Makeup, Lattes, and Medicine

Premed Tip #7 - Interview Season Tips

Interview day can be really nerve racking. My first interview was in August, and I spent so much time prepping for it.  Here are some tips to get you through the interview season.

1. How to Prep Your Answers
Google questions (all types including ethical dilemmas) and make a huge spreadsheet of them. I think I went through at least 200 unique questions. Go through each question and write your responses. I would try to keep your questions to ~2 minutes. During the interview, you will probably talk more so you don't want to talk for too long. Once you have all your answers, let someone else read them and critique them. After you have finished editing, practice asking and answering these questions with yourself with and without looking at the answers you have written. You don't want to be too well rehearsed, but you don't want to fumble answering questions. Now, get someone else to do practice interviews with you. I skyped with my parents 5-10 times before my first interview to practice, and I let them pick questions to ask so I didn't know ahead of time. I think it prepared me well for many of the interviews.
***See PDF for sample questions and sample mock interview*****
2. Do Your Research on the School
Memorize as much as you can about the school you are interviewing at. Know your stuff in terms of if they have special programs that would be a great fit for you, unique opportunities they offer their students, etc. When you know more, you can ask more intelligent questions about the school and make a better impression. Always have prepared why you want to attend that specific school. It will be asked, and you better have a good answer. I would say 2-3 pages of notes per school is a good range for information. Also, do your research on how interview day is set up in terms of schedule, how many interviews, and the style of interview. You might have to go to blogs for this info.
3. Do Your Research on the Healthcare System
You will be going into healthcare so learn as much as you can about the current system and form detailed opinions on where you want it to go. You never know when they want you to give your opinion on something. Also, look up state specific legislation especially when going to interview at a state school. I was asked a few times my opinions on the ACA and other aspects of healthcare.
4. Prepare Questions For Your Interviewer
Have at least 3 ready for each interview. Use your research to come up with specific questions and ones that sound genuine.
5. Look at other applicants
Who the school brings in for interviews is really telling and can help you describe what makes you unique. Usually, there is plenty of time in between info sessions, tours, and the interviews to talk to other applicants. For example, look if all the other applicants are in state or took gap years because then you might want to make sure in your interview you incorporate why you want to attend a school in this state or why you did/did not take a gap year
6. Professional Wear
Suits are the way to go. I got a pant suit and a pretty flowery blouse. I wouldn't listen to the "no pattern" rule some websites spout, but be tasteful with it. I bought my suit from Macy's and loafers for shoes because you will do a bit of walking on tours and things. Bring a padfolio with you in case you need to take notes. Wear a watch because your phone should be off throughout interview day. I also brough business cards and a resume, but I never needed them.
7. Make yourself stand out
Find something cool you do, and if given the opportunity, talk about it. No one likes a boring interview. I sculpt a little on the side and brought photos of my work. I also brought photos of the research project I was working on. Interviewers loved seeing my photos.
8. Thank You Letters
Right after your interview, write some notes about what you talked about. On your way home, get some thank you cards or email thank yous to your interviewers. It is nice to do, and some schools note if you have sent them. Mine were brief and were specific to why I liked the school and enjoyed some of the topics of conversation. Don't try to sell yourself in them. Your interviewer most likely already filled out your evaluation so it would be pointless and off putting. I also know some friends that sent thank yous to the dean of admission. Those thank yous should be longer and more directed to why you like the school, what you enjoyed during interview day, and why you are a great fit.

Now, here are some tips for planning the trips itself.
1. Host vs No Host
Many of the schools have hosts that you can say with during your interview. Now, some pros to hosts is that you can ask them questions and get insight to what the school is really like, but for me, I found that I didn't get a good night sleep, and I was more anxious. I opted to stay in a hotel most of the time rather than with a host.
2. Essentials
Invest in a handheld steamer so if there is any wrinkles you can fix it.
Bring Advil and any other medication with you. I definitely needed to get Advil during the interview day due to headaches.
Wet wipes, stain removers, etc are great because you never know what will happen. One tour made us walk through mud, and I needed wipes to remove all the gross mud from my shoes.
Don't check your bag if you have anything for interview day in it, especially your suit. You don't want something happening to it.
3. Plan Your Transportation Ahead of Time and Check for Service
Now, most likely, not all of your interviews will be in major cities. Plan your transportation ahead of time, whether that be Supershuttle or another service, because you might not have cell service for an Uber or Lift. Heck, you might not have service at all to check on your ride. I almost got stranded in Iowa when I didn't have service and had to ask the lady in the admission office to use her phone.
4. Check with the school for luggage storage
Some schools let you store luggage at interview day, which is so helpful if you need to check out of hotels early. Make sure to ask if they don't tell you.
5. Find some good food in the area
Interview day lunch is usually sandwiches or cold so plan a good dinner for yourself because you deserve it after a long interview day.
6. Save money
Sign up for a Southwest account (or whatever airline you need to use) to earn points for free flights. I also used Ebates when buying hotel rooms to get cash back.

