Xplode Magazine | Issue 16 | Spring/Summer 18

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HEALTH Anxiety Advice

Issue 16

FASHION

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BRAVE THE CHILL

CULTURE The Bucket List

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up an

Supported by

XPLODEMAG.CO.UK

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Credits Team

Saeed Atcha Chloe Bennett Ed Jankowski Saimah Malji Khalil Malji Adam Toorawa Lydia German Kasey Smith Mo Jiva Ambreen Memon Aliyah Khan Chloe Wilson Shabih Syed Zahra Khan Sabrina Burton Alisha Zahid Kajol Patel Amaan Memon Sufyaan Mahmood Isabel Brennand Abeer Abdulaziz Jolene Wong Clara Jarvis Kieran Sehmi Owen Povah Paige Latham Tibby Hussain Sophie Howarth

With special thanks to

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mr. Warren Smith

Contact Xplode Magazine Xplode Magazine The Bolton Hub, Bold Street Bolton, BL1 1LS

E: info@xplodemag.co.uk T: 01204 546 081

Search ‘Xplode Mag’ on Socials Disclaimer: Xplode Magazine Bolton, Registered Charity 1155789 strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information. If you have seen any mistakes or anything you are not happy with then please e-mail us: info@xplodemag.co.uk All information is correct at the time of print and any unauthorised copying or reproducing of Xplode Magazine’s content will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Xplode Magazine 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Magazine Welcome...

We give you the opportunities, information and guidance to better your chances in life. We have trained young people in media and business skills and have given them the opportunity to showcase their writing, photography and management skills in this magazine.

We’re not just a magazine either - we train young people across the UK in how to get jobs. From searching for a job to smashing the interview, we’re there every step of the way.

Because of this, we’re a registered charity helping thousands of young people aged 14-22 across the UK.

All of our volunteers take pride in what they do and we are so proud to have been recognised

by Her Majesty The Queen who gave us an award for what we do!

To learn more, go to xplode.co.uk Enjoy the magazine!

S. Atcha Saeed Atcha Chief Executive

Since issue 15...

Xchange

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2018’s top films

The Xplode team on an Xchange trip in Edinburgh.

Your voice

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The truth about Anxiety

Xplode became the Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority’s official media partner.

800

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How To: Contour

16

The ‘P’ word

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Help the homeless

Xplode engaged with 800 young people to help boost their employability prospects.

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Applying to Uni

Billie Eilish

Vogue

Meet Billie Eilish, an incredible talent way beyond her 16 years and as unique as her full name: Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell.

Yes, that’s right – Pirate! Billie comes across as a singer that’s self-assured with the soul of an old-fashioned artist who realises the importance of lyrics and the messages behind them.

Her love for dark pop songs was triggered when her dance instructor asked her to produce a song for their class.

She teamed up with her brother Finneas and the pair produced ‘Ocean Eyes’, a serene track which describes falling in love as falling off a cliff, surrounded by a warlike intensity – a message that wouldn’t cross the mind of many 14-year-olds. She stumbled into success after she posted the song on Soundcloud Sam Fender is equally as unique in a world full of artists that write love songs!

Sam’s lyrics instead focus on the rise of fake news and surveillance.

His music was recorded in his garden shed, which may have

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so her instructor could listen to it but she woke up with lots of emails about her music career, including Apple Music Presenter Zane Lowe describing her as “absolutely incredible”. She’s been compared to Lana Del Ray and Lorde so it will be interesting to see whether Billie can make a success of breaking into mainstream pop. Either way, Billie Eilish is definitely a name to remember and one to watch in 2018.

Sam Fender been as unkempt as his raw and gritty vocals, but they can still rival other mainstream indie artists.

The 21-year-old released his debut single, ‘Play God’, earlier this year and it is a powerful and captivating song which describes a dystopian world where “no matter who you are or where you been he is watching from the screen.” Make sure you keep an eye on this rising star!

By Chloe Bennett

Poetry/ Make Your/ Fantasies/ Come Alive.

By Tibby Hussain

‘Rhythm And Poetry’.

Open mic nights are more common today, and people take to the microphone to share their experiences through poetry. The City of Manchester is one of the top spaces where poetry is praised, and a high volume of young people are confident to take on the stage.

Poetry brought us all together after the horrible Manchester If we could return to the Attack last May and era of Shakespeare to relive his Tony Walsh’s ‘This fantasies, would we be missing is the out on today’s uplifting rhythm Place’ with poetry? became Scribed art has become vocal art, and it is more vivid than a symbol of defiance ever. However, romance is dead, in such or to say the least, the fantasy testing of young love emerging through times. poetry has been reduced and become something more.

Where is this vocal art? At the touch of your very fingers and the closet range of your ears.

Every rap artist you hear, every quote you read, there is emotion attached and that’s all poetry. But that’s not all, words have turned to wisdom once emotion is attached and are more powerful when they touch your ears.

Stretch Poetry has been used for yourself, maybe years, potentially being a cloud get involved in poetry to fall back on during mass or something else that brings your events such as the war. Now it confidence to the table. Play the has become war. It has become cards right and find that smile the battle to our eyes and ears; become more and more stable. it’s jaw-dropping.

