A Diptyque Dupe: The Rosie For Autograph Candle

If you're a regular around these parts you may how partial I am to a luxurious candle or five but you may not know about my penchant for pyjamas, especially those designed by model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley so when I found myself with a candle gift with purchase after a pyjama spree I was pleased. That was until I opened the packaging and experienced the Rosie for Autograph scent, let's just say I was elated. The reason? The Rosie for Autograph scent is almost identical to that of Diptyques Roses, one of my favourite fragrances that is truly beautiful but comes at an eye watering price point, between £20-40 depending on the candle size you buy.

The Rosie For Autograph offering is a mere £15 for either three minis or the standard size which comes with the most Instagramable rose gold lid. In terms of scent pay off there really is little difference - within moments of lighting my mini candle our entire living room was filled with that heavenly rose scent and I'm not talking the artificial kind but that delicate, fragrant rose centifolia scent which I discovered is handpicked from roses in the South of France. Surely the same stomping ground for the team at Diptyque? Ladies and gentlemen, I think I've found myself a dupe. Now did someone say there was a matching fragrance too? *Runs to Marks & Spencer*

Do you love rose scented candles? Which luxurious candle brand is your favourite?

Diptyque Insolite Candle

I'm an absolute sucker for candles most of the time but utter the words Diptyque and limited edition and my ears actually shoot up, no joke. Now I know it'll all end in heartbreak when I become addicted to the amazing but sadly limited edition scent (I'm looking at you Roses Duet) but don't they say it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?

Diptyques latest collaboration is with the cool and quirky department store Liberty London who design the most divine prints so you can forgive me for lusting after this candle purely on packaging, right? Pretty abstract cardboard aside the Insolite fragrance has been inspired by aromas reminiscent of curiosity shops which for me perfectly encapsulates the union of Liberty and Diptyque, giving Insolite that certain je ne sais quoi. 

As soon as I opened the uniquely printed box I was instantly delighted, unlike some candles this beauty immediately scents the room creating a real sense of warmth and festive cheer without a sniff of cinnamon in sight. I'm usually not one for a spicy scent being a bit of a florals girl at heart but this really is something else and is hands down the most sophisticated Christmas-feeling candle I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. Now we all know Diptyque votives aren't the most purse friendly but I feel this beautiful fragrance and even cuter packaging means Insolite is well worth it's hefty price tag. Wouldn't this make the most indulgent Christmas gift? My advise, don't open the box just in case...you'll struggle to give this one away.

Are you team Diptyque? Will Insolite make it onto your Christmas list? 

Wednesday Wishlist #14

Tuesday began like any other day but quickly changed tact to become one cruel mistress, let's just say a leaky boiler and a wet kitchen don't make for a very happy Hannah and Craig but hey, life's too short to dwell on the negative. To make cleaning my kitchen cupboards and floor a little less sour I did what any self respecting home owner would do, ignoring requests to browse dehumidifiers and instead embracing the world of on-line home decor window shopping (try and say that fast). Here are just a few pieces I'm craving this Wednesday...  

1. Rose Doormat £20 - Who wouldn't want to be greeted by a bunch of flowers everyday? Much cheaper than buying a fresh bunch every week and more practical than stepping onto a bed of roses too, it's a win win situation. 

2. Diptyque Insolite Candle £45 - Diptyque and Liberty have joined forces to create the most dreamily packaged candle I've ever seen with inspiration for the scent coming from fragrances found in curiosity cabinets and eclectic boutiques. I am game.

3. Bird Jewellery Tree £26 - With our attentions turning to our third bedroom aka Hannahs blogging meets dressing room our my thoughts are focused on finding pretty yet necessary room additions so take a bow cute jewellery tree from Rose & Grey. Me likey.

4. Canine Wall Bust £58 - Completely unnecessary but how fabulous? I've fancied a moose head on our living room wall for as long as I can remember but now I've set my sights on these cute canine companions (there's several doggy options) I'm hooked. If money was no object I'd have the whole house kitted out in Anthropologie wares, there homeware is second to none.

