I Hate Valentine's Day, but Happy Valentine's Anyway!

So, my dearest readers(all three of you), lately I haven't been posting, well, anything.
I just started IB, and I've been busy finding my feet. Also, I'm notoriously irregular with posts/journal entries etc.
I haven't been doing much beauty-related stuff either. Just the daily bare minimum.

But today I have for you smartsillysuperficial's first set of mini-reviews.

Korres Vanilla Cinnamon Body Milk

This stuff is the shit. It smells AMAZEBALLS, and is moisturizing without being too moisturizing, if that makes sense. I used it daily over the winter holiday to prevent gross ashiness. It doesn't smell exactly like vanilla and cinnamon though, which is a bit of a bummer. I love cinnamon. 

John Masters Organics Sea Mist

Purchased on the recommendation of Cat Marnell, formerly of xojane. It gives me a lovely "mussed up" effect, and helps me get rid of the puffiness my hair gets when brushed out. When I spritz it on my hair fresh out of the shower, and then braid it, it also helps give my hairstyles some hold and longevity.
Seriously, I trust most of Cat Marnell's recommendations implicitly. Say what you want about her life choices, she knows her stuff. 

Bioderma Sensibio Solution Micellaire

The best makeup remover I've ever used, hands down. I love it so much, I paid $30 dollars for a 250ml bottle. It takes off makeup brilliantly without leaving behind any pore-clogging residue or burning my eyes.

Aspirin Mask

Clay masks do nothing for me. Neither does benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid is my everything. So it makes sense that aspirin masks are awesome for my skin( salicylic acid is a component in aspirin). 

When I got back from the US, before school started, my skin was a hot mess. It was dry yet broken out, irritated and persnickety. Only an aspirin and honey mask saved me. 

 I use some rubbish aspirin I got in a Dollar Tree in the US (I've never been able to find aspirin in Singapore pharmacies), add some water or honey to it, and mix it up. I then plop the resulting mixture on my face (if you used honey, apply the mask thinly. The heat from your face will melt the honey a bit, and if you use too much it will drip) and ignore it for a bit. When I wash it off, my face is soothed, my zits are calmed down, and my skin glows.

Have fun! In other news, I'm going mad waiting for my Clarisonic Mia to arrive( it should be here next week), and my cat left a dead bird in my room. I hope you're having a better Valentine's Day than me.

Not Good Enough

I know this post is a bit late. To tell you the truth, I didn't even plan on doing it until like, 5 minutes ago, when I was reading Peaches and Blush to catch up on the posts I'd missed when overseas these past few weeks. The lady who runs that blog, Mehak, wrote a post on the 20th of December talking about the gang-rape in Delhi and the problematic treatment of violence against women in India. 

Now I'd watched this story as it unfolded during the holidays, and I was completely disgusted and ashamed at the events, but I figured a post from me would be pointless. I mean, I'm late writing about this, and Smart.Silly.Superficial is normally a lighthearted and quite frivolous blog - no one's coming here for current affairs or really serious stuff. No-one wants my opinion on this. But 2 things convinced me to write this. One, I went out with my best friends yesterday and the topic of the gang-rape came up. If teenagers who normally have zero interest in current affairs, teenagers like us, were still talking about it, well it must still be fresh enough in everyone's minds for a post like this to not be too obnoxious. And Two, the aforementioned post on Peaches and Blush. If a beauty and fashion blogger like Mehak could write such a wonderful and heartfelt post on the matter, maybe it was appropriate for me to do the same.

So on to the important bit. Talking about what happened. To be completely honest, the gang-rape makes me sick to my stomach. Even writing the words "gang-rape" makes me feel very sad and very ashamed. Why ashamed, you may ask? Because I am Indian. I was born in Bangalore, I lived there for years. And the way the country of my birth treats dreadful crimes like this is shameful. Can you believe that a lot of people in India blame not the filth that perpetrated this atrocity, but the poor victim?! And a lot of Indian society, while not outright blaming victims of sexual crimes, does have the attitude that a woman must take care not to "entice", "tempt"and otherwise instigate the sexual attention of men. Because as everyone knows, men will be men, and have no self-control, and if anything you do or say or wear gets them hot and bothered-you have to deal with the "consequences". When I was last in Bangalore, my family and I passed a crowded side street filled with merchants and shoppers while on a walking tour. My mother actually cautioned me that some men may try to grope me as we passed through the throng. And perhaps most shockingly (to me, at least) was when I replied that I would raise holy hell if anyone tried anything, she told me to just ignore any misbehaviour, as "they just want the attention". 

I call bullshit. 

I call bullshit on this victim-blaming mentality, I call bullshit on the entire attitude towards women, sexual crimes and other crimes against women. 

