Although there has been substantial improvement in the job market, opportunities are still hard to come by for college students. With the odds stacked against us, we must avoid as many mistakes as possible. So when you’re looking to prepare your application and resume for a job opportunity, you may want to stay away from outdated how-to articles and even your parents' advice. While they may mean well, what is expected from applicants has changed throughout the years. Below are six antiquated job search rules and tips for what to do instead.

1. Putting an objective on your resume

For many of us, writing the objective is the easiest part of creating a resume. All we have to do is string some words together and boom—we have the vaguest statement known to mankind. While having an objective is something we still see on example resumes, interview coach Barry Drexler, says it’s pointless.

Basically, it takes up space that could otherwise be used for more relevant information about yourself. “Don’t put an objective on resumes. Instead, replace it with a summary of skills and abilities. For example, advanced Excel skills,” Drexler says.

To create a summary of skills, brainstorm all the skills and characteristics that you possess. Narrow those skills down to five to seven bullet points that are applicable to the job you're applying for. Any languages you are fluent in, technical skills, awards you have received and relevant job skills should definitely be included in your summary of skills. 

2. Including your entire work history on your resume

You may have heard the advice to leave no gaps in your work history, even if it means having a resume that is several pages long. No matter how many achievements and experiences you have, it's actually better if your resume fits onto a single page as a college student and entry-level employee. As you gain further years of experience in the workforce, having a two-page resume becomes more acceptable.

Katherine Acuff, the assistant director of administration in the School of Accountancy at Kennesaw State University, reviews dozens of resumes a week. “I have seen resumes from people with limited experience, but it goes on for pages. If information needs to be removed, make sure to only keep experiences that directly relate to the position,” Acuff explains. She and the rest of her hiring team want to be able to scan the resume quickly for useful information about the candidate. Companies will not spend several minutes picking through information on your resume.

If your work history is lengthy, only include jobs you stayed at for a significant amount of time. These jobs will showcase your commitment to staying at a company. If doing so still doesn’t leave you much room, create a LinkedIn profile to store the entirety of your work history. You can even provide the LinkedIn URL on your resume.

3. Writing a generic cover letter

For starters, the purpose of the cover letter is to create a compelling case as to why you should get the job. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for, rather than overly generic. Although you may follow the same cover letter format every time you submit for a job, you should modify the contents for each individual company.

A cover letter does not summarize your resume. It answers important questions such as, “Why do you want this job in particular? What are some of the qualifications and skills you possess that could be applied to this job? What makes you stand out as a candidate?”

The biggest key is to eliminate all the fluff from your cover letter. “Keep it short and to the point about why you’re interested and how you can add value,” says Drexler. Avoid flowery language and complex sentence structure to lengthen a cover letter. Your cover letter should be about four paragraphs long and fit onto a single page. Take note of the job qualifications that a company is seeking and explain in the letter how you meet what they’re looking for.

Don’t list off general characteristics like “team player,” “punctual” or “organized.” Instead, provide specific points in your work history that provide evidence of these skills. For example, you can highlight your ability to work in teams by discussing, for example, the leadership position you held at your last job.

4. Only applying to job search ads online

This isn’t necessarily a rule that your parents followed, but it is a procedure that has become pretty popular with our generation. To this day, young adults think that all it takes is a submission online to secure a job. Although it would be ideal if we could sit at home, apply online and watch the jobs pour in, that would just be too easy. How can you make your application stick out among the hundreds of others? By not hiding behind a computer screen!

Taking every opportunity to network at seminars, career fairs and charity events can open a whole new window of job opportunities. Many college campuses host career fairs that allow students the chance to speak with industry professionals. You can take it one step further and leave your resume and contact information with the professionals you meet at these fairs and events. That way, they'll be likely to remember you if you apply for an open role.

“Before you go to a career fair, I would definitely research all the companies going there and not right off any companies just because they are smaller and not as well known," says University of Michigan graduate Sabrina Juarez. "I once got a paid marketing internship through my university’s career fair. I had to follow up with the company after the fair, but the internship helped me get my foot in the door."

5. Wearing a business suit and heels to every interview

Not every job interview calls for the same dress code. Interviews at a boutique will have a different standard of dress than at a corporate office. If possible, take note of what the employees wear and dress a notch above their usual attire. In any case, it is unacceptable to wear jeans or sandals to any interview.

As far as shoes go, heels aren’t the only option. There are a variety of professional looking flats out there. Cat Greval, a graduate from Louisiana State University, recommends a couple of locations to buy a pair. “I would look in Nordstrom for a pair of business flats," she says. "Although they can be a little pricey, it is a worthwhile investment to make. Depending on your budget, I would also look in H&M. I’ve seen a variety of business-like flats in there for $12.99.” You can also browse the selection at Macy’s, DSW and Kohl’s.

If you want to wear high heels, you should aim for a three-inch heel. Test your level of comfort walking in the heels before the initial interview or the job may literally slip out from under you. 

6. Calling to check on the status of your application

Your parents and older relatives may have told you to call the company to check back on the status of your application. They may have also encouraged you to try to schedule an interview. This method may have scored our parents a few jobs, but in this day and age, it could hurt your chances of landing a job.

If a company has a vacancy that they need filled, they will look through all the applications for the position. It is up to a company to call you to schedule an interview if they are interested. There is a certain hiring process that companies follow, and calling them in the midst of that process could indicate to them that you aren’t considerate of their time.

The truth is many times when applicants call to check on their application, their call never reaches the hiring manager. “When I worked in retail, I was a shift manager," says Jenna Fosher, a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "I monitored the store by myself on days the general managers were off. Several people would call to speak to the manager about the status of their application when I was the only manager on duty. The only thing I could do was leave a note for the hiring manager, knowing that the chances of them calling the applicant back were slim to none."

So before you submit that resume and cover letter, pause and re-read it again. Have you shown potential employers that you’re a force to be reckoned with? Don’t let small errors or being generic prevent you from attaining a job that could be a perfect fit for you.

Remember prior to your interview that the hiring manager is on your side—they want to give you the job. So make sure you feel confident, poised and ready to conquer the world. Be prepared and have confidence in all that you say. No one will ever be you, so your resume, cover letter and interview should reflect that.

So much to do, so little time. Any college student will experience this struggle more than once during their four years. With class assignments, work shifts and downtime to fit in, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to leisurely work your way through each task. This is why most of us become experts at a little thing called multitasking. If you recognize any of these 15 signs, you can officially be crowned a master multitasker.

1. You can answer emails, take phone calls and study for your next exam all during your workout

Treadmill time goes faster when you have a little distraction.

2. You have at least six tabs open on your desktop at all times

Email, Google and Facebook are a must.

3. You’ve mastered the shoulder-head grip during phone conversations

Hands-free is key, people.

4. You have to listen to music and/or TV when you do anything

Everything is better with a little Beyoncé in the background.

5. You’re in a never-ending state of “on-the-go”

Places to go, people to see!

6. You take your laptop anywhere and everywhere it can be considered socially acceptable

No shame.

7. You clean the kitchen in the amount of time it takes for your dinner to be microwaved

There's nothing more thrilling than beating the beep.

8. You hate wasted time more than anything

Time is precious. Enough said.

9. You find crossing things off your to-do list exhilarating

Best. Feeling. Ever.

10. Apps are your best friend

Anything that increases efficiency is worth the 99 cents.

11. Your mom constantly yells at you for being on your phone and/or laptop

She just doesn't understand. 

12. Sit-down meals are a rarity

Sip, eat, work, repeat.

13. You can take an online quiz or write a paper while taking lecture notes during class

Only the most skilled multitaskers can accomplish this feat.

14. You frequently wish you had an extra arm

You've gotta admit... it would come in handy.