Colourpop Cosmetics- Ultra Satin Lip Review

Feature Friday: 25 TV Shows Worth Watching

I would say during an average week, no matter how busy I am, I try to squeeze in, at least, a couple of episodes of TV a week. I am a binge watcher by far, and at my best, I can finish a season in a day.  But because I watch so much, I am always on the hunt for new shows. That being said, I thought I would give you all my list of shows I recommend you watch. All are enjoyable, but there are definitely stand outs. Most of what I watch are dramas, crime, or action. It is very rare for me to find a comedy that I am into.

Now, without giving any spoilers away in my brief opinions, here is the list of 25 TV shows worth watching, in no particular order, with a link to the IMDB webpage so you can check out trailers/synopsis.

1. Game of Thrones- IMDB Storyline: "Nine noble families fight for control over the mythical lands of Westeros, while a forgotten race returns after being dormant for thousands of years." Link to IMDB
   I feel this is self explanatory. If you are not watching Game of Thrones already, you are missing out.
2. Gilmore Girls-  IMDB Storyline: "A dramedy centering around the relationship between a thirtysomething single mother and her teen daughter living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut." Link to IMDB
   Drama that doesn't feel disingenuous. I love the writing of this show and feel the story is realistic and entertaining. I still get in debates with my friends over this show and have watched it 3 times all the way through. Don't even get me started on my opinions of the revival Netflix did of this show.
3. Narcos -  IMDB Storyline: "A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years." Link to IMDB
   Now there are a lot of subtitles, which can be a turn off to some, but because of my days watching anime, they don't bother me. I love the history element of the show and the narration. I can't wait till the next season.
4. Riverdale - IMDB Storyline: "A subversive take on Archie and his friends, exploring small town life, the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade."Link to IMDB
    Some of the content I am a little wtf why was that necessary, but the actors did a FANTASTIC job brings the comic book characters to life, and I love the last few episodes of the season. I am about to watch the first season for the third time.
5. The Night Shift-  IMDB Storyline: "A group of doctors from the Army return to work the night shift at a hospital in San Antonio."Link to IMDB
   The continuity between seasons is an issue with this series, but I like the medicine aspect of the drama and the fact that has funny elements. You start to love the characters, and I look forward to watching it every week.
6. Stranger Things-  IMDB Storyline: "When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief, and his friends must confront terrifying forces in order to get him back." Link to IMDB
   This was my binge watch of last summer. Loved how unique the story was and the mystery involved. Definitely check out if you love suspense.
7. The 100-  IMDB Storyline:" Set 97 years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization, when a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet." Link to IMDB
   So much action in this series and so much happens in a season. I like the fact that there is the element of survival to this series. Every season has a new thing to look out for.
8. GLOW - IMDB Storyline: "A look at the personal and professional lives of a group of women who perform for a wrestling organization in Los Angeles."Link to IMDB
   This is freaking hilarious. It is rare for me to watch a TV show that makes me laugh out loud. Netflix hit it out of the park with this one in terms of story and cast. Can't wait for the next season. 
9. Westworld - IMDB Storyline: "Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged without consequence."  Link to IMDB
   Now, this series has a slow start, but be patient and pay attention. The ending of the season sure makes up for it. 
10. Shameless- IMDB Storyline: "An alcoholic man lives in a perpetual stupor while his six children with whom he lives cope as best they can."  Link to IMDB
    I love this series because, just as you think things are getting better, the drama hits once again for the Gallaghers, and you are sucked back into watching. 
11. Orange is the New Black- IMDB Storyline: "Convicted of a decade old crime of transporting drug money to an ex-girlfriend, normally law abiding Piper Chapman is sentenced to a year and a half behind bars to face the reality of how life changing prison can really be." Link to IMDB
    Part of my love for this show stems from the exceptional female cast. They do a great job showing diversity in characters and acting. Every season I binge watch, and I think this is the best way to watch this show.
12. Sense8- IMDB Storyline:" A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order." Link to IMDB
    This show is beautiful to watch. The cinematography is fantastic. I also like the fact that Netflix brought new types of characters to the table compared to most TV shows. Now, the first season's plot is a little weak, but you grow to love the characters.
13. Breaking Bad- IMDB Storyline: "A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family's future." Link to IMDB
    Again, such a unique plotline. The end was a little predictable, but I enjoyed the evolution of the characters over time.
14. Criminal Minds- IMDB Storyline: " The cases of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), an elite group of profilers who analyze the nation's most dangerous serial killers and individual heinous crimes in an effort to anticipate their next moves before they strike again." Link to IMDB