But this post isn't about me or my experience. It's about what happened to that poor woman, who ended up dying here, in a Singapore hospital, after going through a horrific ordeal I wouldn't wish on the most evil person alive. It's about the 6 people who participated in this heinous crime. It's about politicians and community leaders saying that women shouldn't go out at night, that they shouldn't take public transport, that they shouldn't dress in a "provocative manner" instead of taking action against the actual criminals, the men committing these acts. Its about the protests in Delhi, about people finally saying that they've had ENOUGH. Its about countless rapes, molestations and acts of violence against girls and women, some as young as babies in India. Its about the level of apathy among the people, the justice system and the government regarding this sort of atrocity.

 Every person, every woman has the right to feel safe, secure and free.  Why are the privileges I enjoy simply by living in Singapore not shared by women in the country of my birth? India has a great, rich, wonderful history- but what about its present? It seems like a hot mess to me. 

If India honestly wants to be a mover and shaker in world politics(and believe me, it does) if it wants to be taken seriously as a powerful nation, it'd better get its act together. Stat.

Your Guide to Getting an A* (from a straight A* student)

I’ll the first (and possibly only) one to say there is a great difference between an A and A*. Perhaps there is no formula to getting an A* - it comes with raw skill, as most teachers will tell you. But in this context – the IGCSEs – as long as your potential ain’t that bad, I’ve got you covered.

Know your enemy
This is really the discriminator here in terms of good to poor revision technique. I’m so sick of people who think they’re boss and hardworking, when they’re just cramming every bit of information their eyes come across in the good old textbook. Textbooks are great (though I can think of a few exceptions) but the authors/editors like to add a little something something to engage your interest and whatnot, or they inadvertently look over a requirement for your exams, or your school doesn’t care enough to update your textbook in tandem with your syllabus.
So what your real best friend will be is your syllabus. Your teacher or the internet will give this to you. International exams will not be sneaky and test you on anything your syllabus doesn’t require. That being said, especially for the humanities subjects, the syllabus can be misleading. Take Economics. A skill like “Describe the causes of employment” may include jargon like cyclical unemployment and structural unemployment and god knows what else. But as long as you’ve checked off everything on there (for your year mind you, the syllabus varies quite year to year), find solace on the fact you’re well prepared.

Notes
I will forevermore be grateful to my teacher who introduced this to me. This is so, so important. Maybe by default you have some notes lying about. Those probably aren’t good enough.
Reading material will at most gain you understanding. However, when getting an A*, there’s almost an exact science to answering questions. Even for, let’s say, History. Any time you have to learn about an event, you need at least 5 detailed bullet points because the formulaic format of the papers require that. So really, your notes are a way to speculate questions and have pre-formed answers ready. Under each section of your syllabus, organize whatever content you have into headings and under each, have your bullet points. Being so detailed and thorough will mean a lot of content, so printing them out is recommended (I average 50 pages a subject). Have your headings in bold. Read through your page of notes, take the info in. Next, look only at the headings and try to recall what you’ve just read (not word for word, but at long as the points are there). A few days later, only look at the headings and whatever you don’t recall adequately, note down. At the end of your revision session for that subject, go back to what you failed recalling. Is it a bit like memorizing like a robot? Yeah, but these are exams and they are cruel and irrational. It’s all very good loving a subject and having great intuition, but if your blabbering isn’t fulfilling the mark scheme, tough.

Past papers
There’s no way your notes can be killer if you don’t consult past papers. Beware of content not in your syllabus, but you will eventually get a sense of how to answer things. Furthermore, you may get your bullet points for your notes directly from the mark scheme. These are good for pedantic mark schemes where though there a myriad of answers for the questions, only some are valid for the purpose of the exams. Definitions for your humanities may not explicitly be stated in your syllabus either, and yet there are only a limited number of terms they can test on you on. The definitions will be standardized, so just look it up. The way to do this is not go through every damn paper and copy down the mark schemes, but as you are doing your notes with help from the syllabus and textbook, cross-reference and supplement with mark schemes. Say you’ve extracted all the information your textbook has to say about GDP. Next, type into Google “What is meant by GDP” xtremepapers (with the quotation marks). Or whatever your respective subject requires. For Economics, they always phrase definition questions with “What is meant”.
For subjects like Math (uh, probably only for Math), past papers are a resource for you to practise time management.

