A little SpaceNK shopping

I had dinner on Tuesday evening in Sloane Square and arrived with 20 minutes to spare. There was only going to be one destination for a smash'n'grab and that was Space. 

Regular readers will know about my affinity for white flowers and tuberose and gardenia in particular, so it will come as no surprise that I grabbed one of my favourite candles - Diptyque's Tubereuse in the large 300g red version (obviously). This burns for 90 hours and fills the room without me even burning it. (Mr Hirons is seriously considering sending me to candle detox at this point.)

and the must-have palette of JOY...

Ambient Lighting Palette - I was very late to the Hourglass game but these powders are beautiful and replaced my usual loose powder instantly. This one contains two existing colours, Dim Light and Radiant Light (the one on the right, my usual go-to) along with the shade Incandescent Light, which is exclusive to the palette.
I have literally used my Radiant Light every single day since I bought it earlier this year. It gives me that 'glow' even on days when my glow left on the last bus.

Diptyque Tubereuse 300g Red Edition is £55.00 and available here: spacenk.com/diptyque

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette lushness is £56.00 and available here: spacenk.com/hourglass-ambient

Exfoliating Cleansers and another (slightly ranty) video

Following on from yesterday's skin cleansers video, these products are better suited if you just want a little more 'oomph' from your daily cleansing routine. Equally good if you can't use/don't want to use acids (which unless you have a proper allergy WHY NOT?!).

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser - Rose clay, apricot seed powder and a plethora of gorgeous waxes make this a beautiful exfoliating cleanser without stripping or any harsh skin-damaging ingredients. This is my current first pick for either an AM cleanse or a fresh-as-a-daisy skin ready for retinols etc in the evening second cleanse. All skin types - extreme rosacea sufferers will need to avoid the cheeks.

Diptyque Multi-Use Exfoliating Clay - this can be used as a mask or a scrub depending on your mood. Marble powder (oo-er) and apricot kernel oil and trace minerals make this a luxurious way of polishing that boat.* Suitable for all skin types. Lovely for breakout-prone skins.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Polish - I realise I didn't talk about this AT ALL in the video. The mind - it is easily distracted. This one is gentle enough for daily use and is runnier than the others so you need very little. It's oatmeal and shea nut shell powder. Not slice-your-face-open-husks. :) All skin types.

Lush Angels on Bare Skin - this needs to be mixed with water to make a paste, which is then applied all over. Leaves the skin really smooth and soft. Exfoliating agents are ground almond powder and kaolin. Suitable for all skin types.

OSKIA Renaissance Mask - ok so this isn't actually a cleanser, but I once accidentally used it thinking it was something else (it was really early and really dark) and the results were bloody marvellous. Technically you apply this and leave it for up to 20 minutes. In my case you apply it, rub it like you're trying to get that genie out of the lamp, wash off and HeyPrestolookatthatfaceradiance! I'd apologise for abusing it so, but frankly I was so astounded I started trialing all sorts of products in the exact opposite way to the way they were recommended and it was a revelation. Contains MSM (obvs), lactic acid and a whole host of fruit acids. Bloody lovely.

Su-Man Exfoliating Facial Polish - literally contains coffee grains, very gentle but very effective. I can't think about Dragon's Blood without seeing fairy tales and nonsense so can we please just say 'plant extracts'? Su-Man is great ml for £ value compared to a lot of higher priced products. Caffeine is invigorating without over-stimulating.

Thank you for watching and reading and putting up with my rants and basically everything. *heart swells*


Links are all available in the description box on the video.

*check your cockney rhyming slang reference dictionary

Candle of the Week - Diptyque Vetyver

When looking for this week's candle it did occur to me that I should possibly re-name this 'Diptyque Candle of the Week' such is the ridiculous amount dotted around the house.  

This particular Vetyver also contains Juniper and Cedarwood and is woody and green - and perfect for these crisp, glorious autumnal days.

Diptyque Vetyver is available here.

Diptyque Christmas

I'm a Diptyque fanatic. I trained in the brand and sold them when I worked at Space over 10 years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. One of my all-time favourites is the collaboration with John Galliano.

During his recent 'troubles' (ahem) this was discreetly taken off the shelves but was still, thankfully - for my own selfish reasons, available under the counter. If you haven't smelt it it's basically churches. Well, 'intense incense inside an old cathedral that just celebrated Bonfire Night' churches... brilliantly described non?

When Spring rolls around I change my candles the way I change my clothes. Out comes Roses and Rose Geranium. Summer brings Tuberose and Gardenia. But Winter is where Diptyque come into their own.

They make Winter and Christmas smells like no-one else and do not hold back on the pungent, heavy smells of pine, oranges, spruce, plum, incense, amber and burning wood.

This year's Christmas collections bring the usual Winter Coffret which this year contains Feu de Bois, Pomander and Pine and two Limited Editions:

Epinette - this year's take on Pine.

And

Perdigone - a warm fruity plum.

I know some would prefer it if Diptyque used 'clean' waxes but I'm happy to keep using them until they do - or even if they don't. I like them too much to give them up.

These are priced from £45 and available through Diptyque online and select Diptyque stockists.

Loving a little Liberty!

I moved to London when I was 17.  My very first retail job was in Liberty - an amazing place to work - primarily because you felt like an extra in a film about Henry VIII.

The floors creaked and every nook and cranny was taken up with product from renowned names and hard-to-find brands - all of them fitted perfectly within the old Tudor walls.

Last week I had to pop into Liberty for business reasons - made even more pleasurable by Banana Republic moving in across the street (don't even get me started) and my trusty old favourite did not disappoint.

I had to go through the Beauty Room - which although tightly packed as always DOES now have Anne Semonin - MA.J.O.R. S.C.O.R.E. (more to follow at a later date) and then drifted into the fragrance section.

Dear. God.

The fragrance section in Liberty is enough to make grown women weep.

Every corner is covered in all the best fragrances from far and wide...

L'Artisan Parfumeur - Amber and Rose - preferably mixed

Le Labo - Jasmine, Rose, Vetiver - who cares - pick one!

 Diptyque - Do Son - If I didn't know better I'd say it was French for 'divine'

Quelques Fleur - soft, floral and aahhhhh

Prada - Tubereuse- yes - I'm beginning to see a pattern also...

And then - you turn the corner thinking - I'll get to handbags - much safer (??!!)

and there in the distance lies the Holy Grail.

Frederic. Bloody. Malle.

And one of my all-time favourite scents: Lys Mediterranee

Ginger Lilies, Orange Blossom, Musk, Vanilla.... 'tis an olfactory orgasm. Yes. You heard me. Olfactory orgasm.

After making sure that every part of my body was covered in said perfume (along with all of the above - yes - I sprayed them ALL) I made my way through the middle atrium to the lifts and headed for the 4th Floor - the bath and body shop.

Lord. Have. Mercy.

The window was open and the entrance is downwind. The smell hit me in the face like a warm fuzzy haze of fruit. And soap. Fruity Soap. Beautifully packaged warm fruity soap.  This was their main display:

The Italian brand Il Frutteto had a huge table full to the brim of every flavour imaginable for soap. Fig, and Almond, Citrus and Bergamot, Peach and Melon - all divine. But I came away with

the divine Pomegranate and Blackcurrant. 

God it smells good.

I bought it, took it home and said to my husband, 'God you HAVE to smell this soap I bought in Liberty today!'
He smelt it, handed it back to me and said 'Excellent - you can use it to wash with now - you smell like a brothel.'