be blushless

Sneaky preview of work lately

Happy Easter Everyone!
Though I have mainly been brainstorming new ideas and concepts as well as feeding myself delicious cakes and coffees, I have also been doing a lot of make-up designs and great collaborations lately. And it seems like outdoor location has started too, which is extra exciting.
The sneaky preview below was a project with the great photographer Claire Huish and the fantastic Stylist Rosie Williams. Next to the tall beautiful model I look so very short.
I am looking forward to all the exciting work for this Spring and Summer.

Pastel Spring Pixie

image via Dashing Magazine, Make Up & Hair by Liv Lundelius

This morning I had some Yoga time in the sunshine through our living room window and painted my toe nails in pastels.
Yoga in the morning is a great exercise, and if you’d like to get started, you can use this great coupon for Patagonia gear to help you save.
Someone played the piano in our courtyard that someone has thrown out.
The latest issue of Dashing Magazine has been published this week.
I love the whole magazine and read it today for breakfast.
You can see above some of the shots of the hair and make up I have done for the Spring issue.
Now I am really in Spring mood. The sun tingels and looking at all these pretty pastels get’s me really excited. For Spring.

about supernatural nails and japanese food

It’s the little things in life that are making me very happy, like coffee in the sunshine,
or a new nail polish.
Nails are huge at the moment. Which makes me happy, since I have always loved nail colours a lot.
I am still staying away from nail art and sticking with simple uni colourings.
The other day I met the girls behind the hip nail polish brand Rococo Nail Apparel, Ange and Vernice Walker.
The talented sisters have worked as nail designers and celebrity manicurists with all the big names and started their own successful little family business.
At the same time they are also 2 very humble and extremely kind sisters. No wonder they came so far. Real team work.
And not only where this two interesting to chat to and told me about their passion for everything Japanese, including a slight very healthy obsession with Japanese food, they also offered to paint my nails and chose the coolest colour, which I now own as well (it’s LabNude 6.0).
A mannequin nude, somehow vintagey, somehow clean but edgy at the same time. Or in Rococo’s words: Supernatural.
Thanks ladies! So very nice to meet you, you have made my day.

1,2,3,4…smokey eye!

So here it is, my first tutorial for Dashing Magazine.
In every issue I will let you into a few professional make-up secrets and give advice for a quick wearable make up look.
Feel free to let me know if there are any looks you are particularly interested in or if you have any make up questions.
The Ladies behind the magazine are the best and I really like how the first issue came out.
A really nice smart and inspiring women’s mag without crap.
I can’t wait to work with them again…
I hope you enjoy the mag as well. Check it out here.
(You will find Make Up on page 54/55)

A royal wedding party

The Royal Wedding, is long ago be now, and though I have blogged about the special atmosphere here,
I never got round to post the photos.
I love how everyone dressed up it felt like actually being on a wedding.
The best wedding party ever. And a new public holiday for us in the U.K.
See more photos here.

when a fashion editor is getting married…

all pictures via anothermag.com

I just found these stunning photos of a true high fashion wedding.
And yes, this is a real wedding.
The lilac haired bride is fashion editor Katie Shillingford and her gorgeous husband is Alex Dromgoole.

When a fashion editor is getting married her wedding looks like straight out of a magazine.

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

back to reality

Liv in Melbourne photo by Dave
After a wonderful holiday the usual London stress has fully kicked in,
and hardly left me any time for Blushless projects.
It’s still pretty rough winter weather over here and I am hardly spending anytime outdoors.
I hope that Dave and me soon get to update our private blog with all the wonderful holiday pictures.
But for now we don’t even meet each other at home.
We are both fully engaged in work and work projects.
Lots of exciting engagement and pregnancy news among my friends kicked in and I feel slightly out of touch.
My new day job is taking up all my time, which is ok, because I really have to work loads and for my new make-up artist career there is lots of training and projects coming up as well.
It seems like I have to structure my time a bit differently and becoming clear of my focus.
It’s a new year and I really have to work on a career that allows me to survive on it.
That’s my big goal for 2011.