Current Nail Favourite: Model’s Own Indian Ocean

Hello Snowdroplets!

This stuff, as the title suggests, is definitely my new favourite nail varnish – let me try to explain why…

First off, I bought this bottle of nail varnish inside a bottle of nail varnish. Oh yes, you read that right. Model’s Own pop-up type shop is in the shape of a cute bubbly nail varnish bottle with pink ‘varnish’ spilling out – I mean how frickin’ awesome?! What I especially loved was how the staff spoke about The Bottle as if it was some kind of alternate dimension where nails were worshiped like Gods and nothing bad… like, dare I say, bare or chipped nails… existed. It was a little slice of girly, beauty heaven!

Anyway, onto the actual nail varnish. Normally £5 (but I bought mine with two others so it was cheaper), this is a gorgeous shimmery top coat. In the bottle, it looks like a combination of turquoise and pink swirls with tiny glitter particles, but on the nails these colours do not show so much. It lets the base coat colour shine through, simply providing a gorgeous sheen and subtly picking out the pinks and blues of the shade and letting those parts beautifully catch the light.

I’ve used Indian Ocean over two different base colours to give you an idea of it’s appearance:

 

I’m not sure these pictures quite do justice to this topcoat. Also, I have no idea what that black mark on my little finger is is the last picture?! Ahh well ;-). The base colour in the first look is Avon’s Speed Dry in Sprightly Mint, a gorgeous fresh mint green for Spring/ Summer and the base coat for the second look is another Model’s Own nail varnish from their scented range (though I have never noticed a scent at all) in Grape Juice.

 

What do you think of this nail varnish? The only negative thing I can say about it is that it does take a while to dry, definitely at least 5 mintutes. But once it is on, it certainly seems to stay on and not chip – which is a must for me!

 

Thank you for reading,

 

Simplistic beauty xx

Spring Highstreet Fashion Wishlist 2014

The weather woman on Look North has just informed me that we’ve got another warmer week ahead and I’m taking that as certified permission to start getting overly excited about the new Spring/Summer lines appearing on the highstreet. Everything just seems to be so cute! Here are some of the items I am totally lusting over this season…

MOTO Light Grey Leigh Jeans – Topshop £38.00

I’ve never really gone for grey jeans before, but I thought these ones were really sweet! The shade is just perfect in my opinion; light enough to look really pretty with pastels but dark enough to also look really cool and edgy with monochromes. Oh, and the fit and shape of all Topshop jeans is just perfect. Sadly, no matter how much I try, I really can’t justify the £38.00 though.

Love Bird Cross Stitch Dotty Across Body Bag – Accessorize £25.00

This. This is just beautiful. The boho feel of the embroidery style detailing on the flap, the gorgeous fun, fresh colours, the practical size – for me, this looks like the perfect Spring and Summer bag. It is just SO pretty, I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere and it’s not too expensive… I just love this!

Lace Back Playsuit – Topshop £48.00

Aww, this is soo pretty and cute but elegant and sophisticated at the same time! I have hopelessly fallen in love with the mint green trend which is still definitely going strong, and playsuits are one of my favourite things to wear in Summer as they are really comfy and airy! Unfortunately, the price is waaay out of my budget but it’s free to look isn’t it? And drool? And gawk at every couple of days on the website to see if it’s gone in the sale like a mad woman? Tell me I’m not the only person who does that…

Spot Lilly Shirt – Topshop £35.00

Topshop again, what can I say? Again, I think this is really unique and stunning. It kind of reminds me of Japanese cherry blossom trees and exotic beaches… I love it so much, but hate the price. Topshop,why so expensive? :(. I think I’ d wear this with highwaisted shorts, or, come to think of it, it would look gorgeous with the Topshop jeans!

Navy Polka Dot Tea Dress – River Island £25.00

Don’t even try to tell me this is more of a Autumn item, it won’t deter me, I’m already way too in love with this. I can not get enough of these t-shirt dresses at the moment! I love wearing dresses as I always feel feminine and pretty in them but live in fear of looking like I’ve tried too hard or am overdressed. Therefore, these are the perfect solution! I especially love this cute polka dot one with the bold white spikey collar.