Admire beauty through your Spoken word artists, MCs talents, and you’ll find you have and Rappers. Let’s reduce these something that no one could ever to a simpler, more eloquent term take from you.

- Poets. Rap, after all, stands for

Photography by TheApeNinja

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5

rap artists you need to turn up!

Here’s Xplode’s list of lesser-known artists whose music brought a new and unique sound to last year, especially within the rap and hip-hop industries.

By Mo Jiva

J.I.D Atlanta born, Destin Route is known as J.I.D and was recently signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville Records. His debut album ‘The Never Story’ is one of the most underrated albums of 2017. Everything from the flow, to the lyrics, is one of a hip-hop legend.

Jalen Santoy

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Jalen combines a steady flow with thoughtful lyrics featured in his debut album ‘Charlie Eastern’ – it was named after the rap group founded by his late cousin who was a victim of police brutality.

Santoy mixes jazz with hiphop with tunes such as CP3.

Jalen Santoy certainly has potential!

EarthGang EarthGang are a twosome formed by Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot and most certainly bring a brand-new style seen in their two new EPs, Rags and Robots. The pair, which are often compared to OutKast, and are one of the best-emerging lyricists in the game.

C5 This Oakland, USA based rapper is an original hip-hop artist and entrepreneur. His modern take on 90s hip-hop reminds everyone you can be successful without talking about money, women and drugs. Likened to Drake, J. Cole and Kanye West, C5’s music contains positive messages and optimism.

6lack 6lack has had one of the most difficult paths to fame, struggling with homelessness. Eventually, his R&B/hip-hop style landed him a deal with Interscope Records.

His first album ‘Free 6lack’ focuses on relationships from the heartbreak to the deeply personal experiences.

2018’s

top films

There were tonnes of great films in 2017, like Dunkirk, Blade Runner and Baby Driver. But what are the most anticipated movies to get hyped for going into 2018?

Out now, the big one for any Marvel fan is Avengers: Infinity War. Everything that Marvel has released recently has been gold, and we’re all hoping for the same from this one. This will be the resolution to many of the recent films and after the trailer was released, fans were more excited than ever as it teased that the allstar cast will be back in action.

Pixar is one of the most loved studios in film, and their fans will be delighted as the team revisit one of their most beloved franchises: The Incredibles. Since the first film was released in 2004,

By Owen Povah

we have been patiently awaiting the sequel, and 14 years later it is finally coming. New and old audiences will hope it reaches the heights of the first film so they’ll be able to relive the memories all these years on.

Harry Potter fans will be rejoicing that the series is being expanded further with another spin-off, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Some were left a bit disappointed after the first Fantastic Beasts film, but the next one is set to put the franchise back on track, with several big-name stars involved, and J. K. Rowling is still in charge of the screenplay so it can’t go too wrong!

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4

top places

to visit as a student!

As students, most of us get a bit overwhelmed by all of the stress that we deal with and almost every one of us wants to escape.

Here is Xplode’s top 4 perfectly peaceful and reIaxing places you can travel to!

Budapest

Corsica

This European island break, just off the south of France attracts three million tourists to its shore every year. It is filled with varied landscapes, white-sand beaches, towering mountains and coastal cliffs - perfect for happy memories and the gram!

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The cosmopolitan city in Spain is known for its modern art and architecture.

It also includes many Roman archaeological sites. These activities can make your day unforgettable: Gaudí and Modernism tours, Excursion to Montjuïc, Historic el Raval and a swim in the Mediterranean.

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The capital city of Hungary is full of adventure. Many students spend their summer at the Szigetmusic festival. The pubs in ruins with their beautiful, underground atmosphere in hidden courtyards is what the city is famous for.

Tourist attractions such as the Parliament Building, Gellért Baths, Heroes’ Square, House of Terror attract many students every year.

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Morocco

The cultural capital of Morocco, Marrakech is home to many palaces, aesthetic mosques, gardens; as well as Jemaa el-Fna square and souk market. The former imperial city has a rich history and culture which is reflected in the landscape and sweetly spoken citizens. You mustn’t miss a trip to the high Atlas Mountains, with its incredible peaks and the stunning Sahara Desert.

By Abeer Abdulaziz

Decorate Your Way to Something Sweet How-to

Ingredients

1. Make the mix following the recipe on the box.

2. After taking your cakes out of the moulds, leave them upside down to cool.

3. Dust your surface with icing sugar and roll the icing into a ball and slowly roll it bigger, turning it every time, so the rolling pin doesn’t stick.

4. Put your cakes upside down together, so the base and top are flat, and fill the middle with icing sugar.

5. You may need some help from a friend for this step! Carefully pick up the icing and place it centrally on the cake. Slowly press down the sides from top to bottom.

6. Cut off the extra icing from the bottom, and pipe red/pink icing around the base.

7. Melt your chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Cut the tops off your strawberries and dip them in chocolate. Place them on top of the cake and enjoy!

1kg Ready to Roll White Icing Red/pink Piping Icing 1 box of Betty Crocker Red A bar of Milk Chocolate Velvet Cake Mix Strawberries

By Abeer Abdulaziz Isabel Brennand

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By Chloe Bennett Statistics show that at least one in six of us experience anxiety while growing up.

