Glossary 💬

All the words everyone else seems to already know, explained kindly. Built from the flashcards in the Garden.

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🕊️ "Ain't I a Woman?": A famous 1851 speech attributed to Sojourner Truth, a Black abolitionist and formerly enslaved woman, challenging who got counted as a "real" woman. It's still quoted in debates today.; 📚 Learn more →
📖 "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.": Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex (1949). Her point - much of what we call "womanly" is learnt and shaped by society. A famous, much-debated line.; 📚 Learn more →
💬 #MeToo: Activist Tarana Burke began using "Me Too" in 2006 to support survivors of sexual violence. It went viral as a hashtag in 2017.; 📚 Learn more →

A

⏰ A regular wake-up time: Getting up around the same time every day (yes, weekends too-ish) is one of the strongest ways to steady your body clock.; 🌷 Learn more →
🫗 Acetone vs non-acetone remover: Acetone removes polish fast (and is needed for gel soak-offs) but is drying. Non-acetone is gentler but slower.; 💅 Learn more →
💅 Acrylics: Extensions made by mixing a liquid and powder into a hard layer, shaped over your nail or a tip. Lasts weeks with infills.; 💅 Learn more →
🍋 AHA (e.g. glycolic, lactic acid): Alpha hydroxy acids - chemical exfoliants that loosen dead skin on the surface for smoother, brighter skin. Can sting; use at night and wear SPF.; 🧴 Learn more →

B

💋 Baddie: Bold, confident glam - sculpted brows, contour, long nails, body-confident outfits.; 💗 Learn more →
🧪 Base coat: A clear first layer that helps polish grip, makes it last longer and stops dark colours staining your nails yellow.; 💅 Learn more →
🪵 Base Notes: Deep, lingering anchor notes (vanilla, amber, sandalwood, musk, cedar) that embed softly into fabrics and last the longest.; 🏡 Learn more →
🥚 Beauty sponge: A soft egg-shaped sponge used damp to bounce (not drag) base onto skin for a seamless finish. Wash it often.; 💄 Learn more →
🗓️ Bedtime routine in your Schedule: Setting a gentle Bedtime block in your Daily Schedule (/schedule) helps your nervous system anticipate sleep and wind down peacefully each night.; 🌷 Learn more →
💞 Bestie: Best friend - though often used affectionately for anyone, even strangers online.; 💗 Learn more →
🔬 BHA (salicylic acid): Beta hydroxy acid - an oil-loving exfoliant that gets inside pores. Popular for blackheads, breakouts and ingrown hairs.; 🧴 Learn more →
🏗️ BIAB / builder gel: Short for "Builder In A Bottle" - a thicker gel that strengthens natural nails and adds a little structure. Great for nails that bend or break.; 💅 Learn more →
📐 Bias cut: Fabric cut diagonally across the weave so it drapes and skims the body - think slinky 90s slip dresses.; 👗 Learn more →
🖤 Black tie / formal: Dress code: floor-length evening gown (or very elegant cocktail dress or dressy suit). Your most formal look, short of royalty.; 👗 Learn more →
👠 Block Heel vs Stiletto in the Office: Block heels (3–5cm) distribute body weight evenly across the foot, preventing arch fatigue and wobble on office carpet or pavement.; 💼 Learn more →
🌸 Blush: Colour for the cheeks - pink, peach, berry, coral. Instantly makes a face look fresh and alive. Cream, powder, liquid or stick.; 💄 Learn more →
📝 Brain dump: Scribbling your worries and tomorrow's to-do list on paper before bed so your mind doesn't have to hold onto them all night.; 🌷 Learn more →
🌈 Broad spectrum: Protects against UVA (ageing, pigmentation) as well as UVB (burning). Always look for this on your sunscreen.; 🧴 Learn more →
☀️ Bronzer: Adds warmth where the sun would naturally hit - forehead, cheekbones, nose bridge. Usually warm-toned and soft.; 💄 Learn more →
🪮 Brow gel: Like mascara for brows - clear or tinted gel that brushes hairs up and holds them in place.; 💄 Learn more →
🧽 Buffer: A soft block for smoothing and shining the nail surface. Use gently and rarely - over-buffing thins nails.; 💅 Learn more →
💼 Business / business casual: Dress code: office wear. Tailored trousers or skirts, blouses, knitwear, blazers, simple dresses, closed shoes. Business formal adds a suit.; 👗 Learn more →