Coral Quilted Rucksack – River Island £30.00

This bag just took my breath away when I saw it – it is the ultimate power bag. The colour is just so bold and… KAPOW!! Know what I mean? I love the fact that other than the trendy quilted texture there is no decoration on the bag to distract from the awesome colour, making it look even more unapologetic and empowering. I need this is my life.

Cara Camera Across Body Bag – Accessorize £25.00

I think for the £25 I would probably prefer the other Accessorize bag but this one is really cute and quirky! I mean…IT’S A CAMERA?! HOW fun and cutsie?! I love the fact that being gold it adds some bling to your outfit and it would also go with everything. Cute, but not quite worth the money methinks.

Jardin Supersoft Sweat – Topshop £24.00

I’m not even sure why I like this so much, but I do! I’m head over heels! I love statement t-shirts and sweatshirts but find some of the slogans just a bit… odd? But this I thought was quite sweet and a bit more feminine – and basically just really cute for Spring! Also, I thought the £24 was very reasonable for Topshop.

Crop Pocket Vest – Topshop £8.00

I’ve only just realised how practically everything is from Topshop… oops! This is a perfect little basic for throwing on over shorts or jeans and just looking effortlessly pretty. The colour, I find, is ideal for Spring and I think loose crop tops are so much more casual and flattering than the tight ones which I tend to feel a bit uncomfortable and self-conscious in.

Well, there you have it! If you don’t take anything else from this post, you have definitely learned that I have a real Topshop obsession… it’s becoming a problem. Which online shops do you always find yourself browsing through?

Thank you for reading,

 

Simplistic beauty xx

February 2014 Beauty and Fashion Favourites

Hello my Snowdroplets!!

This is my first ever monthly favourite post and I don’t know if I try enough products to do one each month, but I found this one fun to do so who knows? I will warn you though, it has turned into a bit of a mammoth post so you may want to grab a nice hot chocolate/coffee/tea before you begin! In other news, I was thrilled when I logged onto my blog this morning to find that I have just surpassed the 1000 views milestone, I now feel like a true blogger. Anyway, without further ado I shall begin this post…

My Beauty Favourites

Impulse Loving Words – £0.97 at Superdrug

I have tried quite a few Impulse body sprays now, whether they be mine or a friends, and so I think myself justified to declare this one my favourite! The fragrance is very fruity and fresh and making it distinctly feminine and for only £0.97 I don’t really think you can go wrong. I also love the packaging; it slots into my school bag perfectly for a sneaky spritz after PE.

Nivea Smooth Nourishing Hand Cream 30ml – £1.50 at Superdrug

This has been my saviour. For some reason my hands have really been taking a battering this year from the weather and I ended up with the skin between my fingers being terribly dry. My friend kindly gave me this in a gift set for my birthday and after using it daily before bed my hands have felt much smoother, softer and the dryness has almost gone. It doesn’t feel greasy when you put it on and has an instant and lasting effect. The only perhaps downside is that it has quite a strong smell, but personally, I quite like it.

Rimmel London Hide the Blemish Concealer – £3.99 at Superdrug

I have started using this for my dark circles which have been pretty shocking at the moment, admittedly only I am to blame for this though! Initially I had wanted to get the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer as I thought a liquid one might have more coverage but I couldn’t find one in my shade ANYWHERE so my friend recommended this. I have found it to be good, providing a smooth, light coverage which has been nice when I didn’t want to look ‘made-up’, but I think I probably will still be keeping an eye out for the Collection concealer.

Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose – £1.50 at Superdrug

This. This is just amazing. Forget your Vaselines, Baby Lips and all the rest of it, this is what you need in your life. It has made my lips the softest I think they have ever been and this smells soo fruity and sweet and GOOD!! I also own the original one which is great as well, but I just prefer the smell of this one. The packaging is really cute as well, the little tin is really slim so I barely feel it slotted into my school blazer pocket. Snowdrop highly recommends.

Eos Lip Balm in Sweet Mint – £4.99 at naturisimo.com

Now, I realise I have effectively just labelled the Nivea Lip Butters the best lip balms ever, but… I think the Eos lip balms are a VERY close second! The smell (and taste… don’t judge me) of these are unbeatable – this sweet mint one literally smells like the best mint chocolate icecream ever. These are 95% organic and 100% natural and how cool is the packaging?! All you have to do is pucker up and smooth it on, though I must confess the shape is a little inconvenient. But unfortunately, I don’t think these are quite as moisturising as the Nivea Lip Butters, they are great, don’t get me wrong, but now I have experienced the Nivea ones, I don’t think anything can compare!