Time management
Speaking of which, there’s your revision timetable. Don’t do that gay thing where you note down 8pm to 8.30pm: Shower or 11.45 am-12.30pm: Math. So dumb. Firstly, there’s no putting such narrow thresholds. You’ll fall behind or have extra time here and there. What I suggest is, after you’ve done your notes for all subjects, dedicate a day to a subject. Do not do several subjects a day. It allows for poor depth knowledge and processing, and a convoluted mindset. Just set aside a day each where you go through your entire course. This will take 7 hours the first time. Breaks every 8 pages is good, of a 15 minute power nap or snack or exercise or those two episodes of EpicMealTime. It will be pretty mundane and tedious, but breaks will be your best friend and keep thinking of when it’s over. If you start at 9 am you can finish by 6 pm, and you’ll have a good 4 hours of whatever in the evening/night. After you’ve gone through all your subjects, if you’ve got enough study leave, go through them all over again. See how much information you’ve retained. As noted before, don’t read the notes this time. Just look at the heading and recall. You’ll probably (even after a week) recall 80% perfectly. It will also take about half the time to go through the whole course. Thereafter, the day before every actual exam, breeze through the night before and/or go over exam technique/criteria for marking (especially for things like source-based papers in History or Literature papers for English). Use weekends as opportunities for going through the courses coming up the next week. If you’ve ever go a good amount of time to kill, don’t go over revision again. If it’s the end of the day, just sleep on it. It’s pointless to do more. You’ve probably gotten the most out of what you’ve done, and any consolidating will be done when you’re unconscious and sleeping. Trying to recall random crap now will strain and frustrate you. You really have to sleep on it. The next morning, things will be crystal clear. True story. If it’s a whole day you’ve got to kill, don’t depress yourself. Take a damn break. More revision does not make for better retention. There’s a maximum capacity. Just go through it all once, and every few days or so again. It’s really not about quantity here, but quality. That’s why I do better studying the week before and getting A*s, whilst my classmates have been studying for months with their run of the mill revision and end up getting a B. I get the grades and the social life. Kinda.
Another thing, do start by 9 am tops. Your brain will get tired and dysfunctional when it hits 4 pm or so. And save the binge eating for sleepovers. Excess carbs will tempt you into hibernation. Just don’t.

While We Have Exams.....

Hey guys! The blog's been super dead lately, as Bush and I have exams in a month. So why don't you check out some of the things I've been loving lately. If you're lucky I'll manage to persuade Bush to do one as well.

Funny Feminist Websites
I am in LOVE with these two sites, which always manage to make me think while simultaneously amusing me and/or feeding my beauty obsession.
So you have GOT to check out xoJane and Jezebel. I promise you you won't regret it. Jezebel's one of the few reasons I know whats going on in the world at all.

Tea
My mother says its my Malayali blood, but I adore tea. And nothing fancy, refined or in any way posh. I'm a Lipton's kinda girl. In fact I recently got a mug from Ikea that's covered in teapots, teacups, cupcakes and other "teatime" paraphernalia (Whats up with tea as a meal anyway? I don't appreciate the efforts to gentrify the practice of indiscriminate snacking during the day) that I use solely to drink tea. Don't get me wrong, I <3 coffee too, especially those peppermint frappes Starbucks does during the holiday season, but I'm a tea girl at heart.

Grimm
OK, normally I freak out when people's faces/appearances just transform on-screen on those supernatural shows (Charmed, anyone?).  But the awesome storyline and compelling characters of Grimm really help me deal with my fears in a way that allows me to sleep at night. The shape shifters are not just the antagonistic "creatures" on this show, they're characters with distinct and realistic motivations and behaviours. I love it.

Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Now this stuff is funny. Is it rude, often politically incorrect and ridiculous? Yes. But it also has a stellar cast, believable characters and well, its funny to watch the main characters scheme and manipulate their way out of unpleasant situations. That its independantly created and produced by the actors? Icing on the cake.

Healthy Lifestyles
In an attempt to get healthier and more in shape, as well as lose some of the flab I'm accumulating, I'm trying to be more healthy. I go to the gym every so often (I was surprised to find I actually enjoyed it a little), eat more vegetables and less meat, try to cut out junk food(a little unsuccessfully) and replace Coke with water.
It is NOT fun. I seem to be going through withdrawal for Coke, but I've been holding out pretty well. Sometimes its hard to resist that delicious meat dish at dinner, prevent yourself from buying a bottled drink and control your urge to run to McDonalds or buy instant noodles. But I figure it's worth it. Supposedly healthy is happy, and frankly, I'd like to be able to make it through a PE lesson coolly and calmly. 2.4km run, here I come.

When You're Good to Your Skin.....

Now Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel certainly said a lot of very apt--and quotable things. But one particularly astute observation of hers pretty much sums up this post.

  "A woman has the age she deserves"

Now you can draw a lot of ideas and conclusions about that sentence, but today I'm using it to illustrate the importance of good skin care.

