Create a Beauty Ritual

photo taken inside my bathroom cabinet by Liv

Do you have a beauty ritual? Do you look forward to your daily skincare routine? Do you absolutely love how your products smell and feel on your skin? If you do you are much more likely to keep up and you get to relax and have fun in the process. I believe that the pleasure of using products and to create a little self-care ritual around your routine is actually very beneficial to your skin and most importantly to the way you feel. I am so grateful I have recently connected with a fellow skincare lover and expert, the lovely Misty who is the inspiring woman behind the skincare line BLOOM. We send long long emails back and and forth chatting away about skin & health, I feel we connected in such a great way that I just made a new friend on the other side of the world. Created by a holistic nutritionist with a deep understanding of whole body health, this line truly felt different to all other natural skincare lines I have ever used. You can tell that it's not just another skincare line but rather one carefully researched and crafted with a holistic approach. Can you tell, that I am a bit of a fan? Within one week of using the products exclusively morning and night and having so much fun with the ritual in the meantime, my skin has transformed. The few blemishes I had healed quickly without leaving scarring or redness, my skin is smooth and even toned and very well hydrated. It glows, so that I even completely skipped wearing any foundation for a few days. I received my products after one really long and exhausting day a few weeks ago and I fell in love immediately, from the moment I received the products which came in the prettiest colourful wrapping.

I am of course a little picky when it comes to skincare, as I receive so many samples and constantly get to work with new and different products in my job, and I have to say: These products are different to anything I had ever tried before.

I took the skin type test on the website as all three steps in this skincare routine are uniquely created for a specific skin type. The test decided that I would fit best into the Combination Skin Type. I think the combination skin choice was spot on, as my skin is taking really well to the new routine. The smell of my Nourish Serum is very relaxing and grounding and I can feel all the muscles in my face relax immediately. Step 1: GLOW and POLISH Glow is a wonderful botanical oil blend, that you can use as eye-makeup remover. Within the beauty ritual you then mix it with Polish to create a wonderful deeply purifying facial cleanser. Polish is a powdery consistency, it buffes away impurities but isn't not harsh like other scrubs. It also contains natural lactic acid to brighten and soften, from organic whole milk powder. You can use turn your cleanse into a weekly face mask by leaving it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. And it feels incredibly nice! Step 2: HYDRATE and NOURISH Spritz your face liberally with HYDRATE and you will want to use it all day long! It's a lovely hydrating spritz packed with essential nutrients that will allow your next step to really lock in that extra moisture. Then you follow with a few drops of Nourish. I really love massaging the Nourish serum into my skin and personally love the smell so much that I inhale a few times to get the most out of the aromatherapy effects. If you are feeling dry, apply NOURISH directly to your skin after using POLISH. Step 3: RESTORE Apply a small amount of RESTORE to the area around the eyes and elsewhere on the face, as needed. The area between the eye brows and the "laugh lines" next to the mouth are especially nice. It's a very concentrated potent little balm that my skin loves.

All products are 100% Natural, Crueltyfree, All BLOOM formulas are vegetarian or vegan, gluten free and preservative + toxin free and only contain with the freshest, safest, most luxurious ingredients for your skin type. The line does not use any fillers (including water) and as such a little goes a very long way.

I am hooked on my luxurious beauty ritual! Please check out the BLOOM website which now offers a generous $20.00 shipping flat rate to Australia.

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.

How to hydrate and replenish sensitive dry Winter Skin

Different Season - Different Skin CareAs the seasons change our skin has develops different needs as well and most of us have to adjust our skin care. My own skin has become dry in areas as the temperatures dropped recently and I also had some redness and sensitivity. I have just received an email from one of my lovely clients asking me about a good skin care routine, product tips and facial recommendations for her dry/sensitive and dehydrated skin that also shows redness on the cheeks. She works in an air conditioned office and prefers natural skincare. In the lead up to her wedding day she wants her skin to be best. Don't we all? I got a little carried away with my response, spending about one hour to write recommendations and tips for her, so I thought I might as well share this with all of you, as we can all do with a little TLC for our Winter skins.

The Gentle Cleanse If you are still using a foaming cleanser now is the time to ditch it, it most likely will strip the skin of it's moisture and natural oils that it needs to stay healthy and hydrated. Go for a super gentle cream-, balm-, or milk cleanser and use it to double cleanse. You can use these with your Clearisonic as well. The Calming Cream Cleanser by Z'kin is excellent for sensitive Skin. La Mav Hydra Calm Cleansing Crème formulated with Bio-Flavonoids, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter to moisturize and cleanse the skin which will reveal a clear, bright, smooth feeling skin. I also love the SMOOTH Cleanser from Miskinorganics and another current favourite is Bloom Glow&Polish a unique cleansing paste that you freshly mix prior to application all these are replenishing the skin while removing makeup and cleansing away impurities.