With increasing pressures from social media influencing self-esteem and confidence, to the pressure of doing well at school. Is it any wonder that more and more of us are struggling with mental health?

So, what is anxiety? Anxiety is that drop in your stomach, that panicky, nervous feeling you get when you’re having to deal with something unsettling such as an exam or your first day at work.

These feelings normally go away after the event has finished as anxiety is a completely natural feeling that allows you detect any danger and decide whether to fight it or flight it.

What causes anxiety?

The exact cause of anxiety isn’t known. There are many different explanations however from a biological point-of- view, some argue that your genes play a role in whether you develop anxiety. Research has found that you’re more likely to experience anxiety if someone in your family has also been diagnosed with it.

Other things that can influence your sensitivity include exposure to stressful events, having experienced depression and your personality.

Anxi

h e r e ’s t h

Some of the symptoms you might experience if you have anxiety are: If you have been diagnosed with anxiety you’ll find that these feelings may persist well after the situation has ended. This is when anxiety can be problematic, especially if it impacts your everyday life such as preventing you from socialising.

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 • Feeling panicky or nervous • Heart palpitations  • Feeling sick  • Shakiness  • Difficulty breathing You might also experience, psychological symptoms such as:  • Feeling down  • Restlessness  • Problems sleeping

Article supported by Bolton Council’s Public Health Department

It’s important to understand that even if you experience one or more of the above symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have anxiety. It’s important to speak to your GP about how you’re feeling.

The amount of anxiety and the situations where you experience the most anxiety can differ.

Because of this, there are different types of anxiety that young people can be diagnosed with.

you experience persistent and unexpected panic attacks. This can create a sense of fear that another attack will occur and so you might avoid situations that could induce an attack. :: Social Anxiety Disorder can make you feel anxious when exposed to unfamiliar people or when you’re open to criticism by others – this might make you worry that you’re embarrassing or humiliating yourself.

How is anxiety treated?

xiety

he truth.

Fact File

:: If you have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) you might often worry about general things which can affect your ability to cope with everyday tasks. :: If you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) you may experience recurrent thoughts or impulses which cause anxiety or distress, or engage in repetitive behaviours such as checking things through. :: Panic disorders are when

There are three approaches commonly used to treat anxiety: medication, psychological therapies and relaxation techniques. The type of treatment used will depend on you, there’s no “one size fits all” approach, and a combination of these approaches can be used. It’s important to talk to your GP as they’ll be able to properly diagnose your symptoms and offer the best treatment for you.

There are loads of ways to help improve your mental health, such as mindfulness, calming methods and putting aside time for yourself to relax. The most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone and there will always be someone there to give you a helping hand. For more information or help about mental health, visit youngminds.org.uk, a charity focused on improving mental health in young people.

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Get your Contour on 1

Use liquid concealer to highlight the under-eye area

3

5

Apply the product on the chin, under the cheekbones and down the nose

Begin to blend out with a beauty blender

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2

Apply darker concealer to the edges of the nose, side of cheekbones, top of the forehead and the chin.

4

6

Add setting powder

Blend using a blending brush and beauty blender

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tips for presentation perfection

By Jolene Wong

Being able to deliver a presentation effectively is an essential skill for everyone.

Imagine if your future employer asks you to present to the company’s clients and you have no experience? School presentations give you that experience so make the most of them, and here are some tips on how to do so.

Be clear Don’t fill your PowerPoint with just words!

Add some pictures to illustrate your point. Your audience isn’t here to read your speech on the screen; they are here to listen to you talk. If appropriate, add gifs, images or animation onto your PowerPoint slides that will help you get your message across.

Pace yourself

Understand the purpose of your presentation thoroughly and don’t go off topic! Keep your speech concise, so your audience still has enough attention span to listen to your entire talk.

Imagine your audience If you get really nervous, pretend all your audience are cabbages, or you can look above their heads as if you are making eye contact, when really, you’re not.

Maybe you speak too fast or tend to mumble at the end of a sentence. If you record yourself using your phone’s voice recorder and listen back to how you speak, you’ll be able to make corrections and if you’re feeling brave, perhaps get a friend to give you some feedback!

First and last impressions count

As long as you practice, you’ll be fine! Don’t worry if you mess up, I messed up my first school presentation and blanked out in front of my entire class. The most important thing to take away is that you learn from your mistakes.

Make sure you focus on your opening and closing statements, as the first and last things a person says are often the most remembered!

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Arctic

Monkeys

What to expect next?

It’s finally been confirmed that Arctic Monkeys are to release a sixth album. The boys have been on a break since the success of their ‘AM’ album which featured ‘Do I Wanna Know’ and ‘R U Mine’.

With the band having gone their separate ways what sound can we expect?

Will it be similar to The Last Shadow Puppets; album ‘Everything We’ve Come To Expect’, an amalgamation of Bowie meets Scott Walker? Arctic Monkeys a band that understood the youth. However, throughout the growth of Arctic Monkeys, Turner’s style along with sound has changed, from teen angst to a teddy boy in love, can you really predict their sound?

