Despite running around and trying to stay on top of things, I somehow managed to be the last to find out my school does not do graduation caps, or I heard about it and then promptly forgot, which is on trend for me of late. So let’s break down my day, and hopefully it can help future graduates plan out their graduation day and kind of know what to expect.
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My grad day started at 7:30 AM on Monday, which was the earliest I’ve had to wake up in the last two weeks. While my school’s graduation ceremony didn’t take place until later that evening, my program had a short ceremony earlier that afternoon that also doubled as our graduating year’s anthology launch. I wanted to attend both, so I ended up rushing to make them both.
I slapped on a moisturizing sheet mask (Torriden Low Molecule HA Mask) as I waited for my rice to cook, and also exfoliated my lips. After the small breakfast, I got dressed before working on my makeup. The original plan was to do my makeup in the morning, and then touch it up when I got home before leaving to go to the hall for the evening ceremony.
Contents
Product Breakdown
Here are some products that I used:
- Etude Double Lasting Foundation (23N)
- Peripera Ink V Shading (03 Hazel Gray)
- Peripera Syrupy Tok Cheek (03 Friendship Mauve)
- Kaja Mochi Glow (01 Toy Alien)
- Peripera Ink Setting Fixer
- Clio Pro Eye Palette (11 Walking on the Cozy Alley)
- Missha Shadow Stick (?)
- Clio Waterproof Pencil Liner (02 Brown, 03 Black Brown)
- Holika Holika Skinny Eye Brow Pencil (01)
- Hince Skinny Curling Mascara (01)
- Alternative Stereo Balmy Rose Lip Potion (03 Soft Mauve)
- Alternative Stereo Sugar Glaze Lip Potion (05 Mauve Ball)
- Innisfree No Sebum Powder (pressed compact)
I used the Torriden Balanceful line (toner pads, serum and cream) to continue my skin prep, and then used Touch in Sol’s Glassy Skin Balm. Both products were gifted in turn for a review a while back, but I chose them again because they worked really well, in my opinion. I also used a colour corrector (the Wakemake correcting palette), but I cannot really recommend that at the moment. It’s creamy, however, I don’t know if it’s the way I’ve been applying it (brush and stipple, then blending it in with fingers/damp beauty sponge), but it clings to dry patches on my skin no matter how I skin prep.
I got lucky that it wasn’t that bad this time, but it’s a little annoying. Especially because it makes the foundation cling to those spots, too.
My go-to foundation is Etude’s Double Lasting foundation because it lasts a while! It was the same foundation I used when I went to my first concert, and it was considered to be fairly mask-proof, too. I have combination skin and sometimes get very oily in the summer, but this survives despite that, so I do put my trust in it. This has more of a matte finish, so I didn’t have to worry about having to constantly powder it. I also layered on the old Peripera setting spray (made to help mask-proof makeup), and it works for me. I don’t think Peripera makes this setting spray anymore, so I would just choose a long-wear one you already use. If you’re going to be outdoors, though, I recommend going for popular bridal foundations to make sure they stay.
The blush from Peripera was a new purchase (review is coming, I promise), and I thought it might be too glowy for the look I was going for, but luckily, it worked out. And it didn’t fade a lot throughout the day! Clio’s Waterproof Pencil Liner is one of my holy grail makeup products, and I cannot recommend it enough. It does not budge after it sets, but it has to go down on a dry and sebum-free surface, so either use a matte primer or a base eyeshadow to start. My eyelids aren’t super oily to start, though, so your mileage may vary! I ended up using brown black just for the wing and blended the brown to line the rest of my eye so that it popped a little more, and it was still there at the end of the day.
I also accidentally powdered my face before setting spray (I thought I already set it), and then, in my rush, powdered it again with the no-sebum powder afterwards, which caused the slightly cakey look. If you do this, sometimes rehydrating with a mist and/or a makeup fixer should help. I unfortunately was running late, and I couldn’t do that, I just prayed I would sweat hard enough to somewhat help lmao. I actually applied my liptint on the way there, layering soft mauve as the base and then topping it with mauve ball. This combo does not last a long time, but it’s a pretty and glowy combo.