15. You have a habit of “overdoing” it

Okay, so maybe I can't do it all.

Even though life has many bumpy and unexpected moments, there’s one person you can always turn to for guidance: your sister. No matter what you’re going through, sisters just somehow know how to make it better. For some reason, they’re built in with the most important advice and knowledge that you just don’t have. There are so many things that we’ve all learned from our sisters, and here are just a few of them:

1. How to put on makeup

She’s the one that taught you that blue eyeshadow and bright lipstick will make you look like a crazy person.

2. How to sweet talk your parents

Depending on how well she does it, she either taught you exactly what to do or what not to do to get exactly what you want.

3. The true meaning of friendship

No matter what happens, she’s always got your back.

4. How to deal with boys

Breakups, hookups, deciphering cryptic texts…she knows it all, and she knows how to help you through it.

5. How to drink

She knows the most delicious mixed drink combos, and also taught you how to handle your liquor like a champ. Your sister is the one that will keep you from sounding like an idiot at the bar.

6. How to stay strong

No matter what she goes through, you’ve never seen her crack under pressure.

7. How to drive a car

Your first time behind the wheel most likely involved the two of you screaming as you tried to navigate a vehicle.

8. The importance of hearing the bitter truth

Your sister is always willing to give you advice without the sugar coating. It may be tough to swallow, but you’ll quickly find that she was right—and brutal honesty can save you from making many embarrassing or harmful mistakes.

9. How to laugh off the little things

Life shouldn’t be taken too seriously, and having a sister shows you that there’s no need to make mountains out of molehills. She’s gotten through worse, so just laugh it off and move on.

10. How to share

You spend your life sharing clothes, rooms and cars, so you’re basically a pro at co-owning various material objects.

11. How to forgive and forget

Let’s face it; it’s never sunshine and rainbows 24/7 having a sister. You fight, scream and say some things that are pretty hurtful. But no matter what, you still love each other, and that bond makes it easy to forgive each other and forget what may have happened, which will only ever make the two of you stronger.

The best cover songs you've never heard. [Thought Catalog]

Do you recognize these celebs without their signature looks? [Allure]

The Real Housewives of Orange Countyhave worn some terrible outfits. [Jezebel]

The cherry blossoms look beautiful in bloom. [ABC News]

Pet goats are becoming trendy on campus. [The Huffington Post]

This baby was born with perfect hair. [Yahoo!]

How well does online dating work? [The Washington Post]

This new job perk could save you three years of student loan payments. [NerdWallet]

These tweets about calories will make you LOL. [BuzzFeed]

12 things you need to know before a cross-country train trip. [PopSugar]

What is clarifying shampoo?

Related: Did You Know Your Shampoo Can Stop Working?

Who should use clarifying shampoo?

Any hair type can benefit from clarifying shampoo! It'll make your hair shinier and can even help your conditioner to work better. 

How often should I use it?

It's recommended that you use it once a week at most. Don't use it too often, since that can lead to breakage. This shampoo is strong, so it's best to apply extra conditioner after using it.

Where do I find clarifying shampoo?

There are a lot of clarifying shampoos available at drugstores, such as Kenra Clarifying Shampoo ($15, Walgreens) along with higher-quality salon versions, like Fekkai's Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo ($19.99, Target). For a DIY version, Good Housekeeping suggests combining 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1 cup of water. After a standard shampoo, add this mixture to your hair and rinse after a couple of minutes.

We all need a fresh start sometimes, and that includes our hair! 

How many times have you heard someone say something just utterly and completely off about the LGBTQ+ community? It could be a question, a statement or a casual comment. It could have come from within or outside the LGBTQ+ community, but whomever you heard it from, you were probably blindsided. So for the good of the queer and non-queer community, let’s head off some awkward conversations by clearing up some of these ideas once and for all.

1. People who are asexual and aromantic don’t fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella

Because asexuality and aromanticality are not often talked about, plenty of misconceptions surround these completely valid identities—including that they are not identities that fall under the queer umbrella. Many often confuse the “A” of LGBTQIA to stand for ally, rather than asexual, and that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Chloe, a student at Mount Holyoke who identifies as being on the asexuality spectrum, notes that there is debate about whether being asexual falls under the queer umbrella, given that asexuals can be heteroromantic, meaning romantically attracted to the opposite sex.

“Since the LGBTQ+ community has fought so hard for our sexuality recognized as normal, it definitely makes sense that people in the queer community might not understand or care to educate themselves about the asexual spectrum,” says Chloe. She recommends having discussions about what asexuality is because a lot of people don’t understand it.

“Be aware of setting, though—the LGBTQ+ resource center is a great place to facilitate these kinds of hard conversations. You can’t respect something if you don’t understand it,” she says.

2.Non-binary people are just being “trendy”

It may seem like there’s been an influx of people who are coming out as being non-binary, leading people to consider it as trendy and “in”—rather than a result of a society that is finally moving toward allowing for different expression.

To make sure we’re all on the same page, people can identify as women, men, or non-binary, which means that they could identify as something other than solely a man or woman. Gender is not a binary—there’s a spectrum. People identify as male, female, in between, both and neither.

Lane, a sophomore at University of Massachusetts who identifies as genderqueer, says, “I spent hours wondering why I didn’t feel like a girl and why I didn’t feel like a boy. I didn’t feel like either, which was so confusing until I found out about the existence of different gender identities. Genderqueer fit because sometimes I feel both, sometimes I feel neither, and sometimes I lean a bit more towards one than the other.”

They explain that the best thing you can do to support non-binary people is to check in regularly about pronouns, respect them and really try to understand that this isn’t a phase.

3.Transitioning means the same thing to everyone

This isn’t necessarily true. Yes, many people who come out as being trans* or non-binary feel the freedom to express themselves differently after they have come out and make changes accordingly. They could do this by purchasing binders, cutting their hair, growing their hair out, wearing more or less makeup, shifting their clothing style, getting surgery or any number of other shifts in presentation.

That doesn’t mean, though, that every non-binary or trans* person is going to change their presentation. Lane says, “I don’t plan on getting bottom surgery, but I do bind and have thought about having surgery to make my chest more neutral. That’s just me, though, and what I need in order to minimize my dysphoria. It’s completely individual.”

4. Coming out as non-binary is a stepping stone to coming out as trans*

People enjoy categorizing each other and sometimes have trouble grasping the concept of “gray areas,” so when someone comes out as non-binary it’s sometimes assumed that they’re actually trans* and are phasing into transitioning.

Chandler, a junior at Smith College who identifies as non-binary, says that people often act like they are actually trans* and imply that they’re going to transition soon.

“It makes me feel like I don’t exist, that it’s just a transitioning phase,” Chandler says. “Honestly, it’s invalidating.”

Chandler says that when their peers imply that they’re trans*, they make a point to stand up for themselves. “You have to make sure you’re not reacting defensively. In that kind of situation, you have to be an educator in order to make sure that your identity is being respected.”

5. If you’re non-binary or androgynous, you will present as masculine

Sarah identifies as genderfluid and fluctuates between presenting as traditionally feminine and somewhere in the middle. “When I’m presenting as feminine and I explain that I use ‘they’ pronouns, I get a lot of weird looks. It’s really frustrating and it makes me feel like my identity isn’t valid.”

The gay male community often represents the queer community, but we should make an effort not to make the “norm” and the “neutral” masculine. Gender presentation is completely different than gender identity. As a community that prides itself on respecting others’ identities, we need to respect masculine, feminine and any other presentations in order to get respect from outside our community.

6. Bisexual people just can’t make up their mind or are confused

Stop. Wait a minute. Negativity about bisexual people comes from the mainstream community and from the queer community (just check out Arielle Scarcella’s video about lesbians’ stereotypes about bisexuals). No identity deserves to have these negative stereotypes attached to it.