Or will Matt Helders have a say as he has been touring and working alongside the iconic Iggy

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Pop, as well as Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, who co-produced Arctic Monkeys; third studio album ‘Humbug’.

Many have been speculating who may feature on the album, such as Alexandra Saviour who has collabed with Turner to write ‘Miracle Aligner’ on the latest Puppet album and Turner has featured in Saviour’s ‘An Introduction’, a video promoting the release of ‘Belladonna of Sadness’ which shows their studio work.

The band’s bassist, Nick O’Malley, confirmed that the new album would be out in 2018 otherwise “if it isn’t we’ve got problems”. All this secrecy makes you wonder if it is truly worth all the anticipation, hopefully, it will be.

By Paige Latham

Think you’re addicted to your phone?

Complete this quiz to find out!

Are you a phone addict?

1. Where is your phone kept whilst you sleep?

2. How often do you let someone else use your phone?

A. On the other side of the room.

B. Right next to you, under your pillow.

C. In Another Room

A. I would let them sometimes.

B. I would never let someone else use my phone.

C. I don’t mind who uses my phone.

3. How long can you go without updating your social media?

A. I can go a good few hours.

B. Snapchat is literally life!

C. I’m not that bothered about updating it.

5. How quickly do you respond to a message?

A. I reply when I can.

B. I’m really quick at replying.

C. I reply whenever I use my phone.

4. How often do you charge your phone in a day?

A. Every 6-7 hours.

B. Every 3-4 hours.

C. When it runs out of charge.

6. Who do you message the most?

A. Family B. Friends C. Everyone - Family and friends

7. Do you often check out other people’s social media accounts?

8. I have to find out the latest gossip!

A. Sometimes.

B. Seriously... It’s all I do!

C. What’s the point of that?

A. I like to keep up to date, but I don’t really care.

B. That is definitely me.

C. Never.

A. Keep up the work! You have a minimum level of phone addiction.

B. You’re pretty bad when it comes to your phone!

- You can hardly live without it.

C. Awesome! You’re not an addict when it comes to mobile phones!

By Alisha Zahid

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‘Tampon’ - something often whispered or passed discreetly under tables. Given that periods are a natural bodily function experienced by half of the world’s population, you would think that it would be easier to talk about it.

The ‘P’ Word

I carried out a survey and found that 25% of those who responded felt uncomfortable discussing their periods with their mum and 69% felt self-conscious taking sanitary products out of their bag in public.

Nonetheless, the past year has seen a movement aiming to kickstart the conversation around periods – with Tesco reducing prices on products so that customers don’t pay the ‘tampon tax’.

In the wake of all of this, I caught up with Christina – organiser of ‘The Monthly Gift MCR’: What is ‘The Monthly Gift’ and what inspired you to create it?

The Monthly Gift is a campaign aiming to raise awareness of those in poverty being unable to afford sanitary products. It came about after a conversation I had with a male friend who thought that sanitary products were available on the NHS.

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When I told him they weren’t, he questioned: ‘What do homeless people do?’ That struck a nerve with me, so I participated in a week of raising awareness about the issue with homeless charity, The Mustard Tree, and at the end of the week, I thought, ‘Why stop now? It’s still an issue.’ So, The Monthly Gift was born.

Do you think The Monthly Gift is necessary because we rarely see homeless women or because periods are a taboo subject?

It’s a bit of both. There are different types of homelessness – such as sofa surfing – and women are likely to seek spaces

where they’re less visible. Periods aren’t openly discussed in society so people are more likely to donate food as it instantly comes to mind when you think of poverty.

Do you feel that The Monthly Gift has helped reduce the taboo surrounding periods?

Quite a lot of people tell me that they hadn’t thought about the issue before hearing about The Monthly Gift and now donate to their local charities. I held a recent competition for creative submissions about periods and people really opened up to me which was a nice change. I also receive emails from people as young as fourteen who want to get involved, which is heartening as I wasn’t aware of this issue at their age.

How can people donate to The Monthly Gift?

You can donate by dropping off products at Oklahoma in The Northern Quarter, if you go to Manchester or via The Monthly Gift GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/ themonthlygift Next time you’re buying your sanitary products, why not spare a thought for those less fortunate and buy an extra packet to donate?

By Sophie Howarth

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Top, Select, £8.99 Trousers, Boohoo, £20 Fishnet Socks, New Look, £2.99 Shoes, Schuh, £30 Choker, MissPap, £3 Bag, ASOS, £19.99

A fun outfit that you can dress up or down – perfect for meals out with friends or family.

Top, Primark, £4 Dress, Misguided, £15 Fishnet tights, New Look, £4.99 Shoes, Doc Martens, £95 Jacket, MissPap, £20 Earrings, New Look, £2.99

Model: Isabel Brenand

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For those slightly warmer days, layer up a cami dress with a plain white t-shirt and finish with a leather jacket for an effortless edgy look!

FASHION

LATE SPRING 2018

Model: Lydia German Photograph by Edward Jankowski Makeup by Tasnimah Taiyba Fashion Team Zahra Khan, Editor Jaimie Leigh Moses Megan Smith

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Top, New Look, £9.99 Scarf, Warehouse, £20 Skirt, Boohoo, £18 Bag, ASOS, £19.99 Shoes, ASOS, £20

Tired of wearing jeans? This classic denim skirt is a wardrobe staple, pair with tights and a bold scarf to stand out this winter.

