Face Up to Summer!

Summer brings, for me at least, a laissez-faire attitude to make up. Minimal and light always appears to  be more fitting when the sun is out and my wardrobe is comprised of pastels presenting the opportunity to embrace my inner Diaz. I often opt for one of the ever growing options of bb creams from the high-street. As John Geddes says, “…summer softens lines that winter cruelly shows…”. Well with 20 something skin the case is less that summer soften the lines and more of the case of it softening blemishes. Something about that extra does of  vitamin D , seems to agree with most temperamental skin.  That being said on those certain special occasions, which always involve me breaking free of the field and hauling myself away from the real housewives of Beverly Hills, I like to be slightly more polished. Whilst I would never claim to achieve flawless, I can achieve enriched … just not to the same extent as those housewives.

My ‘ever slightly refined face list’ is always comprised of: Foundation, Concealer, Powder, Bronzer, Blush and Highlighter. Whilst this may sound like a product when applied in moderation it can give a light look. All of which featured in my products consistently at my fingertips.

I begin with my favourite summer and spring foundation of the year, Bourjois healthy mix foundation. I prefer the slightly heavier coverage than its sister product the healthy mix gel serum, even if it is summer. I have been crushing on this product for months as it gives a real glow to the skin without being too much. Its light, natural looking and I actually think has improved my skin underneath.  Applied with the much acclaimed real techniques buffing brush, it covers and blends in mere minuets.

Then I follow this up with under eye concealer. There are many things I would love to change about myself and almost at the top of that list is the purple bags under my eyes; built up from far too many all night study sessions. As a result high end heavy duty concealer is always a corner stone in my make up bag! Fake it by Benefit. It slides on effortlessly and can be layered up to give industrial level coverage.

Rather than swiping it under my eyes I place it all along the lower lash line in vertical lines. I find this the best way to get maximum concealment whilst having no obvious dichotomy between my foundation and concealer. To blend it in I use a Beauty Blender, using a patting motion along the lines and then a swishing motion for one final blend. Then I set with whatever powder I have to hand.

My favourite thing to ever discover in terms of make up is contouring and this love story only increased in wonder when I purchased Chanel’s Sol de Tan. A cream-gel bronzer which melts in to the skin, it is bliss. I used to apply it with a M.A.C contouring brush (168) but I now prefer the smaller domed shape of the Real Techniques contour brush, it reaches in to hollows much better and therefore gives a more natural, blended contour. I apply it under my cheekbones, temples and jawline. I take it 3/4 of the way down my cheekbone and keep most of the colour further back. The picture of it below is it pre blending!

To add some colour and balance out the glow and bronze, I apply a blush above the contour line on my cheekbone.  My current go to being peachy keen by M.A.C its bright and playful. Applied with a sigma stippling blush brush. I add a little to the apples of my cheeks but keep colour about 2 fingers width away from from the edge of my nose.

 

To round off the look I add some highlighter on the highest points of my cheekbones and under my brows. I like a cream based highlighter rather than a powder. I find powder highlighters often too glittery and artificial looking. Here I used Watts up.

Thats my summer face routine complete. It takes about 8 minutes but is oh so worth it. So I shall leave you with a picture of me looking slightly like a sloth but a sloth with improved skin!

Love Livs xxx

A golden ticket to a gloriously understated golden glance!

“The golden age is before us, not behind us.”- William Shakespeare

All that glitters is not gold, however a hit of gold glitter eyeshadow never goes amiss in the summer season. As mentioned in my ‘products consistently at my fingertips’, I just can’t get enough of a glowing golden eye in the summer. A personal go to for any day that involves me breaking out of the field and enter the glimmering city walls of York.   The sheep may not appreciate the soft glow of this look, but the town sure does. Soft and understated but undoubtedly glorious.

With 3 colours, conveniently placed next to each other, in Urban Decay’s Naked 2 pallet, a simple golden eye can be achieved. The subtle gradient of colour (pictured right to left) adds a warmth and depth to the look , which, a simple wash of a gold pigment (half baked) could not achieve alone!

*Firstly, the eyes are primed with Bare Study, a golden and shimmer paint pot by mac. This gives the shadow something to cling to, brining out the gleaming gold.

