The Life of Briony

Saturday 31 January 2015

Diptyque Roses Candle

I think that anyone who likes candles knows about Diptyque. They are beautifully scented, iconically designed, and burn for hours. Roses is my favourite scent, it is classic fragrance, and burning for a short time fills my flat with a scent which lasts for ages.

When people think about a Roses smell, you may remember of your Gran's pot pourri, however, the Diptiyque scent is very fresh, classy and you could imagine that you are smelling a bouquet of newly cut flowers!

Diptyque Roses Candle

Classic Design of the box

Front of the box, with the iconic Roses label image

Do you love Diptyque candles? Which is you favourite scent? Also do you think that any cheaper candles are as good as these? Let me know!
Lots of love post signature

January My Little Box

My Little Box is definitely my favourite subscription service, I have been getting it for several months now! The main difference between this box and a normal beauty box (thing glossy box) is that although you get 3 beauty products, you also get a really great little magazine, a motivational card, and a lifestyle gift!

The contents of the January My Little Box

Gym Bag

Nails Inc Nail Varnish in Tate Red

My Little Beauty's Energising Mist

Talika Photo Hydra Day Face Cream

My Little World Magazine

Motivational Card

Have you been getting the My Little Box? What do you think? Let me know!
Lots of Love post signature

Top 5 Tuesday: Lipsticks

Lipsticks are probably my favourite makeup item, so I have decided to share my top 5 from my collection with you!

L-R: Boots No7 in Plum Beautiful (30), Kate Moss for Rimmel in Wine 107, MAC Crosswires, Bellapiere Mandarina, MAC Hot Tahiti

1) Boots No7 Plum Beautiful (30)

This is a lipstick my Mum gave me that she got as a freebie, but the tone didn't suit her - but I really like it! It is a brown shade neutral, but it's very moisturising and also has SPF 15 built in, so it's great for over the summer.

2) Kate Moss for Rimmel Wine 107

Most people know this lipstick - it is a fab berry shade with a matte texture, the colour lasts for several hours, and there is hardly any bleed. This colour works brilliantly over winter, and really brightens up the face.

3) MAC Crosswires

This was one of my first MAC lipsticks (my first was Capricious but it has currently gone walkabouts) and I still love it, it's a pink/ coral summery shade which I can't wait to wear again. It looks ok when I am pale, but it really suits me better when I am tanned.

4) Bellapiere Mandarina

I received this lipstick in a beauty box (I can't remember which) and it is a lovely orange red shade, with a mineral formula which is really moisturising. This is a highly pigmented lipstick and is perfect for lovely summer evenings, again, ideally it looks better with a tan, but I still like to wear it when I am pale.

5) MAC Hot Tahiti

I recently bought and reviewed this lipstick, and I have to say that since I put it in my handbag, I have worn it most days! It's such an easy shade to wear, it doesn't matter how pale I am, it adds colour to my face. It's also quite moisturising, so is fab while it is cold.

L-R: Boots No7 in Plum Beautiful (30), Kate Moss for Rimmel in Wine 107, MAC Crosswires, Bellapiere Mandarina, MAC Hot Tahiti

Are your favourite lipsticks any of these? Or do you think I have missed out anything vital? Let me know!
Lots of love post signature

January Empties

So as part of my month on a budget I have been trying to use up more of my products, instead of constantly trying out new things, and ending up with a lot of half used jars!

L-R: Glam Glow Youthmud Tingleexfoliate Treatment, Soap and Glory Scrub of your life, MAC Select Sheer powder, Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery, Philip Kingsley Elasticised, Total Wardrobe Care Linen Spray, Maddi Alexander Rose Bath Oil, MAC Mineralize Foundation, Argan Oil Hydrating Hair Mask.

I received this Maddi Alexander Rose Bath Oil as part of the You Beauty Advent Calendar that Adam bought me last year, and I have absolutely loved using it. I haven't really used bath oil that much before - I have always preferred bubble bath, but I definitely love how much more moisturised my skin has felt since using this.

I bought this Argan Oil hair mask from a discounted selection in Tesco, I think it only cost me £1 so it was worth a go! It did make my hair nice and soft, but I didn't notice any discernible difference to the actual quality of my hair, and my split ends definitely did not improve!

This is the most amazing face mask ever! Again I got this sample size in the You Beauty Advent Calendar last year, and I can't wait to buy another one. It honestly makes my skin feel amazing - I have combination type skin, which is very annoying, as I get greasy parts as well as suffering from dry skin and eczema. However, this seems to stop any spots from developing as well as managing to not aggravate my eczema!

For anyone who likes to organise their clothes, and keep everything in good condition, I can't recommend this product enough - it's a linen spray, which is designed to help prevent moths from laying eggs and you ending up with lots of little holes in your favourite jumpers! This one is a small size, however I have also got a larger one to keep me going for a while yet! If you like organising your wardrobe - make sure you have a look at Total Wardrobe Care - they stock everything you need for the perfectly organised closet!

This is my favourite body scrub ever! I think most people who have tried this know how good it is, Soap and Glory Scrub of your life is fantastic - it not only exfoliates wonderfully, but it foams up so you can distribute it easily as you are scrubbing away.

I have a huge love of Frizz Ease products, and this is definitely one of the best hair masks I have ever used - my split ends are nearly none existent after using this for a few weeks, and my hair is completely manageable. It's a god send, and I will definitely be repurchasing at some point!

I've had a couple of these now, as I first got a sample size in a beauty box (I've forgotten which one now as I get so many!) and I then received the full size in the Advent Calendar, I do really like this product, and I use it if my hair has been over styled, or if it's just not behaving itself, as it really does a good job! Again, I will be buying it at some point in the future!

