L.F RAMBLES - FIRST YEAR

Awkward handz and my favourite drink: iced green tea. Also wearing shades to go with the summer mise en scene I'm trying to create. Imagine a beach back drop.

So my first year at uni is over. It's gone WAY too fast and I thought I'd do a 'short' summary of my experience.
It's not like I'm a mature student but I did do a foundation so I'm a year older than the majority. Whilst it doesn't sound like a big difference, I definitely 'changed' in that year..... or I kind of cemented who I am as a person. Done with high school drama (surprisingly still rife at uni' *mega yawn*) and petty insecurities (for the most part). I wanted a fresh start.
With me being a self confessed introvert, my experience could only go two ways: be living with a bunch of rowdy-stereotypical-sex-crazed-freshers or be living with people who hated the guts out of each other.
Well, I lived with neither. There was only 4 of us in total and we got 'along'.... but not to the point of casually hanging around together..... we never went out as a flat. Ever. I managed to live with a group of people who did our own thing. And it kind of worked for us.
I only 'properly' friends with one of my flat mates. And he was the guy I first met when I moved in. I guess sometimes people don't 'click' and it's a two-way thing - I wouldn't worry about breaking your back over anyone who doesn't make the effort.  

Umm back to uni'.... I guess it's what you make or want out of it. It's not in my nature to be this wild child so I didn't expect to change into one, or pretend I was one. I didn't and still don't feel the need to go out every night drinking just to fit into that 'mould.' Disclaimer: I DID GO OUT and 'socialise' but not as much as everyone and if it means I'm boring, then yes I'm boring.

For me I'm at uni to make some 'genuine' friends, learn about my subject, work my butt off for my degree and hopefully in turn I'll secure a job I love. In that order please!

Don't know if this post was particularly interesting. But I'm content with how it went. Tutors are nice (I would have to say that wouldn't I?) and my class mates genuinely seem like a nice bunch (the ones who come in anyway). It takes me awhile to make 'friends' (wary Capricorn vibes) and I think I have met some decent people. Though in typical 'L.F' style, at the end of the year. 
 Probably my best advice is to be yourself. I know. CLICHE. But who wants a fake friend that pretends to like 'shizzle' just to fit in? I like to get to know people with a bit of substance..... than just alcohol ;)


GENERAL TIPS AND GRAPHIC DESIGN RELATED ONES:

