The Foundation Hunt: A dewy finish with Inika Liquid Foundation

When I received my Inika products I was beyond impressed with how beautiful and luxurious they looked. The Truly Organic Liquid Foundation impressed me that much, I have used it straight away on a beauty editorial for White Magazine here. Amazing finish right? This foundation has been winning beauty awards for years so I was excited to finally give it a go. It is very lightweight and sheer and feels softening to the skin. It is not oily at all, nor does it sit on the skin. It feels more as if it becomes one with the skin and is undetectable. It's truly an HD finish in my opinion. The most impressive fact for me was that it achieves all these results without the use of silicone.

The coverage is light to medium when built up, so it won't cover blemishes etc. but that's what a concealer is for anyways! It can be mixed with the liquid highlighter Light Reflect for a super dewy finish, but I used it on it's own and the highlighter only on cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. It works well with fingers or any foundation brush. The smell is beautiful, sublte maybe a little floral, but there is no synthetic fragrance in this, the scent simply stems from all the high quality natural ingredients. If you are hypersensitve to essential oils I suggest trying out a sample first, just in case. The super chic bottle comes with a hygienic pump. The colour range is unfortunately limited to only 4 colours at the moment, I can only cross all my fingers they will expand the range, as I would happily include this into my pro kit. The existing colours do seem to adjust very well to a variety of skin tones, due to the sheer finish.

This is a great foundation for all skin types, (maybe not for very oily due to the radiant finish) And as I mentioned before: It is sheer, so if you are after a full coverage product this is not for you. I have been wearing this a lot lately and really enjoy it! My skin felt calm and clear after removing it at night, as it is packed with skin care benefits. Inika says on their website this product blurs the lines between moisturiser and foundation- well put! I couldn't agree more.

This foundation is certified Organic, not tested on animals and vegan.

Hot Lips with ILIA Lipsticks

Makeup by Liv Lundelius using ILIA Strike It Up Lipstick for White Magazine/ Photo by Scarlet&Sage

ILIA lipsticks are a new staple in my pro makeup kit. As I am revamping my kit after extensive research I am so excited about each new addition to my healthy & luxurious product selection. The ILIA range of lispticks is simply mind blowing, filled with modern and versatile shades. I have been on the hunt for a goregeous peachy nude like "Funnel Of Love" for a little while now, "Neon Angel" is a true magenta colour which is just perfect for that bold bright lip and works so well as a pink stain, when softly dabbed on with a finger and then there is "Strike It Up" a classic true red which is SO...striking! The beautiful high-end packaging that doesn't break when traveling in my kit is another advantage and makes them super chic for your own handbag too. The Lipstick colours are highly pigmented which means, that they work really well as as stain as well, and will last beautifully. I am beyond impressed with them and think most pro makeup artist would agree, that they are a dream to work with. I actually have a hard time taking my hands off them and have lately used them in every photo-shoot. Here in Australia a selection of their products is available via Mecca. Peeking on their US website, I just saw they came out with a concealer and tinted moisturizer range and I can't wait to try them as well. For now I have tried their Lipsticks, Lip Crayons and Multisticks , which can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes. Have you tried ILIA yet? Feel free to share your experience.

ILIA uses only the highest quality non-toxic ingredients, is certified organic and cruelty free.

The Foundation Hunt: A flawless finish with Adorn Creme Foundation

Photo by Scarlet & Sage, Hair&Makeup by Liv Lundelius using Adorn Foundation for White Magazine

Always on the hunt for a good natural foundation I recently tried and worked with Adorn Cosmetics Hydrating Creme Foundation. The Foundation: It's a mineral foundation with organic ingredients that comes in a convenient little compact. I was very impressed by the coverage, possibly the highest coverage I have seen in a natural foundation and it blends like a dream. I really liked the finish, it certainly has enough coverage for to conceal redness and light scarring. It does have a glow without being oily or shiny. It's not dewy but it's also not matte. It is completely unscented, which is great for sensitive skins and noses and I prefer products to not be scented, which gives this foundation extra points. The colour range is limited to 5 colours, I found a good match for myself, but I am not sure if it would cover all skin tones for professional use. The product is very high quality and easy to use. The only downside was the packaging: It comes in a round plastic compact with mirror, which is good for travel, however the quality of the packaging could be a little sturdier for my liking. I would love to see Adorn improving the packaging a little, but that's just me being picky.