The Key: Moisturize! Find a nourishing moisturizer that protects the skin from further moisture loss. Use 2x a day or use a different day and night cream if you prefer. If my skin is red, reactive and very sensitive it's in need for instant calming action my go to products are Zk'in Relief Moisturizer and Triology Very Gentle Calming Serum, the names say it all! For dry skin I recommend a very rich balmy moisturizer at night, and even apply it as mask in a thick layer when watching a movie or reading at home. Air conditioning and dry air from heaters is really bad for already dry skin, so please make sure you apply a lovely rich moisturizer and/or foundation as barrier to protect the skin. Trilogy Rosapene™ Night Cream works a treat as replenishing mask. Loaded with Antioxidants in a unique oil blend, manuka honey and Goji this will restore your skin quickly. You can also try incooperate pure organic Oils like Rosehip oil into your routine: Try nutrient rich oils like Rosehip. The trick to using oils effectively is to mix them with water. They absorb so much better this way. Mix equal parts oil and water in your hands, and rub together vigorously before massaging the mixture onto your face. I like to spritz my face with a hydtrating spray before applying oils. Use alone, or layered under your usual moisturizer. Everyone is talking about Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, believe the hype! It's pure skincare at it's best.

Hydration: The Spritz! Hydrating sprays can be very beneficial to have handy on your desk, together with some handcream & lipbalm, especially if you are working in an air conditioned office. Jane Iredale makes my favourite ones, certified organic filled with lovely armomatherapy oils they are the ultimate luxury and the bottles are super pretty too.

Keep Young! To target and prevent fine lines it's a good idea to have a powerful anti ageing eyecream as part of your regime. My favourites are; Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream, Z'kin Line Smoothing Serum, La Mav Bio A7 Firming Eye Lotion

Shake it off! Keep exfoliating. You can find my guide on exfoliation here. Incoporate healthy fats in your diet like avocado and flaxseed oil, coconut oil and nuts and of course make sure you drink enough water. If you are feeling less thirsty in the colder season try herbal teas and spicy chais (without black tea) which will warm you up, increase circulation and help you to stay hydrated. I hope this helps! Feel free to post any questions or your personal tips and experience in the comments below. :)

The Six Week Bridal Beauty Prep PART TWO Cleansing & Exfoliating

You have still six weeks to go and I hope you enjoyed part one, on how to get your Body glowing. Let's focus on the delicate skin of your face next. Without question, everyone can benefit from regular exfoliation by using products with AHA (alpha hydroxy acid such as glycolic and lactic acids) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid, also known as salicylic acid). Each provides multiple benefits, including fighting signs of aging and breakouts! Stick to products free of unneccessary synthetic fragrance and always ready the label!

GET THAT GLOW! Yay for AHA & BHA

Exfoliate once a week with a gentle AHA and/or BHA peel. This is my personal routine, some people prefer to use a mild exfoliation daily or every other day, everyone is different. My skin looks best when I exfoliate 1-2 times a week. There are pads, gels, masks and cremes containing fruit enzymes, glycolic, lactic or mandelic acids, some products use a combination of different AHA' s. AHAs are preferred for sun-damaged and dry skin because they exfoliate on the surface of skin and have the added benefit of also improving moisture content. If you are prone to break outs use a BHA product that contains Salicylic Acid. BHA is preferred for oily, acne-prone skin and for treating blackheads and white bumps because BHA can get through the oil that's clogging your pores, normalizing the lining of the misshapen pore that contributes to acne.BHA has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action. Those are two more reasons to use a BHA exfoliant if you have acne or sensitive, reddened skin. Both AHA and BHA work to reduce fine lines, stimulate collagen, and firm the skin. There is no need to to physically rub and scrub and your skin when using these products, they work by gently loosing up the "glue" in between the dead skin cells, so that the old skin can come off without any damage to your skin. You will be left with a radiant glow. One of my favourite ever exfoliating masks is by Tata Harper, it gives instant radiance and is very gentle. It smells heavenly and the jelly texture is so fun. I had the chance to meet the wonderful Tata in person in London and have been a fan of her products since. The resurfacing mask is available in Australia via Lulu&Lipstick, an awesome selection of beauty products from around the world that are hard to get in Australia.

NAY to scrubs Many scrubs have a rough and uneven texture that can cause skin damage by tearing into the skin, causing tiny tears that damage the skin's barrier. Scrubs often cause more problems than they could possibly solve. If you do want to use a manual scrub, you can simply use a gentle washcloth with your daily cleanser, which works just as well to exfoliate the surface of skin as any cosmetic scrub you can buy. As a bonus, washcloths are softer (thus gentler) and of course they don't contain pore-clogging ingredients that oily, acne-prone skin doesn't need. With all types of exfoliation comes sun sensitivity, mainly because there are fewer layers of cells as protection so be mindful of using your sunscreen and staying out of the sun while it’s at its strongest. For daily cleansing I recommend a very gentle cleansing milk, oil or balm that doesn't strip the skin. If you are a fan of natural cosmetics or got very sensitive skin, try using pure organic coconut oil as makeup remover. Another gentle and fabulous option to clean your skin is the Clearisonic. Use the sensitive skin brush heads, they are the best choice from my experience. I have the "Mia" which is a travel friendly version and I looooove it. If you prefer a foaming wash for your face make sure you will buy one without any harsh detergents like SLS or synthetic fragrances. For makeup junkies and daily foundation wearers I recommend a double cleanse: Step 1: Removing Makeup with an oil based cleanser. Step 2: Cleanser appropriate for your skin type

