Splash a little lukewarm water on your face, and use a soft and clean cloth to gently scrub it. You may also use some facial soap, whichever you prefer or is best for your skin. This can be whatever you have on hand - just make sure it is creamy in texture. use both hands to mix the cleansing cream and sugar together, creating a gritty paste.  Use a fine grained sugar, rather than course or turbinado sugar. Larger grains can scratch your face.  If you want to make extra scrub for later, mix the cleansing cream and the sugar in a bowl, adding the right amount of both ingredients to create a gritty texture. Place the mixture in a jar with a lid, and store on your bathroom shelf for next time. pay close attention to the side of the nose and any little lines or dry spots. Be careful around the eyes. If you get a little scrub in your eyes, just flush with water. Lean over the sink and start removing the scrub from your face, wetting the washcloth again as needed. This closes your pores and freshens your face. Dry with a soft towel.
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One-sentence summary -- Wash your face thoroughly. Put about a teaspoon of cleansing cream in the palm of your hand. Pour 2 teaspoons of sugar over the cleansing cream. Apply the mixture to your face in a circular motion. Wet a washcloth with lukewarm water. Finish by splashing your face with cold water.


Poor visibility is extremely dangerous while driving, especially in winter, so it's important to ensure that your windshield wipers are in good working condition.  Old blades are prone to cracking, tearing or simply not working when faced with the icy precipitation that's beating against your windshield. Examine yours to see whether the rubber is cracked or frayed, and keep in mind that wiper blades are supposed to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. You could also consider buying wiper blades specifically designed for winter weather.  Fill the windshield washer reservoir with fresh washer fluid. Some washer fluids have a defroster additive and a lower freezing temperature,  making them a good choice for the cold winter months. Maintaining the correct tire pressure for your vehicle is very important during the winter months. Deflated tires have decreased traction, making them more prone to slipping on icy surfaces.  Keep in mind that your tire pressure will be affected by the decrease in temperature — in fact, for every 10 degree F drop in temperature, the air pressure in your tires will be reduced by about 1 PSI. Therefore, it's important to keep an eye on your tires throughout the winter months.  Use a tire gauge to see if your tires meet the standards set for your vehicle. If you're not familiar with the proper level for your vehicle, check the inside edge of your driver's side door frame. There should be a sticker there that indicates several things, including suggested tire pressure.  If you do not have a tire gauge, you can usually find one at your local gas station, where you can also fill your tires with air. This is usually free or costs very little. While checking the air pressure, it's also important to check how your tires are wearing. If they need replacing or rotating, do this before winter weather hits. A waxed surface repels snow, dirt and salt better than a non-waxed one. It will help your car look better and protect the paint.  Before you apply the wax, make sure to give the car a thorough wash. Don't forget to rinse the underside of the car to remove any sand or salt residue. Try to wax the car before the first snowfall hits, or before the temperature drops below 55 °F (13 °C). This will protect the paint, while also making any snow or ice easier to brush off. While you're at it, now is a good time to clean the inside of your car. Remove any clutter, vacuum the floor and seats and use an upholstery cleaner if necessary. You may also want to replace the carpeted floor mats with some water-resistant ones, to protect your floors from melted ice and snow. As mentioned above, having good visibility is very important, especially on the dark winter evening.  However, it's not only important that you can see, it's also imperative that you can be seen. This is why ensuring that your lights are in proper working order is essential. Get somebody to help you do a visual check on all of the exterior lights on your car — including your headlights, taillights, backup lights and signal lights (including hazards and brake lights). You should also be aware that the lights will be greater burden on your vehicle's electrical system in the winter, due to shorter and darker days. You'll need to take this into consideration when testing your battery.
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One-sentence summary -- Replace your windshield wipers and wiper fluid. Check the tire pressure on all of your tires. Give your car a good coat of wax before winter weather arrives. Make sure your lights are working.


When you're an undergrad or even a master's student, your primary focus is on taking classes and learning from your professors. While you'll still likely have some required courses as a PhD candidate, the focus is placed on you developing your own research. You're producing the content instead of merely consuming it. If you're not sure exactly what you want to research as a PhD candidate, it can make sense to take a break after your undergraduate or master's program. Of course, you don't want to wait too long, but you can take a year to figure out the direction you want to go in. Take the time to gain some experience. Apply for lab positions so you can get a feel for what it's like to do research in a lab full time. If you're still in undergrad, try taking classes in topics that interest you or in topics you haven't explored yet. When you come across things that you find interesting, dive deeper. Read more outside of class to see if that could become your PhD focus. Often, your "original" research may just be something you work on under the direction of a professor. That is, you may be assigned your research work and perform the research with guidance from the professor. Choosing a school with professors whose research you enjoy is a great way to focus your work. As your work gets more individual, you want to work with professors who have similar interests. Check out the requirements for each program on the school's website. Every department has different requirements for who they admit to their program. The earlier you understand what they will be looking for in different schools, the higher your chances will be to prepare a great application. Often, you'll need to have a certain level of knowledge in the fields of mechanics, electromagnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and advanced calculus.  Submit all the appropriate paperwork for your application, including your transcripts, academic references, and your basic application.  In many cases, you'll need to write a personal statement or research proposal, as well.
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One-sentence summary --
Make the mental switch to research. Take a break if you need to. Do some research into topics you love. Learn about professors in PhD programs. Apply to a PhD program.