Free Sanitary Products on Campus

Female students at The University of Birmingham will have access to free sanitary products after a successful campaign by a student union officer.

Daisy Lindlar, the sabbatical Guild representation and resources officer, who has since been crowned the ‘Queen of Tampons’ decided to take action in her own hands following the Parliamentary ‘tampon tax’ debate this week. Which rejected the proposed reduction in the current five per cent VAT rate by MPs 305 to 287 votes.

Writing in a blog post for The Huffington Post, Lindlar described how Parliament is "dominated by people without wombs."

According to Lindlar one of the most frustrating aspects of the "tampon tax" is the fact that it classess sanitary products as "non-essential, luxury items" she says, "This puts them in the same tax bracket as alcoholic jellies, crocodile meat and edible sugar flowers."

Most women would agree that periods are most definitely not a luxury or something you have any choice at all with.

The university’s Guild of Students took to Facebook to describe how periods can be ‘expensive’, adding: “To start with, there’s the cost of tampons or towels. On top of this, anyone with a uterus will also be familiar with the associated cost of paracetamol, pyjamas, underwear, bed sheets and the odd sweet treat to get you through the month. Sometimes there's even the loss of work-time and class or lecture attendance to add to the bill.”

Encouraging open dialogue over a topic which, she said, is still taboo, Lindlar added: “They're seen as an embarrassment, a source of shame, and something we should keep quiet about. This needs to stop.”

Now, in order to ease the financial burden on female students, which Lindlar said for someone earning minimum wage, means spending roughly 38 full working days of earnings on tampons and towels alone. The Guild officer has managed to order hundreds of sanitary items which are now available free of charge for University of Birmingham students.

Lindlar added in the blog post: “I urge other unions to follow suit and provide free sanitary products to their students.”

Other universities have started their own initiatives for example the University of Sussex Students’ Union hands out free sanitary products every Wednesday and, last year, the University of East Anglia Students’ Union announced it was going ‘profit free’ on the ‘essential’ and ‘crucial’ products by selling them at cost price.

The forgotten hero's of WW1

Last month a two minute silence held in Centenary Square honoured the lost lives of servicemen and women killed while fighting for our country and freedom.

But how many people thought about the Hindu, Sikh and 40,000 Muslim soldiers from the Indian subcontinent who fought for the freedom of the west during WW1.

According to research by think-tank British Future, only 1 in 5 people are aware of this significant Muslim contribution and only 2% are aware of its scale.

It is growing concern that this has caused public misconceptions of a lack of Muslim involvement in the First World War.

A Birmingham descendant of a Muslim soldier who fought for the British Army in 1915, has said: “It is frustrating to live in a society were my ancestors efforts go unnoticed and unappreciated.”

“When the British called on brave soldiers to fight for the Crown and Empire. My great great grand-father was one of the many Muslim soldiers to step forward and fight for a country he had no moral compulsion to fight for.”

The Perry Barr resident went on to say: “He fought with integrity and courage and after the War he returned home having seen atrocities and having lost friends. He kept souvenirs and coins from countries he had fought in that are still part of our family history.”

It is no secret that Islamophobia has swept through the western world in recent times, but it is a tragedy that the participation of Muslim soldiers fighting to defend the freedom of the west has long been forgotten.

The Heritage Lottery Fund, has announced they will be supporting a major national project called “An Unknown and Untold Story – The Muslim Contribution to The First World War.”

This aims to address the public appetite for information about the contribution of soldiers from the Commonwealth during WW1.

Dilwar Hussain, Chair of New Horizons in British Islam, says: “The story of Muslim contribution to the British Army of the First World War is little-known among the public. Many British Muslims themselves don’t realise the relevance of the WW1 centenary to their own history.”

A moment of reflection is important to the memory of the soldiers who past, but the real tribute is to live in a world rid of judgement and racial hatred.

To truly honour their lives we must lives ours well.

Charlotte Tilbury WONDERGLOW PRIMER Instant Soft-Focus Beauty Flash REVIEW

I’m a huge fan of make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury so I was beyond excited when my cousins bought me the hugely popular Wonder Glow Illuminator for my birthday this year.

Unlike other illuminators such as my now-neglected Mac Prep and Prime, this won’t sit on your skin or mess up any existing foundation you have applied. I found it melted into my skin and gave me a subtle glow all day.

I have worn this a number of ways over the past few months – as a primer before my foundation (YSL Le-Teint-Touche-Eclat  in BD50), mixed with BB Cream (Bodyshop in no.2), and as a highlighter on cheeks over my foundation. It all worked beautifully. If you’re having a really good skin day it is good enough to get away with worn alone.

I should add that Wonder Glow smells divine with floral accents of rose hip and camellia oil. I really loved this stuff and can’t wait to extend my Charlotte Tilbury collection. 

Peak - How beautiful it can make your skin look and feel, especially in photo's!