    This is a tried and true show that, no matter what, you can always rewatch episodes and still enjoy. Although the content can be twisted and make you worry about leaving your house, it is always my go-to when I am stumped on what to watch. I am proud to say I have seen every episode so far of the 12 seasons.
15. Call the Midwife- IMDB Storyline: "Chronicles the lives of a group of midwives living in East London in the late 1950s to early 1960s." Link to IMDB
    I love the period dramas that the UK has been making, and this is one of my favorites. It is refreshing to see the relationship between the characters and differences between time periods in terms of medicine, even if it is fiction.
16. Sherlock- IMDB Storyline: "A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London." Link to IMDB
    Sherlock episodes are long, like movie long, which is why there are only 3 episodes a season. The seasons take forever to come out as well, but you will be thoroughly invested in the show trying to figure out who committed the crime and what is going through Sherlock's head.
17. United States of Tara- IMDB Storyline: " A woman struggles to find a balance between her dissociative identity disorder and raising a dysfunctional family."  Link to IMDB
    It has been way too long since I watched this show, probably since I was in high school. I like the fact that it is different, and I think the actress that plays Tara does a great job.
18. 13 Reasons Why- IMDB Storyline: "Follows teenager Clay Jensen, in his quest to uncover the story behind his classmate and crush, Hannah, and her decision to end her life." Link to IMDB
    Now, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this show whether they went too far. I think the actors did a great job, and the story is intense. There were some scenes that I couldn't watch because they were so intense, but I think that the message is important. Definitely worth watching.
19. The Handmaid's Tale-  IMDB Storyline: "Set in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship." Link to IMDB
    Boy, is this show intense, and I think people can see parallels with where Trump's America is going. There are also so many details to this show that make it so much better than expected. The costumes and visuals are great, and I can't wait till season 2.
20. Suits- IMDB Storyline: " On the run from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, a brilliant college-dropout, finds himself a job working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers." Link to IMDB
    Suits has been out for awhile, and as the series goes on, some story line elements get a little tiresome, but the characters always make it worth watching. This is the show I put on if I am doing something else at the same time and just need something to watch. For that reason, I always return for the next season.
21. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.- IMDB Storyline: " The missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division." Link to IMDB
    I am so disappointed in IMDB's description of this show. If you don't know what the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division is, it is an organization in the Marvel universe (Universe of the Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, etc) that helps individuals with special powers and keeps the world safe from evil forces. I think it would be hard to watch if you haven't seen any Marvel movies, but if you have, I think its worth checking out.
22. Downton Abbey- IMDB Storyline: "A chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early 20th Century." Link to IMDB
    This shows wit is above and beyond. The dialogue is excellent, and the plot moves quickly. I never thought I would say a show is elegantly written and produced, but this one is.
23. Reign- IMDB Storyline: " Mary, Queen of Scots, faces political and sexual intrigue in the treacherous world of the French court." Link to IMDB
    To be honest, I only watched Reign because I needed something to watch to substitute for Game of Thrones while I waited for the new season. I was quite pleased with this show and loved how strong of a character Mary turned into. I definitely binged most of this series.
24. Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra (Two shows you need to watch together)- IMDB Storyline for Avatar: The Last Airbender: "In a war-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world." Link to IMDB
    IMDB Storyline for The Legend of Korra: "Avatar Korra fights to keep Republic City safe from the evil forces of both the physical and spiritual worlds." Link to IMDB
    Yes, these are technically kids' shows. I would say that they are kid friendly, but the story line is more enjoyable for adults because some of the plot lines and concepts are geared more towards teens and older. Avatar: The Last Airbender is excellent, and the writers put  so much work in making Aang (the Avatar) and other characters become strong, wise, respectable people that I continue to watch it for the character growth and story. Also, as an fyi, don't watch the M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar: The Last Airbender. It's terrible, and brings shame to this whole series.
    Now, Korra is the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender and is set a generation afterwards. Korra, in the beginning, is bratty, but again, they incorporated great character growth, and she gains so much wisdom. Also, the end to the series is revolutionary in terms of kids' TV.
25. Dear White People- IMDB Storyline:"  At a predominantly white Ivy League college, a diverse group of students navigate various forms of racial and other types of discrimination." Link to IMDB
    I think Netflix did a good job with this one, especially for this topic as so much of the time the point is skewed to misrepresent the issue. The cast is strong and the scenes look amazing. Definitely looking forward to season 2.