• 99%  CHANCE YOU WILL BE LIVING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LAZY ABOUT CLEANING/TAKING BINS OUT - SO JUST DO IT YOURSELF. THEY WON'T DO IT.
• RECYCLE! HAVE AN EXTRA BIN BAG IN THE KITCHEN FOR RECYCLING SO YOU HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND IT MEANS THE WASTE BAG WON'T BE AS HEAVY.
• ASOS BECOMES YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND.
• BUY FRUIT AND VEG' FROM THE MARKETS - CHEAPER AND YOU GET MORE.
•  'BORROW' THINGS FROM THE KITCHEN MODERATELY.
• BE PREPARED FOR UNWANTED BASS MUSIC FROM THE ROOM BELOW RINGING IN YOUR EAR. 
• YOU WON'T WATCH ALL THE DVDS YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU.
• YOU WILL SEE YOUR TUTORS LESS AND LESS AS THE YEAR GOES ON.
• DON'T RELY JUST ON YOUR STUDENT LOAN - HAVE SOME SAVINGS BEFORE YOU GO.
• YOU WON'T DIE IF YOU EAT THINGS PAST THEIR SELL BY DATE - USE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT.
• IF YOU ARE WORKING IN A GROUP GET THEIR NUMBERS, FACEBOOK ISN'T RELIABLE.
• YOU CAN EAT WELL AND STILL BE LAZY. SEASON VEG/MEAT AND PLACE IN OVEN AND YOU ARE DONE.
• YOU WILL MEET LOADS OF INTERESTING PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND PLACES.
• ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT! THE TUTORS ARE NOT THERE 24/7, SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT IF YOU SEE THEM. 
• YOUR MONEY WILL GO INTO PRINTING. IT SUCKS.
• BE OPEN MINDED WITH YOUR WORK - WHO WANTS TO HAVE AN AESTHETIC AT 20?
• GO AND WORK IN THE STUDIO - AS MUCH AS YOU CONVINCE YOURSELF YOU WILL DO WORK AT HOME, YOU WON'T. OR JUST VERY LITTLE.
• NOTHING CHANGES - YOU WILL STILL STAY UP THE  NIGHT  BEFORE DEADLINE.
• HARVARD REFERENCING WILL HAUNT YOU.
• YOU WILL CURSE AT APPLE MAC COMPUTERS A LOT. THE 'SPINNING WHEEL OF DOOM' IS A BITCH.
• SOME OF YOUR PEERS WILL BE POMPOUS DOUCHE BAGS. IGNORE THEM.
• WE ARE NOT GRAPHIC DESIGNERS. WE ARE GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS. WE JUST FINISHED FIRST YEAR. WHAT THE F-UCK DO WE KNOW?
• YOU WILL BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WEARING 'SUPREME' GEAR. SO ORIGINAL.
• VODKA AND CIDER OVER WINE EVERY TIME.
• THERE ARE STILL CLIQUES AT UNI.
• YOU WILL HEAR "I'M SO HUNGOVER" EVERYDAY.
• GOING BACK HOME ALWAYS FEELS LIKE A VACATION.
• ANYTHING PRICED AT £1 IS A BARGAIN AND WORTH BUYING.
• YOU WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME SAT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER. EVEN AFTER YOU'VE SPENT LOADS OF TIME PLANNING/SKETCHING.
• NOTHING EVER GOES TO PLAN BUT YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. HOWEVER COSTLY.
• GO TO VISITING LECTURER TALKS - ALWAYS INTERESTING AND INSPIRING.
• KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES - SOMETHINGS JUST AREN'T WORTH NO SLEEP. LIKE CERTAIN MODULES.
• EVERYONE HAS A TUMBLR.
• DRINKING A STARBUCKS COFFEE AT UNI SCREAMS PRETENTIOUSNESS.
• MAKE THE MOST OF STUDENT DISCOUNTS.
• EAT BEFORE A LECTURE, OR IT GETS VERY AWKWARD. 
• BUS FARES ARE EXTORTIONATE NOW YOU ARE AN ADULT.

