create the illusion of smaller eyes occurs when I overblend.

I find that a small angle brush works the best for this. This adds dimension and makes the lids look less flat.

In my experience, making nearly all eyemakeup crisp and having a defined line works the best for monolids. However, that doesn't mean that blended eyeshadow can't still work to your advantage!

I like using brown for a natural shadow (lol yes it is eyeshadow, I know) look, but try experimenting with different colors, too! Having monolids doesn't limit us to anything >:D


5. Using eyeshadow: apply it after the eyeliner.
If you do wish to use eyeshadow, try to use it after you have achieved the eyeliner you want. It's better to control the shape and form you desire this way, because eyeliner for monolids are already quite thick. You can go back over the eyeliner afterwards if it needs redefining.


6. Open your eyes with lashes!
It's typical for monolids to hide and push eyelashes down, making them very straight and invisible. But if you frame your lids with lashes, eyes can look a hundredfold more awake. Of course, you can achieve visible eyelashes with either falsies or mascara.

False eyelashes are a quick way to get full, fluttery lashes. Just glue them on and voila! Sometimes if they have a thick band, they can even open your eyes more and make a bit of a crease. But with the glue and extra weight, I find it troublesome for everyday wear, and better suited to occasional events.

Mascara is also a hard thing to get to work (is there any makeup for monolids that doesn't require extra thought?), but luckily, it is possible! I wrote a post previously about mascara for monolids that explains how I do it. Again, remember not to go bottom heavy!

With mascara!

7. Don't go overboard with eyebrows!

Especially with monolids, having eyebrows too extremely thick/dark can easily overwhelm your eyes. Otherwise, go crazy with however you want to shape your brows - thick, skinny, thin, arched, straight, etc.! Whatever compliments your eyes best!

~~

That's all I have to share for now! I wish I had known these things when I was beginning to wear makeup. Poor 15-year-old me, confused and sad makeup wouldn't work right. It would have definitely saved me from looking back at pictures of myself in makeup where it didn't suit my eyes at all... Oh well, live and learn!

I really hope that this has been of help to somebody! And I'll be sure to try to write more tips and tutorials based around monolids.

From picture 1 to picture 2 - now you know the secrets! : D

<3 San

Removing Eyebrow Hair Without Bumps

I've had the problem of getting blemishes when I tweeze eyebrow hair close to the middle, in the general forehead area. All the other eyebrow hair is just fine getting pulled. I don't know why this happens, whether it's ingrown hairs, oils, or what. I wish it didn't ahh. But these are the methods I've found to minimize it a bit!

1. Keep the area moisturized.
I've noticed when my skin is drier the area is more prone to blemishes. My favorite moisturizer especially for the face is Curel, works wonders. Make sure your skin is not dry much in advance before you tweeze if possible.

2. Soap and exfoliate.
Get rid of the oils and dead skin cells! Make sure to keep your face clean overall. Don't exfoliate everyday though, as your skin may get even drier, opposing number 1, lol. I like to exfoliate even right before the tweezing.

3. Rinse with warm water beforehand.
This makes it easier to pull the hairs. I like to do the exfoliating and rinsing in the shower, because the water is already pretty warm/hot.

4. Clean your tweezer very thoroughly.
If the cause is oils and bacteria, then this is very important. No matter how clean the tweezer is, I like to clean it again right before I attempt to pluck eyebrow hairs, using soap and warm water, then with rubbing alcohol. Heck maybe boiling it or using an autoclave may even work, hahaha.

5. Make sure your tweezer is good.
If your tweezer doesn't usually get hair on the first pluck, it may be worth investing in a new one. I've found the Revlon brand tweezers have a very good grip.

6. Tweeze well.
Grab the hairs as close to the root as possible to minimize the risk of ingrown hairs. This is somewhat inevitable, but also try your best not to touch the tweezer to your skin to prevent any bacteria that may have been left to transfer.

7. Clean after.
A bit after tweezing, maybe try using a cleanser or something of the sort? Something that might kill germs. But stop if it causes more irritation! I used to apply rubbing alcohol on the area, but I don't really recommend it because it's bad since it may cause more dryness, etc.

8. Moisturize right after.
Yeah, just keep the area moisturized =.=

I hope this helps someone! And please let me know if you have more tips!! We can combat the evil blemishes together rahhh.

San

How To Manage Damaged, Bleached, Dyed, Frizzy Hair to Smooth

Having broken, frizzy locks, which, let's face it, are barely even locks anymore, from bleaching and dying your hair is no fun.

Over the course of one or two years, I bleached my hair over 10 times, and dyed it even more than that. The colors were great, the damage was devastating.

But after much trial and error, I've managed to find tools and techniques to transform my mane look not-as-damaged as it really is! :P I'm still discovering new ways to pamper my hair affordably, but here are the ones that I've found so far.