C

☕ Caffeine cut-off: Caffeine can stay in your system for many hours. Many people sleep better with no coffee, energy drinks or strong tea after early afternoon.; 🌷 Learn more →
🔒 Capping the free edge: Running the polish brush lightly along the very tip of the nail to seal it. Massively reduces chipping.; 💅 Learn more →
🩴 Casual: Dress code: anything comfy and clean - jeans, tees, sneakers, sundresses. Think weekend barbecue.; 👗 Learn more →
🧱 Ceramides: Fats that are naturally part of your skin barrier - the 'mortar' between the bricks. Moisturisers with ceramides help repair a stressed barrier.; 🧴 Learn more →
🌬️ Chiffon: Sheer, floaty, lightweight fabric for flowy blouses, overlays and evening wear. Usually needs a lining or cami underneath.; 👗 Learn more →
👞 Classic Penny & Bit Loafers: An ultra-chic, genderless tailoring staple that looks sharp with cropped trousers, suits, or midi skirts with zero heel pain.; 💼 Learn more →
🫧 Clean girl: A polished, "no-makeup makeup" look - slicked-back bun, dewy skin, gold hoops, neutral tones.; 💗 Learn more →
🖌️ Clean-up brush: A small flat brush (an old lip or eyeliner brush works!) dipped in remover to tidy edges around the nail.; 💅 Learn more →
🫧 Cleanser: Washes off oil, sweat, sunscreen and makeup. Gentle cream, gel or milk cleansers are best for most people; foaming ones can be drying.; 🧴 Learn more →
🍸 Cocktail: Dress code: a dressy, usually knee-to-midi-length dress, a smart jumpsuit or dressy separates. Heels or nice flats. Common for evening parties and weddings.; 👗 Learn more →
🎨 Colour corrector: A tinted product (peach, orange, green, lavender) that cancels an unwanted colour before concealer. Peach/orange cancels blue-grey; green cancels red.; 💄 Learn more →
🖌️ Concealer: Thicker, more pigmented than foundation. Used on specific spots - under-eyes, blemishes, redness, shadow.; 💄 Learn more →
🗿 Contour: A cooler, greyer brown used to create shadows and sculpt - under cheekbones, along the jaw, sides of the nose.; 💄 Learn more →
🦇 Cool, dark, quiet: The ideal sleep cave. An eye mask, earplugs, blackout curtains or a fan can help if you share a space or live somewhere noisy.; 🌷 Learn more →
🎀 Coquette: Romantic and flirty - bows, lace, ribbons, pink and cream, vintage-inspired femininity.; 💗 Learn more →
🌼 Cottagecore: Romanticised countryside life - floral prairie dresses, baking, gardens, linen and lace.; 💗 Learn more →
☁️ Cotton: A natural plant fibre. Breathable, soft, easy to wash. Wrinkles a bit. An everyday hero - tees, shirts, summer dresses.; 👗 Learn more →
🎚️ Coverage: How much a product hides. Sheer = barely-there, medium = evens most things, full = hides almost everything (including shadow and tattoos).; 💄 Learn more →
🎨 Creative rest: Letting beauty fill you back up (music, nature, art, a gorgeous film) without having to make anything yourself.; 🌷 Learn more →
🌙 Cuticle: The thin layer of skin at the base of the nail that seals and protects it. Push it back gently - don't cut it.; 💅 Learn more →
💧 Cuticle oil: Nourishing oil massaged into the cuticle and nail daily to prevent dryness, hangnails and brittle nails.; 💅 Learn more →

D

👟 Daily Incline Walking: Walking at a 3–6% incline burns calories without generating muscle-wasting cortisol or stimulating appetite like high-impact sprints can.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →
📚 Dark academia: Moody, scholarly style - tweed, plaid skirts, loafers, turtlenecks, old libraries.; 💗 Learn more →
🌷 Daytime / garden party: Dress code: pretty day dresses, florals, pastels and midi lengths. Block heels or wedges sink less into grass than stilettos!; 👗 Learn more →
👖 Denim: A sturdy cotton twill, usually blue. Rigid denim softens over time; stretch denim (with elastane) hugs from day one.; 👗 Learn more →
🫁 Diaphragmatic Ribcage Expansion: Breathing into the lower ribs and back rather than shallow chest-breathing improves posture and prevents rib flaring.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →

E

🤸 Elastane (Lycra / spandex): A stretchy fibre added in small amounts (2–5%) for give and comfort. Great for fitted styles and broad shoulders. Avoid high heat in the dryer.; 👗 Learn more →

F

🌸 Femme: A feminine presentation or identity; historically a lesbian term, now used more broadly.; 💗 Learn more →
🍷 Femme fatale: A classic archetype - the mysterious, seductive woman of film noir. Red lips, smoky eyes.; 💗 Learn more →
🎀 Femmephobia: Looking down on femininity itself, treating pink, makeup, softness or "girly" interests as silly or weak. Lots of feminists argue femininity deserves respect, whoever expresses it.; 📚 Learn more →
✨ Finish: How a product looks on the skin. Matte = no shine, satin = soft natural sheen, dewy = glowy, radiant.; 💄 Learn more →
🗳️ First wave (c. 1840s–1920s): Focused on legal basics, especially the right to vote, to own property, and to get an education. Think suffragists and suffragettes.; 📚 Learn more →
🌊 Flooding: When polish runs onto the cuticles or skin. Fix it with a small brush dipped in remover before it dries.; 💅 Learn more →
💐 Floral & Botanical Profile: Romantic, uplifting notes of peony, gardenia, iris, and lily. Wonderful for powder rooms, vanities, and morning sunlight.; 🏡 Learn more →
🧶 Follow the "free information": People drop hints you can pick up. "I'm wrecked, I was at a gig last night." → "Ooh, who did you see?" Listening for these makes conversation easy.; 💬 Learn more →
🫙 Foundation: A base that evens out your overall skin tone. Comes in sheer, medium or full coverage and matte, satin or dewy finishes.; 💄 Learn more →
📱 Fourth wave (c. 2010s–now): Feminism organised online, through social media and hashtags. Big themes are harassment, consent, body positivity and inclusion of trans and non-binary people.; 📚 Learn more →
🌸 Fragrance / parfum: Added scent, including 'natural' essential oils. A common cause of irritation, especially on sensitive or freshly shaved skin.; 🧴 Learn more →
🤍 French manicure: Natural pink or nude nails with a white tip. Classic, clean and elegant. Modern versions use coloured tips.; 💅 Learn more →

G

🩹 Gel Metatarsal Cushion Inserts: Small silicone pads placed under the ball of the foot inside heeled shoes that absorb impact and prevent burning nerve sensation.; 💼 Learn more →
💡 Gel polish: Polish that hardens under a UV/LED lamp. Shiny and chip-free for 2–3 weeks; must be soaked off, never peeled.; 💅 Learn more →
🧀 Girl dinner: A low-effort, snacky meal (cheese, crackers, grapes, pickles) - a joke celebrating not cooking.; 💗 Learn more →
🎁 Give a little extra in your answers: Instead of "Fine", try "Good! I finally tried that new ramen place." Extra detail gives the other person something to grab onto.; 💬 Learn more →
💎 Glass (crystal) file: A fine, long-lasting nail file that seals the nail edge and prevents peeling. Washable and great value.; 💅 Learn more →
✨ Glow-up: A transformation over time - getting more confident, healthy or polished. Usually celebrated!; 💗 Learn more →
🥐 Gourmand Fragrance Profile: Warm, edible-inspired comfort notes like salted caramel, sweet almond, toasted vanilla, and cocoa. Ideal for cosy living rooms and kitchens.; 🏡 Learn more →

H

🌸 Heart (Middle) Notes: The core character of the fragrance (jasmine, rose, lavender, neroli) that emerges after top notes fade and lasts for hours.; 🏡 Learn more →
👣 Heel Grip Pads: Adhesive suede or foam strips attached inside the shoe counter to prevent slippage and blisters if shoes are slightly loose.; 💼 Learn more →
💎 Highlighter: A shimmery product for the high points (tops of cheekbones, brow bone, cupid's bow) to catch the light.; 💄 Learn more →
💧 Humectant: An ingredient that draws water into the skin, like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Think: a tiny sponge.; 🧴 Learn more →
💖 Hyperfeminine: Femininity turned all the way up - pink, frills, glitter, bows, full glam. Proudly "too much".; 💗 Learn more →
🏋️‍♀️ Hypertrophy Rep Range for Glutes: 8 to 15 reps taken within 1–2 reps of technical failure provides the ideal balance of mechanical tension and metabolic stress for muscle growth.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →

I

📅 Infill: A salon appointment to fill the gap that appears at the base of gels or acrylics as your nail grows, usually every 2–3 weeks.; 💅 Learn more →
🔗 Intersectionality: A term coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. Different kinds of discrimination (sexism, racism, transphobia, ableism…) overlap, so a Black trans woman faces more than any one of them alone.; 📚 Learn more →

J

👕 Jersey: A soft knit fabric (like a T-shirt) that stretches and drapes. Comfortable and forgiving, but thin jersey can cling and show every line.; 👗 Learn more →

L

🪵 Leather Stretching Spray & Wooden Trees: A quick way to ease tight toe boxes or pinch points across the widest part of leather work shoes before your first wear.; 💼 Learn more →
👁️ Lid, crease and brow bone: The three zones of eyeshadow. Lid = moving part above the lashes. Crease = the fold. Brow bone = just under the brow.; 💄 Learn more →
🧵 Lined: A garment with an inner layer of fabric. Linings help things hang smoothly, stop sheer fabrics being see-through and feel nicer on skin.; 👗 Learn more →
🌾 Linen: Made from flax. Super cool and breathable - the queen of Aussie summers. Creases easily, and that relaxed rumple is part of the charm.; 👗 Learn more →
💋 Lip liner: A pencil to define or slightly reshape the lip edge and stop lipstick bleeding. Match it to your lips or your lipstick.; 💄 Learn more →

M

🎬 Main character energy: Living like you're the star of your own film - confident, romanticising everyday life.; 💗 Learn more →
🪞 Mirroring energy: If they're bubbly, you can be bubbly. If they're calm and quiet, slow down a little. Matching someone's energy helps them feel comfortable with you.; 💬 Learn more →
🧴 Moisturiser: Keeps water in your skin and supports your barrier. Gel-creams feel light (great for oily skin); thicker creams suit dry skin.; 🧴 Learn more →
🌅 Morning light: Getting daylight on your face soon after waking (even through a cloudy sky) helps set your body clock so you feel sleepier at night.; 🌷 Learn more →
🛌 Muscle Recovery Windows: Glutes require 48 to 72 hours of rest between intense sessions to repair muscle micro-tears and build new tissue.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →

N

🌸 Nail art: Anything decorative - dots, lines, chrome, stickers, gems, florals. Stickers and stamping kits make it easy for beginners.; 💅 Learn more →
✨ Niacinamide: Vitamin B3. A gentle multitasker that can help with oiliness, redness and uneven tone. Usually well tolerated.; 🧴 Learn more →
🕳️ Non-comedogenic: Formulated not to clog pores. Helpful hint, not a legal guarantee.; 🧴 Learn more →
🌙 Not in the mood to chat: It's fine to keep it brief and kind: a smile and "Ha, yes! Have a lovely day." You don't owe anyone a long conversation.; 💬 Learn more →

O

🛡️ Occlusive: A layer that seals moisture in, like petrolatum (Vaseline), shea butter or dimethicone. Brilliant for dry patches, lips and cracked heels.; 🧴 Learn more →
🤍 Old money / quiet luxury: Understated, expensive-looking style - neutral tones, tailoring, cashmere, minimal logos.; 💗 Learn more →
🔓 Open vs closed questions: Closed: "Good weekend?" → "Yeah." Open: "What did you get up to on the weekend?" → a story. Open questions start with what, how, tell me about...; 💬 Learn more →