Feature Friday: Starbucks Strawberry Green Tea Infusion

TLDR: Tastes like water infused with mint and strawberries, Will order again as quite refreshing, Hope its permanent, Great low sugar option

Boy has it been awhile since I reviewed a Starbucks drink, which is quite surprising since I am at Starbucks working on stuff all the time.  I have been sticking to my usual order of a Strawberry Acai Refresher or an Iced Chai Tea Latte over the past couple of months, but I am getting bored of them. To be honest, none of the recent changes on the menu really sparked my interest like this green tea. Mango doesn't spark my fancy so that pretty much eliminates all the recent frappuccinos. I did try the Unicorn one awhile back but didn't feel like it was worth reviewing since it was only there for a few days. All that being said, lets cut to the chase and talk about what you came to read about...the Starbucks Strawberry Green Tea Infusion.

Personally, I have been trying to cut back on sugary drinks, which is really hard to due at Starbucks. I have found that I am addicted to them. When I found they were coming out with iced tea infusions, I was ecstatic because I love the taste of strawberries, and I have the option to get it unsweetened. You can definitely taste the strawberries in this drink. I don't taste the green tea though. To be honest, it tastes like water infused with mint and strawberries. I love the taste, but I wanted to make sure those that are expecting more green tea flavor knew that this does not have it in my opinion. I have ordered it a few times, and the flavor seems to be consistent. Overall, I found this quite refreshing, and I will repurchase!

Colourpop Cosmetics- Pressed Eyeshadows

TLDR: Pigmented and a little powdery, Price isn't the greatest, Good color selection, Application and wear were ok

If you are not a Youtube beauty fanatic like I am, you might have never heard of the brand 
Colourpop. It is one of those brands that almost every beauty guru talks about (mostly because they are affiliated with the brand or get sent PR), but I honestly don't mind that because the products are pretty cheap. The thing that drives me crazy about Colourpop (which many other people like) is that they seem to come out with a new product at least every week.  Because this is only an online brand, I like to get my stuff all at once due to shipping, so if they come out with a product every week that ends of selling out really quickly, I never get to try it! I bought my order of pressed eyeshadows awhile back to give enough time to try all the colors thoroughly, and their color selection has exploded since then. Now, they are even making palettes for $16, which is pretty good but sell out almost instantly.

Regardless of all of this, I was excited to try these because I have mostly palettes and very few single eyeshadows so I liked the fact that I could pick my own colors. Of course, like most of my other Colourpop orders, I am too indecisive and probably bought too many. I watched several videos for swatches beforehand and looked on Google images for other swatches to make sure I got the colors I truly wanted.

It took these eyeshadows 6 days to get to me, which is pretty good. The first thing I wanted to test actually was if I could remove the inner lining of the palette that was to hold the eyeshadows to make my own Z palette. I have seen many people do this, but it was more difficult than I expect. If you decide to do this, be very very gentle or you will rip out the magnet on the bottom or leave parts of the lining attached. I also had to work very diligently to get all the adhesive removed from the top of the magnet. Nevertheless, I got it eventually and now my palette will fit 10 eyeshadows instead of 4. 

The pan of these eyeshadows is smaller than I expected. Definitely do not expect these eyeshadows to be a lot of product, which makes me change my mind on how much of a deal I thought these would be. From doing the swatches, the colors were soft but definitely kick up powder. From the eye looks I have done, all blended pretty well and stayed on my eyelids throughout the day. I have no complaints for the wear or application.The majority of the colors I got were matte because I found that I don't own many transition shades for eye looks. 

Eyeshadows Purchased:

• Hi- Maintenance Palette
• 2 Empty Palettes (Free)
• Made to Last
• Silver Lining
• Popular Demand
• I Owe You
• Note to Self
• Paper Tiger
• Take the Lead
• Stay Golden
• Milli (Free)

All this being said, for $5 apiece (now they are $4), they did not wow me. Knowing that there are potentially better brands for single eyeshadows, I would only purchase more colors if I was buying other items from Colourpop, like their ultra satin lips. I would not buy these alone again.

Comment below which single eyeshadows I should try next.

Blog Hiatus and Wrapping Up My Last College Semester

Hello lovelies. It has been awhile and that is completely my fault. The last semester of college completely consumed me and has been one of the most difficult in terms of academic challenge. For my last semester, I took 2 upper level engineering courses in systems pharmacology and physical epigenetics, 1 upper math course in complex analysis and 1 course in public health, all while wrapping up my design project on a point-of-care device. It was, by far, the most biomedical heavy semester yet. Getting that diploma made it all worth it, and I have been taking a much needed break since then.

For the rest of the summer, I am spending time at home and will be participating in my medical school's pre-matriculation program. Get ready for updates on what starting medical school is like, finding housing in a city you know little about, and what to buy to get ready for the move and school.

As far as the blog goes, I think I will be more realistic this time and try for a post a week in the topics of medicine, makeup, and everything else. There is much to talk about with the new summer releases of makeup, packing and driving a u-haul of stuff across state lines, and much more.

2 graduations down. 2 to go.

Wet N Wild MegaLast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick

TLDR: Love the shades, I enjoy drier liquid lips so I liked this one, Great price, Would recommend

It seems that everyone is talking about this liquid lipstick in the Beauty Guru universe. For its price point, $4.99 at my local Rite Aid, I didn't mind getting it regardless of my opinions of it. I got 3 colors, Rebel Rose, Nudist Peach, and Give Me Mocha. All the shades I have are quite pretty, but Rebel Rose is my favorite.
According to the Wet n Wild website, this lipstick description is:
"What glides on like butter, feels like a second skin and wont budge? Our Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick! Made with glammed out superpowers, it goes on glossy yet transforms into a high - pigmented matte finish with some serious staying power. Read our lips This color is going nowhere.

