Back to School Skincare

Welcome back to the school year - while coming back to the “excitement” of reg dates and boring lectures, there is something to look forward to - a new school year with a new skincare approach!
Here are some amazing products that can get us a little more eager to get out of bed in the morning:

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Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum

Use this before your makeup and your skin will thank you - especially during our wonderful Chicago winter months

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Supergoop! SPF 50 Defense Refresh Setting Mist Sunscreen

This mist has SPF 50 and you can use it as a setting spray. over your makeup — AMAZING

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Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

Hands down the best moisturizer I have used - not too watery or creamy and does the job

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The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask

I swear this mask is what will keep my skin clear if I use it at least once a week

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Korean Sheet Masks

Korean sheet masks are always fun and effective ! You can find one to try out here

Virgin Coconut Oil

SOOO good for removing makeup — especially mascara. Coconut oil is an obvious at this point but the hype is valid

Even if you just incorporate one of these products into your routine, your skin will appreciate you.

Happy New School Year!

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Confessions of a Stationary Geek: Delving into Digital Note Taking

Like notebooks and pens and all the cute little post it flags, I share a similar addiction to the technology dominating fruit (Apple lol). Addicted but also always broke, I finally bit the bullet and bought the new iPad and Apple Pencil (queue internal money-demon shrieking, with shrieks strong enough to dissuade paying double for the Pro version). I’ve switched my entire scheme of organization since this investment and am quite content with how I have gotten my app-bearings down.

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Helpful Apps for Midterm Season

Midterm season never seems to end, it mostly just slowly drags on into 10th week and before you know it, it’s time for finals. As you juggle any number of tasks every day, from friends and family, to academics and actually getting enough sleep, it’s often overwhelming to stay focused and motivated while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance. See below for five apps to help you manage stress and increase productivity as you tackle midterms and keep many other important things in your life organized!

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1. Remember the Milk

WHAT IT OFFERS: This is a task list manager that reminds you about your to-dos. Enter the label, due dates, priority, and repeat properties for each task and you will get reminded through email, text, and other mobile apps. You can also break a task into sub-tasks or attach files from Google Drive or Dropbox to keep files handily organized alongside the related tasks.

COST: Free with $39.99/year pro subscription option

2. Forest

WHAT IT OFFERS: This app helps you stop procrastinating and stay focused on your task. Whenever you are on a task, you set a timer and plant a seed in Forest. The seed grows into a tree over time. However, if you access anything other than the app on your phone, your tree will wither. Your forest becomes lusher as time passes. It prevents you from being distracted by your phone and provides sense of accomplishment to keep yourself motivated.

COST: $1.99

3. SelfControl

WHAT IT OFFERS: Similar to Forest, SelfControl helps you stay focused by blocking certain websites of your choice by a given time. You will be unable to access the webs on the block list until the time expires, even if you restart your computer or browser. Customize which websites to block and avoid digital diversions.

COST: Free for iOS

4. 30/30

WHAT IT OFFERS: When you are managing several tasks at the same time, it’s difficult to maintain maximum productivity. That’s where 30/30 comes in. This app divides tasks into 30 minutes time period with 30 minutes of break in between. By repeating the work-break cycle, you can force yourself to stay focused in the given time constraint. It also customizes your tasks list by time, color, label, and icon. Completely gesture-based, 30/30 helps you to stay on track

COST: Free for iOS

5. Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep

WHAT IT OFFERS: Want an effective relaxation technique? This app allows you to reduce level of anxiety, stress, and depression through audio therapy. You choose from a list of 6 quality relaxing sound from nature—ocean sounds, thunder, night in jungle, rain, bird sounds, and waterfall. These sounds effects help you to take a break from work and increase concentration.

COST: Free for iOS and Android

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Closet Clean Out: A Very Loose Guide

At current, I am reflecting back to how poorly I followed my own advice, continuing to shop and thrift and reorder Amazon Prime Basics Felt Hangers (these are wonderful and cheap but there is no reason I should have enough clothes to fill 150 of them). Having spent the Spring Quarter and Summer abroad, albeit with severe excess baggage charges, I have taken to collecting a refresh on my essential clothing items. Sending out a quick inspiration shoutout to the two suitcases I spent six months with and a deep closet purge upon my return to Chicago.

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Brands to Know: Dagne Dover

Tired of lugging your laptop and other essentials in your old Jansport? Looking for something that is a little more streamlined for your internship or job? Enter Dagne Dover, a brand that has set to organize our bags for us. With the philosophy "You are what you carry," they have designed bags that not only look good, but are also convenient for us to find everything.

Their website makes it easy to navigate and to find exactly what bag fits all your essentials and aesthetic. Got a hefty 15-inch Macbook Pro? No problem, Dagne Dover has you covered. 

They are extending their Black Friday sale, so you can still take 20% off if you order today with the code GETDAGNE!

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Look for Less: Back to School

With a little less than two months left of summer break before we all head back to Hyde Park and Fall Quarter classes roll around, there's no harm in transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall ready pieces. 

Keep reading for MODA's ultimate back-to-school ready looks, inspired by our favorite fashion-savvy screen sirens. 

FOR THE CLASSIC DRESSER:

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Who hasn't dreamed of donning one of Cher's chic, plaid power suits at some point in their academic career? Modernize this quintessential schoolgirl look by mixing tried and true pieces (e.g. a fitted blazer, pleated skirt or brogues) with jeans, sneakers or a favorite band tee.

The key to pulling off the uniform look in a campus setting is to not go overboard with patterns and matching suit sets, but to integrate these items with your own personal style. Whoever said button downs don't pair well with combat boots? 

FOR THE STATEMENT MAKER:

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Blair and Serena always managed to tie together even the most absurd of outfits with a statement bag or accessory, so take note. Clashing patterns and prints can be fun, especially when well executed, but it's important to ground even the loudest of looks in a classroom setting.

Establish a sense of cohesiveness, whether that be in color, silhouette or overall aesthetic, with your accessories while keeping in mind that jewelry should always add something to a look. As Coco Chanel once preached "I always take off at least one piece of jewelry before I leave the house... to ensure that I am not 'overdoing' it." 

FOR THE RULE BREAKER: 

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For many of us, Mia Sara's portrayal of Sloane Peterson, Ferris Bueller's edgy younger girlfriend, represented the epitome of cool. From her fringed jacket to her high-waisted shorts, channel your inner Sloane by layering oversize, tomboyish looks with more feminine pieces.

For instance, a delicate lace blouse or heeled booties pair surprisingly nicely with distressed jeans and a vintage moto jacket. Don't be afraid to mix and match masculine and feminine silhouettes to master this effortless, laid-back look. Accessorize sparingly and subtly. 

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What are some of your favorite back-to-school inspired looks? Let us know in the comments below!