5. Dogs Glass £6.95 - Is this not the cutest tumbler around? It's clearly not just clothing I like with animals stamped all over but glassware too and don't forget everything tastes better from a novelty glass, fact.

6. Mayfair Chair £199 - This occasional Mayfair chair is what dreams are made of, I adore the shabby chic styling and think this would be perfection in our bedroom or in the new blogging/dressing room. I can already envisage myself curled up in this on a Winters day, laptop on knee and hot chocolate in hand.

What do you think of my Wishlist picks? Would any find their way into your abode?

What's On My Bedside Table

With the weather turning a little bit ugh and my hair becoming a permanent frizz bomb (thank you rain) I thought I'd give an outfit post a wide birth and instead get all cosy and bring things inside - a mini through the key hole if you will, so feel free to snoop as I share with you a small part of our newly decorated bedroom. Let me introduce you to my bedside table, and more importantly what's on it...

Our bed and bedside tables came from the Sienna collection at Feather and Black and my incredibly fitting lamps, called the Hanna I'll have you know, were a housewarming gift from my bro and his fiancee.

Look at this little cutie, this photo frame is from Swarovski and was a lovely gift from my parentals on my twenty first birthday - my how time passes by.

One of my much loved past times is not only writing my blog but reading others too, so much so I'm often guilty of being enabled by other bloggers to buy more skincare than one person needs. My current bedside essentials include Origins Night-A-Mins, a new addition which smells scrumptious but the juries out on whether it makes a difference to my skin and the This Works pillow spray, which almost guarantees I head off to the land of nod in a timely fashion. Two samples also feature on my side - one from Sarah Chapman which is a complete noob and a hand cream from Cowshed which is pretty amaze.

Candles are my absolute fave, not only do they beautifully scent a room but they're so relaxing - sometimes I'll light one just before bed and you can guarantee they'll be one on the go while I'm blogging. Figuier has a rather divine figgy aroma which makes a change from my usual sweet choices, I'm looking at you Roses Duet.

My bird dish is a bedside essential allowing me to remember where my most worn jewellery pieces are, making them easy to grab in the morning rush - you're probably not surprised to see my Michael Kors watch here but you may be surprised to see my poppy ring which currently has pride of place on my stand.

My mum bought me this last year for Remembrance Sunday and I love that it'll last forever whilst commemorating a day we should never forget. You can pick up this years version of the poppy ring from online jewellery retailer Jon Richard* and £3.60 of every ring sold goes directly to the Royal British Legion. Feel good fashion at it's very best, don't you agree?

What essentials do you keep on your bedside table? Is it all beauty booty or keepsakes too?

*In collaboration with Jon Richard, all opinions my own.

Empties #3

My pulse keeps racing as I make eye contact with the almost over flowing Space NK bag in my bedroom, only for me to realise it's not full of box fresh beauty booty but instead packed to the brim with my empties, well a girl can dream can't she? Space NK bag, it's time for you to go. Here are my thoughts on everything I've used up in the past three months...

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream - If body cream could be a person then this SSBB would be Beyonce (who in my eyes is the modern day Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way). The pistachio and vanilla scent is sweet without being overpowering, the lightly whipped texture is perfection - who wants super thick body cream in this weather? Not forgetting the fact that you don't have to stand around waiting for this baby to absorb into your skin, it just vanishes all on it's own. As soon as I saw a glimpse of the tubs bottom I dashed to Boots and repurchased, it's that good. My only criticism is that I get through this at an alarming rate, note to self - must slather on less body cream.

Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay 1.5ml (sample size) - Jo Malone are the bees knees when it comes to fragrances and I was lucky enough to try a sample of the Blackberry and Bay scent when I placed an order with Jo Malone back in March. Now it's a rare day when I finish a scent (even one as small as this) so it's a real testament to just how much I love this scent, which FYI is incredibly fresh and fruity. If I didn't already have my Diptyque Roses fragrance I would have already repurchased this, it really is special.

Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturiser in Ivory - Tinted moisturisers have never really been my bag until I tried this one in Space NK, Harrogate. Now the first thing to get your head round is the consistency, it's pretty thick and to be honest a little tough to work into the skin. I dot the tiniest amount onto my cheeks, forehead and nose before blending first with my hands before moving onto my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. Although it's certainly not the one when you're short of time I honesty don't think my skin has looked so flawless nor have I had so many compliments as when I wear this. I find this lasts all day on my skin, giving my complexion a real dewy, almost air brushed finish although I do find my nose getting a bit shiny come 4 o'clock. My advise? Get yourself a sample next time you find yourself in Space NK.

Elemental Herbology Cell Food - If your skin is lack lustre or feeling a bit under the weather then this baby is for you. As the brand name suggests Cell Food has a subtle herbal scent (but don't let this put you off, I actually kinda liked it) and a light, cream-to-water consistency which means it quickly absorbs into your skin. This is the first serum I've ever used where I've seen such a noticeable difference after just one application, my skin looked visibly brighter and even glowed! This is one for my Autumn Winter must-have list although I must admit I have one minor criticism, the pipette is a nightmare to use. You either dispense not enough or too much product, please sort this out Elemental Herbology.  

Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturiser with SPF15 - After falling out of love with my Perfect Balance moisturiser I found myself on the hunt for a new day time moisturiser, enter Rodials Dragon Blood Moisturiser which could be the one. Not only does it keeps my skin plumped and hydrated all day long (that'll be the hyaluronic acid) without feeling heavy or uncomfortable on my sensitive/combination skin - apparently that's all down to the Dragon Blood but it also protects me from the sun with SPF15. At £45 it's not the most purse friendly but I can't imagine this not being on my bathroom shelf plus how amazing is the hot pink packaging? I'm tempted to try the Dragon's Blood Night Cream, well I do have some N-Dulge points.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in No.2 Light - Going through my Space NK bag to write this lovely post I counted not one, not two but four empty tubes of this brilliant budget concealer. I bet I'm preaching to the choir but if you've never tried one then why not? The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is neither too creamy nor watery and is great for concealing blemishes or covering up under eye bags. My only complaint is a tube doesn't seem to last me longer than a month but at £4.19, does it really matter?

Diptyque Roses Duet Candle - Well it was a sad day when this candle took it's last breathe, not only was this my first ever Diptyque candle but hands down my favourite candle scent EVER so serious sobs may have ensued when I realised that this pink darling has sold out everywhere. Oh Diptyque, why did you have to make this limited edition? The Roses Duet scent is super girly and to my nose, a mix of Baies and Roses. Will I be buying Baies and Roses and burning them at the same time? For the sake of my bank balance, I hope not.

Have you ever tried any of these products or have I now tempted you into giving them a go? 

Space NK Summer Beauty Event Haul

I can't quite believe I'm saying this but I am blogging outside - yes it's actually warm enough to sit outside in the garden, sunnies and straw trilby firmly in place whilst I tap away at my MacBook bringing you a slice of beauty deliciousness. Could this bank holiday have got off to a better start? I think not.

Last week my friend Claire and I up rooted our peachy backsides from our hometown of Sheffield to pay Space NK in Leeds a visit for their Summer beauty event. Regular readers of Cagney and Lace will know I'm no stranger to the insides of a Space NK store so when the email telling me all about their latest beauty event landed in my inbox I was booking my train ticket quicker than you can say goodie bag. Arriving at the beauty mecca with mental wish lists in hand we felt under control, that is until we were greeted by new Diptyque fragrances at the very front of the store - we soon realised this was going to be an expensive do. The Space NK ladies were incredibly attentive and friendly, dashing to grab us each a bucks fizz before dishing out product advise like there was no tomorrow - the lovely miss who helped me not only gave me a mini facial using the Emma Hardie cleansing balm (it's worth the hype ladies) but she also gave me a take away sample pot of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Tinted Balm which I've wanted to try for ages.

With the allure of a rather special goodie bag looming over me I decided to go hard instead of go home empty handed, probably not wise when you're in mortgage advisor territory. Keeping purchases to a minimum (well in my mind) I opted for the Bumble and Bumble Surf Shampoo and Conditioner, which has been on my wish list for long enough, the Diptyque Roses fragrance which was a completely unexpected yet must have purchase - I blame my Roses Duet candle and finally the Revive Moisturising Renewal Cream. This purchase was the ultimate splurge but it has been on my radar for a while and I even had N-Dulge points to use, did I justify it enough to you? Unsurprisingly I qualified with ease for the gift with over £150 of purchases and I must say I'm more than a little excited to start using my blinding beauty samples. 