• Glides on glossy and transforms into high - pigmented matte finish
• Lightweight formula made with serious staying power
• Intense pigmentation without drying the lips"

and claims to have:

• Vivid Color 
• Ultra - Matte Finish
•  Comfortable Wear

NYX Total Control Drop Foundation

TLDR: Like this for short periods of time, Can be difficult to apply, Good Match for Skin Tone, Not for Dry Skin, Use pore filling and smoothing primer, Need more than recommended for full coverage, Not worth price

I have never tried a drop foundation before this one. Most drop foundations are too expensive for my taste so, when I saw NYX was coming out with one, I figured I would give it shot. I purchased my shade, Light Ivory, from Ulta for $13.99. I had to go to the NYX website to shade match, however, as it was difficult to find which one would be the best match for my skin tone from the Ulta website. For reference, my skin is cool tones with pink undertones.  I did not see the brush that is recommended for this product on the Ulta website when I purchased the foundation, but it is on the Ulta website now.

The NYX website states this for this product: "From sheer to full, your ideal coverage is just drops away with our new Total Control Drop Foundation! Fine-tune this velvety, matte foundation with the included dropper. Simply adjust the number of drops until you create the look you’re feelin’ today. Want more coverage? Add more drops! Buff expertly using the Total Control Drop Foundation Brush for a seriously smooth finish."

Since I did not buy the brush and was afraid to use my Real Techniques sponge to apply this foundation because it might absorb all my product, I first tried to apply this foundation with my fingers. It was difficult, but it worked the first time. The second time I tried it, my face must have been slightly drier, and it looked awful. This product clings to dry patches like I have never seen before so I would not recommend for those that have dry skin. The third time I applied it, I used the dropper to place the drops directly onto my face and used my Real Techniques sponge to blend in. This gave me the best application to date with this product. I am tempted to buy the recommended brush, but I am more than satisfied with applying directly to my face and using the Reach Techniques sponge.

The final finish is not as smooth as I wanted. It did not seem to melt into my skin like other foundations, and I could feel this foundation on my face throughout the day. Fortunately for me, I bought too light of shade, and it oxidized a little creating one of the best matches for my skin tone. I had to set this foundation and liked the result when I did. My skin is typically oily, and I have relatively large pores, which did affect my opinion of this foudnation. I recommend using a pore filling primer and a primer that gives an even smooth coverage to the skin so that the liquid foundation does not stick to one patch over another. I like that it is easy to build up the overall coverage you want, but I had to use way more than the package recommended to get the coverage I wanted. To me, this means that I would run out of this product way too fast to justify a drugstore foundation for this price. I also did not find it difficult to put the rest of my makeup over this.  This will most likely be my go to foundation for now as it handled my oils pretty well as it did not get cakey throughout the day and looks great for 4-5 hours of use. I typically have long days, however, so I might reach for a different foundation if I know I won't time to touch this foundation up. Most foundations break down on my chin and around my nose at the end of the day, and this one did around the 6 hour mark. Overall, I am pleased with this product but won't be repurchasing if I run out of it too fast. 

E.L.F Cosmetics Mineral Infused Face Primer in Clear

TLDR: I think this broke me out, Did fill pores well, Was ok managing oil

On a whim, I bought this because I have been dying to try a new primer. Primer is one of those things that everyone seems to have a mixed opinion on what they want out of it. When I look for a primer, I look for something that either blurs pores or manages oil. That beings said, this primer promises exactly what I want:

"Transform your face into a flawless and smooth canvas with the e.l.f. Cosmetics Mineral Infused Face Primer. Developed to combat against excess oil, flaky dryness, enlarged pores and fine lines, this clear multipurpose skin primer will prepare your skin so makeup goes on evenly for a long-lasting satin finish. Features a new and improved air pump! For best results, you may need to pump the component several times before product dispenses. Cruelty free and vegan."-Ulta.com

I love the packaging of this product, but I am a sucker for a product with a pump. It made it easy to get the quantity you wanted out of the bottle. A full pump is usually not necessary for a full face of primer. This primer made my skin insanely smooth to the point that I am afraid that my makeup would not stay on my face if I used this. Regardless of that, when I did apply my foundation, it went on smoothly, and my foundation did not settle into my pores as much as it usually does. I really did not see much of a difference in how oily my skin was in comparison to other primers I have used in the past. I also did not notice any difference in how long my makeup lasted throughout the day. I have been using it for a couple of weeks as I try some new foundations, but I think I have determined that it is actually this primer that is breaking my skin out. In the future, I might just put this over the areas of my face where my foundation usually settles into my pores. Overall, it is ok, but I am still on the hunt for the perfect primer for me.

Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder

TLDR: Love for under eye area, Flawless, Would Recommend

I am all about a deal, and I happen to not have any pressed white powders. This made it super easy to convince myself to buy this Essence's powder when Nicole from Young, Wild, and Polished mentioned it on her snapchat/in a video awhile back. I put it on my list of things to try and recently bought it at Ulta for $3.99.

The website states: "The perfect pressed powder for a shine-free look. This light-weight formula absorbs excess oil and shine for a natural and smooth complexion. Available in one transparent color for all skin types - so it's perfect when you're out and about with your girls!".

