Powder Beauty Boutique recently celebrated 10 years in business with a spangly ‘do – 10 years! That’s not an easy milestone to reach and so they celebrated by hosting an event in the salon featuring inspiring guest speakers, super cool brands and discounted beauty treatments.
This manicure takes inspiration from the Ashish SS16 London Fashion Week show with a little festive magic thrown in. Yes, the festive season is nearly upon us!
The latest Ashish collection was one giant glitter party, from the clothes and shoes to the hair and make-up – everything had a dose of sparkle and fun. I love this mood as I’m probably one of the only people thoroughly looking forward to Christmas already; when it is sequin and sparkle central.
Image courtesy of ASOS
While I love the playfulness of the multi-coloured brights in the Ashish glitter manicure, the shades aren’t quite right for this time of year so instead, give a nod to next season and choose autumn-inspired hues. Berry and wine shades, such as claret and plum. This Gelaze gel, with its wine-red and subtle sparkle tones is perfect.
I think of it as grown-up glitter as the glitter particles capture the light rather than jump out at you. Ideal for all those pending Christmas parties, this mani will not only compliment your LBD but it will last the pace just like you.
Bethanie x
Image courtesy of Tatler
For the spring / summer 2015 catwalks, nail designs and colours came in all shades of the spectrum and from the simple and elegant to the outright bedazzled. Whereas I do love a spot of zany nail art (if you’re an avid reader of this blog you’ll know that by now), one of my personal favourite looks for the season is nude nails. Understated, chic and a goes-with-everything colour, nude oozes sophistication and versatility.
You can either keep nails oval and long with a simple nude tone or complete the look with a diamond embellishment at the base of the nail, this looks great on short nails. But with white also being on trend, I chose to blend the two with this gel moon manicure. By teaming white with of-the-minute nude, it won’t look so harsh and adds an element of interest and originality.
Fashion
You can either flaunt your nails and wear a contrasting colour to enhance them, such as navy blue or fuchsia pink or else complement the tones and wear head to toe neutrals like these gorgeous outfits – perfect inspiration for summer…
Images via
Every spring we’re inundated with pretty pastels as baby blue, powder pink and delicate nudes take centre stage in our wardrobes and makeup palettes. But what if you want more ‘oomph’? If you prefer deeper shades and don’t want to stop wearing them for spring / summer, then this seasons Bordeaux shades like the 2015 pantone: marsala are for you.
Celebrities such as Miranda Kerr, Emma Stone and Blake Lively have all been spotted wearing marsala tones, boldly contrasting with the red carpet yet smouldering in this deeply vibrant shade.
My latest manicure uses a marsala tone with metallic stripes on my ring fingers for an up-to-date look and more wearable take on the catwalk trends of the year. A berry-meets-plum-meets-burgundy hue that changes with the light, it looks striking against pale skin tones while enhancing darker or tanned skin. Because of the deeper, more elegant tone to it – you can wear marsala day or night. I’m totally addicted.
I love this simple TOPSHOP maxi dress teamed with a leather fringed bag and gladiator sandals. Who says springtime fashion and beauty has to be light and fluffy? Dare to be different.
If you’re an avid follower of this blog, you’ll know that I usually opt for nail art and manicures that are a little less ordinary. OK, a lot less ordinary. So this time, I favoured simplicity and opted for a simple pastel pink manicure.
My nails are suffering at the moment, for a number of reasons. Being a mum, my hands are consistently in water – cleaning, mopping spills and ‘accidents’, germ paranoia…the list goes on. That and tapping at my laptop everyday, leave my talons looking tatty.
Powder therefore advised me to give my preferred gels a rest and let my natural nails breathe while restoring some much-needed nourishment. They advised using a cuticle oil every night. It needn’t be a chore, just pop it by your bedside or apply while watching the TV. I love coconut oil and olive oil which works just as well. Simply focus on the cuticle and gently massage in the oil to encourage healthy growth.
I’m trying to use a hand cream everyday throughout the day too so I’ve put a pot next to each sink in the house, next to my bed and in my handbag – no excuse!
The shade I picked is Suzi Shops & Island Hops by OPI. You’ll see this shade in all the shops right now, it looks fantastic with this seasons navy and denim trends so I might have to go out and buy some new indigo denim flares to match my mani. What?? 🙂
Aloha!!