1. Conditioner is key.
We use it, but make sure that the type you use gives you maximum smoothness! I've noticed that after washing my hair, my hair would be brittle and "hard" in the times that I didn't use conditioner when I was in a hurry, or even any random conditioner I could grab. Shampoo is vital for getting rid of buildup, but conditioner is the last thing you use in hair-washing, so finding the right one is soooo important in managing damaged hair.

Here are the ones that I recommend:

TRESemme Conditioner Moisture Rich: ~$4-6 USD

This is a cheap, drugstore conditioner you can buy nearly anywhere, and that I've had great results with for years. It's only the one with the label "moisture" and the brown-beige label that I specifically use - when using another one from TRESemme, the split end repair one I believe, I found that my hair was still left brittle after drying. Because there's so much product for a lower price, I slather this conditioner on, being able to coat all my locks, feeling the smoothness even in the shower.

Ion Smooth Solutions: Keratin Smoothing Masque (Conditioner): ~$10-14 USD

This higher end conditioner can be bought at Sally's, but the price is definitely worth it! I saw a prominent difference in the smoothness of my hair after the first time using this, and every time after. I wish I could use this all the time, but I usually just mix it in with the other conditioner to keep from buying too much, but I'll definitely buy this over and over again once I run out.


2. Leaving your conditioner in!
How you condition your hair can make a difference too! On hair washing days, shampoo and condition your hair at the beginning of your shower before anything else, so that after you get your hair covered (not much on the roots of course) you can leave the conditioner in for the whole duration of your shower. I like to also comb my fingers in them to ensure all tangles are gone because it's easiest to do this while your hair coated with conditioner. The backs of conditioner bottles usually say to leave it in for 3 minutes, but do more than that. You can even just stand there and enjoy the warm water if you want extra time haha.

And when you're done, just quickly rinse it. You don't have to get all of the conditioner out - leave your hair feeling like there's still a teensy bit of conditioner moisture in your hair after the shower, but of course not too much. Rinse the roots well though! You might not want to do this if your hair is really oily, however.

I also like giving my hair a quick burst of cold water after that rinse, not sure if it makes that big of a difference, but I've heard it helps retain moisture.


3. Dry your hair without drying it!
After washing your hair, just squeeze out the water with your hands. Ringing my hair instead of towel drying it, even lightly as I did before, makes my hair less frizzy upon drying.

Blow drying also adds heat and damages hair, and blow drying broken hair oftentimes makes it look more frizzy anyway, so I would avoid doing this.

It takes longer, but drying your hair naturally is best!


4. Use a comb, not a brush.
Brushes are good for untangling hair, however, if your hair is damaged and fragile this will likely just break it off. Combs are better for gently untangling. Work in small sections instead of large portions of hair.


5. Comb the tips first.
Whether when your hair is wet or dry, comb/brush the tips first to prevent further breakage. Bleached hair easily gets tugged off, and we don't want any more of that. Comb your hair in sections. After doing the tips, comb the middle section, then you can comb from the roots.


6. Use minimal heat.
I love straightening my hair. It gives that illusion of smoothness, especially by making those broken hairs lay low, but it is of course very damaging. And more breakage equals more frizz. My solution to this is to only straighten it once after every hair-washing instead of every morning. Results may vary, but my hair will stay straight after that as long as I don't wet it. In the mornings it might have a few waves from sleeping in it, but at least I'm not damaging my hair daily anymore!

I use a wet/dry straightener, but I recommend just straightening your hair once it's dry, or at least 90% dry. Straightening wet hair can end in it looking not-so-straight for my damaged hair at least :P


7. Conditioner masques.
After a heavy bleaching or dying session, this is a nice way to pamper your mane.

I do this by wearing an old T-shirt, dampening my hair enough, and slathering on some conditioner (my favorite to use for this would be the Ion Keratin one I mentioned above.) Take care of business around the house for at least an hour or two or more, then rinse off in the shower. I've heard that you could even put on a shower cap over the hair and sleep in it, then just rinse in the morning. Waking up to smooth hair sounds great! :3


8. Trim damaged ends.
I wanted long hair so I did this infrequently, and found the tips of my hair looked very unpleasant due to the accumulation and spread of split ends. Trimming them off regularly keeps your hair looking healthier!


9. Perms or rebonding.
Perms aren't just to make your hair curly. You can get a straight perm too!

Rebonding also does heavy smoothing to your hair with chemicals. My mom came back with her hair rebonded once and it was very smooth, flat, and shiny.

If you're going to do them at home, however, make sure you get all the facts! You could end up with even more damaged-looking hair. While I've never tried these methods before, they're worth checking out.


That's all the knowledge about having damaged bleached hair I have acquired thus far, and I hope what I've shared with you is helpful in some way!

If you have any more tips, let me know! I'd love to hear 'em!
<3 Sannnnn