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Shoes, Topman (Lacoste), £35 Jeans, Topman, £30 Top, Topman, £10 Hoodie, VICI, £30

Pink not your colour?

Swap it for this Khaki hoodie and white top combo creating the perfect casual winters outfit.

Model: Ryan Brennan

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Jumper, H&M, £24.99 Jeans, New Look, £15.99 Bag, ASOS (Stradivarius), £19.99 Shoes, ASOS, £20

You can’t go wrong with a classic jumper and jeans combo! Pair with pearl trainers for that xtra sparkle!

Tip: You can always get these outfits cheaper by using your student discount. Check out NUS and UNiDAYS for more info!

Model: Emily Metcalfe

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Model: Ryan Brennan Shoes, Topman (Lacoste), £35 Jeans, Topman, £40 Top, Topman, £16 Hoodie, VICI, £30

Stand out in this cool outfit perfect for hanging out with your mates at the weekend.

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Is it really

that hot?

Barcelona

Ounce - shimmer. A creamy white with pearly tones, use as an inner corner or brow highlight.

Chaser - matte. A flesh tone with a pink undertone, use all over the lid to add warmth.

Sauced - matte. A shade of orange with a red undertone, looks good buffed into the crease.

Low Blow - matte. A tanned shade with yellow undertones, use in the crease or all over the lid.

Scorched - shimmer. A rosy dark copper with slight purple undertones, use to brighten up a dark purple look.

Lumbre - shimmer. A rose gold, use on the base of the lid only or as an inner corner colour pop!

En Fuego - matte. A deep paprika shade with purple undertones, best used for dark looks.

He Devil - matte. A burnt red shade, buildable colour but only use if you know what you’re doing!

Dirty Talk - shimmer. A high shine copper with red undertones, looks good in the centre of the eyelid for a halo eye.

Cayenne - matte. A warm chocolate shade with a maroon undertone, blends well into the crease for depth.

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So, This is for all my makeup lovers out there! The Naked Heat Palette is the most recent addition to Urban Decay’s Naked collection. This palette follows the warm eye trend; it includes 12 colours that are inspired by reds, oranges and purples. There are seven matte colours and five shimmer shades, costing £39.50.

Ashes - matte. A rich aubergine shade, the darkest matte in the palette, however, doesn’t seemas dark on the eye.

Ember - shimmer. A duo-chrome plum and pink shade, best used in a dark look for extra texture.

I would definitely recommend this palette as it’s very pigmented and blends easily!

By Ambreen Memon

5

ways to stay fashionable

even when it’s cold

Spring - ha! It’s still freezing! How can you even begin to look fashionable when you’re covered head to toe in layers? Here are a few ways to make sure you’re as high-fashion as those summer days.

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Hair accessories. Add a Gothic bandana or velvet bobble to brighten up an outfit. If it’s particularly cold outside, why not wear a cute hat or ear muffs?

A trendy scarf.

Whether it’s leopard print, multi coloured or glittery, even if you’re dressed from black head to toe, a snazzy scarf will add a flicker of charm.

3 The shoes say it all.

Boots are a winter winner but why not add some colourful laces (or if you’re lucky enough, customise your own Doc Martens at their occasional events which you can find out more about on their website.).

4 Colour co-ordinate your layers. Grey top, black hoodie, burgundy jacket on top - why not?

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Rings. Adding statement rings or midi rings can add a bit more to your overall look.

Unless you’re wearing gloves of course (how do you use your phone?!)

So, here are just a few tips to brighten up your winter wardrobe, whilst banishing the cold!

By Lydia German

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Help the Homeless Homelessness is an image all too familiar in Manchester.

The scale is immense; with campaigners revealing that 3,292 people are currently surviving without a home in Greater Manchester.

As the number of rough sleepers becomes more evident, many people feel torn about how best to help. Giving a few pounds to someone on the street can actually fuel the problem, since some may be unsure about what this is spent on.

Rather, I have compiled a few ways to show simple acts of kindness that will really make a difference to someone this winter.

Spend a coffee For many coffee drinkers, a morning cup is a fixed expense we are willing to pay, so why not buy one for yourself and another for someone in need?

By ‘suspending’ a coffee, you’re

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in direct control over how your money is helping someone, and better yet, your money stays right in the community. This is about more than coffee; it can offer conversation, physical comfort and more importantly, a sense of belonging to someone.

This can be done at any Starbucks branch or certain independent cafes in Manchester (like Nexus Art Café on Dale Street, Northern Quarter or Coffee Cranks in Fallowfield).

If you’d like to find out if there are any near you, just visit the website!

The Real Junk Food Project Head down to 85 Oxford Road to the Real Junk Food Project.

Originating in Leeds, this café cooks with surplus food from places like Ocado in order to eradicate food waste with a Pay-As- You-Feel model. This

means customers pay what they can afford or feel that the meal was worth, with a new menu every day focused on health and nutrition.