Maybelline Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara – £7.99 at Superdrug

This is pretty awesome. At first it scared me a bit because it came out way clumpier than my previous mascara, but it was probably just because I’d had to coat my lashes with the other one to achieve the desired amount of volume whereas with this you just slick it on and you’re done! It creates so much volume with such little product; it’s amazing! So while it was a bit of an investment for me, I think it will definitely last me and save me plenty of time. Happy customer.

My Fashion Favourites

Primark Jumper – £14

This jumper has quickly turned into one of my favourites (… hence why it’s now in my favourites post, what a stupid thing to say -.-). I thought it was a bit expensive for Primark at first but I fell in love with the combination of the quirky and retro, yet still girly, floral pattern and the edgy monochrome colour scheme which seems to be really popular at the moment. I also love the way it sits, nice and loose but with a bit of gathering at the bottom so that it doesn’t just hang. Not to mention, the quality feels quite good for Primark as well – I’m so glad I bought this! It adds interest and fun to any casual outfit.

Topshop Mini Satchel Bag – £15 in the sale

I spent SO much time deliberating as to whether to buy this or not as I have acquired rather an abundance of bags over the years, but I am so glad that I did! These satchel style bags seem to be the perfect size for me, I hope they stay ‘in’ for a while yet. I have used this bag so much already and I still get as excited about using it as I did when I first got it, which is always a good sign. I reckon it’s perfect for this time of year, as it adds a splash of Spring to any outfit when it’s still too cold to wear Spring/Summer clothes – the colour is surprising easy to match as well! I will probably be using this all the way through Spring and Summer so it was a real bargain if you look at it that way.

Gilly Hicks Medium Wash Jeggings – £11.90 in the sale

 

I don’t even know how to start describing to you how much I love these. I had had my eye on some Topshop jeans almost identical to these for a while, but they were around £38 which there was no way I could justify paying. Then, I found these. Originally £34 (I think) these are SO soft and comfortable it’s like wearing super comfy leggings – that look GOOD!!? I was a bit worried that they might be thin legging-esque material though as they were labelled as jeggings, but they are effectively just ultra comfy and soft jeans. I especially love the colour, just that bit faded but not too pale, meaning I could make them work in Winter or Summer and the fact they are slightly highwaisted is great too, meaning I could wear them with crop tops if I wanted. They also fit PERFECTLY.

 

Thank you for making it through this fairly hefty post! Did you enjoy my first ever favourites post? It was certainly fun getting together everything I’ve been loving this month.

 

Simplistic beauty xx

 

Fashion At Your Fingertips: Accent Nails

Accent nails. Some of you may be well acquainted with this term by now, if you are passionate about nail trends, however, I’m sure there are still a lot of you who, like my dear mother, are wondering with bemused curiosity why I have only added glitter to one of my nails. Did I get bored and give up? Run out of glitter? Or perhaps I was just trying out a new nail varnish? Nope, not quite, and no again, I was in fact experimenting with the fun new phenomena that is: accent nails, the trend taking the high street by storm!

So what is an accent nail? Basically, it can be defined as a single nail (typically the ring finger) painted with a different design to the other nails, but using complimentary or the same colour/s. I kept it simple and merely added a gold glitter topcoat to my base colour, but you can use your imagination and put your own stamp on this trend. I’ve even seen people paint, for example, a floral design on all but the ring finger nail, leaving the accent nail as a plain block colour. The options are endless!

The nail varnishes I used were Barry M’s Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Green Berry 350 for the base coat, and a mini glitter polish by Jessica which came in a gorgeous set I was lucky enough to receive for my birthday for the accent nail.

I think this is such a fun and creative trend which I can’t wait to play around with more! What do you think?