Have you ever attended a Space NK beauty event? Which beauty samples are you lusting after?

If you enjoy reading my little corner of the Internet I'd be elated if you'd vote for me in the Cosmopolitan Blogger Awards sponsored by Next. I've been blogging for less than a year so hop on over to the Next site here and vote for Cagney and Lace in the Newcomer Award.

Roses, Daffodils & Diptyque

If you looked for the definition of Spring in the beauty dictionary you'd most certainly see today's pictures, don't you think? Nothing says Spring like daffodils and a pale pink candle, although it's not just any pale pink candle, no - it's the Roses Duet limited edition pale pink candle from Diptyque (brownie points if you just said that in an M&S advert voice, I did).

I don't know when it changed really - I was never one to get excited over a candle and then one day boom, I had to get my hands on them all, from Muji to Jo Malone to Neom, and of course Diptyque. It's a special day when you buy your first Diptyque candle and mine was no exception, after accumulating a fair few Space NK loyalty points I made the £42 purchase of this limited edition beauty and boy it hasn't disappointed.

Roses Duet has THE most divine scent which instantly fills your room, you only need to light this beauty for a short amount of time to really reap the sensory rewards - can you tell how hooked I am? The scent is a combination of Diptyques two iconic fragrances Roses and Baies with inspiration taken from the Duet Rose - a rose well known to botanists aka plant folk for its unique two toned petals. This candle is the perfect Cagney & Lace fragrance, floral with a hint of berry and a little mysterious (well that's what I tell myself anyway). The only downfall with Roses Duet is the limited edition nature, I feel obliged to re-purchase for fear of it selling out - can't you just make this part of your permanent collection please Diptyque? Once the candle runs out I may just go into mourning but can you imagine how pretty this will look on my dressing table as a make-up brush holder? Maybe one re-purchase is simply not enough.

Are you a candle convert? Which Diptyque candle is your favourite?

Wednesday Wishlist #5

Brrrrr is the only appropriate way to start today's post, how frickin cold is it right now? I'd be lying if I said I haven't been doubling up the thermal vests this week and tapping away on my computer at work, in gloves - yes I have been THAT cold! So in the words of infamous Carrie Bradshaw, I got to thinking, about how I could get a warm and fuzzy fashion feeling. My solution? To round up all the items I've been having a good ol' perv on to update my wardrobe (and home) and pop them into a Wednesday Wishlist post - can you believe I haven't done one of these since November? I must admit that it's a little spartan compared to my usual amount of choices but I blame the lingering sales, which I've found I'm not totally against - read all about it here. In the mean time here's my wish-it-was-pay-day picks....

1. Coat with Jacquard Aztec Sleeves £79.99 - What kind of Wednesday Wishlist would this be without a cheeky Zara pick? I've lusted after this coat for just over a month (a long time for me without purchasing, well done Hannah) but I just couldn't justify buying a coat when I don't need one, my old self is asking what the devil has happened to me? This Zara number is very similar to a coat by the lovely chic French label Maje and at a fraction of the price. Well when you put it like that...

2. Peterpan Flower Flippy Dress £48 - If you could look up the perfect me dress in the fashion dictionary there'd be a huge picture of this beauty next to my name. Dreamy peach shade check, Peterpan collar detail check, incredibly flattering flippy style check - I am well and truly sold on this one. Perfect for now with black opaques and ankle boots or just as lovely in the Summer with bare legs, sandals and a denim shirt thrown on top. Is it too late on a school night to make a Topshop order?

3. Nude Stud Skater Skirt £39 - Miss Selfridge isn't somewhere I'm usually banging down the door to go in but a few of their new Spring pieces are really making me think again, I'm picturing you cobalt blue lace midi dress. My favourite pick however is this nude stud skater skirt in faux leather. It's seriously up my street, especially with the endless studs - perfect with an oversized tee, chunky knit cardigan and ankle boots for day time yet made-an-effort dressing. 