The project aims to reduce the stigma of food banks, working to reduce the 15 million tonnes of food that the U.K. wastes each year. This place makes it incredibly worthwhile to buy a coffee or two for someone on the street.

Personally, I love their vision – ‘Feed bellies not bins!’

Get the ‘EasyFundraising’ App This app sounds too good to be true; it’s free and allows you to donate money while you shop for no extra price! Here’s how to do it: Register with the app Rather than going to the retailer’s website, log into ‘EasyFundraising’, click the retailer you want to shop with (there are over 3,000 businesses including Tesco, Amazon and Sainsbury’s amongst others) You’ll be redirected to their site where you shop normally Each time you make a purchase, commission from this is donated to your charity of choice

The app doesn’t save any personal details.

So far they’ve raised over £1.8 million, including £350,000 between January-June 2017.

Homelessness Fund The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham donates 15% of his salary every month to his homelessness fund which gives money to projects that support homeless people and those at risk of being homeless.

He wants our support to build specialised supported accommodation for young people with access to education, volunteering and employment opportunities. For more information head to https:// www.gofundme.com/GMMayoral-Fund

Have a chat ‘Give time not money’ We sometimes assume that we will not be able to help and so ignore these people sleeping rough. However, remember, these people are humans and deserve some acknowledgement. It can be difficult to think of things to say but this doesn’t have to be anything big, even some eye contact and a nod is a start.

Your effort will not go ignored.

By Kieran Sehmi

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When I say I’m a runner, there are usually two reactions.

One group starts an in-depth conversation about running gates, Garmin watches and injury stretches. And the others tell me they can’t run. Obviously, I prefer talking with the first group, but for those of you who would fall into the second bracket, I always say the same thing - yes you can.

Every Saturday morning, me and around 87,000 other runners across the UK find our way to our local parks to get the weekend off to a start. Parkrun is a free, community run. People of all ages and all abilities run whatever they can manage. You get fit and socialise with others all before 10am.

Parkrun: the running bug It’s everything you want it to be a race, a stroll or an opportunity to have a chat. And when you’re finished you can look forward to a nice coffee and a bacon buttie or a hot shower. I’ve grown up with Parkrun; I’ve seen every champion and hero that comes down every week. And if this isn’t enough for you all, if you turn up enough you can get free t-shirts, and everyone loves a freebie!

So next time you say “I can’t run” think about that 80-year old that smiles his way around on a cold winter’s morning or that four year old who chats her way around without letting go of her dad’s hand. You CAN run, and Parkrun proves it to us all.

To get involved in your local Parkrun head to parkrun.org.uk

By Clara Jarvis

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Social media has given rise to fake news.

We need to take action before it’s too late.

Since the turn of the century, there has been a social media explosion.

It has revolutionised the way we consume news and has been the driver of bloggers and alternative news websites.

We are now living in an era of ‘do-it- yourself’ journalism. While this has benefits, it also creates problems for us as consumers.

Because of the algorithms which social media platforms are built on, users are presented with news articles that adhere to their views and only receive tweets from their followers – creating an echo chamber where opinions go unchallenged - which in many cases can present a skewed view of the world.

With alleged reports of ‘Russian bots’ interfering with the Brexit debate and the US Elections on social media, winning an election can simply be down to who can shout loud enough rather than what is actually being proposed.

The expectation of everything at the click of a button has led to an underlying laziness where information rarely gets questioned.

In 2017, the number of Brits who said they trusted news outlets fell from an already low 36% in 2015 to 24%. The disturbance over ‘fake news’ has also added to this distrust.

The most popular source of news comes online according to the Reuters Digital News Report which also found that social media is as popular as print. If you were to look at the content of a newspaper online compared with the physical copy, you would notice that a lot of ’actual’ news is hidden by celebrity and wacky news items online. As more traditional news sources decline, we need to break free from our echo chambers. We need to question our own sources of information and biases.

By Kasey Smith

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Applying to Uni - My Experience

By Amaan Memon

We hit many milestones in our teens, High School at 11, Prom at 16, Driving at 17 and of course, adulthood at 18. Even though I can now buy scratch cards, alcohol and cigarettes, one of my biggest milestones has been applying to Uni. I think a lot of people see it as a painstaking process that could decide your fate. Really, it’s the start of one of the best experiences you’ll ever have. Yes, it can be stressful fitting your whole life into to 4000 characters, but the satisfaction of pressing send is so relieving!

My application is pending at the moment, and it is nervewracking, constantly sabotaging myself with doubt. Here’s some advice, forget about it when you’ve pressed send.

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Another Ingredients thing that has been hard, for not just myself, but for others too, was choosing the right university for your desired course. Luckily, I already knew what I wanted to do since high school and for me, moving out of my house wouldn’t be difficult, so that was one thing checked off my list.

Also, nightlife played a small part in my decision because I don’t want to go to a university where I won’t have anything to do outside of work and studies. People have different preferences of what they want their experience to be like, some want to party, and some want to focus on their studies, whilst most want a bit of both.

Overall, I enjoyed the process, and I would love to hear about your experiences! Tweet us @XplodeMag and let us know how your application went!