The Brush: I used the super soft Vegan Kabuki Foundation Brush to buff the foundation into the skin, which worked extremely well. As makeup artist, to work on others I would use a brush with a longer handle. This is certainly a high quality brush that would recommend, it feels very luxurious. The Primer: As recommend to be used with the foundation I used the Hydration Plus Plumping Primer underneath. The primer feels very smoothing and lightweight on the skin, everything I want from a good primer, plus this one is silicone free, which I personally prefer. Another amazing quality product that comes in a travel friendly bottle.

The Iluminiser: For some extra dew and radiance I used the Loose Illuminiser which gave a golden sheen to the cheekbones. It's a great colour with a bit of a tan, as it has a yellow golden tone to it. Although I usually prefer liquid or creme highlighters, this is a very good product. Only the tiniest amount is needed, which makes it great for professional use as well. I have a feeling the little jar will last me a long time.

My final Foundation thoughts: Perfect for: Nighttime: It has great coverage and no SPF, Photo shoots: It photographs beautifully and evenly, making skin look virtually flawless Weddings: It does last and last and last at least on my skin. It was still perfectly in place after many hours of wear and without touchup's. It's also water resistant, so perfect for humid days. Daytime: For problematic skin that requires good coverage, with additional mineral powder for SPF Travel: Easy to carry and perfect for travel as it comes in a compact. An amazing high Quality foundation with high-end finish. All Adorn Products are crueltyfree, vegan and Australian made. The are free of parabens, talc, Bismuth Oxychloride and other nasties.

How to get the Look - Luminous Beauty for White Magazine

Photo by Scarlet & Sage, Hair&Makeup by Liv Lundelius

I just received the latest issue of White Magazine and as usual it's packed with beautiful inspiration, and honest articles on love, relationships and marriage. For this issue I was asked to create a series of bridal beauty looks and hair trends for brides. Here on the blog I share with you a little How-to on how I actually achieved these looks, together with the products used and recommended products.

Luminous Blushing Bride This look focuses on soft, radiant blush balanced with a subtle eye and lip.The only colour I used here is a radiant soft pink on the lips and cheeks. Skin: Apply Inika Truly Organic Liquid Foundation with a soft kabuki brush. It's a great product but a very limited colour range. It won't mask the skin or lovely freckles while still evening out the skin. Use a high coverage concealer only to cover redness or blemishes for an invisible flawless finish. I applied Inika Light Reflect on top of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. Use ILIA translucent powder only through the t-zone to keep excess shine at bay at the very end. Eyes: Start with evening out the eyelid with a hint of a tinted eye-primer or foundation. Apply a dab of Inika Creme Eyeshadow in Pink Cloud to highlight in the inner corners and apply a Jane Iredale Peach Sherbet Eyeshadow. Draw a thin line with Jane Iredale Jelly Gel Eyeliner in Brown along the upper lash line. Enhance your eyelashes by curling them and coating them with Longest Lash Mascara. Apply the mascara right on the roots of the lashes to give that framing effect and a luscious thick lash line. Brows: Fill in eyebrows softly with Jane Iredale Bitty Brow Kit and hold in place with Pure Brow Fix gel. Cheeks: ILIA Multistick in "All Of Me" to the apple of the cheek and warm into the skin using fingers Lips: Ilia Karma Chameleon Lip Crayon adds the perfect pop of colour leaving the lips looking moisturized.

Wild Braids Prep the hair with a heat protecting texturizing product and blow dry your hair to get a great shine and voloume. I used Yarok Feed Your Roots Mousse and my H2D Hair dryer. Part your hair in the center and just behind the ear. Start braiding one large section from the front and secure the ends with an elastic. Wrap the section across your forehead where you wish to place it and secure with Bobbi Bins. Repeat on the other side and place just above your first braid. Braid the last 2 sections and pin in place so the head is evenly covered. Now start messing the braids up! Gently pull sections in the braids to create more texture and an uneven modern look. Spray with hair spray to enhance shine and hold style in place. A great natural spray is Yarok Feed Your Hold Spray

All looks are created with 100% luxurious, toxin free and/or organic beauty products that create professional results, while being good for you. I feel these looks are so versatile that they easily go beyond bridal and could of course be worn by anyone. I hope you enjoyed and I stay tuned for the next looks!

The Six Week Bridal Beauty Prep: Get your Beauty Sleep

Photo by Simon Everiss, Makeup & Hair by Liv Lundelius Model: Annalise Mclachlan Styling: Rosemarie Pantling Interior: The Society Inc

I am thrilled to have beauty sleep expert and designer Natalija over at the blog today! She is the creative mind behind the stunning sleepwear label NATALIJA the label. The latest collection is awesome and I was lucky to see the designs prior to the launch, when I was working closely with founder Natalija to create the hair & makeup looks for the latest campaign. She is sharing some tips and info about Beauty Sleep with us and we also had a little chat about her collection.