“People think I’m a lesbian who doesn’t want to come out all the way yet,” says Briana, a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill who identifies as a bisexual woman. “It’s so wrong—just like how you know what you like, I know what I like. I just happen to have the capacity to be attracted to more people. I am fully confident that I can be romantically and sexually attracted to both men and women.”

In addition, if a bisexual woman has dated a man in the past and a woman now, it doesn’t mean that she was straight back then and is a lesbian now. Briana says, “I just wish people would respect that I have thought about my sexuality so much. I know I could be in a romantic relationship with a man or a woman and, other than that, I don’t see why people care about my sexuality so much.”

7. Bisexual people are promiscuous and are more likely to cheat on you

First of all, being bisexual does not mean that someone necessarily is attracted to many people and, if they are, does not mean that they will act on those attractions. Bisexual people are no more promiscuous than are straight people, gay people or anything-in-between people.

“Being bisexual has definitely hurt my romantic life,” says Briana. “In the past, a girlfriend found out I was bisexual and started talking about how she didn’t feel like she could fully satisfy me and about how she thought I was going to cheat since she ‘wasn’t enough.’”

If you’ve discussed monogamy with your partner and you feel a connection, it doesn’t matter whether they are gay, straight, bisexual or anything else; cheating shouldn’t happen. If it does, it’s not due to your partner’s sexuality.

When it comes down to it, most of these misconceptions come from people pushing their own ideas onto others’ identities. Treat people like people, respect their identities and try to strip away the layers of stereotypes and judgment that exist; your friends will feel more respected and you’ll wind up learning more than if you had just let your preconceptions of stereotypes shield you from actually getting to know people.

You know how you thought you only hit snooze twice? You actually hit it three times that. Now your first class is starting in 10 minutes, and you have terrible bedhead and morning breath that could kill someone. These are the stages of oversleeping for your 8 a.m., or, why you should never, EVER sign up for a class at that hour in the first place.

1. You finally wake up when your snooze alarm goes off for the eighth time and your roommate throws something at you.

Wait, it's only... wait... WAIT, WHAT?

2. As soon as you notice what time it is, all hell breaks loose.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN AGAIN??!

3. You jump out of bed and quickly begin scrambling to somehow wash your face and brush your teeth at the same time.

Yum, face cleanser for breakfast!

4. You don't bother with your hair because there's simply not time for it, so you'll have to accept the fact that you'll look gross today.

Let's hope there's no one cute in your class.

5. After getting dressed in record time, you rush to get your backpack together. It's possible that you forgot your assignment and snack for the day.

(You're more upset about the snack.)

6. You text your friend in that class to save you a seat so you don't get stuck in the front row.

Let's hope she didn't oversleep, too.

7. Class started five minutes ago but you're starving, so you tear apart your kitchen to try to find something decent.

Cereal in a Solo cup? Okay.

8. As soon as you leave, you begin competing for the fastest time to ever make it to your class.

You even... take the stairs. (Dun dun duuuuun.)

9. Running with a backpack is not only embarrassing but also semi-difficult, so you're definitely getting some weird stares.

Excuse me, sorry, just trying to fix my tanking GPA.

10. By the time you get to your class, you're totally out of breath.

Good thing your backpack covers your back sweat :/

11. You walk in awkwardly, 20 minutes late, and your friend is all the way on the other side of the classroom.

Walking through tiny rows of ticked-off people and apologizing under your breath every two seconds is totally how you wanted to start your morning. Hooray.

12. When you finally take your seat, you question why on earth you ever signed up for a class at this hour.

THE SUN HAS BARELY RISEN.

13. Remember during registration when you thought an 8 a.m. would be good for you so you could jump-start your day?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Never. Again.

Name: Kristin Harris 
Job Title: Associate Celebrity Editor & Talent Relations at BuzzFeed 
College/Major: University of Central Florida (BA), London College of Fashion (Postgrad certificate) 
Twitter Handle: @KristinHarris

What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

KH: In my current role, I'm an associate editor and in charge of all things talent for the BuzzFeed NY team. Essentially most of my day is spent interviewing celebrities, singers and actors, or working with studios and publicists to coordinate an upcoming interview. Every single day is different, which is what makes it so exciting. Some weeks we'll have three interviews and shoots in-studio at the office, as well as interviews out of office at press junkets, red carpets or on-set visits. Other weeks are focused on pitching and coordinating upcoming interviews, while spending the rest of the day covering daily pop culture/celeb news. A lot of my time is spent brainstorming interview/video ideas, working with publicists and studios to schedule the interview, coordinating with our internal photo/video teams to produce the shoot and then writing and editing the interview.

What is the best part of your job?

KH: The best part of my job is having the creative freedom to experiment, innovate and write about whatever subjects/people/films we’re most passionate about. If I’m a huge fan of Taylor Swift, for example (spoiler: I AM), I can come up with an insane, outrageous interview concept, pitch it to her team and then actually see it all come to life. Having the ability to do whatever we’re most passionate about is really incredible—every single day I wake up excited to go to work.

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

KH: One thing I wish I knew when I was young and starting out is that it’s okay to be persistent. I was more timid when I was younger, and I saw one unanswered email as a hard and fast hell no—which isn’t necessarily the case. Being in my role now, I can barely keep up with my inbox, and sometimes embarrassingly respond to emails weeks later once I finally find time to sort through everything! I learned as I got older that persistence is key—if you really want something, you have to go after it. So if that means following up two or three times until you finally get an answer, then that’s what you have to do. Don’t ever let anxiety, fear or judgement keep you from your dreams.

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?

KH: My family and friends—specifically my mom—truly helped change my professional life and allowed me to finally have enough confidence to follow my dreams. It’s not a secret that this industry is insanely hard—there are plenty of times where I wanted to break down and give up, chalking all of this up to some far off, elusive dream. But the people around me encouraged me to never give up—they truly believed in me, answered my phone calls of panic at 1 a.m. and inspired me to keep pushing until it finally came true. I can 100 percent, confidently say I would not be where I am right now without those people in my life.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

KH: My favorite quote growing up was always, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” by Eleanor Roosevelt. Following an outlandish, crazy dream can be really terrifying, and I think the most brave thing you can do is believe in your dream—that’s the first step to making it happen. Those words really inspired me to take that chance and really go for it, no matter how unrealistic it might have seemed.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

KH: I think the biggest lesson I learned starting out was not to take things too seriously. In one of my first jobs, a friend of mine said to me: "This isn’t life or death, we’re talking about lipstick!" And that really put things into perspective for me. There will be moments of panic where someone calls you on a Saturday demanding something be done with a certain celebrity, or a certain article, and it feels like the world is going to end and everything you’ve worked so hard for comes down to this one moment. Obviously the work you're doing is incredibly important, but it’s also important to keep things in perspective and really trust your gut. As long as you’re working incredibly hard and truly doing the best you can do, that’s what counts.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

KH: Even after having been doing this for a few years nearly every single day seems unreal to me, but the biggest whirlwind thus far was when I recently had the opportunity to fly to Hawaii and interview Zac Efron on the set of his upcoming film. It was an insane 72 hours—we flew across the country on a 10-hour direct flight and stayed up until 2 a.m. on set to do the interview in the middle of the night. It was a completely surreal, incredible experience that I will never forget.

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

KH: It sounds pretty cliché but I say this time and time again: never, ever give up. I've always thought that if you truly believed something was meant to be, then it would happen. I'm a big believer in the phrase "thoughts become things," and if you know deep down in your heart that this is your passion and what you're meant to be doing, then as long as you persevere and never give up that dream, it'll eventually come true. When I was growing up and I dreamed of being an editor and everyone thought it was impossible, I always thought to myself, someone is going to have that job. That job actually exists and it might be rare and hard, but some person will have that job—so why can't that person be me?! It wasn't an easy road to get to my dream job. There will always be setbacks and moments that you feel like it's never going to happen, and you want to give up, but I think those setbacks are there for a reason: to weed out the ones who aren't as passionate, and force the people who truly want it to keep pushing forward and persevering. Once all of that hard work finally pays off, there’s no better feeling in the world!