P

🩹 Patch test: Trying a small amount of a new product on a hidden patch of skin for a few days before using it all over, to check for a reaction.; 🧴 Learn more →
🌸 Pelvic Floor Connection: Gently lifting the pelvic floor at the start of a core exercise co-activates the deep lower transverse abdominis for a flat lower belly.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →
🐾 Pet-Safe Fragrance Considerations: Certain essential oils (tea tree, eucalyptus, citrus, peppermint) can be toxic to cats and dogs if diffused in enclosed spaces. Always check pet safety.; 🏡 Learn more →
⚖️ Physical vs chemical sunscreen: Mineral (physical) filters like zinc oxide sit on top and can leave a white cast; chemical filters absorb UV and often feel lighter. Both work - wear the one you'll use daily.; 🧴 Learn more →
✨ Pointed Toe Elongation Illusion: A slightly pointed or tapered toe optically elongates the leg line under wide-leg trousers, even when wearing completely flat shoes.; 💼 Learn more →
🧪 Polyester: A synthetic (plastic-based) fibre. Cheap, tough, doesn't wrinkle, dries fast, but doesn't breathe well, so it can feel sweaty in heat.; 👗 Learn more →
🧥 Ponte: A thick, stable double-knit with stretch. Smooths and holds its shape - brilliant for work pants, pencil skirts and fitted dresses.; 👗 Learn more →
🎯 Posterior Pelvic Tilt at Lockout: Tucking the tailbone slightly under and squeezing glutes at the top of hip thrusts prevents lumbar hyperextension and back pain.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →
😴 Power nap: A short nap of around 10–20 minutes, ideally early afternoon, can refresh you without leaving you groggy or messing up your night.; 🌷 Learn more →
🎁 Press-ons: Pre-made false nails applied with glue or sticky tabs. Affordable, reusable (with tabs), and great for trying length.; 💅 Learn more →
🧴 Primer: A smoothing layer that goes on after moisturiser and before base. Helps makeup grip, blur pores or control oil. Optional - good skincare often does the job.; 💄 Learn more →
🌋 Purging: A temporary breakout in your usual spots when starting an exfoliant or retinoid. Irritation in new places, burning or rash is not purging - stop and reassess.; 🧴 Learn more →

R

🎋 Reed Diffusers vs Scented Candles: Reeds provide safe, continuous flame-free baseline fragrance for hallways and bedrooms; candles provide active evening warmth and ambiance.; 🏡 Learn more →
🏷️ Remember names: Repeat it straight away ("Lovely to meet you, Priya") and use it once more before you part. If you forget, "Sorry, remind me of your name?" is totally normal.; 💬 Learn more →
🛋️ Rest ≠ sleep: Rest is anything that lets you recharge - sitting in the sun, a slow bath, a quiet cup of tea, an afternoon with no plans. You need rest while awake too.; 🌷 Learn more →
🌙 Retinoids (retinol, retinal, adapalene): Vitamin A relatives that speed up cell turnover. Powerful for breakouts and fine lines but can irritate - start slowly, at night, and always wear sunscreen.; 🧴 Learn more →
〰️ Ridge filler: A thicker base coat that smooths out lines and ridges in the nail for a smoother finish.; 💅 Learn more →
🕯️ Romanticise your life: Making ordinary moments feel special - a candle with your tea, a nice outfit for errands.; 💗 Learn more →
🔄 Rotating Pairs: Alternating two pairs of work shoes day-to-day allows leather to dry out from foot perspiration, extending shoe life and hygiene.; 💼 Learn more →