Thank you for reading,

Simplistic beauty xx

Friday Featured Fashion Find

Call me a pessimist, but I don’t want to get too excited about this sudden warm, sunny spell. So instead of getting ahead of myself and writing about cute sundresses, skirts, shorts and sleeveless blouses (as much as I want to!) I am going to expect the worst and see if British weather will surprise me, so here are some super cute umbrellas I came across this week:

 

shopbop.com £42

 

shopbop.com £42

 

John Lewis £18

sshopbop.com £37

 

Surfdome £32

Which are your faves? I think mine has to be the second one because of it’s too cute bubble shape, sweet heart graphic and ‘rain rain go away’ quote – adorable!!

Thank you for reading,

 

Simplistic beauty x

 

Fashion At Your Fingertips – Colour Blocking

Colour blocking has been in for a while now, but with the albeit late, arrival of Spring, it is a really hot trend, especially with such hot colour trends on the catwalk too – just think neon and the bright jewel colours I’ve already fussed over! So your nails are no exception…

This look is purely made up of two bold colours, one as a base and the other used for the tip, like a French manicure but with bright, primary colours. You can make it fun and fresh or classy and chic depending on what colours you choose. In the picture above I went for a bold, fresh outlook with a nod towards nautical. However, you must make sure that it is always that darker colour on top of the lighter, as I initially wanted alternate: blue on red, then red on blue, but soon discovered that the red didn’t show on top of the blue. 😦

So, if you want to create this look all you have to do is follow these simple steps:

1) Paint all of your nails in your chosen base colour.

2) Cover all your nails with Sellotape (yes, again!) leaving just the tip bare once your base is dry.

3) Paint the tip of all your nails and leave it to dry.

4) Slowly and carefully, peel off the Sellotape to reveal what should be a perfectly straight coloured tip!

5) Use a hair grip to dot on some more polish if there is a slight gap or such like and seal the look with a clear top coat.

Perfecto!!

Thank you for reading, like if you liked, follow for more, and comment your opinion!!

Simplistic beauty xx

Beautiful Bags

My slightly disturbing obsession with bags may be starting to become evident by now, they’re definitely my  favorite accessory!

And who can help but fall head over heels at the moment what with such gorgeous shapes and styles currently adorning the catwalk, and so consequently the high street. Let me show you two of the most dominant, I think you’ll see what I mean as there is definitely one for every women, or if you’re like me, every occasion, possibility and event! 😉

THE RUCKSACK

^ Rucksacks have taken the fashion world by storm, every designer and high street store has cottoned on making it even easier to snap one up. They are splendidly practical what with the storage perfect for books, lunch or sleepover supplies, all of which take up no arms or hands, snugly secured on your back. Every style can be incorporated, take a look at these fresh and funky examples:

Claires (in the sale) £8

NEON – this gorgeous splash of colour would make a perfect update to your wardrobe and for £8 there is no excuse!

Asos £25

GRUNGE – this bag is really unique with the vintage stripe pattern, yet the deep grungy hues give it an unexpected edge, and the price here is also very reasonable considering the size and strength.

Asos £35

STRIPE and PASTEL and VINTAGE – HOW CUTE?!?! This candy coloured bag ticks all the boxes and will be ideal for Spring/Summer. I have no more words. Beautiful.

This is not a trend to let pass, thinking ”This won’t last, I won’t bother.”. NO. Just, no, the fashion industry urges you, do not let this pass.

THE BOX BAG

^ What with the wrath of the still fashionable satchel, boxy bags are definitely in at the moment! Maybe it’s part of the geometric trend, sparked by Loius Vuitton’s classy, refined designs shown above, or perhaps the elegant, minimalism trend? Who knows, all we know is that it’s in, and by that we mean IN.

Topshop £35

This edgy gem is super glamorous as well as rock chick cool. The price is a bit excessive but I havn’t seen anything similar to this anywhere else and it is truly unique… and gorgeous, and… these are the kind of arguments I come up with to try and justify buying something!!

Asos £65.00

Ok, it’s not exactly a bargain and I realise this probably isn’t everyone’s taste. I can almost hear you all saying ”OMG it’s hideous!” etc. etc. But… I love it!! It adds sleek sophistication to any outfit and I love how it mixes brown and black – I’m always unsure about doing that but if one item has already done it for you then I feel much more comfortable doing it. Not to mention the practicality and just, how can I describe my love for this bag?! Gorgeous.