After an epically long day at work, all you would like to do is relax and give in to a Netflix marathon. While lounging on the couch for the rest of the evening is super tempting (and sometimes, much needed!), it isn’t totally productive. We’re not saying you need to write a novel overnight or start a side-gig-turned-new-company, but wouldn’t it be nice to work on some personal projects or accomplish goals that you always say you’ll do? Here are a few of the best ways to stay productive after work.

1. Unplug

First things first: zero technology. No emails. No Insta. No social media. No TV. Just you. We know how difficult this can be  (Shonda nights cannot be missed). With social media, constant emails, and Tinder updates always buzzing around us, focus becomes nearly impossible. If personal peace of mind won’t convince you to take a break, then maybe this will: A study conducted by TNS Research and Hewlett Packard determined that when employees are distracted by emails and texts, they suffer a larger IQ drop than if they'd smoked marijuana. Eliminating distractions can make you more aware and alert, which are two great factors for starting a new project.

Obviously, unplugging from technology every evening is unrealistic (especially for the social media obsessed), so maybe try doing it even just one night out of the work week. If you really do enjoy some television or web surfing every night, challenge yourself to do something else first. Give mom or dad a call before turning on a show. Read for an hour before Grey's Anatomy comes on. Check in with your roommate or, if you live alone, check in with yourself! Take time for yourself to journal and reflect on your day.

Related: 10 Things Your Mother Didn't Tell You About Being an Adult

2. Spend time on a hobby and/or goal

If it were up to us, Netflix would be an actual hobby. But instead of devoting hours of your life to One Tree Hill reruns (just us?), why not learn a new skill? Cooking, public speaking, poetry writing, ballet; the list goes on and on. Why not sign up for one of these weekly classes? We guarantee you can make time to pick up a hobby just once a week. You can make new friends, pick up a great new skill, and have a blast. Sites like meetup.com and Yelp are perfect for discovering new classes and meeting new people. 

3. Work out

One of the biggest struggles with being productive is combating fatigue and maintaining a substantial level of energy after work. That’s where fitness comes in! Following a consistent fitness regime can boost your creativity, confidence and resilience, both at work and in your personal life. More importantly, when you exercise, you are increasing blood flow to the brain, which can help sharpen your awareness and get you ready to tackle your next big project. Kara, a PR assistant, says that working out right after work prevents her from hitting the couch immediately: “Even though I’m usually tired after work, I always force myself to go to the gym or do some type of activity, because the second I get home I will lie on my couch and never leave.” 

4. Clean

A clean space equals a clear mind. Who knew, right? If you tend to leave a trail of clothes as you come home from work, try to put those items up and away as soon as you walk through the door. And take the extra few minutes to make your bed in the morning! When you come home to a messy place, it may take a toll on your mood, sleep, health, and more. Clutter can be so distracting that research confirms it can actually affect your ability to focus; looking at multiple things overloads your visual cortex and interferes with your brain’s ability to process information. So, the more organized you are, the more productive and efficient you are.

As annoying as it may seem to "do more" after your 9-to-5, working on projects you really love (and taking the steps to make time for them) is key to accomplishing what you want and staying productive after work—and throughout your life.

Cooking for one becomes the norm in college. But it can be quite an inconvenience if you don't have easy access to a kitchen. Most dorms provide a hall kitchen but, even then, lugging all your cooking utensils and ingredients to and from your room can get pretty annoying.

That's why many students opt for easier options such as frozen pizza, ramen noodles or takeout. Your health usually pays the price when you choose these foods, though. Cooking your own meals is much healthier since you will be more concious of what is going into your food. 

So, we've rounded up some simple, delicious and healthy recipes for you to give a whirl! We promise your body and your tastebuds will be thanking you.

1. Acai Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowls are so trendy right now, and what better way to start your day than with this delicious meal? You can easily keep all the ingredients in your dorm or apartment fridge and blend it up quickly on your way out the door. Don't have a blender? Pop over to Target and get a Hamilton Beach Single Serve blender for only $20. It's magical!

2. Avocado Toast

Tired of the plain old toast you eat every morning? Make it tastier and more nutritional by adding avocado and egg, which will keep you feeling full until lunchtime. 

3. Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Instead of bogging yourself down with sugary instant oatmeal, try opting for a quinoa bowl instead! Quinoa bowls are packed with protein, so this is the perfect dish to start your day. If you need something sweet, add some fruit or honey for a little extra flavor. 

4. Breakfast Fajitas

One word: heaven. These breakfast fajitas could not be any better! They can easily be made in your dorm kitchen. All you have to do is chop up some veggies, scramble a few eggs and assemble. This dish also offers a lot of freedom. Throw in some extra veggies or leave out the ones you don't like! Eat these fajitas, and you'll be set for hours.

5. Mason Jar Salad

These salads look adorable in mason jars but can just as easily be stored in Tupperware containters. What's great about these is you can prepare a few at the same time and eat them all week long. Just make sure you have enough containers to put them in.

6. Turkey Roll-Ups

Turkey roll-ups are another great on-the-go lunch option. There are so many ways to make these—all you really need is turkey. Feel free to throw in lettuce or a slice of cheese, as well. To make them even healthier, lose the tortilla shell. Plus, skip the cheese spread that this recipe calls for to keep it nice and clean!

7. Stuffed Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes truly are a superfood. They make for the perfect dorm dinner for one. Whether you stuff your potato with all the yummy things in this recipe or just fix it with a little butter and cinnamon, pop it in the microwave for six minutes and it should be ready to go!

8. Spinach and Tomato Quesadilla with Pesto

This recipe is to die for! To keep this meal as healthy as possible, go easy on the cheese and cook with olive oil or coconut oil rather than vegetable/canola oils.

9. Baked Chicken Breasts

Many people are intimidated by the idea of baking chicken. What they don't know is how easy it is! All you have to do is rinse your chicken breasts, coat them in olive oil and bake on 350° for 30 minutes. If the juices run clear, the chicken is done. That's it! Dress it up as you like or leave it plain. You can also make a few chicken breasts at one time and eat them throughout the week!

Your boyfriend is truly amazing, and you’re perfect together… but sometimes, he doesn’t think twice about letting out a little sexist comment. He doesn’t realize it, but it can be offensive to your feminist ideals. Or maybe you’ve tried explaining feminism to him and he rejected the concept for some reason that evades you. Whatever the reasoning (or lack thereof) behind his attitude, it bothers you that he doesn’t support you in this way. Luckily, we’re here to help you make sense of this situation.

The situation: He misunderstands feminism

Even when we don’t realize it, feminism is a big part of our lives as modern collegiettes. We’re no longer pursuing our “MRS degrees,” and our world is getting closer and closer to embracing gender equality. We aren’t quite there yet, and this comes through in your boyfriend’s macho banter.

If your boyfriend tells or laughs at sexist jokes, he might just not realize that he’s being inappropriate. But if he undermines the concept of feminism specifically, this could be based on the all-too-common misconception that feminists are man-hating, domineering, cold women.

“It’s important to remember that just because a college woman’s boyfriend – or any other male peer – misunderstands feminism doesn’t necessarily mean he’s anti-feminist,” says Julie Zeilinger, author of A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not A Dirty Word and feminist blogger. Instead, Zeilinger says, it’s important to understand that “men today are raised in a culture that largely promotes (false) anti-feminist stereotypes, such as that feminists hate men or want power over men (rather than equality), which may lead them to be skeptical of the movement or people who associate with it.”