I have done a blog post on this foundation before - and I still think it is absolutely fab, it manages great coverage using only a little bit, and it stays in place all day. Also I find that a lot of foundations cause me to break out - this one doesn't!!!! I've already repurchased this in two different shades, which may seem a little odd, but because I went on holiday in December I was tanned for most the month, and needed NW25, whereas I am normally NC20 - and yes I know that one is cool toned and one warm, I tan very easily, but when I am out the sun I get very sallow skin! It's all kind of odd!
Have you finished off many products this month? Have you used any of these? Let me know!
Lots of love post signature

Top 5 Tuesday: iPhone Apps!

Seeing as how my iPhone is constantly in my hand, I decided to let you in on my current most used (and in some cases loved) apps! I have to say I am very fickle when it comes to the apps I use, I tend to go through phases of loving an app for about a month, and then I get really bored and delete it! Terrible I know! However my current apps are:
1) Free Prints
THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER! And no I'm not exaggerating! I bet you're the same as me, and take most of your pictures on your phone, and then they never see the light of day, except for maybe a poor resolution version uploaded to Facebook? Well think again, buy some cute frames and print those pictures! I know that it can be a pain trying to use a photo booth, but this app is so simple, you literally go through your images, tick the ones you want, say what size you want them in, and then they turn up a couple of days later, ready for you to put them on the wall/ dresser/ bedside table! I have photographs everywhere in my flat, and I love it!

2) Kim Kardashian Game
When this came out everyone was talking about this game, but I still love it! Basically you get to live the list you always wanted, you can be a movie star, a model, anything. Oh and you are best friends with Kim K. And you have a killer wardrobe. I want to be this version of me! I have to admit that I haven't played on this game as obsessively as I did when it first came out, but its still great fun.

3) MyLittleApp
I have been meaning to do a review of the subscription box My Little Box - it's definitely my favourite beauty/lifestyle subscription at the moment, I have been getting it for the last 6 months, and it's very different to the standard glossybox etc. I promise to review this months! Anyways back to the app... This is the iPhone version of the subscription, and it delivers a little gift every day, it might be a recipe, some funny quotes, a competition to enter, a music playlist... you get the idea!

4) Bebo
Yeh you heard me, I love Bebo! And no it's not a dying social network any more, it's a hysterical messaging app, where you create a little avatar and when you hashtag, a picture comes up as a representation. But they are hysterical, and I have spent many hours sending colleagues completely no-work-appropriate hashtags just so they spit out their drink laughing. Trust me, download it. But say goodbye to a good couple of days while you are looking for the funniest hashtag!

5) My Little Pony
My inner 6 year old girl is coming out to play. I have had a bit of a My Little Pony moment this week, and it turns out that this app is very addictive, basically you go around Ponyville doing lots of quests and games to win coins and build new pony homes. I think I need help.

Lots of love post signature

January Glossybox

I was very excited to get home this week to see my Glossybox had arrived! I haven't been over the moon with the last few, and was actually considering cancelling my subscription, and then this month I fell in love all over again! Sometimes it's a bit disappointing, as you get some not very good sample sizes, however this month, there were 5 full size products, which I was very happy to try out.

This month's glossy box with a very pretty flower!

Kueshi Revitalizing Face Toner

Jelly Pong Pong All Over Glow

Nicka K New York, Colorluxe Powder Blush

The pad used to apply the blush

MeMeMe Eyeline Pencil in Clay

Naked Lips Organic Lip Balm Superfruits

L-R Colorluxe Powder Blush, All Over Glow, Eye Line Pencil in Clay

I was definitely impressed with the contents of this box, I am always happy to try out new skincare bits, and have enjoyed adding the toner to my daily routine. I also like the luminizer gel, especially when I mix it with my regular foundation - it's a great way to brighten up my skin on a grim morning! To be honest I'm not massively enthralled with the blusher - although the packaging is very pretty (who doesn't like anything rose gold coloured) unfortunately it isn't very pigmented, and took a lot of effort to bring any sort of colour to my cheeks. The eyeliner seems fine - it stayed put all day, and the lip balm is slightly horrifically sweet smelling, but it has a great buttery texture, and makes my lips feel lovely and smooth!
What did you get in your Glossybox this month? Was it the same as me or did you get a different variation? Let me know how you have been finding your subscription boxes recently!
Lots of love
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Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Intense Perfume

Continuing looking through my old images, I realised I didn't review the perfume that Adam bought me for our Anniversary at the beginning of October.

I had a sample of this perfume a while ago, and really liked it, so was very happy when Adam gave me a bottle of it! Classique Intense is described as having a "dazzling sensuality" and being a new "radiant oriental floral fragrance" and I absolutely love it. To understand different scents, it is important to break them down into levels: the top notes are the ones which are recognised immediately when the perfume has been sprayed however they are also the quickest to evaporate. The heart notes (middle notes) come into play once the top notes have worn off, as they last much longer, these scents are usually pleasant and well rounded, able to blend with the top and base notes. The base notes leave a lasting impression, when everything else has worn off, they also mingle with the heart notes to make the body of the scent. Classique Intense has top notes of Pomegranate and Tiare flower, heart notes of Jasmine, orange blossom and rose, and base notes of patchouli and vanilla. This is a heavy perfume, and you definitely only need a couple of quirts to make an impression, but it is perfect for a night out, or a romantic dinner, when you want to make an impression. I was given this as a gift set, and it came with the matching body lotion - which I like to use more for everyday - it leaves a trace of the scent but it isn't overpowering - much more suitable for work! Have you used this perfume? What do you think? Lots of love post signature

Throwback Thursday: Florida Holiday

In December, I went to Miami and Key West with my parents to meet up with my sister. We had a fab time, and I thought I would share some photographs from my trip with you!