GILLETTE - FUSION5 PROGLIDE SUBSCRIPTION KIT

July 08, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

*Please note, this post has been sponsored.

Earlier this year, Gillette launched a much talked about campaign: ‘We Believe: The best we can be.’ This campaign got everybody talking and highlighted so many different stereotypes on the word ‘masculinity’. I perceived this ad as a positive as it showed the world as it is today. Highlighting that those old, stereotypical ways of treating women and how that ‘boys will be boys’ mantra is no longer acceptable!

Whilst I think that there is still a long way to go, what I liked about the ad was that our society and what we should do as a collective is begin to work on changing those old stereotypes to show the younger, new generation on how to behave and what is and isn’t acceptable.

Gillette was one of the first ever shaving products that I used when I was younger and I feel that they play a key part in a teenage boys life whilst growing up! That experience of father and son bonding over how to shave correctly has almost become a ritual for so many.

GILLETTE - FUSION5 PROGLIDE SUBSCRIPTION KIT

I had recently been gifted a subscription kit by Gillette and you can select a kit from 3 options:

Mach3 Starter Kit
Fusion5 Starter Kit
ProGlide Starter Kit

I received the ProGlide Starter Kit and within the neatly packaged blue box contained:

ProGlide handle
2 ProGlide replacement blades
75ml shave gel
Razor travel case

The ProGlide features a 5 bladed razor, indicator lubrastrip, precision trimmer and flexball technology. As I applied the shave gel across my face, I liked that it didn’t feel too harsh when on my skin nor did it cause any skin irritation! I then used the razor across my face and with the flexball technology, this allowed the razor to move freely whilst still having control over it. The handle was sturdy and the razor eliminated most of my facial hair easily!

This subscription kit is ideal for somebody who is looking to take that next step from a classic razor, and wants something a little more sturdy that feels more advanced which delivers great results! The kit is worth £17.37, however, if you select this when signing up for a subscription kit, then it will be worth £6.95 saving you £10.42. It’s a no brainer right?

To sign up and find out more, click here!

Have you tried any razors by Gillette before? If so, which one? Have you tried this Fusion5 ProGlide razor before? What do you think to it? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

THE PERSONAL BARBER

June 16, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

*Please note, this post has been sponsored.

I had recently been contacted by The Personal Barber to try out one of their subscription boxes! The box that I had received was their ‘Wet Shaving Box’ and this is the first box that you receive when signing up to their subscription service.

The Personal Barber aim to create the ‘ultimate shaving subscription for men’ and by doing so, they wanted to turn a shaving routine into a fun experience as opposed to a daily chore. Using a single sharp blade for maximum control and comfort combined with top quality products, they wanted to show that you don’t need a gimmicky razor with extra, unnecessary add-ons! Every 6 weeks you will receive some of their hand-picked, top quality shaving products and all orders get shipped out on the same day, including free delivery to the UK.

Within the box came some handy tips and how to care for each of the items inside such as:

What To Do With Your Used Blades
Keeping Your Razor In Good Nick
Looking After Your Brush
Getting The Most Out Of Your Soap

I liked this little touch as this would prove highly useful for somebody who is a complete beginner to shaving! Now, the products that I had received inside of the box were:

The Personal Barber - Double Edged Safety Razor

A double edged safety razor that was a new one for me having not used a razor like this one before! Upon first glance it did confuse me a little as I couldn’t see a blade on it. Luckily, this came with instructions… Made up of 3 parts, you can unscrew the handle, place one of the blades from Polsilver Super Iridum or Shark in between both of the head plates and then screw back into place. I found this razor to be strong, sturdy and managed to eliminate most of my facial hair. I’ll admit, it did take about 3 or 4 attempts getting used to this style of razor, but now that I have gotten used to it, I like that it feels more premium with a luxurious feel to it as opposed to other razors I have used before where they have been made from plastic and felt rather cheap in comparison!

The Personal Barber - Synthetic Hair Shaving Brush

Made from high quality nylon, this synthetic hair shaving brush felt smooth upon my skin when applying the shaving soap, and I also liked how the sturdy handle made it easy to use. Again, I found that this brush had a premium touch to it, similar to the double edged safety razor!

Faena - Premium Electron Shaving Soap

Sourced directly from the island, Lesvos - Greece, this premium shaving soap contains the ingredients such as: Tallow, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, stearic acid, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, aqua, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lanolin, glycerin, kaolin, dehydroacetic acid (and) benzyl alcohol, parfum. I enjoyed using this shaving soap and I liked how the texture felt on my skin! I’m used to shaving gels and creams where they ‘foam up’ so to speak so this soap was rather unique to use in as it began to lather up which allowed the blade to glide easily across my face thus resulting in a rather easy and effective shave! There is a slight, subtle fragrance to this which had a woody, musky scent.