How to deal

“Just because [your boyfriend] may have been raised this way doesn’t necessarily mean that [he is] sexist,” Zeilinger says. “It more likely means that [he] probably [hasn’t] been exposed to the truth about the feminist movement.” As his girlfriend, you have the power to change this. College is for learning, after all!

When you bring up the subject, make sure you’re not angry at him. “You should always tackle a testy subject once you have cooled down,” says Laurel House, a dating coach and author of Screwing the Rules: The No-Games Guide to Love. “If you snap back or attack, absolutely nothing you say will be heard. It’s best to bring it up later that day or even the next day.” Proper timing is crucial if you want your boyfriend to truly reevaluate his beliefs about feminism.

One issue might be that he thinks there are no inequalities to fight in such a progressive setting as a university campus. “However, various types of inequality and discrimination are also present in the college setting – like, just to name one example, the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields/academic departments,” Zeilinger says. “In the face of this persistent inequality, feminism is as relevant as ever.”

If you tell your SO this and the other reasons why you identify as a feminist, he should understand where you’re coming from and hopefully rally to your cause!

Finally, if you’re unsure how to explain the concept of feminism to him, start with Zeilinger’s simple and effective definition: “Feminism is, on the most basic level, a movement that pursues social, political and economic equality.” But how does this apply to you? “Feminism is especially relevant for college women because college is a time to figure out who you are, what you’re interested in and what you want to pursue – all tenants of independence and self-realization that are inherently feminist,” Zeilinger says. In other words, if he supports your right to personal and professional growth, he unknowingly supports feminism already. It just needed to be clarified!

The situation: He is openly against feminism

Emily Schulz, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, says her last boyfriend openly disapproved of feminism.

“I am a women's studies minor and a very outspoken feminist,” Emily says. “He was a conservative business major. I knew from the start we would never last based on our fundamental differences, but when we kept the conversation light, we had a lot of fun together.”

Feminism plays a central role in Emily’s life, and she wanted to share this with her SO, but he remained unreceptive. “There was one time when I knew we had to end our relationship,” she says. “I brought up something I'd read in various research studies for one of my women's studies classes. He continued to dispute anything I said, and in the end, simply said, ‘I think that information is wrong,’ as though all of my research and the scholars' findings that I was citing were flat-out made-up lies.”

There are two problems with Emily’s situation: First, her boyfriend undermined entirely legitimate facts and research findings. Second, he was unwilling to support his partner in an area that was so central to her whole belief system.

“After a while, he would just say that he didn't care and wished politics only revolved around the important stuff – meaning the economy – and that the social issues just distracted from that. Which, again, undervalues feminism and social justice,” Emily says.

You shouldn’t have to stand for any behavior or speech that belittles who you are or what you believe in – not ever, but especially not coming from a significant other.

How to deal

First off, you need to draw the line between unintentionally offensive banter and beliefs that just cannot align with your own. The harsh reality is that if your try to educate your boyfriend about feminism and he continues to subscribe to sexist ideals, he probably isn’t worth having in your life. In this case, you should probably break things off.

“At the end of the day, you should be with someone who makes your life better – who challenges you, who makes you a better version of yourself and makes you happy,” Zeilinger says. “I don’t believe any relationship in which one partner belittles another or believes [he’s] better than another can meet those qualifications.”

As an ambitious and independent woman, the last thing you need is someone ridiculing your core values. If your partner makes you feel this way, he’s a poor excuse for a partner. You deserve to be in a respectful, equal relationship, and if this guy can’t see that, you are SO much better on your own.

The situation: He follows a double standard

A guy might insist on paying for your dinner to show you he cares, but not accept that you pay for the same reasons. In this case he means well, but it might make you uncomfortable, as was the case for Naomi*, a recent graduate from Northwestern University.

“The guy I'm dating is super into paying for everything, and it took a while for him to come around,” Naomi says. “He would assure me that wanting to pay was just how he liked to take care of the women he dated and an important way, for him, to show that he cared.”

Naomi’s partner identifies as a feminist, but apparently not in this way. “He'd say things like paying for our dates had everything to do with being the man he wanted to be and nothing to do with the woman he thought I should be, and insisted that he didn't want me to feel any pressure,” Naomi explains.

Although Naomi felt uncomfortable, this guy clearly respected her as a person and as a feminist. However, there are instances when your SO could follow an unacceptable double standard, such as always wanting to know your whereabouts without disclosing his, getting jealous of you talking to other guys but flirting with other girls himself or thinking your sexual number says more about you than his says about him.

How to deal

If you are in a caring, balanced and understanding relationship, your partner will ultimately be happy to compromise to meet your needs.

Naomi eventually told her SO how she felt. “I went with it for a while, but eventually had to sit down and discuss with him that it made me uncomfortable and that I would love to split things more evenly in the future,” Naomi says. “After hearing my side of things, we did just that. It was easy as that.”

Before jumping to conclusions, try to make him aware of his behavior. “Communicate how it makes you feel when he hounds you for information, but seems to hide his whereabouts,” House says. “Reverse the situation for him. How would it make him feel if you constantly questioned what he was up to, but didn’t reveal what you did during your alone time? Relationships should be even, with fair and level expectations.”

If he cares about you, he will understand where you’re coming from and adapt accordingly, but if he openly rejects your argument, you should be very concerned. His attitude could be “indicative of abusive behavior,” Zeilinger says. “Tolerating abusive behavior, or any behavior which positions your partner as having or deserving more power than you in the relationship, is unacceptable.” You should break up with someone like this or speak to a school counselor if you don’t feel able to do it alone.

The situation: He treats you as inferior

There is a clear difference between a nice guy who speaks without a filter and someone who obviously thinks of you as inferior. Karina Reddy, a recent graduate from Boston University, was once seeing a guy who asked her to come hang out with his friends because she made him “look good” – a comment that makes us grind our teeth. “I felt objectified, and it made me feel, along with other things he'd said, that he thought women were there to sit next to him looking pretty to impress his friends,” Karina says.

You do not deserve to – and should never – accept any kind of patronizing, belittling or objectification. If your gender changes the way someone treats you, then that person is not one you want in your life.

How to deal

Some things can be tolerated, but lack of respect is not one of them. “As long as your boyfriend or male friend clearly respects you as an individual, cares about what you think and treats you with kindness, then it may be okay to take some tough behavior or macho joking with a grain of salt,” Zeilinger says.

As in the case of double standards, “it’s unacceptable if it’s not clear to you that this person [respects] you,” Zeilinger says. “If your boyfriend treats you like [his] property and makes it clear that [he’s] in control and [is] more important in some way, then that is a clear indicator that your relationship is unhealthy.” Here too, you should get yourself out of this potentially dangerous situation or seek out help to do so.

So many people misunderstand the essence of feminism, but the vast majority of them can be swayed by a proper explanation, including your boyfriend. If he’s smart, he’ll understand the relevance of this theory. If he cares about you, he’ll embrace your value system and respect you all the more for it. But if he insists on keeping up his sexist ways, it’s probably time to let him go (and dodge a bullet). Good luck, collegiettes!

Author’s Note: This article discusses marriage in a very heteronormative manner, as the article I am responding to does. However, I do believe that “family” and “marriage” mean more than just woman, man, and child.

Last week, I wrote an article titled “Pink, Glitter, and Feminism” about being a feminine feminist in a world that tends to separate the two. In it, I discussed how people who claim not to be feminists are spreading misconceptions about feminism, and how harmful this is. Coincidentally, I stumbled upon an article circulating the world wide web titled, “I Am Not A Feminist, And That Is Okay,” which does exactly this. At first glance, I was horrified. I always am when people claim that they aren’t feminists, and I assume that they don’t understand A) what feminism is and B) that feminism does in fact benefit everyone. After reading this article, I was even more troubled. There are lots of comments I could make about what feminism is and isn’t (this response article outlines it well), why the author does not understand what feminism fights for, and why it’s a bit extreme to claim that God made women fragile beings and that He was taught us to believe the opposite of feminism.

