.Current Skincare Routine.

I have been using these products for the last couple of months and thought I would share with you my thoughts, as a lot of them are new products for me.  Just in case you haven't read previous posts of mine, my skin type is; combination with very dry and oily areas.  I am also very prone to breakouts, mainly hormonal around the chin area but also occaisionally on other areas too.  I have very problem skin, and its a constant battle to keep it as clear as possible.  Ah well, these things are sent to challenge us!

Murad Time Release Acne cleanser - I was worried about this drying me out, as lots of acne products do to a skin type that is not a straight forward oily skintype, but I suffer from breakouts so often that I'm always attracted to Acne ranges.  I have to say I like it a lot more than I thought I would, it doesn't lather up but does leave your skin feeling clean.  If I'm wearing makeup then I always double cleanse.  This has a very subtle menthol/fresh feel to it which I like and it doesn't dry my skin out excessively.


Witch Blemish Stick - I have been loving this, I pop it on all areas that are breaking out just before I apply my moisturiser.  It doesn't dry my skin out at all and I really feel it helps to reduce my pesky spots nice and quickly.


Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Mask - I have loved this for years now, I use it as a full mask every so often if my skin is really suffering but I use it at night when I have a really stubborn spot or break out and it tends to clear it in a couple of days whilst being really gentle.


Murad Anti Ageing Moisturiser for Blemish Prone Skin - This is probably my least favourite product out of all of these but I am sticking with it because its not doing anything bad to my skin and I'm really enjoying using a moisturiser for blemish prone skin, simply because I never do.  Pretty much as soon as its soaked in my skin is tight and dry again but I have been looking at it as a base layer before the next product!


Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream - My favourite fail safe moisturiser, it gives my dry skin the moisture it needs and never breaks me out which is a life saver for me.  Although when I have a particularly bad breakout I tend to miss out that area when apply this cream as I worry it would make the break out worse.


I change up my skin care all the time because I'm always searching for the perfect routine that gives me perfectly clear skin, I'm not there yet but along the way I find a few products that stand out enough to stick with me.  Hopefully these will build in to the perfect routine one day! 


Thanks for reading guys and please let me know if you think you know of a product that would help me! 


x Lucy x

.I Heart Bronzer.

I'm supposed to be posting about my skincare routine now, but I just had to quickly tell you about this bronzer that I've fallen in love with.

The colour is perfect, not too orange.  The consistency is so smooth and I absolutely cannot believe the quality of the brush you get with it!!  Its the softest, nicest brush ever!!  I am now using it for my powder and bronzer and I could stroke my face with it all day haha.  The whole thing is a bit bulky and annoying to carry around but I love it so much that I am cramming it in to my makeup bag everyday!

Its available from boots for £13.79!! Bargain for what it is!

x Lucy x

.Must have's for my Travels?.

I'm off travelling in a couple of months with the boyfriend and I can't ACTUALLY wait, we will be bouncing around South East Asia for nearly 3 months, seeing lots of amazing sights and doing lots of amazing/scary things (I'm a bit of a scaredy cat).  So obviously one of the most important lists I'm trying to compile is.....you guessed it, makeup/hair/toiletries, all of that milarky.  

I don't want to be ridiculous and take a mountain of stuff that I will instantly regret bringing, but at the same time I don't want to forget a vital item that I just can't live without, and then spend three months pining after it!  I'm not actually that sad but you know what I mean!

My main aim whilst out there is to look effortless but acceptable (in my case this takes a bit of work) and I need YOUR help!

Below are some examples of my ideal traveller look....hahahahaaahaha ahh a girl can dream!

Anyway, enough of that!  

So the main products I' would love some suggestions of are - 

 A fab tinted moisturiser for when I go out that wont make me the shiniest girl in the world 

Some nice UV protective shampoo and conditioner 

Any fabby waterproof eye makeup products 

Ooh, I also would love to know about any SPF's for the face that don't break you out if you are prone to that kind of thing, because I for one, am!  Big time!

Whatever you think is a 'must have' if you have ever been travelling to a hot country or even something you have loved whilst on holiday, let me know about it!!

I'm really looking forward to your suggestions!!

x Lucy x

.What's in My Wash bag.

This weekend I have had the pleasure of popping home to Bristol to see my family and friends and thought I would do a quick post to show you what I brought along in my wash bag as most of these products are my ultimate essentials at the moment!


You may have read my blog post from a while ago slating this wash bag and I can't say I've changed my mind about it, but its just a very useful size.


My absolute favourites are:


Lauren's Way Self Tan - You know how much I love this, you can enter my give away by clicking on the picture of Lauren's way on the right hand panel!


Batiste Dry Shampoo- I use it in between washes (every other day) so I don't have to wash my hair every day.  Life saver.