Pit - The price tag can be a little steep (R.R.P £38.50)

http://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/wonderglow.html

What not to do ... Top 10 Skin Myths

As we grow up we pick up through no fault of our own beauty myths that are neither questioned nor doubted. Over the years we find ourselves believing countless beauty habits just because someone’s aunts’ sisters’ daughters’ friends’ mum said it worked for them!

In order to set the record straight I’ve put together a list of the top ten most commonly believed skin myths … How many did you deem true? 

1. Myth: You need to wash your face twice a day

Truth: Actually, washing your face just once a day is sufficient. Cleansing at the end of the day is most important to wash away make-up and dirt from the day. Unless you slept with your make up on or were digging in your sleep, cleansing in the morning is unnecessary. Gentle exfoliation with a muslin is better for your skin than rougher creams.

2. Myth: Toothpaste gets rid of spots

Truth: Although toothpaste will often dry spots out the irritation it can cause to the skin can make them stick around much longer than they would have if you'd left them alone.

3. Myth: Always splash out on expensive products

Truth: If you really are interested in taking good care of your skin, you should look at the ingredients rather than the price. Good quality ingredients are most important. But that doesn't mean that you should regularly be dishing out £100s on products. Good ingredients are widely available at reasonable prices.

Look for vitamin A as its retinyl palmitate form, Vitamin C as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, and Linseed and Kiwi Seed, which are incredible sources of Omega 3. These ingredients all help the functions of the skin which in turn makes it look good.

4. Myth: You need separate creams for around your eyes

Truth: In most cases, if you are using good quality skin care, you can simply massage that product closer to the eye area. That being said, if you have a particular concern only associated with eyes for example, dark circles, puffiness, or thinning, then a specially formulated cream for the area may be advised.

5. Myth: You need to wear sun cream at all times all year round.

Truth: This all depends on where you live. In the UK, we are not exposed to such high levels of UV exposure in our winter months, like countries such as Australia, South Africa. There is no UVB exposure in the winter months in the UK but there might be some exposure to UVA.  The need to apply a SPF just to protect us from the chance of some UVA exposure is quite unnecessary in the UK in the winter months. It would be safer for the skin to use skin care ingredients that are known to have UVA protection such as vitamin A.

In the summer, aim to include skin care with vitamin A, C or green tea in as these ingredients prevent UV damage in the skin cells whilst you’re SPF prevents absorption of the rays.

6. Myth: You should exfoliate at least once a week

Truth: A new and deeper understanding of how the skin sheds naturally shows us that certain abrasives can be detrimental to the skin in the long run. It is better for the skin to use muslin cloths and soft face towels after cleansing as well as massage to aid skin desquamation. This can be incorporated into your daily cleanse. The days of scrubbing our face are long gone. 

7. Myth: ‘Natural’ means gentle and hypoallergenic

Truth: Natural is such a widely used term now, it's difficult to decide on an explanation. I like to describe a 'natural' product as something that helps to promote the skin's natural processes. These products are gentle on the skin and do not include irritating ingredients.

But 'natural' ingredient can be strong so just because they're not synthetic doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be the best option for sensitive skin. Sunbathing may give you temporarily better skin, but long-term it's a bad idea.

8. Myth: The cleaner skin the better

Truth: Skin has a natural barrier of oils, fats and water to protect it against the elements like bacteria and environmental pollutants.

Washing with soap based products strips away that protection, and it can take up to eight hours for this barrier to rebuild!

9. Myth: Use the same line of products for best results

Truth: Companies would love this to be true, but in truth different products will always act differently so there's no reason to think that every product from one brand will work best for you.

10. Myth: Junk food leads to acne

Truth: Although it's not good for you, there's no serious medical evidence to prove that this is true.

So basically from now on we'll be throwing away our eye cream, washing our faces LESS and keeping an eye on those ingredients.

Hope this helped clear up any misconceptions :)

Back to basics ... Coconut oil beauty benefits

Recently I've been doing some research into going back to basics on beauty.  One product that I've come across time and time again is coconut oil … I call it the magic substance! It’s packed with anti-bacterial qualities, SPF, and a whole lot of vitamins and minerals! It really does seem to be the one stop shop for all things health and beauty.

My Grandma is a firm believer in the powers of this oil and is convinced that her flawless skin and luscious locks have been sustained over the years because of her religious use! She’s always telling me to steer clear of all the ‘chemicals’ we put on our face and warns me that they’ll  ruin me one day … GOD FORBID! Now I know  grans words are a little extreme, but I thought there’s no harm in giving it a go and I am so glad that I did … after some trial and error I've comprised a list of what I believe to be the oils best uses. Of course I still use many of my cult skin products but switching them up for a vegan natural alternative once in a while is really healthy. I’d definitely recommend giving it a go too!

So here's a list of my favorite coconut oil uses 

On the skin as a basic lotion

 melts from
 the heat of your hands instantly!