*Then bootycall is placed with a shadow brush all over the lid and in the crease. I also placed some in the inner eye area (the hollow  between your tear duct and nose) using a pencil brush. Whilst I am normally not a huge fan of inner eye highlighting, it actually really works for this glowing look.

* Half baked is then patted, rather than swiped, over the outer 2/3rds of the lid to intensify the colour . This keeps the inner part of the lid light and bright! Then I blended it in to the crease on a pointed crease brush. I prefer this look to be heavily blended, as I personally feel, the subtle gradient of colour depth is more flattering than a starker contrast.

*Then coppering is added to the outer corner. I do this with a pencil brush (If i wanted a stronger look I would apply it with an angled shader brush to have more product placed on the outer corner.). As the coppering is really only applied to give a warmth to the eye it is not overly dramatic.

*To give the eye a clear shape I use a square flat liner brush to press the coppering shadow in to a < shape on the outer edge of my eye. I line up the brush from the outer corner of my eye up towards where my eye brow ends. The second line is then placed on the bone above the crease (the eye socket) from the edge of the first line, facing towards the inner part of the eye. This technique allows a slightly stronger shape to the eye and even when blended down, as it is in this look, a cat eye is still alluded to.

*Using the same square flat liner brush I placed half baked and coppering under the eye, so that to gleams!

*With the cat shape already suggested by the shadow, liner is used to highlight it even more so. I used the Eyeko pen for the liner on the lid as this product allows a really thin line to be drawn. I then used gel liner on a liner brush for the flick as the consistency of the gel is slightly better to work with because you can control the pressure you place on the brush far more then with the pen. I also find the brush has a more fluid movement, which is better for the flick.

*With a lashing of mascara theses golden glories are finished! Understated but undoubtedly glorious.!

*For me brows are a must! . I brushed the brows upwards using a spoolie, the tip of the spoolie was then used around the edges of the brow to direct the hairs in to a more defined shape. A few short strokes of ‘brows’ by topshop to fill in any small gaps and one final comb through finishes off the ‘arches of the soul’.

*Pared with a rich peachy nude (Posh tone by M.A.C) completes this look!

Look complete I’m able to head off in to the lustrous city to  exchange some golden glances and exchange my golden tickets for some Bucks!

Love Livs xxxxx

11 Questions Tag!!

So I happen to love those youtube tag videos, I always click on and watch them when I’ve found a new guru! I think its a great way to get a feel of someone quickly (well that sounds creepy!)  but who doesn’t love being slightly nosy and personal?  I stumbled across this wordpress tag on Butterfly Reviews and thought it would be a great way to say a bit more about myself! Apparently I find lists of questions far too tempting to answer! Feel free to tag me in any tags and do carry on this one!

1. What is your favourite make up brand?-

M.A.C. a pretty safe choice and one i’m sure many people would go for. Its the bread and butter of my make up bag. I adore the lipsticks and eyeshadows; pigmentation is amazing and packaging sleek. A M.A.C eyeshadow pot or lipstick is always the perfect pay day treat! I also tend to have really good experiences with the M.A.C counter artists. One time this lovely guy on his firstday talked to me about lipgloss and shadows for three quarters of an hour, that level of customer engagement really makes an impact.  I also really appreciate what the brand stands for, art.  The artistry shots and tutorials never fail to amaze. Finally the M.A.C aids fund does so much good, a brand with real integrity!

2. What is the best gift you received?

It sounds slightly odd but a Stabucks mug! i’m sure elaboration is needed on this one ! Well I love Starbucks, as a very unhealthy coffee addiction gets me through most days! I also love California. So 3 years ago for Christmas a good friend of mine actually tracked down a Starbucks California mug and had it delivered to England. It was the best gift I ever received  not because of its value but because it was a gift that really proved just how well they knew me. A completely thoughtful and unexpected gift.

3. What book would you recommend I read next? 

Well when i’m snuggled down with a good old penguin modern classic and a cup of tea i’m a very happy girl. My all time favourite book is ‘Lolita’,  I just think it it so beautifully written, enchantingly captivating. If you haven’t read it, do! However a book I polished off a month ago which may not be as well known  is the ‘Anthropology of an American Girl’ by Hilary Thayer Hamann. Its a coming of age novel, its deep but fairly easy to read and completely relatable. A book that stays with you, especially if you are the type of person who is a hyper vigilant observer of  yourself and those who surround you.