I was hesitant to use this anywhere on my face besides under my eyes as this is an area that I try to brighten, and I am not sure if it would cause white cast. For reference, my under eye area is not an extremely dry area for me. I use the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair or the Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer in Light Natural over the NYX Dark Circle Concealer in Fair every time I wear makeup. Usually, I will just set my concealer with my face powder, but, given that I want to hide dark circles, I definitely want to brighten my under eye area with a white powder.

This powder did exactly what I expected. I use my E.L.F Small Tapered Brush to apply the powder. My concealers tend to crease slightly as the day goes on, but I think this powder helped. The powder did brighten the area, and my face really did look flawless where I applied it. Be cautious of applying too much as I am not sure if it will cause flash back/ white cast in flash photography. Overall, I really like it and will be using it daily.

Premed Tip #6- Medical School Scholarships

This topic hits home a little too close as I have learned my lesson with waiting till the last minute to fill out scholarship applications. As I sit here and finish the 5th essay that is due tomorrow, I am thinking back to all my activities and how I have spent my time these past 4 years. While I wrote a couple of weeks ago on how to fill the holes in your application, I am thinking of how I did not spend enough time on things that are "scholarship" topics. I have loved all the things I have been involved in, but I have realized I did not spend enough time in the activities that can help fund my medical school education. 
This essay is geared towards what types of scholarships you will run into. At least, these are the scholarship types I have run across. 

• Community Health/ Public Health Commitment
• Underserved Commitment
• Rural Health Commitment
• Financial Need
• Commitment to Primary Care
• Military Commitment Scholarships
• Diversity Scholarships

If these scholarships are of interest to you, you need to be able to demonstrate your commitment to the topic specified, whether that be community health, rural health, etc. Look at what you are involved in and think of how these activities fit into topics like these. Also, do more research as there other scholarships out there. Scholarship due dates range from January to roughly July. Make sure to have your FAFSA turned in by October before you matriculate though and sent it to your schools! If you need help funding your medical school education, look at scholarships early and have your goals for the future in mind when you are applying.

L'Oreal Infallible Lip Paints

TLDR: Really like it in Spicy Blush. Might be an everyday product for me. Comfortable and easy to apply. Not transfer proof.

I thought it was fitting to write about something I am currently wearing and loving. I am an avid beauty guru watcher on Youtube, and I feel the community does not give enough credit to drugstore products. Don't get me wrong, I love a good high end product, but my wallet doesn't.

According to the Ulta website:
"Lacquer up lips in high-impact liquid color with L'Oreal's Infallible Lip Paints. In one stroke, the designer applicator precisely diffuses vibrant, full-coverage color to lips for comfortable wear. Available in a variety of high-impact colors, from nude to bold.

Benefits:

• Saturated with pigments
• High color impact
• Designer applicator"

I bought the L'Oreal Infallible Paint (one of their versions of a liquid lipstick) in Spicy Blush 314 at Ulta.com for $9.99, and I think the color is perfect for my paler skin tone.  These are very pigmented. The formula is not drying at all. That being said, it takes forever to dry, and I am tempted to say that it will never dry down completely, which is not typical for liquid lipsticks. The lipstick is not a stain or a true liquid lip but closer to a creamy lipstick. This does make it more comfortable to wear. You would have to fix it up during the day most likely, but it is so pretty. It smells kind of like candy. It was so easy to apply for me and doesn't dry too fast so that it is hard to get it on. I did line my lips every time I wore this product, and it seems to be relatively transfer proof on me (at least with this color) for most of the day, unless I was eating.  I am not one to reapply lip products much throughout the day so I feel this color would be for a shorter day. It is ok when it comes to food, but, like most lip products, it will transfer and fade away on the inner part of your lip, as Jaclyn Hill would call it "The Butthole Lip". While she is not my absolute favorite Youtuber, she does come up with a great name for this phenomenon with lip products. Overall, it did fulfill all of its claims so that is a plus.

I am thinking about buying another color but am unsure if any of the other available colors would look that great on my skin tone (I might get the Nude Star color).  I would recommend this to a friend if they wanted a cheap lipstick as I feel these look great and were comfortable to wear. If you want a true liquid lip, I would not recommend these.

I have included some links if you want to see more on this product. I included Tati's video because she always buys all the shades and swatches them. I also included Cassie's video because her test videos always seem honest, and she shows you how it performs throughout the day if you need another reference.

Links (none of these are affiliated with me in any way):
Ulta L'Oreal Infallible Page
Tati's Youtube Video
Cassie's Youtube Video

Update: I bought Nude Star, and I am pleasantly surprised. It is a pinker nude color and is quite flattering on my skin tone.  I did not line my lips with this color, mostly because I did not have a matching color, but it was not an issue, most likely because it is a darker color. Formula seems to be consistent with Spicy Blush.

Feature Friday: Crockpot Ranch Chicken

TLDR: Would recommend, Taste great, Awkward cook time, Not very thick sauce

As a college student with no meal plan, I wish I spent more time doing crockpot recipes. I only really started them 2 weeks ago in an effort to stop eating out so much. I usually eat chicken plus 1 carb and some salad for dinner, which made me gravitate towards doing chicken crockpot recipes. I found this recipe off of Pinterest in a set of 9 other chicken recipes. Here is the link.