L'oreal Volume Architect - I 100% need a volume spray and at the moment I'm trying out this one, I like it but I'm pretty sure I get more volume from the Innova one, and it is a lot cheaper


VO5 Heat Protect - I only bought this the other day and have used it once but I always use a heat protector and this one smells amazing!!  Like Angel perfume!


INNOVA Volumising Powder - I have reviewed this on here and I absolutely love it!  I only tend to use it for a night out but its great for an extra boost of volume.


LOVING all my skincare at the moment but that will all be explained in detail on my next post.


The nail polishes are some of my current faves, especially the Ciate one.


Thanks for reading!


x Lucy x

.Cheap Finds.

I went on a little accidental Superdrug spree around a month ago and whilst waiting for the boyfriend (who was a bit late so it's his fault) I remembered I needed a pressed powder and was up for finding a new pink blusher as for a long time I'd been sporting a peachy cheek. 

As a makeup artist one of the questions I get asked most, by friends and colleagues rather than clients, is 'whats a good affordable powder, blusher etc'  and normally for a face product, like powder, I usually prefer a high end product so I thought this was a great excuse to try a cheaper one out!  After wondering around trying not to pick up the whole shop, I remembered I had heard someone recommend the L'oreal True Match powder.  As they had 3 for 2 on L'oreal, I decided to go for that one!

I also picked up a pink blush in 115, a bronzer in 102 (the brunette one) and, because I can't help myself when it comes to nail polish, a Rimmel Pro in Aqua Cool.

I have used the powder everyday since I got it, and I love it!  I can't tell it apart from a higher end product, and would put the finish and longevity somewhere in between Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and Mac Blot powder.

The bronzer, in a word... yuk!  Its shimmery and orange, like an old school, year 9 bronzing product from the 90's.  Looked great in the packaging, should have swatched before I bought it, but ah well thats what 3 for 2 offers will do to you!

I lurve the blusher, it really is fabo.  Gorgeous colour and lasts all day, it takes me two applications on the apples to achieve the intensity of colour I like but thats perfectly acceptable. 

(bottom - blush, middle - bronzer, top - powder.  Obvs but there you go)

If you look at my last few posts I will be wearing the powder and blusher for sure, not, however, the bronzer!

I'm a big old fan of these polishes because I love the big wide brush for ease of application  and the colours always have great pigmentation.  I'm not 100% sure on this colour yet but I'm sure it will grow on me.

Hope you liked this post guys and found it useful/interesting! 

If you haven't already entered my Lauren's Way Self Tanning Lotion giveaway, please do!  Just click on the picture near the top of the page on the right for details, its a real easy to one to enter and so worth it if your a self tan fan! 

x Lucy x

p.s I just want to send my love to all people who have been affected by the recent trouble around the UK, I find it shocking and have still not really registered its all real, but it is and its pretty bloody terrifying/awful.

.More Volume Courtesy of INNOVA and My Daily Hair Routine.

I have already reviewed a couple of products from Indola's INNOVA range on my 'Quest for Volume' post, but I have been yet to review this one for you guys!  The product on the right; Hair Thickening Elixir Setting....Lotion I spose, or gel?  Haha pretty random group of words but it does describe what it does!  This post also includes how I do my hair on a daily basis, replacing my usual volumising product (which at the moment is the bottle in the middle) for the INNOVA lotion/gel. 

The above two photos are from the previous INNOVA post but new ones coming below!

Its a gel type formula and you apply it to damp hair, I applied it at the roots mainly and dragged the excess through the lengths of my hair.  I blow dried my hair upside down (decided not to take a silly picture this time) and then styled my hair as normal which at the moment involves putting all my hair in a bun on top of my head (preferably while its still a little hot from the heat of the hair dryer, this helps to increase volume, as all the hair is pulled upwards and also encourage the curl to stay) while I do my makeup (in this case I had already done my makeup so the bun literally had 5 minutes in my hair) then I run the GHD's through my fringe in a quick curling-under motion to give it a bit of bounce and shine.  A couple of minutes before I leave the house, and hopefully when my hair has cooled and taken a little bit of curl from the bun, I take it down and spray through the ends some of the L'oreal Tecni Art Constructor Spray.   I then do a scrunching action with my fingers whilst it dries and I'm good to go!  

Just after I have blow dried, bit messy but nice and full.

The bun I let it cool down in.

I have now taken it out of the bun and scrunched a little L'oreal Constructor through the ends.

This gives you more of an idea of the kind of waves I achieve.


This is just my everyday style so its quite rough and unperfected but thats how I like it!


I really liked the INNOVA product, it definitely helped me in the volume and thickness department but because I prefer a spray product I will probably use the INNOVA Thickening Spray more often!