As an eye-makeup remover

To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin

To prevent stretch marks during pregnancy

To help increase sun tolerance and avoid burning

As a naturally SPF 4 sunscreen

In homemade lotion recipes

As a massage oil

A tiny dab rubbed on your hands and then through hair will help get rid of friz

As an intensive night time facial moisturizer

Mixed with equal parts sugar for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower)

Rubbed on lips as a natural chap stick

As an incredibly intensive natural conditioner- Rub into dry hair, put a shower cap on and leave for several hours

Can help sooth eczema

As a naturally antibacterial skin cream

As a natural shave cream and after shave lotion

When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite

Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites

Can help resolve acne when used regularly

Can be rubbed into scalp daily to stimulate hair growth

On split ends to de-frizz

On hands after doing dishes to avoid dry skin

Many use it as an anti-aging facial moisturizer

On cuticles to help nails grow

Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows

I find this to be extra useful in these cold winter months! Sometimes moisturizers are just not enough, coconut oil helps to replenish and nourish the skin to help lock in the moisture.

Peak- Packed with natural goodness and really helps with dry skin.

Pit - Can get a little messy to use.

I bought this jar from Holland and Barret for £11.99 but I'd recommend a super-market as they sell them a lot cheaper!
(Asda -£4!)

Battle of the body Moisturizers!

Baby oil - The old classic, kind to skin and easy to apply. But sometime it can be a little too oily and doesn't really have a amazing scent.

Peak - Skin feels beautifully hydrated and soft

Pit - The spray bottle in this is awful the formula itself isn't as effective as the normal bottle so stay away!

Body Shop Body Butter in Papaya - Oh myyyy this body butter smells DIvine, It’s seriously the best smelling butter that the body shop do, miles better then strawberry and even mango. It makes you wanna eat it, it smells that good! So ofcourse I had to buy it for this reason alone, however the actual moisturiser is disappointing. As a general rule Body Shop Body butters don't have a great consistency for applying it all over the body especially after a shower. Its not easy to apply as it doesn't sink it to the skin well. It works better as a hand or foot lotion and the smell lingers for absolutely ages! YUM

Peak - Yeap you guessed it the smell!

Pit - Takes ages to soak into skin and you need a lot of it to achieve smooth skin.

Soap and Glory spice - I'm not a massive fan of the smell of this body butter, its pleasant but its a little too sweet for me. However the consistency of this lotion is excellent. It soaks into the skin beautifully and dries pretty much straight away so your not sitting around waiting to dry before you can put your clothes on. This is one of my pet peeves I must admit. The S&G formula works really well and is very effective, but for the price I wouldn't expect any less.

Peak - Its effectiveness

Pit - Price (a problem I have with all the S&G shower range)

Nivea in shower Body moisturizer - What a revolution! This saves times and energy. There is nothing worse then standing a steamy bathroom boiling hot trying to moisturize your skin before putting your clothes on. Nivea's creation means that you can save both time and energy perfect for in the mornings. Although skin does feel hydrated it still is not as effective as a moisturizer or body butter would be. However its enough to not make you feel dry and itchy so for a rushed Monday morning that is more than good enough for me.

Peak - Makes life that tiny bit easier.

Pit - Its convenience not luxury.

I hope this quick guide to a few after shower moisturizers I've been using recently helps you pick one that works well for you! xx

The best way to wear a Saree when your 5ft 2 or under!

My Five Golden rules to Rock a Saree ...

I'm about to celebrate my twenty second birthday very soon and I had never worn a Saree before this summer. I'd always been told I'm too small and you need a full lady figure to carry one off. But this time I was determined to wear one and look like a women in it .. so I did some research (basically searched petite famous women who have worn Saree's) to see how I could style one to suit my body shape and this is what I found.

Rule no.1 - Keep it simple.

The heavier the saree the more you'll look like your being drowned with a whole lot of embroidery that your struggling to carry off. Instead opt for a simple design that looks elegant. Remember you want to wear the Saree you don't want the Saree to wear you!

Rule no. 2 - Opt for darker colours.

As a rule darker colours slim and elongate a woman's silhouette so use this to your advantage. I myself wore a black saree but if you want a bit more colour go for a navy or dark green. These colours look really sophisticated and really easy to accessorise and have beautiful smoky eyed make up to compliment it.

Rule no.3- Blouse

Make sure your blouse is fitted to your size properly. A well fitted blouse can make all the difference so take out that extra time to visit the tailor to get it perfect. I bought my blouse from Lipsy the crop top trend at the moment is perfect for finding saree blouses and the fit is so comfortable! 

 Rule no.4- Hair

If they suit you try an elegant updo with big statement earrings the hair helps to elongate your body and the earrings add that extra bit of sparkle.

Rule no.5 Heels

Ofcourse we should all embrace our natural heights and wear it well but a little boost never hurt nobody. I wore pretty big heels myself but I know that a lot of women struggle with this, so I'd recommended wearing the highest that you can manage. But don't forget no matter what size the heel you need good body posture and nothing beats natural confidence. So shoulders back and massive smile before you walk in ... you'll instantly feel inches taller!

Most importantly you need to feel beautiful in what you wear, don't doubt yourself no matter what your size! I hope these tips help you to achieve the perfect wedding or special occasion look xxx