be blushless

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone.
This one will be the year of the Dragon (whatever that is supposed to mean!?)
It sounds pretty good. I am very excited about 2012.
Here are my little resolutions: Liv’s New Year Resolutions

Full On Make Up

Recently I have been up a lot of make-up work.
Great and inspiring work, most of the time.
I met interesting people and have been learning and experimenting.
December should now get a little more quiet so I can catch up with blogging and updating my website.
And for Christmas cookies and tea.

I will post a few recent projects within the next weeks.
Have you all checked out the great Dashing Magazine?
I have done a little step by step make up tutorial in their first issue that just launched yesterday.
Happy December, all!

What does growing up mean to you?

image via papier mache

Not long ago, I felt really far from being a grown-up.
27 has always been my idea of a grown up age.
Don’t ask me why. I turned 27 in January.
But was does it actually mean being a grown-up. Growing.
Our body stops growing in height when we are around 18 years.
Our mind will hopefully never stop growing.
Growing up to means to not cry over a lolly in the supermarket.
Literally. To me it means to start sharing what you have learned.
To keep up without complaining. To accept, without giving up.
To teach, beside sill learning.
To take yourself less seriously but to treat yourself and others with more respect.
My goals in life have lately drastically changed. So have my values.
Not that I am no longer full of silly ideas, and still a hopeless romantic, doing 100 different creative projects at a time…all that is hopefully never going to change. I am still learning, always.
But something is different.More Relaxed. Less drama.
Something happened within the last year. I feel more grown-up.
What does growing up mean to you?

The nightmare about the green dress

image via Motilo

Here is to another fashionable wedding : Full of very well dressed guests! See more here.
I had a dream last night. My mum forced me to get married out of the blue, and not enough she wanted the whole event in her backyard, and she invited her friends only. I said: ” But Mum, I haven’t got anything to wear just now.” She handed me a dress and said: “Sure you do!” – “But it’s green…”, I desperately tried to make my point. “Don’t be so fussy” she said, pushing me out in front of the guests. I was wearing flip-flops and a green dress. My future husbands family she sat down in a corner away from the other guests. None of my friends were attending,
The whole thing couldn’t have been further from what I wish my wedding to be like one day. Stupid nightmares!!!
We have a saying in Germany that if you want your dreams to become true, you shouldn’t share them with anyone.
I don’t want this to become true at all, so I thought I better share it with the whole world, just to be safe.
Happy wedding planning everyone!

beach babe…

Yep that’s me! In Portugal.
That’s why I love the sun so much.
Recently my dad emailed me tons of photos of my childhood.
I grew up in a car, where I was traveling around with my hippie mum in Portugal and southern Europe.
That might be the reason I am never feeling homesick.
Though I don’t want my kids to live in a car, I wish they can bounce around by the beach a lot.
David came to visit my parents in Germany for the first time, since I moved to London.
They had a big garden party where Dave performed his first few German sentences.
It was great fun. (and really cold!)

Liv as wedding guest

Via My-Wardrobe.com
this dress is by Acne, shoes by Sam Edelman

In the unlikely event of Liv attending Dave’s brothers wedding in Australia in August this is what I would wear.
With smoky eyes and nude lips.
Sadly I am stuck with loads of work in London and couldn’t get the time off, so he will have to go on his own.
I can only dream- If I were going to attend, let’s say my work for August will be getting cancelled and I will be able to take holidays, at the same time I will be able to get a free flight and I will have only 1 day to get my outfit together online and uhm, while we are at it, I wouldn’t have to pay for my outfit either….
…Then I would prob. wear the outfit above. All found at My-Wardrobe.com

I would love to make it happen. Weddings are so magical.
I only need to find the time to go. The fabulous evening dress I can do myself.

bio sculpture nails part II

3 weeks later, my nails have been growing really fast, so that I can see now a gap between the gel and my natural nails.
The colour is still brilliant and shiny and didn’t chip at all.
Fascinating. I really liked having my nails done without worrying for weeks, and would definitely recommend this to any brides.
Today I soaked the gel off, and it’s true, my nails underneath are healthy and strong and not damaged at all.
For now I will only wear a clear base coat and will try to keep my nails in this good condition.

back to dirty dalston

photo via the great design platform Object Design League
We finally moved back.
Back to dirty Dalston (East London) in a brand new flat in our old beloved building.
There is still so much to set up and unpack and get to make it a real home, but it feels already fantastic.
There is so much light and space.
And I am having internet again, from tonight. Now we only need some plants and cutlery…
One week we have been constantly unpacking and building and I am bruised and exhausted.
But I am in love with this new place already.

spoilt with choice-or what’s your favorite colour?

As professional make up artist, I really have to look after my nails, since I am touching peoples faces all the time.
But I am not a fan of thick tacky plastic nails or smelly toxic nail salons either.
My research for a solution lead my to Bio Sculpture and after all great things I read about it really wanted to try it and see for myself and tell you about my experience.
So this week I had a Bio Sculpture nail treatment done! Whoop.
And it looks fantastic.