Instead, I’m just going to tackle an issue that can be difficult to address as a feminist: sexist institutions within the family, which the author of this article claims feminists want no part in.

You may ask, what exactly is a sexist institution? A sexist institution can be defined as “a well-established and structured pattern of behavior or relationships that is accepted as a fundamental part of culture relating to, involving, or fostering sexism” (thank you, Dictionary.com).Interestingly enough, Dictionary.com’s example of an “institution” is marriage. Historically, marriage and childrearing are the most sexist aspects of family life. Today, women can choose not to participate in sexist traditions. The perspective of a non-feminist who supports familial tradition has already been outlined for us—here’s the perspective of a feminist who feels the same way.

Weddings and Marriage

Traditionally, a family starts with the marriage of a man and a woman. According to the author of “I Am Not A Feminist, And That Is Okay,” feminists are not in support of many aspects of marriage, since these things are designed in a way that is inherently sexist. Dowaries, arranged marriages, pure white white dress—historically, these are all ways of oppressing women. Now, I am fully aware that weddings are still riddled with sexist institutions. A father giving away his daughter, a wife taking her husband’s last name, engagement rings…the list goes on.

But you know what? I want an engagement ring. I want it to be pink, for that matter. And I’m still a feminist. I want to wear white and I’m still a feminist. I want my father to walk me down the aisle at my wedding and I’m STILL A FEMINIST.

But, how am I still a feminist? I am still a feminist because I know that some women don’t want rings, and they don’t want to participate in a ceremony that traditionally implies that a man is giving a woman away to another man. Just because a woman chooses to be a part of a legal union and participate in some of these “old-fashioned” traditions does not mean she can’t and won’t fight for women’s rights to resist them. Feminists recognize and emphasize people’s right to choose.

Having Children and Raising Them

The 2015 article “Why Women Choose Not To Have Children” discusses how difficult it is for women in this world to simply not want children, as there is a strong association with being a woman and being a mother (for obvious reasons). This article is saddening, because there is so much pressure put on women (by people such as the author of the article mentioned earlier) to produce children, making the “obvious feminist solution” to encourage women not to have children.

I still want to have children, not because “I’m not selfish” or “I want to have someone that will always love me,” but simply because I want the experience of putting another human being on this earth. For lack of a better cliché, having children is the “miracle of life,” and I want to be a part of that.

On the contrary, popular TIME Magazine article, “The Case For Staying Home” discusses the benefits of being a stay-at-home mother. I read that article and said to myself, “no way in hell.” At this point in my life I can’t genuinely say that I am willing to totally give up being a career woman (career PERSON) simply because I have children. Of course, this is subject to change. It may seem very “feminist” of me to be “against” stay-at-home mothers, but this is untrue. At one time, women had no say in whether or not they stayed at home with their children. It wasn’t a question. In the 21st century, many women choose to stay home with their children and many do not, and feminism supports both choices, because it is the ability to choose that is most important.

But, how am I still a feminist? I am still feminist because I fully support a woman’s choice to give birth to a child. I fully respect and support women who have no interest in children. I am still a feminist because I believe it’s okay to be a stay-at-home mom, or a stay-at-home dad. I believe it’s okay to take a career break to raise children. I also believe it’s okay to take a brief maternity or paternity leave, then go back to being a working parent.

In conclusion, reading “I Am Not A Feminist, And That Is Okay” made me feel pretty bad about myself, because I fully believe that I can be a feminist and love cooking and caring, and take advantage of my ability to have children. I believe that I can be a feminist and still wear a wedding band. I believe that people all over the world who feel they do “want the things that these feminists are fighting for” don’t care if I have children or if I took my husband’s last name, and genuine feminists don’t care either. A woman isn’t less or more of a feminist because she has does or doesn’t have children, or chose to get married and take her husband’s last name. She is a feminist because she believes in gender equality.

XOXO,

Feminist Killjoy

Over the weekend, all our favorite celebrities went on social media to share how they celebrated Easter with their family and friends. Many of them decorated eggs for the occasion. Celebs like Reese Witherspoon and Tori Kelly went with the traditional pastel-colored eggs. Madonna’s were more exquisite, of course, covered in glitter and gems.

Taylor Swift and her brother Austin took their eggs to the next level with an Easter egg battle, and Swift posted a series of videos documenting the fun on her Instagram. The premise of the game: whoever’s egg cracks first loses.

Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan-Tatum celebrated Easter a few days early with their daughter, Everly, taking her to an Easter egg hunt on the 25th. On Easter Sunday, Dewan-Tatum posted a photo of her daughter holding her adorable new pet: a bunny!

Ciara and fiancé Russell Wilson spent Easter at the happiest place on Earth with Ciara's son, Future.

The Kardashian-Jenner family went all out with their Easter festivities, as expected. Kris Jenner gave the cutest gifts to her grandchildren—North, Saint, Mason, Penelope and Reign.

Kanye West and Tyga then surprised the family by showing up in bunny suits. On Snapchat, Kim Kardashian shared a heartwarming video of North running up to her dad and giving him a hug while he was still in disguise.

Aside from showing up in a bunny suit, West had even more surprises up his sleeve. With no prior announcement, he dropped a new song on Soundcloud titled "Ultralight Prayer." The song is an extended version of Kirk Franklin's closing sermon off the track “Ultralight Beam” from West's album, The Life of Pablo.

It looks like they all had an amazing Easter weekend, and we hope you did, too!

Kim Kardashian rose to fame after the release of a sex tape, entitled Kim K Superstar, starring Kim and then-boyfriend, Ray J. In 2007, Kardashian filed a suit against Vivid Entertainment for distributing the video and was awarded a $5 million settlement, but the tape was still released. Now, Ian Halperin—author of Kardashian Dynasty—is alleging that Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, deliberately leaked the tape.

Halperin spoke to one source who claims, "A mutual friend of Kim and Paris [Hilton] had advised her that if she wanted to achieve fame, a sex tape would be the way to go. Kim had discussed the idea of producing a tape with her family beforehand."

A friend of Kardashian also reportedly told the author, "It was Kris who engineered the deal behind the scenes and was responsible for the tape seeing the light of day." However, there is no evidence to back the rumor that Jenner is solely responsible.

To gather more information about how sex tapes are made public, Halperin met with a Vivid spokesperson under the pretense that he was looking to sell a celebrity sex tape (creepy, right?). The company's representative told him that for a tape to be released, both parties need to sign off. This suggests that both Ray J and Kardashian agreed for the tape to be distributed.

When Halperin specifically asked how Kardashian's tape was released, the representative claimed a third party brought the tape to Vivid, who then "got in touch with the Kardashian family."

"Vivid would not have announced plans to distribute Kim's tape," Halperin concludes, "without a clear indication from the family that they would give the go-ahead once they had come to terms on a price."

However, Kardashian’s rep refutes the claim, saying, “All the assertions are false.”

The surfacing of this rumor is ironic considering Kardashian wrote a blog post just last month in which she discussed the public's weird preoccupation with the tape so long after its release. “It always seems to come back around to my sex tape, " she wrote. "Yes, a sex tape that was made 13 years ago. 13 YEARS AGO. Literally that lonnng ago. And people still want to talk about it?!?!”

“Let's move on, already. I have.”

This weekend, Jessica Lowndes began posting on social media about her newfound relationship with actor and comedian Jon Lovitz. The two did appear on an episode of Hawaii 5-0 together earlier this year, but the pairing seemed to come out of nowhere.