S

✨ Satin: A weave, not a fibre! A glossy-faced fabric that can be made from silk, polyester or viscose. Polyester satin gives the silk look on a budget.; 👗 Learn more →
📱 Screens in bed: Scrolling keeps your brain alert and the light can delay sleepiness. Try charging your phone across the room and using a real alarm clock.; 🌷 Learn more →
✊ Second wave (c. 1960s–1980s): Moved on to work, pay, family, sexuality and everyday sexism. Slogan - "the personal is political". Key books include Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique (1963) and Australian Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch (1970).; 📚 Learn more →
🎧 Sensory rest: Turning down the input (lights off, headphones out, no screens) for a few minutes when the world feels too loud.; 🌷 Learn more →
☁️ Setting powder: A fine powder pressed lightly over base to stop it creasing, sliding or getting shiny. Translucent versions suit almost everyone.; 💄 Learn more →
🌫️ Setting spray: A mist sprayed over finished makeup to help it last and melt powders into the skin so they look less "powdery".; 💄 Learn more →
🪷 Silk: A luxurious natural protein fibre with a soft sheen and beautiful drape. Delicate - hand wash or dry-clean, and it marks with water and sweat.; 👗 Learn more →
🎀 Silk or satin pillowcase: A pretty little upgrade that's gentler on hair and skin. Affordable satin ones from department stores, supermarkets or online do the job beautifully.; 🌷 Learn more →
🧱 Skin barrier: The outermost layer of skin that keeps water in and irritants out. Signs it's unhappy: stinging, tightness, redness, flaking.; 🧴 Learn more →
💧 Skin tint / tinted moisturiser: Very sheer base that evens skin slightly while letting freckles and texture show. The most forgiving place to start.; 💄 Learn more →
👑 Slay: To do something brilliantly, especially look amazing. "You absolutely slayed that outfit."; 💗 Learn more →
🛏️ Sleep hygiene: The everyday habits and bedroom set-up that make good sleep more likely - regular times, a dark cool room, winding down before bed.; 🌷 Learn more →
👡 Slingback Pumps: A pointed or almond toe with an open heel strap. Offers the formality of a pump with superior breathability and less blister risk at the back of the heel.; 💼 Learn more →
💼 Small talk at work: Weekend plans, the coffee machine, a show everyone's watching, the commute. Keep it light, ask about them, and remember details for next time.; 💬 Learn more →
👚 Smart casual: Dress code: a step up from everyday - nice jeans or trousers with a blouse or knit, a casual dress, flats, loafers, ankle boots or clean sneakers.; 👗 Learn more →
🫂 Social rest: Time with people who don't drain you (or time alone) after a lot of performing, masking or small talk.; 🌷 Learn more →
🧸 Soft girl: An aesthetic of pastels, blush, hair clips, cute accessories and a sweet, gentle vibe.; 💗 Learn more →
☀️ SPF: Sun Protection Factor - how well a sunscreen blocks UVB (the burning rays). In Australia, SPF 50+ is the highest rating and the everyday recommendation.; 🧴 Learn more →
🌬️ Stomach Vacuum Technique: Exhaling all air completely, then drawing the navel up and back toward the spine without breathing in, holding for 10–20 seconds to train TVA endurance.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →
📣 Suffragist vs suffragette: Suffragists campaigned for the vote through peaceful, legal means. Suffragettes (Emmeline Pankhurst's WSPU in Britain) used direct action like protests, window-smashing and hunger strikes.; 📚 Learn more →

T

🌊 The "waves" of feminism: A rough way of dividing feminist history into eras. The idea took off after a 1968 article called "The Second Feminist Wave". Real history is messier, and the waves overlap.; 📚 Learn more →
🔄 The 20-minute rule: If you've been lying awake for ages, get up, do something calm in dim light, and go back to bed when you feel sleepy. Your bed stays linked with sleep, not stress.; 🌷 Learn more →
👟 The Commute Sneaker Swap: A classic city ritual: wearing supportive trainers or sneakers during the train/walk commute, then slipping into work shoes under your desk.; 💼 Learn more →
☕ The easiest opener: comment on what you share: Talk about the place or moment you're both in. "This queue is wild!", "Have you been to this café before?", "I love your dog - what's her name?"; 💬 Learn more →
🗺️ The F.O.R.D. topics: A handy memory trick for safe topics: Family, Occupation (work/study), Recreation (hobbies), Dreams (plans, travel). Swap any you find personal, not everyone loves talking family.; 💬 Learn more →
👋 The graceful exit: End warmly and with a reason: "I'm going to grab another drink, so lovely chatting!" or "I'd better find my friend, but let's catch up again!"; 💬 Learn more →
🎬 The male gaze: A term from film critic Laura Mulvey (1975). It describes how films often show women the way a heterosexual man would look at them. Handy for thinking about the media you watch.; 📚 Learn more →
💎 The sincere compliment opener: Compliment a choice, not a body: "Your earrings are gorgeous, where are they from?" The question at the end hands them an easy way to keep chatting.; 💬 Learn more →
⏳ The Waist-to-Hip Ratio Illusion: Widening the lateral gluteus medius and upper lats creates an optical illusion that makes the natural waistline appear significantly smaller.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →
💄 Third wave (c. 1990s–2000s): Embraced diversity, individuality and reclaiming femininity, lipstick and "girl power". Think riot grrrl bands, zines and the idea that feminism can wear glitter.; 📚 Learn more →
✏️ Tightlining: Pencil liner pressed into the upper lash line (between the lashes) for definition without a visible line.; 💄 Learn more →
✨ Top coat: A clear final layer that adds shine, protects the colour and helps prevent chips. Reapply every few days to refresh.; 💅 Learn more →
🍋 Top Notes in home fragrance: The initial, light scent burst (citrus, eucalyptus, bergamot) that evaporates within 15–30 minutes to freshen the air quickly.; 🏡 Learn more →
🚧 Topics to tread carefully around with new people: Money, weight and bodies, religion, politics, someone's medical history or transition, and whether someone has (or wants) kids. Let them bring these up if they want to.; 💬 Learn more →
🏳️‍⚧️ Transfeminism: Feminism by and for trans women (and all trans people). It argues that trans women's liberation is part of women's liberation, and that sexism and transphobia are deeply linked.; 📚 Learn more →
🛡️ Transmisogyny: The particular mix of transphobia and misogyny aimed at trans women and transfeminine people. Writer Julia Serano popularised the term in her 2007 book Whipping Girl.; 📚 Learn more →
🩱 Transverse Abdominis (TVA): The deepest layer of abdominal muscle that wraps around your torso horizontally like an anatomical corset, holding internal organs in and narrowing the waist.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →