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Trying to eat healthily can be difficult when it is so easy to just pick up a snack. If you put aside 10 minutes, you can make much healthier and tastier snacks like these:

Chocolate cookies There are many recipes out there for chocolate cookies and even muffins that use cocoa powder rather than store-bought bars of chocolate. By using cocoa powder instead, you can cut out so much sugar!

Veggie Crisps One of my favourite alternatives to your normal bag of crisps is by using sweet potatoes and seasoning to bake my own. There are many different ways of making homemade potato chips, and you can experiment with many vegetables such as kale and still end up having a healthy, tasty snack.

Carrot sticks with hummus Hummus is quick and easy to make, all you need is chickpeas, seasoning and a blender! To this, you could add carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, any vegetables really, and even your homemade veggie chips.

By Aliyah Khan

Healthy alternatives to junk food Frozen fruits For those days when all you crave is something sweet. A way of avoiding sweets is by having some fruit which has plenty of natural sugars. Frozen fruits are also great blended to make a smoothie for those mornings when you need an energy boost.

Chicken burgers These are very simple to make and tastes just as good as any regular burger from a takeaway. Simply bake the chicken yourself at home rather than frying. Making it yourself also means that you can add whatever toppings you like!

Granola and yoghurt Most stores sell readymade granola which is often expensive and sweetened, with a lot of sugar. By buying the granola oats and individual seeds yourself, you can know exactly what is going into your granola, and you’ll have plenty left over to make some more!

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My 2018

Bucket List

The (not so) new year is here!

Instead of saying; new year, new me, I sat down and thought about the places and things I want to do in 2018. To give you some inspo for your own bucket list, I’ve rounded up my new year resolutions I’m willing to stick to.

First, to visit New York. I’m lucky I’ll be travelling there with college.

It’s a place that I’m sure we all want to visit at some point. During the trip, I hope to visit Central Park, the Statue of Liberty and of course, Grand Central Station which features in my favourite series, Gossip Girl.

Secondly, to skydive.

At some point in 2018, I want to pluck up the courage to literally fall from the sky! I’ve wanted to skydive for about eight months now, and I’m never scared of a challenge - it could be so much fun!

To have as much fun as possible.

Instead of saying no when someone offers something, instead of staying at home and not wanting to go out, I want to have as much fun as possible and do activities that I’ll always remember.

Lastly, revisit a city. Last year I travelled to Amsterdam, and it was honestly one of the best experiences in my life. I want to travel to Prague, Berlin, somewhere in Switzerland and others but of course, they may have to be added to my 2019 To write about my travels bucket list as I’m a student and of during summer. I love course poor #studentlife. writing, but I find it exciting to go to new places and then come What do you want to do this year? home and write what I liked and Let Xplode know on Twitter @ what I didn’t. My ambition is to xplodemag travel around the UK and note all my recommendations.

By Chloe Wilson

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Switch off

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No matter where your phone is, you are always going to be tempted to pick it up. If you are constantly being distracted by the alerts coming through to your phone, switch it off! To be very productive, you should turn off your phone for 2-3 hours a day.

This will help you stay completely focused.

Have a phone free week!

Put your phone aside for a week and socialise! Get to know what the ’real world’ is. Why not try something new? For example, ice skating, football, swimming or even if it’s just going out for a walk. Let the fresh air refresh your mind and keep you moving.

By Alisha Zahid

ways to beat phone Ingredients addiction 1kg Ready to Roll White Icing Red/pink Piping Icing 1 box of Betty Crocker Red A bar of Milk Chocolate Velvet Cake Mix Strawberries

Start Fresh If you often find that going on your phone is the first thing you do before getting up in the morning, then you have a lot of work to do. The first 30-45 minutes of your morning should be dedicated to making sure you start your day properly.

This can be done by taking a nice warm shower and preparing a healthy breakfast; this will allow you to be ready for the day ahead and give you all the energy you need if you have a busy day.

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Lydia German How I landed my dream role I’m Lydia German. I’m 19, a Journalist and Board Member at Xplode and Junior Content Producer Apprentice at SharpFutures

Why an apprenticeship and why media?

I chose an apprenticeship because I wanted to work as soon as possible. I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to finish 3 years of university before diving into the wonderful world of media. I knew an apprenticeship was a good way to gain experience and learn on the job – my CV is already 3 pages full of relevant experience and I’m only 19. I chose media because of the fast-paced and constantlychanging world.

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One in 8 jobs advertised in Manchester are media and tech related. Unfortunately, over 30% of those jobs go unfulfilled because people just don’t have the relevant skills.

New technology and software is emerging every day and the curriculum can’t keep up with it.

I want to learn how to use new equipment as it comes out, not as part of a course that will be outdated in two years.

My CV is already 3 pages full of relevant experience and I’m only 19

How did you find the process of applying for an apprenticeship and how did you make sure you picked the right placement for you?

Unfortunately, there’s no one resource where you can find apprenticeships. Even the most high-profile sites don’t list every opportunity. I heard about SharpFutures through word of mouth and applied via email.

After various interviews I landed my dream role as a Social Media Apprentice.

My current second apprenticeship with SharpFutures also allows me to explore more areas that I’m interested in as a Junior Content Producer.

What tips do you have for young people wanting to break into the media industry?