Lowndes was flaunting their relationship all over Instagram, which caused many people to believe it wasn't real.

After a lot of suspicious people commented on her photos, the 90210 actress posted a video on Instagram, saying, "No, I haven't been hacked. I'm just really excited to finally be able to share this secret with you guys." She even shared a picture of an engagement ring, sparking marriage rumors.

Lovitz flaunted the relationship, too. He posted a picture with Lowndes on his Twitter yesterday.

Despite their insistence that their relationship was real, the general public didn't buy it. Model Chrissy Teigen was among the skeptics.

And it turns out Teigen was right. The social media blitz was meant to promote the release of Lowndes' new song, Deja Vu (Remix).

Did Lowndes and Lovitz get you? Or did you know the relationship was an April Fool's joke all along?

Despite the glossy packaging and the satisfying feeling of applying makeup in the morning, it's hard to know whether your daily beauty products are healthy... or actually ruining your skin. And it's especially hard to tell when the ingredients label of your favorite eyeliner contains an extensive list of chemicals that you can barely pronounce. So we've consulted with experts and are here to explain some of the most common beauty products and how you can avoid potentially harmful ingredients found in them. Before you go trying crazy beauty trends, make sure you know what you're getting yourself into!

Related: 6 Beauty Hacks You Should Never Try

1. Nail Polish

Trust me, we wish it weren’t true.

We all love getting a manicure every once in a while and to horde a bunch of nail colors for some DIY fun. But let’s be real: nail polish isn’t good for you and most still contain a toxic trio of a carcinogen (formaldehyde) and two reproductive toxins (dibutyl phthalate and toluene). According to Slate, in 2006 Essie, OPI and several other nail polish brands agreed to eliminate the toxic trio from their nail products. However, in 2012 the California EPA’s Department of Toxic Substances Control randomly tested 25 brands and discovered ten out of every dozen brands still contained toluene. Although OPI is thankfully in the clear, smaller nail polish companies such as Golden Girl, Chelsea and Dare to Wear were mislabeled as being "three free," when in reality they contained toxic chemicals. Substances such as DBP and toluene impact prenatal development—Slate also speculates that these chemicals could be connected to a trend of early puberty in girls. Next time, we recommend you keep an eye out for whether your favorite nail polish brands contain any of these three toxic substances. 

2. Perfumes

Choose scents over fragrances.

Perfumes are the perfect finishing touch to any beauty routine before you walk out the door, but be careful about the ingredients your favorite perfume may contain. Why? "Approximately 2 to 4 percent of the general population and up to 10 percent of the North American population has an allergy or sensitization to fragrance," says Dr. Amy Kim, who is a board certified dermatologist and Founder of Baby Pibu, an infant skincare line. Dr. Kim explains that there are over 2800 chemicals that can make up a fragrance, with at least 100 of those being common substances causing allergic reactions. Fragrances causing allergic reactions can lead to women developing a skin rash on the face and hands, termed allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). In fact, in 2014 the European Union's Scientific Committee recommended a ban on common perfume ingredients HIC and moss extracts atranol and choroatranolwhich. These moss extracts were actually found in iconic perfumes including Chanel No. 5 and Dior's Miss Dior.

So, Dr. Kim recommends using 'scents' instead of 'fragrances.'"Since repeated exposure to fragrance can increase the likelihood of developing an allergy to fragrance, scented products with essential oils can be considered," she says. "Essential oils causing the least allergic reactions are lavender, rosemary, and thyme oils." It's time to embrace natural scents, ladies. If you're not ready to do away with your favorite perfumes right now, the least you can do is make sure your skin isn't reacting or becoming irritated by your signature fragrance.

3. Deodorant (and more!)

Whoa, parabens?

Parabens are an ingredient that all beauty junkies should know about. It is an extremely commonly used preservative in cosmetics products, meaning that it is supposed to defend against mold and fungus developing. That's a good thing, right? But in 2004, the Journal of Applied Toxicology published a game-changing paper that found traces of parabens in breast tumors. The theory was that parabens have estrogen-like qualities and therefore may contribute to the development of breast cancer tumors. Ultimately, the paper did not prove a direct correlation and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not discovered enough evidence to vilify parabens. However, Dr. Kim recommends using paraben-free skincare products: "Oil of Olay Age-Defying Classic Night Cream is what I use as my oil-free facial moisturizer for day or night application," she says. "It is free of parabens and does its basic job of moisturizing without clogging pores."

4. Old Mascara

Why you should twist, not pump.

Admit it—you probably use the same mascara until it runs dry. And depending on how often you coat your lashes, that can take any amount of time between a couple of months to over a year. But according to Vision Source, mascara is especially susceptible to housing bacteria because mascara tubes are dark, moist environments. And this is no innocent infestation; bacteria in these tubes can cause serious eye infections like pinkeye or styes. Since bacteria accumulates, infections can become threatening to your vision. So no matter how much is left in your tube, make sure to throw out your mascara within three to four months of opening. 

Another tip is to twist, not pump your mascara wand. For those of you who absolutely cannot leave the house without at least three coats of mascara—we feel you. But you should also know: not only does pumping your mascara wand allow the product to dry faster, but it also creates a more fertile breeding ground for bacteria. Pop Sugar explains that when you repeatedly pump your mascara wand into the tube, trapped air combined with the potential bacteria from your eyelashes both increase. 

5. Soaps with a pH Imbalance

You can be basic; the soap you use shouldn't be.

Our skin is full of amazing qualities, one of which is that our skin has an acidic mantle that protects the skin from bacteria, viruses, and other potentially contaminating substances. Pretty amazing, right? Except that while our skin is normally at an acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.5, most soaps have far higher, or more basic, pH levels of around 9. As a result of this pH imbalance, soaps will strip the acidic mantle from our skin, making us more susceptible to bacteria and making our skin feel drier. It's far safer to choose a soap that achieves a better pH balance to our skin. Dr. Kim personally recommends the white Dove Bar Soap, citing, "Soaps that make us feel squeaky-clean are actually soaps with a basic pH, and these soaps strip us of our natural oils. pH-balanced soaps like Dove bar soap get us clean without the squeakiness and stripping of natural oils."

If you're a Lady Gaga fan, you know all about her signature heart-shaped diamond engagement ring. However, at Gaga's 30th birthday party this weekend, her classic rock was replaced by a simple gold band, sparking wedding rumors.

It doesn't seem like Gaga's style to get married behind the scenes, but her fiancé (or should we say husband?), Taylor Kinney, was wearing a band, too.

What do you think, collegiettes? Did Gaga and her beau tie the knot?

Going out every weekend can get real old, real fast. It's not that we don't like spending time with our friends, we're just tired of the never-changing frat party and burnt out local bars. Sure, the occasional night out is great -- but we just can't handle booze-filled weekend after weekend anymore. Instead of being frustrated with us, you have to understand the following: 

1. There are other ways to hang out with us

Shopping, concerts, movies... or *shocker* just hanging out.

2. We're not "boring"

3. We're down to be your DD, but that's not all we're good for

4. There are more perks to staying in than you might think...

Like saving money.

5. And no hangovers

6. We don't judge you just because you still like going out

7. But listening to countless stories about blacking out can get old

8. The occasional night we do want to go out is bound to be crazy

We gotta get it out of our system.

9. Not going out all the time actually makes you productive

10. We never have to deal with this...

11. Begging us to go out all the time will only result in us coming up with excuses

12. This is the most dancing we'd like to do:

13. If you ever feel like having a relaxing night in, we're the perfect solution

While he certainly isn’t the most divisive candidate in the election this year (I think we all know who that is), everyone has an opinion about Bernie Sanders. We wanted to see if college women were really feelin’ the Bern, so we asked 14 college women to share what they think—read their thoughts below.

