I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want...

So ASOS have gone and done it again, released a discount code when I'm broker than a broke thing on a broke day. But then I always am!

It's AWSTYLE15 for 15% off the ASOS collection - so not sure if it includes everything...

So what could I possibly want from ASOS? Or might I be quicker going through what I don't want? Probably but I'll go through my main wants for now ;)

First off I want this dress featured in INSTYLE's AW 2010 Preview I love, love, love the look of this dress but it's hard to tell how perfect it will be without seeing it on a model/catwalk. I hope it isn't too short but even so I think it would be gorgeous with some wintery black tights and heels or flats. I love it! There's something a bit opulent about it (all the textures and general OTTness)and I can't wait for it to go on the ASOS website (and see how much it is). According to ASOS it will be online in the next few weeks.



I've long lusted after a pair of designer sunglasses. My favourite sunglasses thus far are Vivienne Westwood and Roberto Cavalli. I love big glasses and found these VW ones on ASOS. I adore both of these but probably would be inclined to go for the cheaper ones (well I am broke!!)...

Vivienne Westwood - RRP £151.25 now £75

Vivienne Westwood - RRP £195 now £137

Then there's my long luster after Paperself Lashes. I love them a lot but realistically I don't think a) I could use them without covering both them and myself in glue and b) I'm not convinced they'd suit my eyes. They are however, SO pretty.

[sigh] So those are the main things I think. There is a lot more I could post about but I'll only make myself grumpy thinking about how I can't afford them! What are you lusting after or treating yourself to? Or are you on a shopping ban too?

LoubouLush x

Ladybird Ladybug

I've attempted the full nail ladybird before. The results weren't pretty. I think it's possibly my nails but something about them looked off - like maybe they were too big and would look better on smaller nails?

Anyway my Barry M "Spring Green" is on its last legs and I thought I'd have a little fun with it this morning. What could I use a green as a base for? Ladybirds on grass of course!!


This was a totally flung together little experiment but I've listed below some of the basics and of course you can tweak it to your own preferences. Also apologies about the weird flash effect...

So what you'll need

1. Clear base coat/top coat

2. Green polish

3. Red polish (the bolder the better I think !)

4. Black polish

5. Toothpick

Apply the base coat to your filed and prepped nails, allowing to dry fully before apply a coat or two of green polish (here Barry M Spring Green which I think work perfectly), allowing each coat to dry fully! When dry using a red nail polish and brush apply rounded blobs of polish on top of the green trying to keep the edges as neat as possible. Again allow to dry fully. The next part is pretty tricky and i find using a toothpick works best for me but you can use a fine nail art brush, kirby hair grip or something small which you find easiest to work with. Apply small dots of black for the lady bird spots. You can also add a line of black at the front of the lady bird which I did on the thumbnails. Allow these to dry fully before applying a clear top coat to seal your design.

My top tip would be to make sure the red is a nice solid primary coloured vibrant red and to make sure the red and black polishes are nice and fluid. M black was a little gloopy which made things more difficult than they should have been...

And there you have it! A fun summery take on the nail art ladybird/ladybug :) You can alter this by using a glitter polishes, adding some white to the ladybirds for eyes or have a go with bees or something on the grass.

What do you think? Any other ideas for summer nail art?

LoubouLush x

NOTD Barry M "Spring Green" 290

I should really look into buying shares in Barry M. Specifically their nail polishes if possible.

I picked this up as part of the 2 for £5 deal in Superdrug. It looked rich and fun in the bottle so I thought I'd give it a go. I wasn't disappointed. The colour is difficult to photograph and this is as close as I got but the green is more vibrant in real life. It's like a bright emerald green and there's something about it that reminds me of green plastic like on a toy or something? I have no idea why but there you go!

I used two coats of the Spring Green and finished witha single clear top coat and it's standing up well. I've received a few lovely comments on it already. Impressive!

I have it teamed with a Barry M Pale Pink on my toenails and think it's a fun look for the ever disappearing summer!

All in all a great little budget buy for a fun summery look :)

LoubouLush x

Argan Oil - Liquid Gold?