Seven Potions - Pure Equilibrium Pre-Shave Oil

This pre-shave oil was again, unique for me as when I have previously shaven before, I tend to just stick the shaving gel/cream on and hadn’t thought about using a pre-shave oil before! Using a pre-shave oil helps to soothe and protect your skin and are rich in vitamins such as Vitamin E which helps with anti-oxidation, moisturisation and anti-inflammation. I was slightly dubious at first adding this into my shaving routine, but now, it’s a firm staple! I applied this when my skin had been cleansed, still slightly damp and I have noticed that since using this pre-shave oil, it has helped to make my facial hair feel softer in texture which in return allows the blade to work more effectively.

The Personal Barber - Waffle Piqué Shaving Towel

I liked how easily this waffle piqué shaving towel absorbed water after a shave which I used to wipe off any excess. Plus, the aesthetic of the yellow logo against the dark grey makes for a rather good ‘insta-shot’!

Polsilver Super Iridum & Shark - Super Chrome Replacement Blades

Working out how to insert these into the double edged safety razor was a bit of a challenge I’ll admit! (The razor does come with instructions so don’t panic!) Within this particular box I got 2 packs of replacement blades and the reason for this is due to different blades varying in levels of sharpness and different materials which allows you to pick out which best suits your facial hair and needs!

Overall, I was impressed with the results after the shave and I think this is a great introductory service somebody new to shaving! I also like that the products featured within the box are of top quality, and the packaging of the blades are rather slick too.

To find out more and to sign up for The Personal Barber, click here!

Have you tried The Personal Barber before? If so, what did you think? Is a subscription service something you’d be interested in? Will you be giving this a try? Let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

ESTEE LAUDER - GROOMING CONSTELLATION

December 03, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Struggling to find the perfect gift for the man in your life? Perhaps he has a refined taste which is proving rather difficult when it comes to knowing exactly what to buy him for Christmas? Well fear not! If he is into his Male Grooming and only enjoys the best of the best when it comes to skincare, grooming and haircare, then I have the perfect gift idea for you and at the end of this post, I will share with you a very special code just in time for Christmas!

THE GROOMING CONSTELLATION BOX

In this neatly packaged box, you can expect to find top quality products from well-known Male Grooming brands such as:

Aveda - Rosemary Mind Hand and Body Wash (50ml)
Aveda - Invati Men™ 2-Step System
Bumble and Bumble - Sumotech (7ml)
Clinique For Men - Anti-Age Eye Cream (15ml)
Clinique For Men - Moisturising Lotion (15ml)
Clinique For Men - Maximum Hydrator Activated Water-Gel Concentrate (7ml)
Clinique For Men - Charcoal Face Wash (30ml)
GLAMGLOW - Supermud Clearing Treatment (15g)
Lab Series PRO LS - Lip Tech (4.3g)
Lab Series PRO LS - All-In-One Face Cleansing Gel (30ml)
Lab Series PRO LS - The Grooming Oil 3-In-1 Shave & Beard Oil (7ml)
Lab Series - Day Rescue Defence Lotion SPF 35 (50ml)

These little gifts within the Grooming Constellation box are all perfect travel sizes, or getting familiar with a product that you or your loved one may not have tried out before, but have wanted to test the waters so to speak. Or perhaps you’ve wanted always wanted to try a product from one of these brands mentioned, but just haven’t had the chance to!

The Grooming Constellation box is worth £114 and is available to purchase here for just £39! I also have a special code to share with you all! Simply type in CONSTELLATION18 to get 15% off your order when you spend over £30 at any of these websites:

Clinique | Lab Series | Aveda | Bumble and Bumble | GLAMGLOW

(Please note, this code cannot be used in combination with any other offer, or against giftcards, ecards, or gift set purchases such as this one and can only be used once per website and is available to UK residents only.)

Have you tried any of these products before? If so, which ones? Are there any you’re keen to try out? Do you have any favourites? Will you be treating yourself or a loved one to this gift this Christmas? Do let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

FATHER'S DAY GIFTS 2018

June 14, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Following on from my Father's Day Fragrances Gift Guide, for this post I have selected a few gifts ranging from skincare, fragrance and body-care!

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ELEMIS LUXURY TRAVEL COLLECTION £45

Designed exclusively by Lily & Lionel, this slick bag has an exclusive print emblazoned across it! Within this Travel Collection comes a few Elemis staple products such as:

Ice-Cool Foaming Shave Gel (100ml)
Deep Cleanse Facial Wash (50ml)
Daily Moisture Boost (50ml)
Sharp Shower Body Wash (100ml)
Instant Refreshing Gel (20ml)

To purchase this Limited Edition Luxury Travel Collection, click here!