Asos (in the sale) £18

Some of you may  think the same about this bag, but it’s a really A-list look. Don’t look at me like that. Sport luxe is all over the catwalks and I plan to do a post defining it better soon but this bag is a great example of it and could be worn in and out of the gym. White is also probably THE colour to be seen with this Sping, another point in this bag’s favour. Not to mention it’s a great price for the size and expensive leather look with the bold red trimming. Buy now!!

My love for these bags may date right back to my childhood. ”But they’ve only just become fashionable!” I hear you cry, yes, but as a child I had a rather strange obsession. Other young girls may have fallen head over heels for dolls, toys or other pink assorted items, but not me. I discovered a love for boxes. I just thought they were so cute and novel – I mean they’re like just an ornament from the outside but then you open them up and… BAM it’s like another world in there!! And then you can PUT stuff in them and carry it secretly round with you, with no one else knowing what’s inside… Oh the wonders. As I have grown older, this adoration has moved more towards fashion, clothes and especially bags. So a bag disguised as a box (or the other way round?) is just like… wow… to me.

So yessss.. if I haven’t completely weird-ed you by now  please follow Snowdrops either by WordPress account or email and comment and like if you enjoyed reading my random ramblings!

Thank you for reading

xx

All Things Bright And Beautiful

What with this miserable and dreary weather, Spring is bound to creep up on us and we’ll be in that familiar situation of ‘not having anything to wear’ – again. 2013 is all about eye-popping colours, you can even reuse some of Autumn’s jewel tones, as long as they’re bursting with colour and eye-catching, they’re hot.  So get ahead of the game and snap up some bright, fun and quirky pieces, when  you see what’s on offer, you won’t be able to resist…

THE BAG

1.2.3.4.

1. Accessorize £17   2. Paul’s Boutique (availible at Asos) £85   3. Claudia Canova (availible at New Look) £74.99   4. New Look £39.99

These gems sure pack a punch! Mulberry, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton’s latest designs make it evident that vibrant handbags are definitely having a moment, and how better to approach this daring yet undeniably fun trend than starting small. If you’re unsure, take a look around Accessorize as they have plenty of affordable options for injecting a splash of colour to your wardrobe!

THE SHIRT

  

1.                                  2.                                    3.

1. Bhs £20   2. M&S £35  3. Asos (in the sale) £6

A hot pink adds definite va-va-voom and screams fun and flirty, while a striking cobalt blue creates an expensive looking, laid back look, not to mention the exquisite green offers a more fresh outlook. Which is your favourite? Tuck into either classic indigo jeans to make the colour really pop, or clash them with a contrasting colour for double style points. Not to mention how they can be worn loose over casual leggings for effortless style.

THE TROUSERS

1.2.3.4.5.

1. Oasis (availible at Asos) (in the sale) £12   2. Blue Banana £27.99   3. M&S £29.50   4. House Of Fraser £60   5. Forever 21 $17.80

The coloured jeans of this season are even more in your face! If skinny jeans aren’t your style, and you’re looking for something slightly more refined, tailored trousers are sleek and fashionable this season especially in geometric prints as shown in number 5. Unfortunately they’re American – I ADORE them – but I hope I’ll be able to come across some similar ones elsewhere. 😉

THE JEWELLERY

1.2. 3.

1. £20   2. £10  3. £25 (all Topshop)

Minimalistic is soo boring! Go crazy with statement jewellery, think aztec, geometric, vibrant… Basically anything that takes your fancy, it’s now acceptable. Wondering if something is too in your face, or doubting whether you can pull something off, is a thing of the past – just wear it, and wear it with pride.

THE SHOES

1.2.3.4.

1. Office (in the sale) £12   2. Boohoo (in the sale) £8   3. New Look (in the sale) £8   4. Even & Odd (availible at Zalando) (In the sale) £26

Similar to the bags, these bargain-tastic shoes are ideal for adding a touch of the trend to your outfit without having to totally commit. There are plenty availible catering for how daring you are, will you have the guts to go for some kooky platforms like the ones shown from Office? Or will you keep it laid back in some subtle colour blocked brogues? I can’t get enough of the sky blue ones by Even & Odd!

Spark some sunshine into your Spring wardrobe, and enjoy the new more adventurous you! I hope some of my excitement for this new trend has rubbed off on you.

Don’t forget to follow Snowdrops for the latest fashion news,

Simplistic Beauty x