[unpaid/sample] Writing about Valentine’s day seems to be a bit outdated now – or maybe I’ve just done it too many times – but who I am to stand in the way of a good gift, regardless of the day? There’s a great slogan sweatshirt going around that says, ‘I can buy my own flowers’, and I love it but who buys the flowers is not what makes or breaks a relationship. So, with that in mind, I have a couple of ideas from Dior for gifting, self-gifting or rediscovering that signify a mood change and some signs of spring.

Blooming Bouquet is probably one of the most popular fragrances to walk down the aisle with – it’s light, floral, soft and delicate but despite those gentle references, it has presence. It’s taken me a long time to appreciate peony as a fragrance note – to me, it’s just a bit of a non-scent – an indistinct soapiness that feels like a filler note. However, how peony appears is very much down to the notes that surround it. In this context, peony provides a softness to mandarin and rose allowing them to be the stars but seamlessly pulling in the apricot and peach accents. With a base of white musk, it’s fresh, spring-like, silky and joyful. If you’re looking to find the joy in the season, it’s right here.

It’s quite incredible that Dior’s Lip Maximizer now comes in 31 colours and 4 finishes. I seem to think it was only about half an hour ago that there were 3 colours! Because of the ‘maximizing’ effect, there’s a pinch of minty heat to these shiny treats. I have Rose Nude and Holo Lavender here – and love them both.

Maximizers tend to be more about smoother lips than colour impact – if you like a pared back lip looks (which I do) they give a wash of glisten with a nuance of pigment. Holo Lavender is definitely more-ish – I liked the slight milkiness of it and the iridescent glimmers that don’t look glittery exactly but more of a shimmery, water-like finish. Cherry oil and hyaluronic keep moisture in.

Both are an anytime wear – you can just as easily embrace a frosty finish or a peach-hit nude in summer, winter, spring or autumn. The bottle comes wearing a multi-colour thread Maison Faure ribbon – when the right light catches it, it’s like a sparkling rainbow. If you buy this at Dior for £64 HERE, there’s an engraving service for £10 more. You can find the Lip Maximizers for £32 each HERE.