Bespoque Beauty

Sometimes it seems that although there is an overwhelmingly large number of cosmetics on the market already, there is nothing that really works for your skin. I am sure we have all been there. Moments where we might need to seek professional help of a dermatologist or try to customize our routine with the help from all sorts of different brands of cleansers, serums, oils, day- and night creams etc.

I always tell everyone I work with that everyone's skin is different. Each persons skin agrees with different ingredients and textures. While grouping the skin into skin types helps, it can only be a very rough guide of what your skin needs on an individual basis.

That's why I have such a huge variety of products in my makeup kit and constantly lug two very heavy suitcases with potions, lotions and makeup around. You never know what you will need prior to working with a new private client, bride or model on a photo shoot.

I working with such a variety of people, that I really learned to understand each persons different needs, when it comes to skincare. That's why I got very curious about a new product that just launched on the Australian market. A truly bespoke moisturizer that is available at the Chemist for an affordable price. Bespoque skincare is an Australian brand, with a unique concept. About half a million combinations can be created by the customers themselves using a simple touch screen interface to design their personal cream.

Now that sounds fun right? I immediately made an appointment with the brand to try this out for myself, and I am really impressed. Already in love with the idea, the actual process was quick and easy, the packaging is sleek and luxurious and the label colours can be customized as well. You can even name your product and it will have the name printed on the label, very cute! Entering all my skin concerns, and personal details like age group choosing the texture and skin concerns as well as a choice of different fragrances (I opted for no fragrance!), I quickly realized I am a bit of a high maintenance customer. My "day dream" moisturizer that I created contained the maximum level of active ingredients. Sounds like my skin needs some help ;) If you are unsure about the final product ingredients will be explained and you are able to review the final ingredients before sending your order off. While you wait your personal moisturizer will be mixed together in the pharmacy and you can take it home straight away.

The level and choice of active ingredients, was impressive and I am sure this moisturizer was created with real results in mind. I would put the product in the same category then other high-tech skincare brands, while providing really good value. It's not an all natural nor organic product, but rather one built on extensive research and proven results.

My day dream cream should be pretty close to a miracle, given that I chose all the complexes that my skin needs. It feels luxurious and has a very lovely texture that also sits well underneath makeup. This moisturizer has a mineral oil base just like the well known luxury skin care line Creme De La Mer or to the cult pro makeup artist favourite Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè, great for sensitive skins, and with the same luxurious texture. The active ingredients are highest quality and the texture is wonderful. I am definitely happy with my product.

Would you design your own Bespoque Moisturizer?

Makeup Workshop Save The Date

I am super excited to announce an upcoming collaboration & makeup workshop with Blog Society and Eat Read Love details to follow real soon for now: Save the Date! 9th of August 2014. I will keep you up to date! It's been something I wanted to realize for some time. I always get asked so many questions from brides, friends, other creatives I get to meet... time has come to answer them. And show all of you some tricks, techniques & tools of my trade. We are busy in getting everything organized to make sure everyone will have the best time and hopefully will get to learn a lot about makeup! If that sounds like it's right up your alley, save that date.

Talking all things Bridal with Hello May

The wonderful magazine Hello May, just invited me to talk all things bridal & makeup over at their blog and also a little column in their current print Issue. Thank you for having me!

"Today, here we are again, introducing you to the seriously lovely Liv Lundelius, a go-to favourite in the Sydney wedding industry when it comes to hair and make up. Tell us a little about your background? I have lived in Berlin, New York and London before deciding to move to Australia, my background was in fashion design first, though my love has always been makeup.

How did you get into the hair and makeup game? I always wanted to do it, however after school I felt I really wanted to go down the more academic route, so I went to art school studying fashion design. I really enjoyed design, however after a little while, I felt a strong desire to come back to my first love. I have always done it, but I felt I wanted the time to gain professional skills, and time to practice and learn from others in the industry to get better and better. The decision was made in London, I told everyone that I wanted to retrain and then a friend of a friend sent me a link to a talent competition in which you could get a scholarship to one of London’s best makeup schools at the time. I knew this really was a one off chance, so I put everything into it…and won! A very good start for my new career. Since then I haven’t looked back. I love what I do.

Talk us through a typical day in the Liv Lundelius studio? Every day is fun and creative in its own way, yet no two days are the same as a freelance makeup artist. Rising up early, having a nice big coffee, walking the puppy, exercising or meditating and then my work day actually starts…

If I am not on a photo shoot or traveling to a wedding I will sort through my emails and reply to my clients and brides first thing. I will update my Instagram/Facebook with the latest work or inspiration and write a blog-post or beauty related article.