4. What is your favourite shampoo and conditioner?

I still stick with Herbal Essences. What can I say those adverts captivated me from a young age inspiring a devout brand loyalty.  Im not sure what that says for the type of lifestyle I aspire to obtain but beginning with a provocative shower in a rainforest seems like a good way to start your day. Im currently a fan of tousle me softly shampoo and long term relationship conditioner. Again i’m not sure what this says about me?!?

5. Describe your favourite outfit.

I’m not sure if I have a single  favourite outfit. I have favourite outfits for different scenarios: a favourite ‘I need something that will work even if I spill stuff on it restaurant look’;  a favourite ‘I need to look casual and cute like those girls in oversized sweaters and leggings of tumbler’ look;  and even a favourite ‘I need to look like i’m trying that little bit too hard look’. I suppose anything clean, polished and simple is a winner with me. A favourite combination that I pull out if I’m in a rush and have no time to think is a  white shirt, black velvet leggings and black ankle boots.

6. Do you have a lot of shoes? How many shoes do you own?

Whilst I lust over Louboutins, Blahniks,Choos and Sandersoons my bank balance will never stretch that far! I actually own very little in the way of shoes when I consider how long I lust over the above websites. I have 3 trainers, 2 pumps, 6 heals and 4 pairs of boots. Being a size 3 means I always hold out for the sales as there is nearly always my size! My feet endearingly referred to as ‘pigmes’ by my girls are named after the pygmy hippos.

7. What are your favourite stores for shopping (for anything)?

Well cloth wise its Forever 21, Zara, Mango and H and M. I also love these little independent vintage places hidden in York’s city walls. Walking in to a tiny boutique packed with outfits that look like they have come straight off  barbie throughout the ages! My favourite boutique contains 12 vintage Chanel bags that must have hundreds of stories to tell its all rather too thrilling! I like the experience and the glamour more then anything. Feeling like I’ve run in to the closet of a Lady past her prime only to discover a wealth of her hidden tales told through these crafted and unique clothes is just magical. Vintage stores are the new Disney land. I also love interior stores, whilst I don’t need to buy any furniture I think there just so fun to step in to and browse; Its like pintrest in 3d.

8. Do you have pets? If so tell me a little about them.

Yes I have one a dog called Lola. Also referred to as Lola Lo and Lo. She is a five year old West Highland terrier. As a puppy she was described as ‘almost an angel’ and thats 99% accurate; angelic looking but bouncing with mischief. She gallivants round fields chancing hares (unsuccessfully, they are far too clever for her and about the size!). I thought moving to the country might entitle me to a shetland pony, regrettably, this has as much chance of happing as Lola catching a hare! Here she is:

9. Do you prefer lipstick, lip gloss, lip stain, or lip balm?

Im a huge lipstick fan. I think it can transform an outfit, a smile and a mood.

10. What is your favourite food?

Almonds, I just can’t get enough of them. From almond milk to marzipan I am guaranteed to like anything almond. I always have a stash of whole almonds in my desk and would pick a macaroon over a slice of cake any day!

My 11 questions are

1.  What is your go to make up look?

2. If you could obliterate one make up product or make up trend from this planet what would it be and why?

3. Whats your worst beauty habit?

4. Who is your beauty icon?

5. Whats your signature sent?.

6. What was your first experience with make up?

7.What is your all time favourite piece of clothing that you own?

8.What is your favourite quote of all time ?

9. What do you do on a rainy day?

10. What is your most treasured possession?

11. What blogs do you admire?

Comment below if you do some form of this tag with a link to it as I would love to read them!!!

Love Livs xxx

Products consistently at my fingertips this season!

“I don’t believe in ‘greatest’. I believe in favourites” -Steve Vai

With that sentiment its time I revel my favourite make-up products for this season. All of the following are always in grasp and a go to on those hectic summer mornings. By hectic summer mornings I mean walking the dog before noon. Okay,  so ‘hectic’ may translate as lazy and routinized! Despite this these are, by no means, lazy products; they work hard and perform time and time again. Which is great as you have to look good for the dog … right?!?! That must be why I find them consistently at my fingertips. They may or may not be the greatest of the greats but they are my current favourites and that my lovelies seems like a good place to start for my first beauty post!

The List!