Powder beauty presents OPI Hawaii Collection, come and get a pop of colour to go with the sunshine with these new great colours! Why not try bright and fruity with ‘Pineapples Have Feelings Too!’ Or ‘Is Mai Tai Crooked?’ Add a feature nail with shimmery undertones with ‘My Gecko Does Tricks’, become an ocean goddess with ‘This Colour’s Making Waves’ or a fiery lava queen with ‘Go With The Lava Flow’. If none of those take your fancy there are great twists on the classics and more subtle, neutral and pastel colours to add some Hawaiian happiness onto your fingers or toes!
Treat yourself today at Powder Beauty Boutique
Mini Manicure/ Pedicure £15/£25
Powder Manicure/ Pedicure £22/£32
Gel Manicure/ Pedicure £27/£37
Manicure with nail art from £25
This months manicure is inspired by the current 70s trends and in particular, Geo Pop inspiration. Think graphic shapes colliding with precision and contrasting shades of mustard, blues and greens…
When I designed this nail art, the salon team at Powder were quite dubious as to my colour choices but then pleasantly surprised when they saw how well the grey-blue and mint green complemented one another.
The trick to pulling off the geo 70s vibe with confidence is to throw abandon to fashion rules. Think brown and blue don’t go together? This season they’re a match made in heaven. Consider orange and yellow to be ‘out there’? Well in this trend story, they’re a must-wear combination. Mix it up and team your tonal aqua blue dress with red lipstick, a basket weave tote and stacked heels and of course your designer mani by Powder.
Another print combining colour and shapes is Aztec, a Far Eastern -inspired mish mash and there is plenty of it in the shops right now. This Warehouse Aztec Print Midi Dress, £32 will see you into spring summer and is perfect to combine the 70s vibe with. Wear yours with a floppy hat and suede fringed bag.
The upcoming trend that is creeping in for spring is geometric but not as the loud print you might be used to, more subtle whites and pastels and in crochet and knit like the below TOPSHOP Geometric Knitted Vest in fresh summer white.
This is the inspiration for my latest nail art design by Powder – french with a twist. The classic white tip has been catapulted into today’s current trends with a geo slant. As ever, my mani uses gel as this is what works best for me for a manicure that lasts but you can have it in polish and Powder will use a long-lasting topcoat for you. I love it. What do you think?
Get ahead of the fashion pack with this one – the perfect style to sport at London Fashion Week.
-Bethanie x
Is it wrong of me to look forward to colder weather just so that I can wear gorgeous winter coats and cosy jumpers? While the spring summer 2015 trends at London Fashion Week recently showed what we’ll be wearing next season, I’m getting pretty excited about the new clothing creeping in for winter.
A luxurious winter coat is a key autumn/ winter staple that you shouldn’t be afraid to invest in. Get it right and it can last you years but since there are so many styles to choose from, I’m taking inspiration from my latest nail art creation by Powder Beauty Boutique.
Championing two fashionable shades with a gunmetal grey base topped with a graduation of mink glitter, this look adds a touch of festivity and glamour while still being elegant enough for every day.
I normally opt for gels because I’m always using my hands as a busy mum and writer, meaning normal nail polish doesn’t even last a day however, I used CND VINYLUX® for the first time. This is a breakthrough nail polish where exposure to natural light activates the patent-pending ProLight Technology™ to deliver week-long wear. That’s rich colour with no chips or peeling and more durable nails overall for a whole week.
I was skeptical at first but I needn’t have been since they still look fabulous a week later. I have the tiniest of chips on one nail but that’s after a week and much use / clumsiness!
To match my talons to my coattails, naturally, I have my eye on this super luxe New Look Grey faux fur collarless coat £64.99 and this Wallis Gold/Brown Faux Fur Coat. Both are versatile enough to take me from day to night.
Military trench coats nip you in at the waist and give an overall structured and tailored look making them ideal for the office and this JD Williams Military Coat, £90 highlights my mani perfectly.
For an everyday coat, I’m coveting this stunning House of Fraser Grey Textured Coat, £150. Well, if you can’t decide on just one…
So when you’re out shopping for your new coat(s), pop into Powder Beauty Boutique and get a new mani to match.
Bethanie x