So why is Bio Sculpture different then?
Bio Sculpture is is a non-chip nail treatment that can be applied to any nail type, much like a regular nail polish. The gel-like substance is formulated without any toxic chemicals (meaning it’s free from acrylic, formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP), and is designed to act as a protective layer to your own nails, treating and improving the overall health of your nails while simultaneously providing a smudge- and chip-free nail finish.
Yes that’s right, non toxic, non tacky, chip free, strong nails for about 4 weeks.
I went to the U.K. head office in Hertfordshire, where Haley their professional nail technician worked magic on my nails.
With about 140 colours to choose from (they do french as well),
I was spoilt with choice.
She just got married herself and explained that Bio Sculpture is great for brides, because they can have their nails done a week before the wedding and will still have great chip free nails through their honeymoon.
I choose a bright coral pink that I am loving but I can apply a different colour Bio Sculpture nail varnish on top any time.
“What’s your favorite colour?” asked René who is managing the whole head office. She surprised me with a few more purple and orange nail varnishes, so that I can change my colour.
So far I am really impressed with the result and I will keep you up to date, how it wears and lasts now.

pause…and play!

image via Papier Mache
It’s time to pause and PLAY!
With the whole moving chaos and stressful housemates, my previous studies and full time job, trying to built up my new career in make up artistry and schedule photo-shoots at all days off, there was little to no time for myself.
Nor for my loving relationship, though we are living together.
I got the point of being anxious and unhappy and every few weeks a hormonal moodiness.
Sometimes living in a huge city like London feels insane.
I am sometimes really hard and impatient when it comes to myself and I wouldn’t allow myself days of laziness and relaxation.
Since the move part 1 is done and we are currently in a gorgeous temporary house I decided to step back and book myself a yoga class. Finally.
And I will continue going every week.
There are also a few health problems that I want to heal and I really feel, it’s time to take time for myself. At least some exercise and yoga on a regular basis and good food.
It made me also realise that I really want to change a few things in my life I no longer agree with.
And I know now that I DO want kids, one day, NOT JUST YET. (I last explained here how I feel about kids: Do you think you will be a good mum?)
I am feeling better.
In tune. Time to play.

My dream home

image found here

My first dream house was the “VILLA KUNTERBUNT” which is the house of Pippi Longstocking.
When I was 4 years old I was obsessed by her, she had it all.
A big house without parents, cool pets, cake for breakfast, a huge box of gold coins and good friends.

Today most inspiration for my dream home comes from The Selby, where most houses actually do have a lot in common with the Villa Kunterbunt.
The site is so addictive and always creates big house-envy.
But I am getting closer to my dream home, step by step.
Our living situation will improve drastically next month.
We are moving house and just found a fabulous BIG flat
in the same fantastic old factory building.
We will be sharing with a couple from Paris, très chic.
And guess what? My new flatmate is a vegan baker! YAY & YUM.
What does your dream home look like? And is it a long way to go?

London in Love and the Royal Wedding Mood

Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann: Image via Maimouselle

This dress is a dream, right?
And so is the whole picture.
Speaking of beautiful brides: I did enjoy the royal wedding a lot.
Champagne for breakfast and attending the Wilton Way Street Party, here in our neighborhood in East London, it was the first real summer feeling day.
And the princess did look stunning- no doubt.

And yes! It did get me in a real wedding mood. I wonder if there were more engagements than usually lately!? I was close to purpose…(was it the champagne for breakfast?)
I mean my man is fantastic at all times and I don’t need a royal wedding to remind me of that, but the kitschy and great festival atmosphere here in London would have made a great setting.
If I had only prepared better and organized a ring ; )

However: I am feeling back to my sparkling best and full of power for upcoming projects.

and finally….SPRING!

Freja Beha Erichsen by Rafael Stahelin for Vogue Korea September 2010

Spring arrived in London:
WINTER IS OVER
I can smell it, I can hear it and I can see it, most important I can feel it.
I am no longer freezing.
I want sunglasses and fruit smoothies and bbq’s. I want white.
I want a garden, or at least a balcony of roof terrace.
It is a super busy spring for me with a few exciting shoots coming up, full time job and moving house as well.
I haven’t had a day off in quite a while and it will stay like this a bit longer.
But I am happy. The sun is out and I am learning inspiring things every day.

What makes you happy right now?

makeing up brides

photo calvin klein via handbag.com

The answer is: YES!
I am doing bridal make up as well.
Since many of you asked about my other creative career part: make up artistry, lately I decided to tell you a little bit more about that.
Since I have not only done a lot of my friends and families weddings as a make up artist,
now that I am officially and fully trained I do offer an extraordinary and bespoke service to all brides.
I love to work with “real” beautiful women as much as I love working with models in fashion shoots.
It is a different way of working in many ways from look to product and lasting ability but I am just as passionate about enhancing the individual brides unique features and giving her an all day lasting, glowing look based on her skin type, style and personal preferences.

photo via daily makeover by © Kevin Mazur/WireImage
How it works:
During a first trial and consultation meeting we’ll decide on the look and I will suggest products.
We will be creating the full look, as you wish to wear on your wedding day.
l am able to give professional skin care tips, so you can prepare and treat your skin the right way before your big day.
On the actual wedding day, I will be pampering you and will create your all day worry free make up.
If you wish I will design a customized colour palette for you, so you that you can carry the professional make up with you as well.
No matter if you want to go for a glam vintage bride style or a very natural make up I will be up for it.
So if you are interested feel free to contact me at liv(at)blushless.com or give me a call: +44(0)7716354466

new love

I mentioned already that I am starting a new career as make up artist,
at This Is Jane Wayne, I am blogging for a cool young German online magazine about my way to start something new and about beauty, have a look if you are interested.
As soon as I have decided to commit and to go through the door that just opened things keep falling in place.
A friend told me about a make up artistry competition that just came up at the right time, I practiced and worked hard on my entry and: I won.
The prize is, and that’s why it’s so exciting: A full time professional make up artist course at the well known Jemma Kidd Academy plus a full kit of make up with everything I will need incl. professional brushes.
IT IS INCREDIBLE! This new career just started with a BANG!
And I am more than excited to start.
I feel very very thankful and all warm and fuzzy inside.
You can see more pictures of my work here.
Thanks to the people who supported me in my decision!