“I'm a huge Bernie supporter. I registered as a Democrat specifically to vote for him. His plans for free college won't affect me, as I'll be done with school soon, but I believe that it's really important in order to provide equal opportunity to all Americans. I also really, really believe in his single-payer healthcare system. My mom has MS, and even with good health insurance, she's paying astronomical amounts for basic healthcare and treatment. With Bernie's plan, her medical condition wouldn't be such a financial burden.”

-Ashley, NYU Class of 2016

“I am a Democrat, but Bernie Sanders to me is not a president. I think he is an incredibly passionate candidate, but I have a hard time seeing him being able to put his ideas into action once in office. He and Hillary have similar, if not nearly identical, platforms, but I think Hillary's experience would make her a more capable president. For me, it just comes down to experience.”

-Gabby, McGill University Class of 2018

“Bernie Sanders has a lot of great ideas. However, how he plans to execute his ideas is unrealistic. His following shows a lack of understanding from college kids. At the same time, anyone is better than Hillary and I would be proud to call Bernie Sanders my president because I can trust him.”

-Lily, University of Utah Class of 2017

RELATED: 12 College Women Get Real About Hillary Clinton

“I like Sanders as much as any 20-year-old, but I'm probably going to vote for Clinton. For better or worse, she's a more realistic and more moderate candidate and I have more faith in her to actually get things done. As much as I agree with Sanders the person, I'm not sure I'd trust Sanders the president. I think he's pushing very necessary reforms too fast, which will incite a lot of blowback, and I think that Clinton will be able to implement similar policies in a better-paced and more pragmatic manner.”

-Ellie, NYU Class of 2018

“I'm not a Democrat, and I really don't agree with Bernie's socialist-ish policies, like free public college and universal healthcare, but if I had to pick between him and Hillary I'd pick Bernie in a heartbeat. Not only does he support the legalization of marijuana (holla), but Bernie Sanders is a great guy, while Hillary is just a lying POS in my opinion. I would love to completely denounce both Democrats, but since the Republican candidates aren't exactly ideal, I can see how at this point putting Bernie in office wouldn't be the worst thing for the country.”

-Sarah, Mizzou Class of 2017

“I like Bernie but I know he can't win. Based on the Republican’s platform they are way too conservative and that shows there is an extreme divide in America. I would vote for him if he won the nomination but not now, I am voting for Hillary. I don't disagree with him about anything. I just know he can't get it done because the stuff that he is proposing is literally the Republicans worst nightmare and if they still control congress after this election Bernie will definitely not get things through.”

-Stephanie, Elon University Class of 2017

“I am a Republican, but Bernie Sanders is my least favorite of the two current Democratic candidates. Ideas are too radical. Promotes a lazier America. He sets unrealistic goals that would have unexpected consequences.”

-Regina, NYU Class of 2018

RELATED: 21 College Women Get Real About Donald Trump

“Bernie Sanders is a great candidate that focuses more on the concerns of middle class citizens and the younger crowd. I am a Democrat who is also a product of a middle class home. I know from first hand experience that citizens like myself need help, more money and to have better support. Bernie Sanders also has supported the African American movements in the past and present. Although he hasn't mentioned much about the unfair treatment of colored people, I feel like he may help to further advance the cultures of colored people.”

-Alondra,North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Class of 2020

“I consider myself liberal, a Democrat, and I am a huge Bernie supporter. I am also a huge feminist and I feel that some figures in this campaign have made those two things exclusive in relevance to each other and I don't appreciate that. To vote for a candidate based on sex, is sexist in and of itself. And voting for Bernie feels like a win for women as well. He stands for all people, when he talks he is genuine and truthful. He hasn't lied during his campaign. He has had consistent views on issues of gay marriage and racial justice. He has been at the front lines fighting for the rights of all for decades. And I believe he is the best candidate to win. When I vote for Bernie, I'm going to be content in the fact that I am voting for someone who didn't pander to my sex or race to get my vote, someone who didn't use corporate funds to drive their campaign, someone who doesn't stand for/with an elite group of our country who do not have the majority at heart. I am proudly voting for Bernie Sanders in my first presidential election, the best candidate in this election.”

-Alani, Northwestern University Class of 2018

“I think that Bernie is exactly what this country needs right now. His policies are accepting of each and every American, he is honest, he hasn't been ‘purchased’ by big business and he understands the need for social tolerance, environmental protection and feminism. All in all, I pretty much love him.”

-Olivia, University of Connecticut Class of 2017

RELATED: This Survey Shows Just How Uninformed We Are About the World

“I think Bernie Sanders is what this country needs. I am a part of the Democrat party and have been since 2012. I have and will be voting for him once he wins the 2016 bid. I agree with his campaign. He may be controversial to some but so is Donald Trump. He is the perfect candidate to go against the Republicans. Even though it would be nice to have a first female president, Hillary should not hold that spot. Hillary seems to be influenced by Bernie everyday and changes her approach to politics because Bernie is getting the attention of younger people. She clearly is a flip flopper and no one should have to wonder what their president’s stance is every five seconds. Bernie clearly stands for one thing and sticks to it. Plus he was out there during the civil rights era kicking ass not like Hillary Clinton who was a Republican at one time. Bernie for President!”

-Janae, Marymount University Class of 2016

“I am a Democrat and I think that Bernie Sanders has some good ideas but is not realistic. I am voting for Hillary Clinton but if Bernie wins the nomination I would vote for him. I specifically disagree with his ‘free college’ plan. I do not think that making college completely affordable will fix the issue at hand, which is preparing students for college. Instead of funding college 100% he should be focused on putting the money where it is most needed—in high schools and middle schools. If you prepare students for college then you will have a lower drop out rate. What is the point of making college free if many students don't even graduate because of how they grew up?”

-Isabel, NYU Class of 2018

“I think he's competent, well spoken, trustworthy, and has a respectable vision for America and the U.S.'s relations with the rest of the world. I'm not a Democrat, but I would support Sanders over Clinton, Trump, or Cruz.”

-MJ, University of Notre Dame Class of 2017

“I am a Democrat and I will not be voting for Bernie Sanders. I have never felt like he address women's issues and I think that his policy is too radical to work in a Republican dominated House.”

-Olivia, University of Denver Class of 2017

There's nobody easier to sympathize with than a shopaholic. It's hard to be a broke college student and obsessed with all things retail. If you relate to any of the following, you're more than likely an addict yourself. That's okay, though -- let's own it! 

1. Deciding to add 4 extra things to your cart when you only need one to meet the free shipping minimum.

2. Having to unsubscribe to your favorite store emails to resist the temptation.

3. Justifying your shopping habits by saying that you’re not into worse addictions.

4. You freak out every time your paycheck gets direct deposited into your account.

5. When you’re having a bad day you immediately grab your laptop and start online shopping.

6. Crying a little every time you have to go for the knock off instead of the brand name.

7. But then you splurge when you feel like you need to treat yourself.

8. Sometimes you applaud yourself for going thrifty and bargaining and justify the fact that you spent 50 dollars more than usual.

9. You know when and where all your favorite stores sales are. Online or in-store, you’re ready.

10. The rush you get when you purchase a new item.

11. You track your shipment three times a day and then freak out when you know it’s here.

12. Getting packages in the mail that you forgot you ordered.

13. But feeling so happy that you ordered it anyway.

14. You feel so accomplished when you find an amazing deal. Like you just won the lotto or something.

15. You want that 15% that new shoppers get, so you make a new email account.

16. You spend way too much time looking for discount codes online.

17. You’re always ready to do holiday and gift shopping for friends. Sometimes you have it done in advance.

18. You realize that you have no self-control, but who cares. It’s not like we’re addicted to painkillers, this is safe!