Afternoon Ceremony
My school’s afternoon ceremony starts around 1 PM, and it usually happens on the same day as our graduation ceremony, but when it actually happens will depend on when the graduation ceremony takes place. I thought it was neat, honestly, because you have a chance to mingle with classmates, peers and professors you haven’t seen for a while, so you can then spend more time with your guests during the graduation ceremony. This earlier event also doubles as the graduating cohort’s anthology launch.
Yes, the graduates from my program essentially work together to create and publish/self-publish an anthology!
This was a project that spanned one to two semesters (sometimes longer) for the students, and while it was kind of intensive, it was also a labour of love. Our running theme was for it to kind of resemble a dream journal, and I’m so happy with how it turned out!
This event had speeches from our professors, coordinators and etc, as well as some food for us to nibble on during or after the speeches. I guess you could also consider it a bit of a networking event, too, but it was great to see everyone again. Even with others already far away, it was surreal to know that it would be the last time we saw these faces after having studied together for over four years. After grabbing our books and merch, I hung around chatting and catching up with some friends before rushing home.
The Interim
At this point, I wanted to redo my makeup when I got home. Unfortunately for me, my luck ran out, and I got caught in traffic on the way home, so I had to take an Uber the rest of the way from the GO stop. My parents were already getting ready when I got home, and I quickly changed and packed a go-bag.
I put blotting paper, my lippies, tickets, bobby pins and a powerbank into the go-bag. Make sure you pack an ID and/or a student ID! I forgot mine and had to use my phone, and my dress (and the grad gown) did not have pockets. You might get lucky and have a coat/bag check at the hall, but we did not know until we got there and didn’t want to risk losing anything.
I didn’t have time to redo my makeup, so I opted to try and touch it up. Use a makeup fixer mist you trust to do this. I never got around to buying one, and I literally need to restock on a mist, but somehow my luck returned and I found… something. It was Shiseido’s Ibuki Quick Fix Mist that was, I don’t know how old, in my mom’s makeup bag. I sprayed that all over and gave it about twenty seconds before going in with a damp beauty sponge; miraculously, it worked, and it looked good.
The only downside was that the smell of alcohol was so strong it stung my nose, and I would later worry about pimples, but that was something for future Malisa to worry about. I had just enough time to touch up my hair and apply my forgotten mascara before we had to go. I bought us a little time since we were taking Uber to and from the hall, but it was also near Pearson Airport, and we all know the headaches that are the highways near the airport at rush hour.
I had to oil blot, powder, and touch up my lips in the car (which I hate doing) since there was traffic. We were told to be there at or before 6 PM, or we couldn’t walk with our class, so the panic was so real. On a side note, here’s how the bouquet turned out!
When we got to the hall, it was almost 5:45 PM and I booked it to the graduand entrance in heels after dropping my parents off at the guest entrance. I got turned back to wait, though, since I was apparently early, but that’s okay. I spent the rest of that time with my parents and taking pictures, etc.
If you get there early, take this time to hydrate, use the washroom, take pictures, eat or touch up. You will usually have time until you sit in the crowd of graduates, but less amenities and you may not be able to bring everything. I took my phone, my printed grad ticket and the little pack of bobby pins with me. When 6:15 PM rolled around, I slowly walked back to the graduand entrance to meet my classmates.
Grad Walk
Once we got in the hall we were (then) advised to take initial pictures or drop off our bags at the bag/coat check. Honestly knowing if we had this ahead of time would have been nice but that’s okay. There also weren’t any pockets in the grad gown I wore, so try not to bring too much.
Unlike the black gowns I was used to for high school, my college used royal blue gowns. I also found out then that we were not using grad caps, but that’s okay. It’s my first time going through this but if I’m not mistaken all graduates get graduation regalia that correspond with their level of education, and program.