KIEHL'S FACIAL FUEL £33

A personal favourite of mine, and a moisturiser I have raved about time and time again! Kiehl's Facial Fuel contains SPF 15 which is ideal for the Summer season, ensuring your skin stays protected whilst being hydrated. (125ml)

You can read my full review on Kiehl's Facial Fuel here, and to purchase this, click here!

MANKIND GROOMING BOX - EXPLORER EDIT £40

As a Mankind Grooming Ambassador, it is always such a pleasure to work with them and to receive their incredible Grooming Boxes! In this Explorer Edit Grooming Box the contents are:

Omorovicza - Refining Facial Polisher (100ml)
Korres - Santorini Vine Showergel (250ml)
men-u - ultra concentrate 'deep clean' clay mask (100ml)
Anthony - Shave Cream (90ml)
Regenerate - Advanced Toothpaste (75ml)
Elemis - Deep Cleanse Facial Wash (150ml)

To get your hands on this incredible Grooming Box guaranteed to please your Father, click here!

ACQUA DI PARMA - ARANCIA DI CAPRI

Acqua Di Parma are instantly recognised for their unique, clean smelling scents and this trio of goodies are no exception! Acqua Di Parma have released brand new lip balms, body lotions and hand lotions all in 5 of their most popular scents ranging from; Arancia Di Capri, Bergamotto di Calabria, Fico di Amalfi, Mirto di Panarea and their newest scent, Chinotto di Liguria. I was lucky enough to be able to get my hands on the Arancia Di Capri trio:

Lip balm £14 (15ml)
Body lotion £35 (150ml)
Hand lotion £19 (30ml)

To shop the Arancia Di Capri trio, click here!

EIGHT & BOB - ROBERT F KENNEDY: SPECIAL EDITION

A beautiful homage to Robert F Kennedy. Eight & Bob partnered up with Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Foundation by donating part of the revenue from this project received by this special edition as a tribute to R.F.K's dream of a more just and peaceful world.

To read more about this fragrance, click here.

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I hope you enjoyed this Gift Guide for Father's Day and I do hope it has inspired you with some gift ideas!

Would you like me to review any of these in a singular post? If so, which ones? Do you have your Father's Day gift already? If so, what have you bought!? I would love to hear your thoughts, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!

A BRAND INTRODUCTION TO HAMILTON

May 31, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

About a month or so ago I met up with one half of the Male Grooming brand: Hamilton.

Based in Leeds, perhaps it was always inevitable our paths would cross as I love all things Male Grooming as that is what I am trained in, and Hamilton being a Male Grooming brand of course meant that we go hand in hand together at some point!

Hamilton are strong believers in creating 'no nonsense' yet effective products that fit right into your Grooming routine and what matters to them are;

Functionality - Focusing on products that deliver on targeted solutions, functionality and results.
Free From - All products are SLS, Paraben and microbeads free.
Never Tested On Animals - None of their products have ever, nor will they ever, be tested on animals.
British Made - As Hamilton continues to grow, they strive to help support British businesses where needed.

For this post I had kindly been gifted:

Hyper-Strength Hydrator -

This moisturiser contains Vitamin A and E alongside Shea Butter to help nourish and hydrate the skin whilst working with added collagen to reduce any fine lines and visible signs of ageing.

I applied the Hydrator first thing in the morning and prior to application, I cleansed my face to ensure it was clean and to allow the product to absorb into my skin. I found that the Hydrator absorbed incredibly well into my skin and the overall appearance was dewy, soft to touch and my skin had a healthy glow! The texture of the moisturiser had a good consistency and didn't feel too heavy or gloopy when applied onto my skin. I also really enjoyed the scent of the Vanilla and Lime and it felt fresh and citrusey without being too overbearing!

Beard Oil (Vanilla & Lime scented) -

This Beard Oil contains Apricot Oil to help hydrate, Argan Oil to soften the beard/facial hair and Vanilla to act as an antioxidant. I only have slight facial hair now compared to a year ago where my beard was a lot thicker and longer! However, Beard Oil is designed to work whatever the length of your beard/facial hair is so luckily this wasn't a problem for me. Like the moisturiser, I applied the Beard Oil in the morning after the Hydrator and could notice that my facial hair didn't feel as rough or as 'stubbled' as it had done prior to application. Again, the scent was delightful! Incredibly fresh and I only needed a small amount of the Beard Oil for the full effect.

