UNIQUE GIFTS FOR YOUR SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY

September 18, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

We all have those special dates throughout the year where we have to pull out all the stops to gift our loved ones. Whether it be for their birthday, a wedding, a romantic anniversary, or even a 'friendaversary'!

HP have recently released a short series of videos to showcase their latest printing system, and to help celebrate this, I have chosen a few of my favourite special and unique gifts to gift to your loved one, whatever the anniversary!

Jasmine - The Flower Of Memories

I chose this flower as the meaning behind it is rather special and would look lovely as a standout feature in your home! From - The Gluttonous Gardener

Fries Before Guys Friendship Sweatshirt

Incredibly sassy, and straight to the point! I couldn't think of a better friendship gift, and I also like that this could be styled as I personally find it rather chic! Upcoming LookBook perhaps...? From - Ellie Ellie

First Anniversary Wedding Bespoke Newspaper

I love the concept of having your Wedding photos being printed into your own Newspaper! Perhaps this could be personalised further and could be a great Friendaversary Newspaper too? From - Paul Draws Etc

Gin, Vodka, Champagne, Candle And Body Wash Luxury Set

The most premium option out of my choices, but one that covers all bases! With only the best alcohol choices on offer, alongside a candle & body wash, this luxury gift set is a sure winner for your romantic evening together! From - Sloane Home

For more inspiration on Anniversary Gifts, watch HP's latest video below!

You'll never run out of ink when you need it, with HP Instant Ink! Your printer detects when you're running low then it automatically re-orders more, and like magic, it arrives on your doorstep before you run out!

Have you got any anniversaries coming up? If so, what will you be celebrating? Do you like to choose quirky and unique gifts for your loved ones? Or do you prefer something more traditional? 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.

FAKE TAN FOR AUTUMN/WINTER 2017

September 14, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

As we are officially in my favourite time of the year; Autumn/Winter, it will become much harder here in the United Kingdom to tan naturally. That being said, I know that there are other options such as fake tanning and sunbeds, however, I am strongly against sunbeds and I could go on and on about how dangerous they are! But that's for another post...

One thing's for sure, with all of these fake tans to choose from, you will be looking radiant and glowing this Autumn/Winter! Whether you go for the slow, gradual options, or the quick and instant options, you will be covered when it comes to tanning. Quite literally.

Before any tanning application, please read my tips on how to get the most out of your tan here!

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SUKIN - SUNLESS BRONZING GEL

A bronzing gel which uses the ingredients Caramel and Aloe Vera, this gel was incredibly soft to apply but rather 'runny'. As the texture was very fine, I would advise you to be quick with its application!

I liked the scent of the bronzing gel as it had a clean scent as opposed to a standard 'biscuit' smell, and I found that as it is gradual, it only needed two applications for the colour to develop into the colour that I preferred.

I also love that it is suitable for all skin types, and wasn't sticky when it developed upon my skin!

You can purchase Sukin Sunless Bronzing Gel here.

ESPA - GRADUAL TAN BODY MOISTURISER

Espa's Gradual Tan Body Moisturiser contains Rosewood and Ylang Ylang which left the moisturiser smelling delightful, and was a dream to apply! The consistency and texture of the moisturiser were just right, and I found it easy to rub in.

I found that the tan left my skin with a radiant, natural, brown colour to it and it took three applications for me to feel satisfied with the colour. It also gained me many compliments!

I also want to mention how chic and slick the packaging of the Gradual Tan Body Moisturiser is too!

You can purchase Espa - Gradual Tan Body Moisturiser here.

BONDI SANDS - FOR MEN EVERYDAY GRADUAL TANNING FOAM

As this is a gradual tan, of course, you have to allow for the tan to develop and for any changes to take place. I found that it took up to 5 hours for any colour to come through, and when the tan developed, it turned into a gorgeous, healthy, natural looking glow!

The application of the Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Foam was a little tricky as I found it hard to gauge where I had actually applied the tan due it's foamy texture.

I enjoyed the colour of Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Foam, but would advise you to plan ahead and use this tan if you are wanting something that will slowly develop!

You can purchase Bondi Sands - For Men Everyday Gradual Tanning Foam here.

MADAME LALA - SELF TAN MOUSSE

I have made no secret of my love for Madame LALA, and have previously reviewed their Gradual Tan before.

Their Self Tan Mousse is one that has gained me the most compliments out of these tans, and I find the tan to be incredibly natural looking whilst giving off a fresh, healthy and radiant glow!

The application of the Self Tan Mousse was quick and fuss-free which developed instantly with it's first base, and then began to slowly develop deeper over the next couple of hours.

You can purchase Madame LALA - Self Tan Mousse here.

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Do you have a favourite fake tan? Have you tried any of these mentioned? If so, which one? Do you have a preference when it comes to the type of tan you use, gel/mousse/foam? Will you be trying any of these out? Let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button!

NAD'S HAIR REMOVAL CREAM

September 13, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

I previously tried out and reviewed the Nose Wax Kit by Nad's which proved to be a rather interesting method of removing nasal hair! For more information on that, click here... So for today's post, I am going to be reviewing their Hair Removal Cream for the body which I must admit, was one of the most effective Hair Removal Creams I have ever tried out!

