My Desk Essentials

My Desk Essentials

My Desk Essentials

I work from home & seem to spend more & more time sat at my desk (not great for my posture), I try to keep my space as tidy as possible but it always ends up looking like a complete mess by the end of the week. Here are a few essentials I always have to hand, there are no snacks included in this post but rest assured in my desk drawer I have a supply of biscuits that would feed an army.

A huge cup of (quite weak) tea is my number one desk essential, I drink more tea in a day than I care to admit. I am a chai tea drinker most of the time but I am partial to a PUKKA Apple & Cinnamon, Lemon & Ginger and I like anything that has cardamon, cloves and winter spices in. I couldn’t get through my day without tea & I find popping to the kitchen to brew up makes me actually leave my desk otherwise I would sit there for far too long without moving.

Hand sanitiser – I’m terrible for touching my face, hair and biting my nails when sat at my desk so I like to make sure I keep my hands as clean as possible so I do use these quite a lot. I know they can be quite drying and contain a lot of alcohol but these Bath & Body Works ones just smell wonderful and look so cute sat on my desk.

What Is On Your Desk

I like to either burn a candle or my melts just to keep my office smelling lovely. I am a very very lucky lady as Timothy Dunn sent me some of their Spring / Summer candles to try out. Click through If you want to read my review of their Arabian Fig Candle (which is my ALL time favourite scent). Their candles are utterly luxurious from the outer packaging right down to the elegant bespoke hand blown glass container, everything feels like exquisite quality, such a treat. Their candles kick out scent even when they’re not burning, they have at least 60 hour burn time and I burn them for about 2 hours a day & then blow it out and the scent continues to be very present in the air. I’m currently burning the Mille Fleurs* scent which is a sophisticate blend described as:-

An exotic floral bouquet with tuberose, ylang ylang, frangipani, orchid, jasmine, lotus flower, white rose, carnation and neroli blossom with undertones of powdery heliotrope, vanilla and musk..

I think I may have the most luxurious smelling office, its really lovely to have this burning whilst I work, I find the scent relaxing, rich and it reminds me of a warm Summer evening. The candle burns down evenly and cleanly, it doesn’t give off any soot and the glass containers are just too beautiful to throw away so I like to reuse them. I have a small succulent plant in one. If you like to burn luxurious candles then Timothy Dunn needs to be on your to try list.

Lipbalm is a must for me & I have drawer full of them (hoarder) so each week I pick a different one to use and this week it has been the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser Cherry. I do like Blistex lip products and find they work well at stopping my lips from drying out without having a greasy formula. It contains a blend of Shea butter & bees wax so very nourishing and smoothing on the lips oh & its also SPF15.  I like this cherry scented one & I think I will pop it in my handbag so I can keep using it.

My Desk Essentials

I have used Jurlique Hand Cream for almost 10 years now and I love to have one in my handbag or on my desk. This has a rich but gentle, hydrating and smoothing formula, its so nice to massage in to your hands throughout the day to keep them feeling moisturised and nourished. This does have quite a rich creamy formula but it doesn’t leave your hands greasy and you can apply it & get right back to typing / working. I personally like the Rose scent but I know its not everyones cup of tea and Jurlique also have Citrus, Lavender and Jasmine ones to pick from. I have their 40ml tube which I think is more handbag / desk friendly.

To keep my skin and my mind fresh and soothed I like to use a face mist and this Pai offering has been doing the trick. I would say its more of a spray than a mist so its quite wet on the skin but it feels refreshing. This Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Skin Tonic is fantastic if you have sensitive, dull skin.

It contains pure ‘living waters’ extracted directly from the plant. Rich in amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals, with regular use they help to cleanse and purify combination skin types. These natural elixirs have the exact pH and biochemical balance of healthy skin, giving unparalleled skin affinity while improving the appearance of skin tone and texture.

Just wonderfully gentle and a great product to add to your skincare routine. Pai is such a great brand and their skincare always seems to work wonders. Give me your Pai skincare recomendations if you have any.

