WITH STARS IN THEIR EYES.. RESULTS NIGHT MAKE UP!

Every year on the same Thursday, students everywhere have a sleepless night and wake up in a tense state of anticipation. Results day! Whilst my own results day is luckily far far behind me it still prays on my mind that for others, it is just around the corner. The joys of approaching a quarter life crisis age is that, whilst, I consistently feel  I should of achieved more  by this tender age,  I have at least already crossed that transition from school to life beyond. My own results day was full of anxiety, tears and stress. However the  night involved: celebration, partying and mojitos! Luckily this year, this girl gets to leave the field for down South to enjoy results night without the stressful day part! I am so looking forward to celebrating my friends success and helping them glorify an end of an era!  I even treated myself to a whole new look.  Seeing as it was a particularly slow day in the field of tranquility, I decided to plan the make up, inspired by my brand spanking new outfit and take some snaps. I was never one for matching eyeshadow to outfits, but do like to stick in the same colour group; for this look I used silver and purple to compliment the ethereal blue of the play suit.  I tend to pre plan and practice big night out looks as its easier if you don’t have to think through what your doing  when 5 other girls will be fighting for mirror space!

My face for ‘a night on the town’, is almost identical to ‘Face up to Summer!’ apart form a few switch outs. I use a slightly heavier foundation, either Revlon’s Photo Ready foundation or M.A.C’s Studio Fix Fluid. I must say I prefer the Revlon. I also use a stronger highlighter – Girl Meets Pearl by Benefit, Its glow is just so so pretty! I also set this highlighter with M.A.C’s MSF  Soft and Gentle, as the highlighting powder is always a good idea when a hot, overcrowded,  sweaty club is involved! With that in mind I prime my skin with a primer, here its Revlon’s Photo Ready Primer!

Now on to the main focus of this Post, EYES! On a night when everyone’s future is sparkling in their eyes, why not play up yours?  I also hate reapplying lipstick at 1, 2 and 3 am, in my experience eyes tend to stay put! Whilst a go to smokey eye is great I often like to mix it up a bit. WIth such an ethereal outfit why not go with something a little different. I opted in this case for a silver and purple based cat eye! My main colours were M.A.C, but you could use whatever you have.  Just for reference then, the shadows I used were , Brule, Jest, Trax, Nocturnelle and Smoke & Diamonds ( a limited edition shade but any grey silver would do).

- I started of with shadow primer, an obvious must for those late nights. I used Urban Decay’s primer potion, a classic for a reason! I also placed it on the lower lash line so any shadow I placed there would stick.

-Then I placed Brule all over right up to the brow bone, this just helps blend out those darker shadows. I left it out for a final application below the brow bone, to act as a highlight once the rest of the eye was complete.

- Jest was next, a perfect bright sparkly champagne pink (but not too pink!). It really keeps the base of the look bright and light, matching the spirit of the outfit.  I applied it all over the lid and in the crease, making sure to get it as close to the inner corner as I could.

- On top of this I applied Smoke and Diamonds I placed it as close to the lash line as I could and then began blending it up wards. Several layers of this  silver grey later and a smokey base began to form.

-Then came time for the purple! Like with most of my decisions in life, I struggled to stick to one! I used three different shades of Purple to get a real dimension to this smokey cat eye! A purple with gold reflex, an almost matt purple and a deep dark royal purple. 

-Beginning by blending in the lightest purple into the crease and over the silver. Then the matt darker purple is placed using a M.A.C 217 in the outer corner of the eye. Its then blended a quarter of the way on to the lid. At this point the shape of the crease is still fairly rounded as I just use the usual back and forth motion.

-The cat eye shape begins to develop when the matt purple is placed with a pencil brush in a < shape. Then the pencil brush is also used to intensify the colour in the outer corners.

-The shape is made stronger and the colour more vibrant with the final shade of purple. Using a flat liner brush a much harsher line is pressed in to the < cat shape. Below the first of these strong lines can be seen. This is then blended using the pencil brush, to soften the harshness of the line but keep the shape strong.

 

-Liner is then applied following the same line and angle as the cat eye. I used gel to get a line that increased in thickness to achieve a feline shape.

-To keep the eye bright I placed a light pink line under the flick of the black liner using a light pink liner pencil, this is just to tie the darkest part of the eye in to the lightness of the inner corner. It can be seen faintly below. I blended it slightly by using my little finger. I prefer pink to white pencil as its less stark.

-With liner and shadow pressed along the lower lash line the eye is complete!

 

-A quick fix up of the brows and this cat eye is ready for a prowl around town!

- I have two lip options for this look and I am not quite sure which to go with. There is a soft hot pink (Heart to Heart by M.A.C) or a nude beige  (17′s supreme Shine lipstick in Bella). Feel free to comment and help me decide!!! 

The Playsuit is Miss Selfridge and the shoes new look. I shall probably put my hair into a super high curly pony tail or a sock bun!  With make up on, 8 tracks blasting (Probably this mix) and an empty field outside I thought i might as well try on the outfit, have a prance around and take some pics! So the pictures turned out super awkward but it was fun haha!

 

On that note, good luck to all those getting results at the moment! I hope you get what you want and have stars in your eyes!

Love Livs xxxx

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

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