FACE it , its hot and caked on make up will not work! -

*Bourjois Health Mix Foundation. – Dewy, light and lovely smelling foundation with medium coverage. Gives you that glow that screams ‘I should be an Austen heroine i’m that radiant.’ Gives a lovely gleam without looking ‘moist’, even in this heat!

*Revlon Photo Ready Powder- Sets foundation and keeps moisture at bay. Used with a big powder brush and dusted on lightly. In this heat I dust a couple of light layers just to add some extra setting power.  As for the ‘photo ready’ element, thats debatable. I personally never notice a difference when wearing this powder. I just like it as its light on the skin, doesn’t leave a vail of powder resting on top of your make-up, and at the end of the day is cheaper then putting a msfn on everyday!

*Soleil Tan Chanel- a bronzer that works perfectly for some natural contouring, even on my fairly pale skin. It blends in and has a smooth texture on the skin. On hot days where I’m going fairly bare this and some waterproof mascara do fairly nicely. An utter love!

*Peachy Keen blush M.A.C- A delicious warm colour with a sprinkling of shimmer. This never fails to put me in the summer mood. It brightens the skin and adds a pop of colour to the cheeks. Just peachy.

*Watts Up or Sun Beam- If you haven’t gathered I like to ‘Gleam’ in summer. For me nothing screams ‘I love summer!’, than a look that has as much luminosity as the season. Equally if your summer is lacking that good old sun (which is regrettably likely being in the UK) then your face can be a nice replacement for all. Sun beam for when i’m that tad more tanned, offers a bronzy based shine whilst whats up’s champagne glow never fails to give a natural looking luster .

* Finally for my face it has to be Fake Up. Quick to apply and as creamy as melting ice cream, this concealer is perfect for covering up those dark circles. What can I say, I haven’t recovered from term time and watching SATC till 3am always seems like a good idea.

Summer eyes sparkle - 

 A look for when those eyes need to shine and a look for when focus is on those summer lips. 

*Look 1 the golden, bronzy tan for those lids. Hey if your skin isn’t going to bronze up like Adriana Lima your eyes might aswell.  Combining these 3 beauties from the Naked 2 Pallet makes the eyes really glow.

Bootycall on the inner part of the lid and tear-duct, Half baked in the inner half of the crease and Chopper blended on the outer half of the crease creates a glorious golden look!

*Look 2 Pure with pink. This is my go to when I know my lips are going to be stealing the summer show! Its simple and pretty. Its touch of pink, for me at least, evokes the playfulness of the summer season.  This winning combination is built around the star of my summer eye shadows, Girlie by M.A.C! Image

Brule on the lid and brow bone, Naked lunch on the lid, Girlie in the crease and outer part of the lid. Woodwinked in the outer corner and blended in if this eye needs to work in the summer dusks, as it adds a bit more warmth and drama to a light and playful summer day eye!

*Thin winged eyeliner. A thin winged eyeliner adds a flirty shape for a summer look, all credit to Californian LC. My favourite product of the moment is Eyeko’s Skinny Mini eyeliner pen. Easy to use and stays put without smudging or running in the heat! I tend to keep my waterline pretty bare in summer, keeping things light and preventing the 4 o’clock smudge marks however occasionally I add a coffee colour to the outer edges of my waterline.

*brows! Topshop’s Brows pencil gets my eyebrows tamed and well shaped. A must for me if i’m going with a very make up light look. (brows, bronzer, lips and mascara). Aka Cindy Crawford minus the supermodel legs, body or looks. I like to keep my brows rounded and polished but not overly heavy as I fear the scouse brow.

Layer it on those Lips! 

I love lips in summer! Its the time of the year when bright corals, berry pinks and sweet peaches are always perfect. I tend to keep my sunglasses firmly on so my lips are more in focus! The 3 currently at my fingertips are Posh Tone, Please me and Lady danger all by M.A.C


- Lady danger – a bright orange red, can be applied lightly and blotted down to give a hint of red or layered to give a bright summer pop. Pared with a dress and my hair up it can leave me feeling vintage inspired, or blotted down for a typical english rose mouth.

Please me -a delightful soft pink. Pretty and bright. Simplicity at its best!

-Posh Tone -a peachy nude tone. A warm natural colour that is just easy to wear! Its a mineralised so its super moisturising and rich, wonderful for summer!