*PR Sample

Updated Lip Balm Collection 2016

Favourite Lipbalms

Current Lip Balm Collection

Soap & Glory Great Kisser in Juicy Peach

I got this in my stocking and I can’t wait to use it, it smells so good, quite sweet but omg so fruity. If you like peach scented products then this is for you. I have no idea what its like on the lips but I am going to put it in my car so I get a little use out of it. The tin is cute too.

Dr Paw Paw Original Balm

This is a multi-purpose balm with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, the main ingredient is fermented Pawpaw. The Pawpaw has been found to have many soothing properties for our skin and hair, making it a real ‘go to’ product. I swear by this product for preventing and healing chapped lips. I also like to apply it over lipsticks to give them a glossy look! I carry my tube with me everywhere & always recommended it to family and friends. If you suffer from chapped lips you need to invest in this Balm, It really works.

Clinique Superbalm Lip Treatment

This is a really good lip treatment and leaves my lips very soft, its much like the Dr PawPaw in texture. It is fragrance-free and colourless which I like. It protects your lips against moisture loss and is a good one to apply before bed because it’s not at all sticky and doesn’t leave your lips greasy. I like the squeeze tube it makes it hygienic and easy to apply. This is also a great price too, especially for more of a luxurious brand £13.

eos Strawberry Sorbet

Over the years I’ve tried almost all the flavours but the berry ones are by far my favourite. I like that they’re both quite sweet but fruity. So pleased that Boots sell them now, which means they’re a lot easier to get your hands on. There is something cute about a lip balm that’s a sphere, am I right? Which is your favourite scent?

My Lip Balm Selection

Vaseline Sugar Coated

Vaseline have started doing these limited edition tins more frequently and I am a sucker for anything like that. The tin is cute and the product isn’t too bad either, I wouldn’t say this is the most moisturising but it adds a pretty sheen to your lips and is nice to wear with minimal makeup. It also smells lovely and sweet.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour

I love that this is in stick form, I used to have the pot but I much prefer it like this. I use this all the time and have repurchased it over and over again it just works and that’s all there is to it. It keeps the moisture locked in and my lips feeling really healthy. Oh, and it has SPF 15 which I really like so I know my lips are protected from the sun.

Blistex Cherry Intensive Moisturiser

You can’t go wrong with a Blistex lip product, so inexpensive and their range is always growing. There isn’t a Blistex product I have tried and not liked. This Cherry one smells authentic and not too sickly sweet. It has Shea butter & beeswax so it will protect your lips and also it has SPF15. It ticks all the boxes.

The Body Shop Born Lippy in Watermelon

This looks so pretty and glossy on the lips and watermelon is quite a different scent for me but I like it. It smells like Summer. Nothing groundbreaking about this, it’s just a nice hydrating lip balm with a lovely scent.

Favourite Lipbalms

Olive & Pomegranate Lip Care

My mum bought me this from Greece & its quite soft and almost melts on to your lips. The scent is subtle and a little fruity. It’s a nice chap stick style lip balm to have in your handbag. It keeps my lips soft and hydrated for hours.

Sleek Pout Polish in The Show

I have had this for a while and I have no idea why I overlooked it for so long. It adds a very subtle pink gloss to your lips & looks pretty. It contains Almond Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E so it looks after your lips and it has SPF 15. I think the darker shades would be a little more pigmented but this a great everyday gloss.

Jurlique Love Balm

This is a great all-rounder, so it’s not only for your lips but works to soothe dry or chapped skin. I like to use it on my cuticles and find it works to soften them before I give myself a manicure. It’s a natural salve that’s infused with the natural scent of roses and the scent it subtle but pretty. I like to carry this with me when I travel and find it a great multi purpose product.

NUXE Réve de Miel Lip Balm 

For me the NUXE lip balm is more of a treatment because it is quite thick and not the kind of lip product I would wear during the day. I like to put it on last thing at night, so I wake up with soft hydrated lips. I don’t think its great at helping soothe chapped lips but it is good at keeping your lips feeling soft and moisturised. A pot lasts forever & don’t be put off by the fact it says honey because it really doesn’t smell of honey.