It seems like it’s a hood of some sort and I saw the other student receive ones that draped across the front. However I think because we completed our bachelors, our hood draped down the back. Which kind of caused some discomfort because of the weight of the hood and gravity. I had the idea to pin the front part of the hood to my gown using the bobby pins I brought, so that eased a little discomfort and I highly recommend doing so!
There was a little hiccup when the assistants gave half of us ones with the wrong cord colour, but that was quickly rectified. Afterwards we had a bit of time to rest, chat and etc before we head in. There were some photo areas in the back for grads so take this time to take your solo, friend group and cohort graduation pictures! This is also a great time to figure out how to hold the stuff you brought with you without actually holding it in your hands (if you mind that).
I thought about stuffing my things into my sleeve but that looks so weird. If one of your friends has a pocket you could ask them, or last resort (like I did) is stuffing what you can into your bra. The big gown will probably hide it pretty well.
Some time later we were lined up in no particular order and led out to the main hall and escorted to our seats. If you don’t need to be in alphabetical order, stay or group up with your friends.
The convocation ceremony itself is pretty long so rest while you can before you’re brought into the main hall. Once the opening, Indigenous Land Acknowledgements, speeches and introductions are over our program’s Poet Laureate will read their poem to help close things off. The assistants and coordinators will start leading students towards the stage, row by row. The first batch will usually take a while, so chat with the friends around you, take a selfie amongst the crowd, etc.
Before the coordinators get to your row, prepare your grad pass (is applicable). I printed mine out so it was a matter of retrieving it from my sleeve. You’ll be guided to walk towards the back of the stage and what happens afterwards will differ greatly between schools. We had a lot of professional photographers set up across the hall and had one picture taken back stage, you’ll have a short time to fix yourself up before that but even more time to make fixes as you wait for your turn to walk.
Once near the front, they scanned my grad pass to queue me up in the system and another coordinator at the front will signal for you to go out when the graduate in front starts walking away.
We received our certificates/diplomas after the ceremony so it was just a matter of walking out into the stage, shaking hands (who it is will depend on your school) and then walking off the stage and back to your seat.
When all the graduates have been announced there will be closing remarks and then the coordinators will be back to queue when your row begins to walk out of the main hall. I saw my mom beside the aisle, crying, as I was walking and detoured. Let’s just say, it was a teary domino effect. I also got my bouquet then, and hugged both my cousin and my mom before re-joining the queue walking out.
I think we’re technically supposed to wait for all the graduates to go out first before the families meet them but that’s okay. I think different schools would brief you on this.
The Graduates Hall
Once you’re outside the hall you should find someplace to wait for you family. However, if you pickup your certificate after the ceremony, I suggest doing that before a line forms. Then you can join your family for picture, diploma in hand.
The graduate’s hall we had was set up for pictures, mingling, grad gifts/merch and refreshments. There were various photo booths, photo opts and even a graduate’s speech area to record a little video.
Make sure you take a photo with your friends in those gowns, zipped and unzipped, with and without the flowers, etc. And some with your family/guests too. And if you have any close friends, make sure to get their numbers. While some may see one another again, it may also be the last time you see one another face to face because of your future paths.
I didn’t look at any merch because I was too busy chasing people down lol but that’s alright. I do recommend checking it out though, incase you want something to commemorate your time and achievements.
My family and I all went home after seeing my cousin off into her Uber. At the end of the day, I think I can certify that my makeup was tear proof because it did not budge after crying. Nor did the mascara smudge, 10/10.
Mom did leave a lipstick mark though, one I didn’t notice until we got home. That didn’t show up in pictures but it did show up in person. Taking that makeup off felt so nice, I know it can be a pain but do it. Then slather some moisturizer and eat or call it a day. But before bed, I recommend putting on some Salon Pas patches to relieve your muscles and some eye cream or a cold compress over your eyes if you cried. They will thank you later.
I woke up the next morning absolutely sore all over from being tense for hours on end. But it could’ve been so much worse. With this, I close the book on this chapter of my life following my graduation. While I will continue my college life posts as I remember my time here, I hope my grad series helps future grads as they prepare for their big day.