I kind of hate how this recipe is for 4-5 hours in the crockpot. At the time I was picking out recipes, I did not think this would be an issue, but it is not long enough that I can leave it all day but not short enough that I can start it when I get home to eat dinner at a reasonable time. Regardless of that, I think this chicken goes well with pasta and by itself. It does not have a thick sauce, but I don't mind that. I almost think it needs more cream cheese than the recipe suggests as it is not a super creamy sauce. The chicken just falls apart when it is done and is so moist. Excellent! I will definitely be making this recipe again at some point. Clean up was easy with a Crockpot liner. It makes a lot of chicken for 1 person so I had a good amount of chicken this week. Keep that in mind if you only have 1 or 2 people eating.

In the mood for chicken, try this out!

Premed Tip #5 -Picking Schools Part 2

Part 1 of picking schools focused on how to narrow down schools to look at to have a realistic list of schools to optimize your chance of an acceptance while Part 2 focuses on picking schools that are right for you. Here we will focus on features of schools that might be important to you and what you should look at to see if schools offer what you want.

First things first, think about your goals for the future after medical school and the type of residency you would like to go into. These goals will help you decide what you want in a medical school. Here are some deciding features of schools, in my opinion, that will help you decide on schools to add to your list.

• Curriculum
• This is by far one of the most important things to look for when looking at schools as you will spend most of your time focusing on the curriculum in medical school. Do you prefer a systems based ( where they cover all the material for each system of the body at a time) curriculum or topic based (they cover all the biochemistry of the body at once for example)? Do you want a traditional 2-2 curriculum (2 years of classes and 2 years rotation) or another style? Do you want time to pick your own advance studies after the traditional rotations? There are so many small differences in curriculum between schools, so pay close attention. 
• Mission Statement
• Get to know the values of the school to see if it conflicts with your own. Some institutions will not teach certain topics (ex abortion) if it conflicts with their values. Find out what you want in your medical school education and your values and see if a school's values fit those.
• Dual Degree Programs and Second Change MD/PhD
• What kind of job do you want to have after your training? Do you want to go into health policy where a MPH would help? Are your grades and research experiences not strong enough to go directly into an MD/PhD program but still interested in an MD/PhD? These types of questions will help you determine if you want to get more than one degree during your time in medical school and help decide if a school that has/doesn't have these opportunities is a deciding factor for you. There are many dual degree programs out there so check them out!
• Volunteer Clinics
• The majority of schools have volunteer clinics, and they are great experiences to have. That being said, not all volunteer clinics are alike. Do you want a clinic that works with a specific ethnic group? A certain setting? Or will you volunteer in any? Do you want a clinic that has teaching roles for medical students? Look at what clinics the school has to see if they fit your interests.
• Required Volunteer/ Community Service Hours
• Some schools require you to get involved in the community and volunteer. While I consider this a plus, you may or may not, so check out what volunteering they offer, if they have a requirement, or if they allow you to create your own volunteering opportunity.
• Research
• Many medical students are a part of research during medical school. Does the school have research that you are interested in? Do they have summer programs for research? Do they provide a gap year during medical school for research? Do they have an honors program for research? Check it out.
• Required Research and Academic Medicine
• Some schools require you to do research and are more geared to producing students to go into academic medicine. These types of schools also typically have curriculums that also reflect this (like Harvard) but not always. Ask yourself if this where you see your career going. 
• Track Programs
• Track programs are programs that have classes and experiences that focus on certain aspects of medicine, like global health, rural medicine, women's health or health management, that run in conjunction with the curriculum. Many schools have these so see if what their requirements are and what they offer.
• Match Lists
• While many of us premeds don't truly know how to look at a match list, as they do not tell you if the students got their first choice or not, these lists will tell you if the schools produces mostly students going into specialties or into primary care. This can sway your opinion of the school.
• Location
• Location is important because you want to live somewhere where you can be happy for 4+ years. Do you want to live in a city? Rural area? Hot weather? Cold? 
• School Size
• The standard is 200 or less students per class. Do you want a small class size like 50 students or larger?
• Ranking
• I hate putting this on here, but, to some, ranking is important. The US news ranking is misleading to many as the ranking is also determined by endowment size and not necessarily how great the school is. Keep that in mind, but do you research on your schools as a top rank school might not provide exactly what you are looking for.

Favorite Valentine's Day Makeup Products

If you could not tell from my blog's colors, I adore light pink. When I think of Valentine's day makeup, I want a pink toned eye look and a nice red lip. While I will not being celebrating Valentine's day till the end of this week because my boyfriend is away on a medical school interview, this won't stop me from having some awesome themed makeup today.

I feel I have so much makeup that I could use for this occasion. Like any other "special" day, I gravitate towards my most reliable products. This post also made me realize I also use a lot of Too Faced and L'Oreal Products.