Why is sleep so important for our skin and overall wellbeing?

Sleeping Beauty was onto something! I recently read a study that showed for the first time that poor quality sleep can accelerate signs of skin ageing

like wrinkles, age spots and inflammation. Lack of sleep can also weaken the skin’s ability to

repair itself at night from a variety of environmental stresses such as sun exposure. And it

may prevent adequate secretion of melatonin levels, which is a natural antioxidant that is

important in helping regulate the internal body clock’s cycle of sleep.

What can women do to improve their sleep? Are any rituals that you would like to share?

It is important to continue a well-balanced routine into the night to ensure you have a great

sleep and wake up feeling revitalised for the day ahead. Here are 3 simple solutions that

take minimal effort but will help prepare your body and mind for a restful night’s sleep (and

stay asleep!).

1. Stick to routine – set a reasonable bedtime for yourself and make sleep a priority.

Try to be in bed at the same time every night, this will reinforce your body’s sleep-

wake cycle and can help you fall asleep better.

2. Wind down before bed – spend about an hour unwinding with some relaxing

activities at the end of your day. This could include reading a book, listening to

soothing music, soaking in a warm bath or taking a shower.

3. Sip a cup of Sleep Tea - Chamomile is a small white petal flower, reminiscent of a

daisy. Commonly known as the sleep tea, it is usually dried and steeped into tea to

help soothe and relax the body, and help to promote a healthy sleep cycle and

overall wellbeing.

Your sleepwear labels designs are truly inspiring, I saw they are all made from natural fibre

like pure silk or cotton, can you tell us more about this? Choosing what to wear to bed can directly affect the quality of your sleep. My focus when

designing is on luxury and comfort, so I carefully selected fabrics that make women feel

beautiful, ensuring they have a great sleep and wake up feeling revitalised for the day

ahead!

Silk is considered to be one of best fabrics to sleep in. It is comfortable, soft to touch,

naturally hypoallergenic, breathable, and makes you feel AMAZING. Silk is also capable of

keeping you warm during winter, and cool in the hot summer months.

What inspired you to create a sleepwear line?

I first found inspiration in 2012. Newly engaged, I went in search for feminine and affordable

nightwear options to purchase for my bridesmaids and myself, to wear while getting ready

on the wedding morning. I felt my choices were limited as the options were either femme

fatale, dowdy or slightly immature. It was during this time I noticed a gap in the sleep and

loungewear market for elegant and affordable options; so it was out of frustration and my

love of health and wellness, that my entrepreneurial spirit launched NATALIJA.

The brand celebrates and embraces women's femininity. It is an invitation for women to be

inspired, choose colours and prints that speak to them, and combine pieces to form their

own unique individual style.

Do you have a personal favourite that you wear to bed?

My favourite piece from my new collection ‘Azulejos’ is the Thira silk pant for its fantastic

paisley print and beautiful blues (but again, it changes every week!).

Tell us about the idea and trend of Pj's All Day.

I have detached all furry animals, hearts and grey marl to recreate the traditional sleep and

loungewear; carefully creating garments so beautiful and comfortable that women will feel

inspired to wear them all the time.

Channeling the ‘pyjamas all day’ look, the silky garments have the power to transcend from

the home to the outdoors, fusing together comfort and style. The luxe designs would look as

at home relaxed on a Sunday afternoon with a book and tea, as they would at night paired

with heels ordering your favourite drink. My most recent campaign Sleep to Street brings

to life this idea, inspiring women to have fun, be playful and feel beautiful!

As entrepreneur and business women, how do you make sure you get enough sleep?

The evening time is my time and I have a ritual to ensure I am relaxed, rested and ready to

have the best sleep so that I can wake up lively. My favourite is to use an oil burner and fill

my home with a soothing fragrance like lavender. I find it’s a great way to balance my inner

self before bed! I also get so excited when its bedtime as I get to slide into one my garments.

They feel amazing, and I feel beautiful wearing them. That’s the only way women should be

feeling when they go to sleep at night.

What is your biggest dream for the future?

To inspire women to have fun with fashion, be confident to express themselves and feel

beautiful. Create loungewear pieces that empower women to take their garments from

sleep to street, day to night. Evolving NATALIJA into a lifestyle brand, introducing more

versatile pieces, and then also linen, cushions and candles, all with the same sophisticated

and fashion forward approach.