Hi All, I hope you are all well and enjoying this excuse for summer ;) !


Sorry I've been so slack with this blog lately. Work and general life has been getting in my way. Hopefully normality will be reinstated shortly but in the meantime I thought I'd give you a rundown on a new product I've been trying out. "New" may be a bit of stretch for something that has been around for hundreds of years! But hopefully it's an oldie but goodie...

What is it?

Argan oil is a rare oil derived from kernels of the argan tree, traditionally found in Morocco (I believe it is the same as "Moroccan Oil"). It can be eaten but I am more interested in it's cosmetic form!

The oil is full of natural goodness and according to Wikipedia is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E), rich in phenols and phenolic acid, rich in carotenes, rich in squalene, rich in essential fatty acids, 80% unsaturated fatty acids and depending on extraction method more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.

Also according to Wikipedia All argan sold today is produced by a women's cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing healthcare and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole.

So... natural, check. Sustainable, check. Supports women, check. In addition it is said to be moisturising, healing and anti oxidising and it is said to combine the good qualities of other natural favourites like avocados, olive and almond oils. Some cosmetic uses I have found for it by searching online (there is a lot of information out there about it) include:

• anti aging/wrinkle - reduces signs of aging and prevents skin drying out
• protects and repairs the skin
• ease some skin conditions
• helps elasticity of skin
• renew skin structure and revitalise the skin
• prevent and reduce appearance of stretch marks
• reduce scars and other blemishes
• strengthen weak and brittle nails
• conditions hair
• smooths spilt ends
• can ease dry scalp
• adds shine to hair

Where can I get it?

I bought mine from this seller on Amazon but there are LOTS of other sellers out there with varying prices so shop around! It is readily available on eBay as well as through a range of other outlets.

So my order arrived quickly. I was full of expectation and a little apprehension as I have oily skin and hair so oil tends not to be my best friend!

What did I think?

Now first off, as the photos suggest the bottle is nothing to write home (or here really!) about. The oil itself is more runny than I expected. There is a vague smell off it, not unlike cooking oil. Nice ;)

I've only been using the oil not for about 10 days or so but so far I have applied it to:

• scarring on my leg (from shaving over a year ago!) in a similar way I would used Bio-Oil
• horrible stretch marks I have
• my face a couple of evenings before bed in a similar way I would use Estee Lauder Night Repair - just on its own with no other moisturiser
• my hair in the evening before bed and washed it out the next day
• damp hair like a serum
• the tips of dried newly straightened hair

(Is it any wonder I've been too busy to blog with all this going on, eh?!)

SKIN: The oil absorbs much better than I expected. I can't stand the feeling of "gloop" on me and don't moisturise anywhere near as much as I should because of it. This absorbed into my scarring and marks well. So far it's a bit early to declare much improvement but I do know my skin feels softer. My face has felt a bit "moist" after application but it hasn't stopped me falling asleep and by the time I wash in the morning my skin has felt a bit brighter and more smooth. I get hormonal spot outbreaks and it hasn't been faced [cough] with that yet but I'm hopeful it will help clear them up a little quicker.

Above photos show oil on skin and after about 5 seconds of rubbing it was only noticeable to the touch!

HAIR: My hair is a grease fest. I wash it every day because I can't stand it feeling at all greasy on me. I applied some at night and the next day my hair was noticeably softer and more conditioned. My hair suffered a little due to my holiday and I think an application of this maybe one night a week could do it wonders! I also added some to my wet hair and dry tips and it made a huge difference to the slight fuzziness I have on the ends of my hair. It felt a little greasy for my liking but I think if I was wearing my hair for a night out or I played around with t he quantities I could get this to work for me too.

Overall

All in all so far, so good. The oil isn't super cheap but I've barely made a dent in this 100mls yet. It has quite a range of uses and a little goes a long way. The bottle can make things a little messy and when my EL Night Repair is used up I think I'll decant some into the bottle for ease of use. I have seen a hair shine spray which has me intrigued to but I will play around with quantities of this first and see how it goes!

I will keep you updated on how I get on with it.

Have any of you tried this "liquid gold" yet?

LoubouLush x