4. Louche Byron Flower Shirt Dress £39 - I adore Joy and usually find myself lingering in the home ware/books section for far too long whilst admiring the loud print separates and cute knitwear. This shirt dress has more than a touch of the Club Tropicana's but a little bit of 80s love never hurt anyone - I can see me rocking this with a bright lip and black opaques plus who doesn't love a shirt dress?

5. Rose Duet Limited Edition Candle £42 - Every candle obsessive knows that Diptyque are arguably the Rolls Royce of the candle world so what better than a limited edition scent - a mix of their two iconic fragrances Roses and Baies? Oh and did I neglect to mention the stand out pink packaging. I think this may just have to be my first ever Diptyque candle, what can I say? Just put limited edition on something and I'm instantly sold. You've been warned!

What's your favourite from my Wednesday Wishlist? Are you starting to plan your Spring Summer wardrobe or is that just me?

Wednesday Wishlist #4

I can't believe it's the first Wednesday in November and you know what that means team...Wednesday Wishlist time! You may have spotted that this week's wishlist is a little different, it's full of beautiful gifts to give you all some inspiration for your Christmas shopping. This is also my entry for the Gift Vouchers Blogger Challenge where the theme is 'Fantastic Fashion Gifts for £35 or less' so not only have my picks been chosen with the fashion savvy lady in mind but they're also ideal for the budget conscious. 

1. Red Christmas fairisle jumper £35- Who doesn't love to wake up on Christmas day to the most jazzy Christmas jumper around? Just add a faux leather skater skirt and you're ready for your first Baileys.

2. The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon £9.09- Not only does this book have a velvety soft front cover but it's full of fashionable hot spots, interviews with Christian Louboutin and other great fashion folk plus lots of practical advise from everything from how to sell your clothes on eBay to how to declutter your home. 

3. Fashion Face Off Playing Cards £6.71-  Top trumps eat your heart out because this little pack of genius means business, covering all the fashion greats from Vivienne Westwood to Mulberry. Perfect for a long train journey or a fashion twist on a traditional card drinking game. A lovely little stocking filler!

4. Oriental Spruce Diptyque Candle 70g £25- Struggling to buy for the girl who has everything? Look no further than this festive yet sophisticated Oriental Spruce candle from Diptyque which pays tribute to the most iconic conifer in the world. Anything limited edition is a must buy in my opinion where Christmas gifts are concerned.

5. Shiraz Ribbed Bobble Scarf £35- Gorgeous Winter berry shade? Check. Cute soft bobbles? Check. What more could you ask for? Yes there are lots of cheaper dupes on the high street but I think gifts should be luxurious versions of the everyday, something which the recipient wouldn't buy themselves. This is definitely the gift you wish you could keep.

6. Velvet Slipper Style Shoes with Moustache £25.99- The ultimate shoe for the urban girl about town, I personally am salivating just looking at these velvet slipper style shoes which would give the simplest jeans and jumper combo a quirky edge. 

7. Nars Andy Warhol Candy Darling Set £34.50- No girl who knows her beauty would turn their nose up at this Nars gift set featuring a mini nail polish, a larger than life lipgloss and a duo eyeshadow plus don't forgot the pop art inspired make-up bag. Another limited edition goodie and exclusive to Space NK.

The Gift Vouchers Bloggers Challenge will have two winners, one to be judged by the lovely Emma and the other to be chosen at random. If you fancy winning £35 worth of gift vouchers for shops like ASOS and Topshop then see how to enter and view the rules of the competition here. 

I personally love nothing more than buying gifts so if you have enjoyed my Christmas gift themed Wednesday Wishlist then let me know and I may just do a mini series of gift ideas for the run up to Christmas.

What's your favourite gift in my Wednesday Wishlist?