As far as I know, people are born with great skin. This quality of skin seems to linger effortlessly right on until puberty hits you like a well placed left hook. After then, your previously placid and undemanding skin does a 360, becoming moody, congested and prone to sudden outbursts at the slightest provocation. Suddenly you need to put effort into making your skin look and feel decent. Where before you could just wash your face with your body soap and call it a day, you suddenly find yourself buying various lotions and potions in an often futile effort to make order out of the chaos that is your dermis.

But in the midst of toners and serums and gels, we often forget about the just as important basics. We often become so preoccupied with how our skin looks today that we completely disregard how it will look after years of abuse. 

Now I've been guilty of this crime several times in my past. The offenses range from using a too-harsh cleanser that gave me dry flaky patches but removed my pimples, to forgoing moisturizer in the mistaken belief that it was a waste of time.

Thankfully, I know better now and so should you. So here's my list of habits you WILL regret.

1. Scouring Your Skin With Drying Cleansers, Using Alcoholic Toners And Over Exfoliating.

Now you might really get a kick from that super-clean feeling washing the crap out of your face may give you, but it can lead to several not so fun outcomes.

 If you're one of those blissfully ignorant souls who justify their treatment of the face by claiming their skin is oily and thus merits this abuse, I've got bad news for you. Your treatment of your face may actually be causing it to produce MORE oil to overcompensate for the dryness your routine's caused. Try using a gentler cleanser, switching to a non-alcoholic toner( I like Clinique's Clarifying Moisture Lotion) and keeping exfoliation to a twice a week maximum. Basically, if anything you're using is making your face feel stripped of all oils, stop using it.

All of the nastiness will also cause your skin to age prematurely. You won't notice it at 16 or even at 24, but just wait til you're 40.

2. Skipping Moisturiser.

Again, this is a crime us oily-skinned girls commit. We tend to feel our oily skin eliminates the need for any added moisture. LIES! Everyone should be using a moisturizer. It hydrates and for oily girls at least, helps regulate oil production. Plus, moisturized skin is firmer,plumper and more youthful. Who doesn't want that?

3. Tanning And/Or Not Using An SPF Of At Least 20.

Now this is a mortal sin against your skin. UV rays are horribly damaging to the skin and besides the obvious dangers of skin cancer, can also cause premature aging. Anyone who doubts the wisdom of my words, just check out this article. Can't live without your bronzed glow? Try self-tanner or bronzer instead for a safer, healthier way to achieving that colour.

4. Not Removing Makeup/Relying On Face Wash To Take Off Makeup

Ok ladies. Unless your face wash specifically says "removes makeup", don't trust it to do the job. A nice makeup remover works much better to get that war paint off. Leaving makeup caked in your pores is like playing russian roulette with breakouts. Your perfect foundation and smoky eye may be hot, but pores full of gunk are not. Invest in an oil or cream remover. I like Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Lotion and Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil. At a friend's place without remover? Don't fret. That olive oil you have in your kitchen works just as well.


So there you have it ladies. Go forth and be fabulous!

Saturday FOTD

I apologise for the wonky right eyebrow.

Face:

L'oreal UV Perfect SPF 50 in Transparent Skin

Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in #153

Makeup Forever Contour Kit in #3

Korres Zea Mays Blush in #47 Orange Brown

Eyes:

Sephora eyeshadow in #31 Red Wine

Essence Gel Eyeliner in #2 London Baby

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero(on lower lash line)

Lips:

MAC lipstick in Sinister

Celebrating the Sixties!

Hi guys! Today, as a peace offering for not having posted in FOREVER, I've got a step-by-step makeup tutorial!
Its a late 60's, kind of mod look. Hope you guys like it!

To start, put a layer of shimmery pale shadow onto your eye, from lash line to brow bone. I'm using Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit, which I applied with my fingers.

Then I used a matte black shadow from my Sleek palette to outline my socket/crease. I used a rather thin headed and precise brush for this.

Then from the outer edge of my eye, I drew a line with the black shadow to connect it to the existing shadow in my socket/crease.

I then traced my upper lash line using the black shadow and an eyeliner brush, taking care not to make the  line too thin and too neat.

By the time this step is done, it should look something like this:

I then applied a matte light-tan shade from my Sleek Storm Palette onto my brow bone to create some contrast to the shimmery lid.

Then I lined my lower lash lines with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero and applied my Lancome mascara. In the late 60's, it was all about the eyes, and luscious lashes were a must. So use your most dramatic mascara and if you've got them, false lashes.

 Then top it off with a nude lipstick or lipgloss. I'm using the only nude lip colour I own-MAC Viva Glam V lip glass.

To prevent the whole thing from looking too monochrome and bland, I added a little bit of MAC Sheertone Shimmer blush in Foolish Me. I like that its sheer enough to not overpower the 60s feel, but pigmented enough to brighten up the look a little.

The finished look:

Hope you guys liked it. Bye!