Becoming the White Swan: Hair and Makeup 🦢

Today I'll be covering the second part of the guide to becoming Odette, aka the White Swan from Swan Lake. I will go over both hair and makeup to include hairstyles, makeup looks, and scents I think Odette would favour. This will be a shorter guide because I am nowhere near as passionate about hair and makeup as I am about clothes, but to create a look you also have to style the hair and makeup just right. Back to the lake we go!

The Premise

I believe that Odette would lean towards softer hairstyles and more minimal makeup looks, fitting for her delicate movements. Any sharp angles, bright colours or severe hairstyles would contrast her romantic and soft disposition. I also want to investigate scent notes and accords that would suit Odette well.

Hairstyles

Like I stated before, I think Odette would like soft hairstyles that frame her face and show off her radiant beauty that captures Prince Siegfried. Hairstyles like princess curls (using a wand or heatless curls), loose buns and plaits, or a half-up, half-down style with some simple clips would be what she goes for. I also don't think she would be afraid of some wispy bangs or face framing long layers. You can do these hairstyles with most hair types. If your hair doesn't work with these hairstyles, try a low ponytail with a satin ribbon tied in it, or just let your hair loose in the gentle breeze that sweeps across the lake.

Makeup Routine

There's not really much need for makeup when you're a swan. You're already beautiful by design. But maybe you want to catch Prince Siegfried's eye again, or just enhance your natural beauty. Either way, Odette would go very natural and glowy for her makeup. I really do think a good mascara, blush, icy highlighter and lip balm can go a long way. You could always do a shimmery eye look with some smudged eyeliner if you wanted to become more striking. Good examples include Elle Fanning in The Great or Zendaya at the NY premiere of The Odyssey.

Scents

I think Odette's favourite accords in a perfume would be fresh, powdery, and musky. Something elegant and subtle, with an animalistic touch to represent her swan side. She would like notes such as white musk, lily of the valley, rose, iris, and woods. Some perfumes I found that fit her aesthetic include L'eau d'Issey by Issey Miyake, Infusion d'Iris by Prada, and Lazy Sunday Morning by Maison Margiela. Some more budget-friendly options include White Musk from The Body Shop, or White Tea and Sage from Bath and Body Works.

This concludes my guide on how to become the White Swan. I do want to cover other characters from ballets, as it's not something I've seen before, and I want to be original. I hope one day if you wake up and decide, 'Today I want to be like Odette from Swan Lake', this guide will be the first thing you look for. 

Lucy ♡

The Easiest Cupcake Recipe 🧁

If you're anything like me, you have a really sweet tooth and love to bake. Maybe you love the cupcake emoji as much as I do too. Or baking class was your favourite in Royale High. I miss that game.

Today I'm divulging my secrets to having the fluffiest, yummiest cupcake recipe that can easily be used as a base for any more complex cakes or buns. It's super simple and quick to make; it only takes me about an hour from start to finish! The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so these are a favourite of my boyfriend. These cupcakes are sure to capture anyone's heart you desire and are worth it at approx. 220 calories each.

Lucy ♡

 

Ingredients

• Cupcake tin
• Cupcake cases
• 200g butter at room temperature
• 200g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 200g flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Recipe

1. Heat up your oven to 180℃ (that's 356℉ for the Americans)
2. Line your tin with cupcake cases. This recipe makes around 14-16 cupcakes, so a second tray or batch may be necessary.
3. Weigh out your butter and sugar and cream them together until you get a smoother texture.
4. Whisk in the two eggs. Check for pieces of shell.
5. Add the teaspoon of baking powder to the self-raising flour and sift them into the mixture.
6. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for that delicious vanilla taste.
7. Spoon your batter into the cupcake cases. Try not to fill them more than halfway up as you risk the cupcakes overflowing in the oven.
8. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
9. Ensure they are completely cooled before you ice them if you decide to do that. Buttercream pairs best with these, and add sprinkles for extra cuteness.
10. Enjoy your cupcakes!

 

Tips

• If you haven't left any butter out and only have cold butter, cut it into cubes and pop the bowl in the microwaves until the butter has softened.
• If you don't have self-raising flour, you can substitute it for the same amount of all-purpose flour with a teaspoon of baking powder per 100g of flour. If you do this, go easy on the baking powder that the recipe calls for, as your cupcakes could get too fluffy and collapse (I've done this before lol).
• Use a spatula to use up leftover batter so you don't waste anything.