U

🌡️ Undertone: The subtle colour beneath your skin's surface - cool (pink/blue), warm (yellow/golden), neutral, or olive (greenish). Matters more than how light or dark you are.; 💄 Learn more →

V

🌳 Viscose / rayon: Made from wood pulp. Soft, drapey and cool, like a cheaper silk. Can shrink or weaken when wet - wash cool and gently.; 👗 Learn more →
🍊 Vitamin C: An antioxidant serum used in the morning under sunscreen to help with brightness and dark spots. Some forms are unstable and go orange when old.; 🧴 Learn more →

W

🌧️ Weatherproofing Leather & Suede: Applying a hydrophobic barrier spray before rainy commutes prevents water staining and salt marks on expensive footwear.; 💼 Learn more →
🤫 What if there's a silence: Short pauses are normal, not failure! Take a sip, smile, or loop back: "So you said you'd just got back from Bali - how was it?"; 💬 Learn more →
🕯️ What is 'scentscaping': Using distinct fragrance profiles in different zones of your home to signal work, creativity, socialising, or deep sleep.; 🏡 Learn more →
⏳ What is candle 'tunneling' and how do you prevent it: When wax burns down the centre leaving hard outer walls. Prevent it by letting the wax melt completely to the edges on the very first burn.; 🏡 Learn more →
🩺 When to see a doctor: If you're often exhausted despite enough time in bed, snore loudly, or struggle to sleep for weeks, talk to a GP - sleep problems are common and treatable.; 🌷 Learn more →
⚠️ Why avoid heavy weighted side-bends: Heavy lateral dumbbell bends stimulate muscle hypertrophy in the external obliques, which thickens the side waist and squares off an hourglass taper.; 🧘‍♀️ Learn more →
🌱 Why bother with small talk: It's how strangers test the waters and build trust. "Nice weather" really means "I'm friendly and safe to talk to." Big friendships often start with tiny chats.; 💬 Learn more →
✂️ Why trim candle wicks to 5mm before every burn: Trimming prevents mushroomed carbon tips, excessive black soot, flare-ups, and uneven burning across the wax pool.; 🏡 Learn more →
🌙 Wind-down hour: The last 30–60 minutes before bed spent doing calm, low-light things - skincare, reading, stretching, a warm shower.; 🌷 Learn more →
🪽 Winged liner / flick: Eyeliner that extends past the outer corner in a small upward flick. Lifts and elongates the eye.; 💄 Learn more →
🐑 Wool & merino: Warm, breathable and naturally odour-resistant. Merino is fine and soft enough to wear next to skin. Wash gently and lay flat to dry.; 👗 Learn more →

Y

🦋 Y2K: Early-2000s revival - low-rise jeans, butterfly clips, baby tees, glossy lips, rhinestones.; 💗 Learn more →