I really enjoyed trying these two products out, and it was a great introduction to the Hamilton brand! For more details and to view more of their products, click here and to follow them on their Instagram, click here!

Have you tried any of the products by Hamilton before? If so, which ones? Will you be trying either of these products out? Do you enjoy using beard oils if you have a beard or facial hair? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to give this post a 'like' below!

JACK BLACK BEARD GROOMING KIT

January 15, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Having recently dyed my hair platinum blonde, this has meant that my facial hair has had to be trimmed down rather a lot as my facial hair had a lot of red, warm tones to it which of course you can imagine, clashed with the ice cold blonde!

Despite this, it has still been important to keep my facial hair in good condition, and MMUKMan kindly sent out Jack Black's Beard Grooming Kit to me, which has proven to be easy to use and very effective!

The products that make up the Beard Grooming Kit are:

Beard Oil

This Beard Oil contains Kalahari Melon Oil & Vitamin E which are both powerful anti-oxidants to help protect skin against the environmental effects that may occur against the skin. I used 3 drops of the Beard Oil and rubbed them into the palms of my hands before massaging into my facial hair. Now despite having short facial hair, the Beard Oil was still able to absorb itself and my facial hair didn't feel as brittle or as tough afterwards! I also liked that it hydrated my skin underneath which often facial hair can get in the way of in that area and my facial hair felt soft as opposed to feeling oily! To purchase the Beard Oil, click here.

All-Over Wash For Face, Hair & Body

One of the many reasons why I thoroughly enjoyed using this cleanser was because it combatted all three areas in one! Working for my face as a cleanser to remove any product build-up which left my skin feeling smoother, working on my hair by doubling up as a shampoo however, the scent wasn't as strong as I would have liked, and thirdly working on my body as a body wash! You can purchase the All-Over Wash For Face, Hair & Body here.

Beard Lube

I am familiar with Beard Oil but Beard Lube was a new one for me... Containing Jojoba & Eucalyptus, this Beard Lube acts as a shave cream, pre-shave oil and a skin conditioner. Unfortunately I was unable to try this out as I don't feel as though the clean shaven look looks any good on me! You can purchase the Beard Lube here.

The Beard Grooming Kit also comes with a little beard comb which is handy to keep your facial hair in shape and groomed and to purchase the Beard Grooming Kit, click here! For more information on many other Jack Black products click here, and to view MMUKMan for more, click here.

Have you tried any of Jack Black's Beard products? Have you tried any of the products mentioned? If so, which one? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button!

*Please note, this post has been sponsored.

MANKIND X GQ GROOMING BOX

October 17, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

Two of my favourite brands; MANKIND and GQ, have recently teamed up together to create the Ultimate Grooming Box for Christmas this year, making for a perfect and special gift for a loved one! Or failing that, why not splash out and treat yourself? I can assure you that with 12 amazing, full-sized grooming products, alongside a 6 month GQ subscription, it will definitely be worth investing in!

Within the Grooming Box are 12 grooming products which have all been selected to create the ultimate daily routine which feature some of my go to brands such as Clinique, LAB Series and Rituals. Listed below are the contents that you can expect to find inside:

Argentum - La Potion Infinie Anti-Age Cream || 70ml (£147)
Jack Black - Beard Lube Conditioning Shave || 177ml (£18)
Anthony - Exfoliating and Cleansing Bar || 198g (£17)
Omorovicza - Moor Mud Cream Cleanser || 150ml (£49)
The Refinery - Eye Gel || 15ml (£22)
Clinique For Men - Face Scrub || 100ml (£20)
LAB Series - Pro LS All-In-One Face Treatment || 100ml (£31)
Korres - Magnesium & Wheat Proteins Men's Shampoo || 250ml (£9)
men-ü - Styling Clay || 100ml (£12.95)
Gentlemen's Tonic - Ivory Razor || (£60)
Marvis - Classic Strong Mint || 75ml (£5.50)
Rituals - Rituals The Ritual Of Samurai Hand Lotion || 70ml (£8)

The Mankind x GQ Grooming Box; The Christmas Edition retails for £100 and contains products inside worth over £400. To purchase the Limited Edition Grooming Box, click here! However, do be quick as these are expected to fly out pretty sharpish...

Keep your eye out for an upcoming review on a more detailed look of the products featured inside, where I'll be talking about each product in more depth and how they worked for me. Also, as a part of the Mankind Collective, I have many more posts coming up!

Have you tried any of these products featured within the Grooming Box before? If so, which ones? Will you be getting your hands on this luxurious gift? Will you be treating a loved one to this, or treating yourself? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button!