INNOVA products available to buy at http://www.hairsupermarket.com/m/13


Hope you liked guys, and I hope you have entered my Lauren's Way Tanning Lotion give away below!!


x Lucy x


p.s these are PR samples but I have given you 100% my honest opinion as always!

.Laurens Way Self Tanning Lotion Giveaway. NOW CLOSED.

YEY!  If you read my blog you will know I am already a massive fan of Lauren's Way Self Tanning Lotion, and now I am giving you lucky people the chance to win a bottle!  Woohoo!

TO ENTER:  

1. You need to be a follower of my blog, if you already are then easy peasy but if not then just click the 'Join this Site' button on the right.  

2. You need to be a follower of Lauren's Way on Twitter here

3. Comment below with a top tanning tip or anything you like really (even just a hello)!  One comment per person.  This is worldwide so anyone's welcome!

You don't have to but I will love you forever if you:

1. Follow me on Twitter here

2. Tweet 'Head to @luluduckett's blog to win a bottle of @Laurens_Way Self Tanning Lotion http://lucyduckett.blogspot.com

The giveaway closing date is 19.08.11 (midday), two weeks from today!  It will be a nice Friday treat for the winner!

I will choose the winning person using random.org

**If you are having trouble commenting on this blog post, fear not you can still enter by emailing me at lrduckett@gmail.com just type 'Lauren's Way Entry' in to the subject box!  Just make sure you follow my blog and Lauren's Way on Twitter still.  Damn Blogger, theres always issues with it!**

Discount/Coupon Code:

I you just can't wait until the closing date or are unlucky this time you have until the 31.08.11 to use my exclusive discount/coupon code giving you 25% off!!  Just enter 'blog456' in the Coupon Code section at the check out.  

http://glamcard.mybigcommerce.com/

P&P still applies.

Thanks to everyone to enters, I hope you are as excited as I am about my first giveaway!

x Lucy x

The competition has now closed, thank you to everyone who entered and well done to the winner - Jenna!!

.July Favourites.

These are the products I have been loving this past month, probably the last few months to be honest...

Sorry for the late night flash photography :/

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine and Guava - Smell amazing, lovely nude colours and they hydrate really nicely.  My all time favourite lip balms for sure.  I will do a more detailed post on these soon with swatches.

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara - I'm just about to purchase my second tube and I rarely do this with mascaras as I've normally heard of one that sounds better than my current one or I just feel like mixing it up but honestly with this one I can't not buy it again, its perfect.  Its volumises amazingly, also adds length, and doesn't clump at all!!

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - I bought this after hearing all the hype on youtube about it and I love it!  It gives great coverage and lasts all day.  I also have really sensitive skin under my eyes that loves to flake but this hasn't made my skin react at all.  Surprising as it costs around 4 quid!

Mac eyeshadows, in particular; Mulch and Satin Taupe - I love Satin Taupe all over the lids with a bit of Mulch blended in the centre to warm it up a bit.  Great for day or night!

Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment - I apply it just after my moisturiser and just before my foundation, sometimes after foundation too! It helps to calm down my break outs, and I love that its tinted too!

Mac Superslick Liquid Eye Liner in Defiantly Feline - LOVE this eyeliner, love love love.  Doesn't budge, gorgeous colour, quick and easy to use.  Have never found one better!

Witch Blemish Stick - I use it every night and morning!  Its helping slowly but surely to clear my recent bad breakout.

INNOVA Volume and Restructure Spray - I use it every time I blow dry my hair,  works a treat!  I prefer it over the Tresemme one as I seem to keep the volume for a lot longer.

L'oreal Techni Art Constructor spray - I have only been using this for the last week or so but I loves it!  I spray it through the lengths of my hair, whilst dry and it creates a textured, tousled effect with out adding any stickyness of feel of product at all.

Laurens Way Self Tan Lotion - Check out my earlier blog post on it for a detailed description - 
http://lucyduckett.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_25.html  
I love how it hardly hardly hardly smells of fake tan at all, it doesn't streak and it turns a gorgeous olive colour!


Thanks for reading guys!


x Lucy x

.2 weeks in pictures.

I love posts like this on the blog's of people I follow, so here is a few pictures from my iphone of my past couple of weeks.  To sum them up in a few words; 

Bristol, Home, Anniversary, Birthday, London.

  

x Lucy x

.Recent Nail Favourites.

These are the nails I have been enjoying of late...

Models Own - Concrete Mixer

Barry M - Peach Melba

Apologies for strange colour the flash has made my hand!

Elegant Touch press on nails

Ciate - Beach Melba (July Glossy Box) two coats

As you can probably tell, I painted these very quickly last night, they could do with a third coat!

Hope you like!  If anyone can recommend a good top coat, I'm on the look out for a new one!

x Lucy x