Face Products:

• Primer:  NYX Angel Veil  and NYX Pore Filler on my nose
• Foundation: L'Oreal Infallible Pro Matte in 101 Classic Ivory
• Under Eye Concealer: Physicians Formula #InstaReady Concealer in Fair
• Under Eye Powder: Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder
• Spot Concealer: L.A. Girl Concealer in Classic Ivory
• Face Powder: Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Creamy Natural
• Contour: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer in Medium/Deep
• Blush: Too Faced Papa Don't Peach Brightening Blush
• Setting Spray: L'Oreal Infallible Makeup Extender Setting Spray

Lip Products: ColourPop Ribbon with Lip Liner Bichette

I hope I inspired you to make your own Valentine's Day look. May you all look wonderful this Valentine's Day!


Disclaimer: Links are not affiliated with me and are directly from the specified seller. I do not make any money off of these links. They are just there for convenience for you.

Feature Friday: Edible Cookie Dough

You probably thought I was going to tell you about a recipe, and there are probably many good recipes for edible cookie dough. I, however, wanted to write about a product I found at Giant (if you don't have Giant, Giant is a typical grocery store) that has truly impressed me, edible cookie dough in a jar. Whenever I make edible cookie dough from scratch, it is usually quite good, but, sometimes, I don't want to get all the ingredients for it when I can make just regular cookies, which makes edible cookie dough in a jar handy. Ironically, the small grocery store near my college does have edible cookie dough (doesn't have my shampoo but has edible cookie dough...still bitter), but it is very expensive (about $7 for 10oz).  This made me steer clear of looking for edible cookie dough for awhile (since sophomore year to be exact). By chance this past week when I made my weekly trip to Giant, I found the Giant brand edible cookie dough near the pudding for about $4! I am in love. First, it is delicious, and second, it is so much cheaper. I highly recommend for those that need a little treat now and then but do not have the space/money/time to buy all the ingredients to make your own. They have chocolate chip cookie dough and brownie batter. I am going to try the brownie batter next time. I am sure other grocery chains have something similar near the pudding section in the refrigerated section.

This is a short and sweet post, but I thought someone might want to try something delicious that makes me happy. Happy Friday everyone!

Premed Tip # 4 - Picking Schools Part 1

This is one step of the application process I waited way too long to do. I recommend doing this right after you find out your MCAT score. If that is not possible, I would suggest at least doing this February before you submit your primary. I waited until May before I submitted my primary to do this, which made it difficult, but I got lucky that all my schools did not have requirements I couldn't fill.

For Part 1 of this topic, I wanted to address the issue of categorizing your schools so that you have breath when you are applying to schools and really optimize your chances of an acceptance. I use the categories of Safety, In Range, and Reach to categorize my schools, but I recognize that no school that is called a safety is a guarantee in any way of acceptance.

Here is the breakdown of the categories that I used:

• Safety: Your GPA is 0.2 or more greater than their average and 2 or more points above their average MCAT score
• In Range: You are within 0.2 of their average GPA and 1 within their average MCAT
• Reach: Your GPA is less than 0.2 of their average and 2 or more below their average MCAT

When you are making your list, you should have a set goal of schools you want to apply to. You can add or subtract schools as you go, but the average number of schools that an applicant applies to is 20. 60-75% of your schools should be in range schools, and you should have approximately 15% reach and 15% safety. These are general guidelines, and you should always check what else the school looks for to truly determine if it is in range for you, reach, or safety. I made a spreadsheet with all of the medical schools and color coded/deleted schools as I determined if they were in range/safety/ reach and if I wanted to apply. I took a screenshot of a small part of the spreadsheet.

Always do what you are comfortable with. Just make sure that you do not fill your list with all far reaching schools. Part 2 will cover what else you should look for when adding schools to your list.

Garnier Skin Active Clearly Brighter Argan Nut Gently Exfoliating Cleanser

TLDR: Just no, Hate the nut particles and didn't do anything for my skin 

Well, this product's name is quite the mouthful. I bought this because I was running out of my usual face wash and was looking for something new, and, perfectly, this said new on the bottle. This product claims it "gently polishes to even tone & brighten" and "smoothes & refines pores" and contains  vitamin C and a fruit acid blend with an antioxidant complex.  I have very oily acne prone skin that is also extremely sensitive and has large pores. This product seems to offer what I am looking for, which  is all well and good, but I feel like it does not necessarily accomplish what it promises.

Full Description on Back of Bottle:
"This effective, yet gentle daily exfoliating cleanser works double duty to brighten and deeply cleanse skin. A non-drying formula with finely ground, sustainably sourced Argan Nut shell, Antioxidant Vitamin C and  a Multi-Fruit Acid blend helps to refine pores, even skin tone and wash away dirt, oil & makeup in one step"

Instant Results Promised on Back of Bottle:
"Skin looks smoother, radiant with a healthy glow:

• Non-comedogenic/ won't clog pores
• Oil- free
• Dermatologist tested for safety/gentleness
• Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin
• rinses clean "