ONE YEAR DONE, TWO MORE TO GO!
P.S I love Newcastle, really lovely city <3 

MAKE-UP TIPS REVISITED

1. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND STILL PRACTICE! Sure you've all heard this before but practice is really key and it's how you will really learn. It's not good enough reading/watching how to do something without physically doing it yourself.
2. Learn from mistakes. I still make mistakes but you know what, you learn from them and it prevents you from making them further down the line!
3. Ready? Really? Freelance? Just because you can you make-up on yourself it does NOT mean you can go out and do make-up on other people. It is completely different. Application, tools, colour theory, hygiene, different face/eyes/lips, skin tone/types etc. You have to be confident in your abilities before you charge for your services. Remember your reputation is on the line. If in doubt, wait.
4. Be prepared to shell out for your kit. It's a worthwhile investment for you to prepared for any given job.
5. Higher the price = doesn't always mean better the quality. Do your RESEARCH before you buy any product so you save yourself from a 'crap' product. I use YouTube/Makeupalley/blogs to see if products are worth it or not.
6. Don't be afraid to ask for help! I know some counter assistants can be pushy/hard sell, but majority are helpful and honest, so if your interested in a product just ask for help.
7. Document every look you do, so as well as keeping a record for yourself you can critically analyse your work and tell what worked and what didn't - be it the techniques you used or specific products.
8. Invest in good quality tools. You shouldn't just rely on the products themselves, application is also KEY. Synthetic brushes are so advanced now, some even feel and act better than natural hair brushes. The advantage with these new hybrids is it means they mimic natural hair brush qualities too -  so they they work with powder AND liquid products really well. I am a fan of Real Techniques, EcoTools, Shu Uemura, MAC eye brushes, Illamasqua, Sigma's synthetic range and E.L.F studio brushes. 
9. Often neglected, but sponges and fingers are good tools too. Just make sure they are clean. Sponges can really help set areas by pushing product into areas and the heat from your fingertips can help 'bind' the product to the skin.
10. Keep pushing yourself in terms of creativity. What's the point of doing the same look over and over again? See things, recreate them, but with your own spin. Magazines/YouTube/Tumblr usually gets me inspired.
11. Network yourself! Your work should speak for itself but don't be afraid to go out there and tell people about what you do. Use social networking sites (Facebook/Twitter/Youtube/Blogger) but also the good old medium of word of mouth - I get most of my work through this method. You only have to do one good job to get your name around.
12. Persistence is key. You never know what opportunities will be around the corner.
13. Make-up course? You DO NOT have to go to a make-up school to become successful. In fact some of the best MUA's in the world have never been formally trained. It doesn't hurt to get educated, but having a qualification doesn't mean everything.
14. If you are self teaching, I really RECOMMEND Rae Morris's book. It's the best book I've found that actually covers ALL the basics, tricks and advice in an easy to understand format. I really recommend this book if you are wanting to learn.
15. Best thing to come to YouTube= Lisa Eldridge. A real working professional make-up artist demonstrating her wealth of knowledge from basics to editorial make-up. If you want to learn, Eldridge is your girl.
16. Don't be afraid to ask for HONEST critical opinions. My mum is probably the most brutal person I know she'll find a negative in anything - TRUST ME. It's all nice people saying "omg it's amazing" but it doesn't help you develop and honestly what do they know. Get honest feedback and your progression will grow.
17. For long lasting/flawless makeup, work in THIN layers, this prevents creasing and make sures it really adheres to the skin.
18. The 'best make-up' is make-up that works with existing features. Whilst with make-up we can alter the appearance of features, more often than not if we work with what's already there, it's the most flattering/fail safe.
19. Trends don't suit everyone. If it doesn't feel right or suit you, don't feel the need to follow it.
20. Confidence is key. If you insecure about your look, it will show.
21. Experiment - try something new. If you are unsure wear it around the house till you feel confident. And remember you can always take it off. Simples.
22. Remember to use a light hand when working on clients. Use the right pressure and to alter the position of your clients head correctly, give clear directions or gently change by moving the chin.
23. Find a specialism. The world of make-up is huge. Find your element and nail your skills in it and branch out if you want to. You don't necessarily have to dabble in everything. It's better to be great at one thing than be mediocre at ten.
24. Want to save money and make your own 'unique' shades? Custom blend! Lipsticks to eye shadows just layer/mix together and create your own blend and save on the mullah.
25. Always CLEAN your brushes. Everyone around me outside 'make-up world' are so lazy about their brushes but it doesn't make any sense. Dirty brushes = muddy outcome/face. Simply use a mild shampoo (deep clean) or brush cleaner (spot clean) for sanitised brushes.
26. What sets apart good and 'perfect' make-up is the small details - have an eye for spotting out details other won't. Do you need to fill in the upper lash line? Is the lip line slightly wonky? Has the eyeliner smudged? Are the eyeliner flicks symmetrical on both sides? These small details will push your work and get you noticed.
27. Let your outside interests influence the work you do. I find if you limit yourself to one source, the work you produce will be limited. Let other outlets (studies/job/hobby) push your creative boundaries further.
28. If you are to master any skill, it is blending. Once you get the hang of it the possibilities are endless. From powders to cream formulas, blending can mimic an 'airbrush' look.
29. You can use any product to suit your needs. Just because it's a blush it doesn't mean you can't use it for the eyes. Have fun!
30. Work logically. Instead of using X amount of brushes for different things, if you work in order - foundation to concealer and lastly highlight etc, it can reduce the amount of brushes you use everyday/have to clean.
31. Take every opportunity, but make sure you get something out of it by the end - either experience or the images if you are doing TFCD. It's your time and kit too. Don't get abused by the system.
32. We all start from somewhere. I believe ANYONE can pick up make-up, just practice and see where it goes. 

Hey guys, I posted this around two years ago, and since then I've gained a few more followers so I thought I'd revise this post as I've learned TONS since then too.
Obviously this is all from my personal experience and I'm not exactly a pro' here. But I thought you guys might find it useful. It's a mix of general and more MUA related tips.

Hope some of it was useful and encouraging. The tips above are good reminders for myself too.