Do you need professional help? Trust your own judgement. Does your skin respond well to your home treatments and is clear and soft most of the time? Well then keep doing whatever you are doing and invest in good products for your home routine. Once you turn 30, it is wise to get a professional peel or microdermabrasion (if your skin is not sensitive and thick) treatment every other month to encourage cell turnover and keep your complexion clean, bright and youthful. With all acids, my recommendation is to make sure you stay under a 25% concentration. Over the counter products will always be 10% or lower, however if you get a professional facial, request a percentage that is no higher than 25%. This way you are ensuring a good result without too much irritation. Stay away from strong, medical peels that reach the dermis, which is the living part of your skin underneath the epidermis. In my opinion, those types of treatments are too invasive and do more bad than good by causing intense edema [inflammation] of the dermis, which ultimately ages your skin.

Other things to do 6 weeks out: If you haven't already done it, this is a good time frame for your hair & makeup trial with your makeup artist and hairstylist for the wedding day. Schedule in other beauty appointments like your regular cut & color, eyebrow appointments etc. Get your beauty sleep, eat well, worry less, move more. Be Happy :)

Happy Earth Day! The best fragrance free mineral primers

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Isn't this planet truly amazing? I love watching nature & animal documentaries to unwind or simply go for a walk by the beach or in the bush. I always find this very humbling, and grounding. As if they remind me that I am just a tiny little being in this huge universe. And sometimes that is very important to remember. I wish to see a lot more of this wonderful planet and really hope that we will preserve nature for generations to come. Living in Sydney, I feel I am surrounded by so much wildlife, the ocean and amazing exotic landscapes everywhere. Sometimes I just need to step outside and take it all in. In real life.

I think all women with half a brain know that today beauty products don't have to cost the earth to be effective. And if you don't believe me, do your own research :) I personally feel they will long term always give the better results. I aspire to be a green makeup artist using only the best luxury and natural products. I am always out discover the latest and best beauty products from around the world and share my experiences with you. Please note that the below primers all DO contain silcone and are therefore not entirely clean or 100% natural.

I want to sing the praises of some great primers in the natural/green/organic category. All of these are free of synthetic fragrance, crueltyfree, vegan, and paraben free as well as packed with essential nutrients and the most luxurious botanical ingredients. I hope you enjoy and give these goodies a go!

Youngblood Mineral Primer The overall best makeup primer I have ever used. This one is suitable for all skin types. It's does everything I could ever ask for. Minimizes the appearance of pores, smooths fine lines, controls that oily t-zone while still being nourishing and really helps any foundation to stay in place for longer! Pro tip: It works as magical makeup eraser when you apply one drop to a cotton bud: You can correct eyeliner shapes or error without disturbing the makeup! Magic! It's also filled with vitamins and natural goodness, and leaves out synthetic fragrances and nasty ingredients. Win win! Jane Iredale Smooth Affair A luxurious makeup base, great for dehydrated or dry or mature skins. It gives that extra glow and smells divine. I use it underneath my Glow Time BB Creme, whenever I feel I need a little extra moisture. Perfect for Glow during Summer!

Hourglass No28 Primer Serum This one is quite different to any other primer I have used. It is extremely rich and oily. So please don't try to use this in tropical summer weather or on very oily skin. This can still be a good product for oily skins, but I guess you are better of with a mattifying product. It is perfect for extremely and I repeat extremely dry skin, as well for harsh Winter months, when the skin can't keep up it's natural oil production. It's also great for dry mature skin as it's made from a cocktail of potent anti ageing ingredients and therefore really deserves the last name Serum. My pro tip: You can also use it on cheeks and brows for an glossy, dewy look as seen on current fashion weeks.

Hourglass Veil Primer: Quite the opposite of the above, this primer is perfect for humid hot days and/or oily skin. It makes any foundation that is used on top of this water resistant. Perfect for teary brides! As it has a milky white appearance, it can make very tanned or dark skins appear ashy. This can be counter acted with the correct makeup, but if you are after a bronzed look or have naturally dark skin, you might want to try out a sample before you purchase. While it completely absorbs really nicely and is super lightweight it only works for fair to medium skin tones. Which is clearly a bummer. I still find it a remarkable product, even if my very own skin get's to dark in Summer to use this. It's also perfect for anyone with redness that wants to even out their skin tone.

While Hourglass products are free of synthetic fragrances, cruelty free and free of many nasty ingredients, they do not claim to be a 100% natural, green or organic brand, please see ingredients for yourself and decide if these products are for you.