Nad's For Men Hair Removal Cream removes unwanted hair within minutes and contains the soothing Aloe Vera ingredient which helps to protect your skin whilst the Hair Removal Cream is active.

To begin with, ensure that your chosen area is completely clean, and then apply the cream onto the area but without rubbing it in. Once the cream has covered your chosen area, make sure that it is completely covered, and then leave on for 4 minutes. During the 4 minutes, with a soft cloth or cotton pad, slowly wipe off a small area to see if the cream is effective, if it is, leave on until the 4 minutes has passed, if it isn't, apply a little more. Once 4 minutes have passed, wipe off the cream and clean the area with water.

I applied the Hair Removal Cream on my chest, and my upper arms to get rid of those pesky hairs! I found that the cream worked within the allocated 4 minutes and that the chosen areas felt incredibly soft afterwards with no hairs being left behind. I began to notice regrowth after 3-4 weeks and I was relieved that I didn't have a reaction to this! I would advise you to apply a small patch of the Hair Removal Cream on your chosen area 24 hours before application, to prevent any reactions/rashes from happening.

Overall a quick, painless and scent-free Hair Removal Cream! You can purchase this here.

Have you tried Nad's Hair Removal Cream? How was your experience with it? Did you find it to be effective? What are your methods for removing unwanted hairs on your body? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

*Please note, this post has been sponsored.

TOM FORD OUD MINERALE

September 11, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

Out of all of the Oud's that Tom Ford has created, Oud Minérale has exceeded all of the other Ouds by far. A bold statement I agree, especially as Tobacco Oud was my overall winner, but there's just something so stunning about Oud Minérale and if you have smelt it before, then it should come as no surprise for it to be my new found favourite!

TOM FORD OUD MINERALE NOTES:

Sea Salt
Sea Notes
Agarwood (Oud)
Pink Pepper
Styrax
Seaweed

Upon the first spray, Oud Minérale feels incredibly fresh and aquatic-like. During the dry-down, it takes a rather spicy turn which only highlights the marine notes and makes the scent leap off of my skin! The fragrance transports me to a beachfront after rainfall, that dampness in the air mixed with the saltiness of the ocean.

The Oud note is rather subtle and differs to the other Oud fragrances due to this, however, the longevity of Oud Minérale lasted for an impressive 7-8 hours upon my skin. Its sillage is medium to heavy, and I received many compliments from having worn this!

Overall, my favourite Oud fragrance by Tom Ford and one that I find suits the colder weather better! You can purchase Oud Minérale here.

Be sure to check out my other Tom Ford fragrance reviews on Sole Di Positano, Soleil Blanc, Neroli Portofino Acqua, Noir De Noir, Tobacco Oud and Tobacco Vanille!

Have you smelt Oud Minérale before? If so, what did you think of the fragrance? Are you a fan? Out of the Oud fragrances by Tom Ford, which is your favourite? Do let me know your thoughts below, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA - HARVEY NICHOLS

September 08, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

Shine bright like a Diamond? I'd rather shine like a KILLAWATT after having viewed the collection of FENTYBeauty earlier today at Harvey Nichols in Leeds!

Despite having woken up at 4.45am to get ready for the launch of FENTYBeauty at 7am, my mood was surprisingly giddy given how early it was, but let's face it, it was Rihanna's first ever make up collection, so I'm sure you can understand why I was so giddy! I had even made a Rihanna playlist to get myself in the mood for the journey there...

Anyway! The reason for the launch being at 7am, was to allow bloggers and press within Yorkshire to view the full FENTYBeauty Collection before its worldwide release shortly afterwards, and with such secrecy surrounding the Collection, I felt incredibly lucky to have been there. As the doors opened into Harvey Nichols, the music was blaring, and we began to soak in the atmosphere!

Rihanna's vision for FENTYBeauty was to redefine the rules in makeup, and with a vast range of 40 different Matte Foundations ranging from super pale, to dark skinned, Rihanna wanted to create something for all women in which they could feel included in and could feel as though there was a shade for everyone. From red undertones, yellow undertones, blue undertones, pink undertones and green undertones, the list goes on! All foundation shades are created with light-as-air formulas which can be layered upon each of the shades to create that perfect 'filter-like blurring effect!'

I was slightly surprised yet pleased to hear that Rihanna was there every step of the way throughout the process, right from creating the formulas, to creating the design for the packaging! FENTYBeauty packaging is a contradiction in itself which reflects both Rihanna's on screen, and off screen personalities. The outer packaging has the bold, daring graffiti sprawled across them whilst the packaging of the products themselves, come with a sleek, clean and minimalistic look which shows a softer side to Rihanna.

Now for the part in which I'm sure you all want to know right? The full collection! Starting from as little as £8, FENTYBeauty products are affordable, whilst offering that high-quality, luxury feel to them without the price tag!