I would say don’t be afraid to ask questions and take every opportunity presented to you.

Instead of being intimidated by industry professionals, become inquisitive and ask for their expertise.

They were in your place once and are happy to pass on advice! I’d also say to find work experience and find out as much as you can about the different roles that are out there. You might just find a job you didn’t even know existed.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take every opportunity presented to you How did your family react and do you think you made the right decision?

Fortunately, my dad is an engineer who built his way up as an apprentice so he understood the benefits of the vocational route. My parents were fully supportive of my choice and didn’t want me to be paying off university debt for decades.

I work in an incredible building amongst some leading professionals in the industry and thrive on developing new skills.

What does an average day ‘in the life of Lydia’ look like?

I wouldn’t say I have an average day because no two days are the same for me. My job involves a mixture of social media, admin duties, writing, working on reception, delivering tours, photography and more, so it depends on what I’m needed for that day.

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Edinburgh Xchange

We enjoyed an eventful weekend in Edinburgh with the Xplode team.

Our goal for the weekend away was to grow stronger as a team and get to know each other more The highlight of the trip was the hike up Arthur’s Seat (there’s actually no seat… I felt cheated). The walk up was quite steep and just tiring, we naturally ended up splitting into smaller groups with the less motivated at the back (me and a few others), a middle-paced group and a group that more or less ran up the hill and the fastest group. The slowest group took frequent breaks which we labelled as ‘tactical’ rather than needing to sit down to catch our breath.

Reaching the top felt like the greatest achievement in my life.

The journey down was probably

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the best part because the three groups got completely separated as we took a more scenic route which lead to many slips and falls, two people even chose to slide down the side of the hill, which lead to them being stranded halfway and having to be rescued. The fun didn’t end there, the ground was still a bit icy so when I was walking down I felt like Bambi on ice, to the point where I fell and did a full split… it looked funny but it hurt. A lot!

After 4 hours of walking, taking pictures and falling down we had finally triumphed. Cold, muddy and tired but we had done it! I would recommend the hike to anyone, despite the aftermath (pain in my legs and a bruised knee), it was the most fun walk I have been on.

One point to make, wear walking boots not running trainers!

Making History Xplode Magazine has been appointed as Official Media Partner at the UK’s only Youth Combined Authority.

The Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority (GMYCA) is made up of 40 young people, aged between 11 and 18-years- old, representing 20 different youth groups from across Greater Manchester’s 10 authorities.

The group made history when they met for the first time at the end of February, setting out their ambitions for a Greater Manchester Curriculum for Life.

The GMYCA will undertake specific pieces of work and develop real policies that will improve the lives of young GreaterMancunians.

The first task will be to develop the Mayor’s plans for an ‘opportunity pass’ which

will offer half-price bus and tram travel to young people, open up access to leisure, and cultural activities, as well as work placements and apprenticeships. The GMYCA will also look at Hate Crime and Health as well as advising the Mayor on key issues affecting young people.

Too often the opinions of young people get overlooked.

However, the GMYCA is breaking that stereotype.

Speaking at the first meeting, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “This is how we’re doing politics in Greater Manchester - we’re taking power from Westminster and giving it to people to shape their communities.”

Speaking directly to your youth representatives, Andy backed the GMYCA further by saying: “We’re not going to let you have meetings and then do nothing.

We’re going to listen to your ideas - and whilst we may challenge you on how they can be delivered - we will work with you to see how we can bring them to fruition” This is an exciting opportunity for you to get your voice heard and help shape a Greater Manchester that young people are proud to live in!

Follow @youthgreatermcr on Twitter to find out who your reps are and share your views.

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FUN! FUN! FUN! To figure out the missing number you need to get the top number and take away the bottom left-hand number from it and then multiply the remaining figure by the bottom right-hand number.

Sweat Your Brain Answers

Brainteasers Want to test how sharp your brain is? See if you can answer the following brain teasers without peaking at the answers!

1.

4.

5.

er has three Jonny’s moth first born children. The l and the is called Apri called May. middle child ird child’s What is the th name?

Billie was born on 28th December. However, her birthday always falls in the summer. How is that possible?

If you were running in a race and you pass ed the person in 2nd pla ce, what place would yo u be in now?

Holly Green - Forbes

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3.

2.

How much so il is there in a hole that measures 3 feet by 5 fe et by 2 feet?

Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the tallest mountain in the world?

Sudoku

FUN! FUN! FUN! Wordsearch

Livewire Puzzles

M O RO CC O BU DA PE ST RE D VE LV ET

FE N D E R BI LL IE MA KEU P FA SH IO NA BL E

W IN TE R XP LO DE HO ME LE SS

NEW YOR K FA KE NE WS PA RK RU N

5. You would be in 2 nd place as you passed the person in 2 nd place and not first!

Sweat Your Brain

4. Billie lives in the southern hemisphere.

2. Mount Everest. It just hasn’t been discovered yet!

1. Johnny.

Wes Carroll

3. There is no soil in a hole – it’s a hole!

Did you get it right? Check out the answer above ‘Brainsteasers’.

Brainteaser Answers

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FASHION, LIFE HEALTH & CULTURE

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