If I have time I do a little bit of research, I study the latest fashion advertising campaigns and editorials for makeup trend updates and browse through some of my favourite blogs and websites. Days in the studio are usually booked with consultations and makeup applications, where brides will come over to meet and we create their wedding makeup look. I will have magazines ready for inspiration and look through their ideas, we talk about the whole feel of her wedding, about skin and skin care and last about the actual makeup look that we want to create. After this I will clean my tools and makeup and prep for the next day.

Where do you find your inspiration? I find inspiration in life, real women and the stories behind people. Every makeup job is as individual and unique as the person it is applied to or the client it is created for. Anything can inspire me from a structure, texture or colour in nature to even more abstract inspirations such as character and mood.

Favourite look for the 2014/2015 season? Fresh radiant skin, softly blended defined eyes and a lip colour that brightens the skin. Simple and flawless with effortless hair!

If you weren’t a hair and makeup artist what would you be? An architect, an inventor, a car designer, a photographer, a fashion editor, a publisher, a traveler, a puppy trainer, a nutritionist, a yoga teacher, an ice cream maker, a writer or a unicorn!

All time fave beauty product? Only one? That’s tough, it would need to be an all rounder…like Avene Thermal Spring Water. Or pure organic coconut oil. Makeup wise my hero products are Nars Lipsticks, Chanel Foundations and By Terry Concealers. Fail. I can’t name only one…

Dream wedding destination? Outdoors, anywhere with sunshine. I do really love Croatia.

Favourite ceremony/reception venue? In Sydney my favourite is The Grounds of Alexandria.

Where can we see more of your work? Follow my Facebook page and check out my website.

Liv did the hair and makeup for our ‘Pedal to the Metal’ shoot that features in issue five of Hello May (which you can order online here with FREE postage) and we have included a few, never seen before, sneaky out takes of her handy work below with photos by the wonderful Lara Hotz and a rad behind the scenes video from Light Noise Films you can view here. Big thanks to Luisa Brimble for the beautiful portrait photo of Liv."

The reason I moved to Australia...

Approximately three times a week I get asked why I relocated to Australia. I don't know if there can ever be one simple clear answer to such a complex big decision. To sum it up, because it felt right, because I had a dream, a vision an inner voice that told me to come here. But then I hear myself say: Because of the coffee, the weather & the beach. And that is also true. While being big on health food and nutrition I do love one controversial drink: Coffee. I really enjoy it, it agrees with my body and makes me work well. I know there are many health benefits while others claim the risks. Everyone will know best for themselves it agrees with your body or not.

So to cut a long story short: When I heard about The Humble Bean comparing my favourite skincare ingredient Coconut Oil, with my favourite drink to create an all natural heavenly smelling and skin transforming body scrub, I couldn't wait to try it. Please check out here why I love Coconut Oil so much! And let me tell you...it reason enough to move across the globe or simply order it online, where ever you are! Fun Fact: Research has shown that just smelling coffee makes you less stressed. It's seriously good. I know how I will start my days from now on, morning showers have just gotten even better.

Hello May Issue Five rocks!

Pedal to the Metal // Hello May // Behind the Scenes from Light Noise Films on Vimeo.

They say that if you love what you do for a living you will never have to work a single day in your life ever again. I love what I do and I am grateful everyday that I am living my dream. What this quote doesn't tell you is that you will still need time for yourself, holidays and quiet time to rest, which is too easy to forget, when just being so happy about being busy and all the wonderful opportunities. Being a professional makeup artist, I sometimes have to poke myself, that this is all real. So many amazing have happened and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to travel to Bali as destination wedding makeup artist and can't wait to work again in Europe and the USA. It's always important to remember how far you have come rather on how far there still is to go. As beauty expert and beauty editor, I have had the chance to work with exciting brands lately and I have many more ideas. Of course there are always new challenges, dreams & goals to achieve, but in the meantime I am very happy to be well on my way. I am trying my best to find the balance, as I think I am a little bit of a workaholic, but heh, back to the topic:

Photo shoots like the recent Hello May Editorial in Issue Five (go and grab your copy now!!!) are just a dream to work on with an incredible team of creatives and just simply amazing, inspiring, funny and lovable people the final images of a shoot like this will always mean a lot to me. The hairstyling & makeup for this was more out there then the usual clean fresh bridal look, and it was exciting to create this wild & powerful look. Also this is one of my favourite and in my opinion the best wedding & lifestyle magazine there is. To see my work in print is a very special moment and makes me warm & fuzzy inside. And then after all that excitement, the behind the scenes video got released and reminded me once more of how much fun we had working on this.

Check out all those amazing people who made this possible: Creative direction: hellomay.com.au Photography: larahotz.com Hair & Make-up: www.livlundelius.com Videography: lightnoisefilms.com.au