So thats my summer seasons go tos, which i’m hearting! Even if 70% of the time they are only worn for the pleasure of my dog, Lola!  Speaking of I shall leave you with this …

love livs xxxx

The lists. The life. The loves… of a girl called Livs.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
― Plato, The Republic

But how does one introduce themselves to their blog?!? How do you sum up everything you could possibly want to say in a introduction? How do you say ‘Hi, this is me and by the end of this post you will totally know my being and my soul?’

Well I suppose you just don’t, but keeping in accord with my usual life, I had to begin with a list.

*Who am I?- I’m Livs! 

-I’m a 19 year old university student, who has wanted to do a blog for forever and a day but never really felt she had the time or confidence to do one. However,  after being uprooted from an idyllic seaside town in the South and placed in, quite literarily, a field, up North the lack of phone signal and being the owner of a postcode where ASOS don’t deliver,  the impulse to connect with civilisation provided enough motivation to start a blog. Well that and a growing addiction to SATC, leading me to the delusional belief that I am Carrie Bradshaw  (whatever her soul is made of hers and mine are the same, or at least the same love of shoes and vintage)   … but, if writing this introduction has taught me (let alone you) anything it is that I am no Bradshaw. More basics…  Im currently at Cambridge Uni and have just finished my fresher year complete with the fresher 15, an over inflated opinion of my own maturity and some massive dreams. Oh and an every growing sense that I haven’t done enough yet, that I should of done more and that i’m never going to settle in life, but apparently thats all normal for a 19 year old. There is loads more that makes up me, well you would hope so, but that can wait.

*What do I love? – Make up, Make up, Make up … and lists.

-I love make up, a cliche with no real impact but its true. Whilst ASOS may not deliver, Birchbox still do and that little pink package of joy is the highlight of my month despite what tampax may advertise. Like so many teenage beauty junkies I have read hundreds of  books and magazines, watched 1000s of you tube videos and played with make up on anyone who will let me. Whilst i’m no professional, I would humbly like to suggest I know quite a decent amount and there is nothing I would like more then to discuss products, styles and looks with others. Why be on the outside of a community when you can be in it? Constantly inspired by my favourite Catcher in the rye quote “If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late?”, I will always sit at my vanity that little bit longer. That being said I sit at the vanity putting alot of effort in to looking fairly mediocre but ‘meh’ Salinger’s sentiment stays the same.

-Then theres the lists, I would say I make about 10 lists a day. I just love them and have books of  lists for things like my morning make up routine (modified daily), lists for my goals (daily, weekly, monthly, life’ly’), shopping lists, wish lists and even lists of list I should make.  Whilst this may sound a tad neurotic its actually great because I can look back and document most of my teenage years through lists and some times the subtexts of these lists provide more incite than a diary extract. The changes in goals or even the way I do my hair can say something for the relationships I was forming at the time, the person I was aspiring to be. That and lists keep me calm.

*Why now? -There are one hundred and eighty days till I turn 20.

-In one hundred and eight days my teenage dream years shall be behind me; it was this very thought that prompted a ‘quarter life crisis.’ Starting a beauty and lifestyle blog has been on several lists for about two years and if your not going to do it during an underwhelming ’quarter life crisis’ then when are you?

*Blog what? Well I was thinking all I really can offer is me, me and my life.

-I want to share with you; the loves the lists, the lessons, and the life of me. I shall probably blog alot on make up because well make up is a massive part of my day. If i was reduce my current life to, you guessed it, a list it probably should be this: Makeup, reading, baking, shopping, philosophy, decorating, philosophising life and self evaluation.

Im not an expert on anything and I most defiantly haven’t got my life together or sorted to any reasonable level to offer wisdom, but if i just blog my musings and thoughts on, well whatever. Then maybe someone somewhere will empathise and get it and then ‘boom’, a girl surrounded by lists and make up brushes, sat in a filed alone doesn’t feel  lonely.

*wrap it up already.

-I really hope the beginning is not the most important part of the works, as this was not all that good. I shall only hope practice makes perfect and that I can get some form of voice from this point on. Like everything iv’e probably been that bit too keen and tried that bit too much. You have probably ended this introduction with a first impression that screams: “I have no idea who this girl thinks she is, or what she’s about, or even what this blog is about” But please stick with it as i’m pretty sure things will improve seeing as ‘things to improve on this blog’ list is now a page long! So I shall leave you with this ...

Love Livs xxx