Space NK Autumn Beauty Event

Happy Saturday guys and welcome to the weekend- woop woop! I hope you're all enjoying a hearty breakfast whilst you're reading this as that's what Saturday mornings are all about in my book. I've been so excited to write this post you wouldn't believe but in the words of Girls Aloud, life got cold or should I say I got cold. After long days at work the first thing I've been wanting to do is throw on the velour joggers (yes I own these- don't judge), grab one of the boys hoodies and snuggle up on the sofa feeling incredibly sorry for myself so I'm afraid this post is a little delayed but it's certainly one that's worth the wait.

Last Wednesday (26th September) my mum and I hopped over to Leeds to our favourite Space NK store for their Autumn Beauty Event. These are held roughly every season and come with the promise of a glass, or two of champers, personal one to one advise, product demonstrations and of course THE Space NK goodie bag. I've been to one of these beauty-tastic events before and the goodie bag was out of this world, unfortunately you do have to spend £100 or more to qualify so prior to the event I made sure I bought nothing beauty or make-up related even though I was crying out for shampoo and concealer. As an N-dulge member- the amaze loyalty points scheme where every £100 spend at Space NK equates to a £5 off voucher I was one of the first to hear about the event and booked my mum and I on sharpish.

On arriving at Space NK our coats were taken and drinks were swiftly poured as we began to peruse the beautiful selection of products- bucks fizz in hand. The shop had been organised into individual stations- one for skincare, body care, hair and make-up each looked after by a Space NK expert in that area. After my recent skincare trauma with Liz Earle I was on a mission- to restore my skin to it's former glory so whilst most of the attendees moved seamlessly around the stations, my mum included, I managed to grab a fantastic girl called Amy who gave me a mini Eve Lom facial along with some skincare advise. Here's what she showed me and what I subsequently purchased, whoops.    

My Space NK bag contains- Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser, Eve Lom cleanser, Cane & Austin acne treatment pads, Oribe moisture & control shampoo, By Terry touch expert concealer and a Laura Mercier creme smooth lip colour in pink dusk. Phew- I feel exhausted just writing down my many purchases.

Amy had bloomin gorgeous skin although this hadn't always been the case as she'd suffered with acne so I felt she was the perfect person to advise me on my skincare woes. Don't get me wrong my skin has never been acne prone but it does suffer from more than the occasional break out. I've been using all the products above for over a week and although I refuse to profess love so early- I am really enjoying every single product and have noticed a real difference in my skin. It looks much clearer and feels softer and I'm putting that down to the combination of the Eve Lom cleanser, the Cane & Austin treatment pads and the Elemental Herbology perfect balance moisturiser. Amy also used one of the Clarisonics in my mini facial and I must admit it left my skin feeling incredibly soft and has left me wanting my own! I'm sure you've all heard about the Clarisonic but for those of you who've been hiding under a skincare rock it's an electronic device which deeply cleanses your skin and claims to improve the texture as help with breakouts etc.

My favourite non skincare purchase is the By Terry touch expert, a favourite of the beautiful Millie Mackintosh. This is a light reflecting concealer which can be used to conceal both the under eye area and blemishes. By Terry is a label sold exclusively in Space NK and was created by a woman named Terry de Gunzbury who created the YSL Touche Eclat- I think I may just be in safe concealing hands. I find this covers everything I need to perfectly without appearing cakey or going on too heavy.

With the £100 spend well and truly smashed- let's hope the boy doesn't read this, I was given one the event goodie bags, worth over £220 and yes that really is a mini Diptyque candle. I cannot wait to start testing all these bad boys although I must admit I'm already using the Hourglass mineral make-up primer and it's actually amazing- all the hype in the blogging world surrounding this one is certainly true. With goodie bags in hand and my mum sporting a rather sexy smoky eye look we dashed to the train station and hurriedly rummaged through our goodie bags sat on the train home.

If you ever get the chance to attend one of the Space NK beauty events then grab it with both hands. I've always found the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgable and I can honestly say I've never felt pressurised to purchase anything- unlike my experiences at some beauty counters. The product choice is out of this world and can be a little overwhelming but just grab one of the team and they'll be happy to help.

I hope you all have fun-filled and relaxing weekends, I'm off to join the hearty breakfast brigade. 

Do you enjoy shopping in Space NK as much as me? What are your favourite products?