Author: Caroline Cartmill

Featured Image Credit: Freda Period poverty = the lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints. Period stigma, the high cost of period products and a lack of education has led to a toxic trio of ‘period poverty’, according to leading sexual health and well-being charity Brook. Period poverty affects over one-quarter of women in the UK, however, despite there being over 800 million women worldwide who have a period, they are still considered a taboo and embarrassing subject which we shouldn’t talk about. It’s time to talk about periods. What to do if you are experiencing period…

Have you ever considered setting up your own business whilst at university? Many successful businesses have been created by university students, for example Facebook, Wordpress and FedEx! A year on since lockdown began, I caught up with two students who used the extra time they had during lockdown to set up their own independent businesses – both of which are still thriving today! The first business owner I spoke to was third year Linguistics student, Amber Khan, who set up her own face mask business during lockdown with her mum and sister … Amber Khan What is your business, and…

Revision and studying is all about balance. As well as manage your revision, you need to make sure you’re eating healthily, taking regular exercise and staying connected with your friends and family. Locking yourself in a room for 10 hours to cram as much information as you can in one sitting is not healthy or productive. With end of year exams just around the corner, here are 10 tips ways to transform and improve your revision, helping you succeed in your exams whilst staying healthy and happy at the same time. 1. Start early Preparation is key. Revising for a…

Do you have that one skincare product that you swear by and couldn’t live without? For me it’s Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion and No7’s Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask – I have used both of these products for years. However, beauty experts warn that using the same products consistently over a long period of time can make our skin dependent on these products, meaning if we stop using them it can cause potentially severe problems for our skin. Experts suggest that to avoid skin dependency we should keep mixing up our beauty routines and vary the products we use. For…

Whether you’re feeling worried about your assignments or looming exams, panicking you’ve not got your ideal body for summer yet, or your covid-19 anxieties are making your headspace feel cloudy, I can relate. Navigating my 20s in a global-pandemic has been a real rollercoaster. But one thing I’ve learned really helps me feel good physically and mentally is the power of exercise, in particular by doing yoga. At first yoga was something I did when I already felt stressed and felt I needed to escape from my worries. However, I’ve learned since then that doing yoga at the beginning of…

Did you know that you’re more likely to feel confident by wearing a good fitting bra compared to an ill-fitting bra? Ill fitting bras can be physically uncomfortable and don’t make you feel or look good. But, 80% of women in the UK are wearing the wrong size bra. I have always had big boobs (DD+). It’s in my genetics to be big chested and I’ve found my family members have the same issues I do – it’s hard to find affordable, comfortable and supportive bras that don’t have big thick straps, boring designs and cost a fortune! Finding the…

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to be tanned! It makes me feel glowy and radiant, and is the perfect accessory to any outfit. I remember my first time applying fake tan very clearly – my sister had been spray tanning herself for a while, and I was so envious of her glowing skin and sun-kissed look. So, I decided one night after school to do my own tan, without reading the instructions, and worse, without using a mitt! So, anyway, I end up having a splodgy tan on my arms and legs, which of course also had to be on PE day!…

Throwback to March 2020 when the whole world went mad for toilet roll … We saw people stockpiling toilet roll supplies to last them months, supermarkets limiting the amount of essential goods we can buy and an enterprising amusement arcade owner swapping the toys inside grabber machines to toilet paper and hand sanitizer instead!  The situation was no better abroad either, as an armed gang was caught robbing 600 rolls of toilet paper in Hong Kong and a video went viral at an American Costco where police had to be called after unruly shoppers fought their way through the store…

Be Period Positive is a social action project within Enactus Bangor. The project aims to advocate for a more thorough, consistent, clear and modern menstrual education system to be utilised in schools – aimed at educating all genders on periods to break down period stigma. Be Period Positive hope to explore everything which their research has told us is currently lacking – from promoting sustainable menstrual products, to educating young people on menstrual disorders which they should know to look out for. To find out more about Be Period Positive, I spoke to Emma Holderness, founder of the project and…

Exercise helps us manage our weight and reduce the risks of physical health problems, it reduces the symptoms of anxiety, depression and low mood and raises our self-esteem, happiness and brain function. Exercise improves our mental and physical health. Why run? Running gives us brainpower. When I’m struggling with uni work I find it so easy to sit in my room all day staring at the wall, panicking that I won’t be able to get my work done. But if I force myself to get up, put my trainers on and go on a quick 20-minute run, I find I…

[Picture: Walking away from negative energies] Are you ready to shake off the fake friend you hung out with last year, that actually made you feel awful about yourself inside? Are you sick of walking on eggshells around an extremely volatile friend who you dread meeting up with? Well this article is for you. The word ‘toxic’ is often overused and you’ll probably agree with me that there is a huge difference between having a friend you find annoying or selfish at times to having a full-blown toxic friendship – but hopefully this list will help you identify some toxic…

Is there anything better than lighting a scented candle while pampering yourself / relaxing at home?  Many of the larger candle brands use paraffin wax to create their products, however studies have shown that paraffin wax contains toxins that can be harmful to your health and to the environment. For these reasons, soy wax candles have now become an extremely popular alternative.  Soy wax is a natural product made of soybeans (a renewable energy source) and are carbon neutral, burning up to 50% slower than paraffin wax, making them last longer and therefore giving you better value for money. The…

Growing up, I was a typical teenager who liked to change their hair colour every few months, switching from blonde to brown frequently. But when my hair was already not in the best condition, I bleached it several times in my bathroom at home to achieve a super white blonde look. My hair looked fine for the first couple of months and there was no dramatic change to its length or texture, however after a while it started to turn into straw and gradually snapped off every time I showered. I ended up having very bad roots and dry, crispy…

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown and restrictions on social activities – lovers all over the world have formed relationships and connections with each other without actually meeting IRL.  As we aren’t allowed to mix with anyone outside of our household or support bubble, we must do the socially responsible thing and stay at home. This being said, staying at home doesn’t mean we can’t have a bit of fun dating, through Zoom or other apps.  Here are some reasons why you should give Zoom dating a try …  It’s free  Research by the London School of Economics found that 1…

Up to 40 million (76%) Brits will be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year – 1.4 million less than the number who celebrated Valentine’s Day in 2020. 24% of Brits will not be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year.   I’ve personally always found being single really fun. But with almost a year of lockdowns and restrictions on socialising, it hasn’t exactly been the year for tinder-dating and friends with benefits! Whether you’re recently single or you’re used to not being coupled-up on Valentine’s Day, being single does not mean you can’t celebrate this special day of love and romance!    Here are some tips on…

The third Monday of every January is ‘Blue Monday’ – ‘the most depressing day of the year’.  Some believe Blue Monday is a myth and PR stunt designed to encourage people to book a holiday on this day. Whereas others believe Blue Monday is truly the most depressing day of the year due to the combination of cold weather, early dark nights and people feeling the consequences of overspending at Christmas time and now not being able to afford to go out and buy nice things.  Whether you believe Blue Monday is genuine or not, it’s true that January can…