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PRO FILT'R INSTANT RETOUCH PRIMER: THE FILTER FOR SEXY SKIN IN REAL LIFE - £24

PRO FILT'R SOFT MATTE LONGWEAR FOUNDATION: AVAILABLE IN 40 DIFFERENT SHADES - £26

PORTABLE TOUCH UP BRUSH 130: INSTANT FILTER EFFECT - £19

PORTABLE HIGHLIGHTER BRUSH 140: ANGLED FOR THE PERFECT SWEEP - £19

PORTABLE CONTOUR & CONCEALER BRUSH 150: PRECISE & EFFORTLESS SCULPTING - £19

FULL BODIED FOUNDATION BRUSH 110: FOR AIR TOUCHED FULL COVERAGE - £26

GLOSS BOMB UNIVERSAL LIP LUMINIZER: EXPLOSIVE SHINE THAT FEELS AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS - £16

PRECISION MAKE UP SPONGE 100: PRECISE & VERSATILE EXPERT BLENDING FOR ALL FORMULAS - £13

CHEEK-HUGGING HIGHLIGHT BRUSH 120: CUSTOM CHEEK HUGGING SHAPE FOR AN EFFORTLESS GLOW - £24

KILLAWATT FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTER: GLOW WITH THE FLOW - £26

INVISIMATTE BLOTTING POWDER: INSTANT REFRESH/ON THE GO FILTER EFFECT - £24

INVISIMATTE BLOTTING PAPER & REFILL: THE ROLL MODEL OF BLOTTING PAPERS - £13 & £8

MATCH STIX MATTE SKINSTICK: CONCEAL, CONTOUR, LONGWEAR, LIGHT-AS-AIR - £21

MATCH STIX SHIMMER SKINSTICK: HIGHLIGHT, BLUSH, ENHANCE, LONGWEAR, LIGHT-AS-AIR - £21

MATCH STIX TRIO: CURATED FOR YOUR SKIN TONE TO CONCEAL, CONTOUR & HIGHLIGHT - £46

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My personal highlights from the Collection have to be:

KILLAWATT FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTER 'Trophy Wife' - I love how bold and effortless this highlighter looks upon the skin, and I love how it catches the light even when blended offering a subtle yet intense shine!
INVISIMATTE BLOTTING PAPER AND REFILL - I used to use blotting paper a while back to get rid of the shine across my forehead and all of my friends used to think I was bizarre, but look who's laughing now because if Rihanna thinks it's sexy, then it's sexy...
THE MAGNETIC FEATURE OF THE PRODUCTS - I find this feature of each product really unique and a clever way to group the products whilst in a makeup bag which will save time and energy scrambling through trying to find them!

Overall, a stunning first collection from FENTYBeauty, and I am beyond excited to see what's next from the brand!

To view the full range of FENTYBeauty products in the UK, then click here to view them! If you are from the US/Worldwide, then click here!

Have you tried any of the FENTYBeauty products yet? Which are you most excited to try out? Will you be looking to purchase any of these? How do you feel about Rihanna bringing back Blotting Paper!? Do let me know your thoughts below, as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

KIEHL'S AGE DEFENDER DUAL-ACTION EXFOLIATING CLEANSER

September 06, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

I have to say, that this Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser from Kiehl's is definitely up there with the best of the best when it comes to skincare! Formulated with Moroccan Lava Clay, this 2-in-1 facial wash deeply cleanses acting as both an exfoliator, and as a masque.

To be used as a daily cleanser, I firstly dampened my face and rubbed the palms of my hands together, and began to massage the cleanser onto my skin. The texture of the cleanser felt a little runny and thin compared to other cleansers I have used before, so be a little quick when it comes to the application! As I rinsed the cleanser off, my face immediately appeared hydrated and instantly I had a dewy glow without it appearing too shiny!

As a masque, I made sure that my face was free from any product and had been cleansed before application. Again the texture is runny and fine, but I found this easier to apply as a masque as it spread across my face easier! I left the masque upon my face for 5 minutes as instructed, and as the masque began to develop, the colour changed to a lighter grey indicating that it was time to remove the masque. I then patted the masque off and my face felt smoother and softer to touch, and the pores I had upon my nose had been reduced in size!

Overall, one of my favourite cleansers from Kiehl's, and if I had to choose between the cleanser and the masque? Then I would go for the cleanser as I found this to be incredibly simple, quick and effective to apply!

You can purchase the Kiehl's Age Defender Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser here.

Have you tried the Age Defender Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser before? What did you think? Do you prefer it as the cleanser, or as the masque? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

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September 03, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

2 years in blogging seems to have flown by ! ! !

My blog has made me overcome so many of my fears, such as going to places alone, meeting new people, trying to look natural in front of a camera whilst there's people watching... The list is endless, and I never imagined I would fall in love with blogging! I looked at it as something to pass the time with, and to talk about what I love every once in a while.

I had hoped to do a bigger, lengthier blog post today, but felt it would make me appear too soggy when I feel quite the opposite... A few months ago I remember feeling lost, and as though I no longer fitted in with the blogging world, but I now know exactly where I'm going, exactly what I'm doing, and exactly what I'm about.

So thank you. For all of your support, all of your comments, likes, thumbs up, thumbs down, as each of them spur me on to grow, and to do better each time. So guys, here's to another year! XX