MUGLER: ALIEN MAN FRAGRANCE

September 09, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Woodsy, bold and masculine. The male equivalent to the iconic Mugler: Alien.

MUGLER: ALIEN MAN

Top Notes: Beech, Dill, Anise, Lavender, Lemon, Mint, Thyme
Middle Notes: Leather, Cashmere Wood, Osmanthus, Geranium, Pepper
Base Notes: White Amber, Cashmeran, Vanilla

When I had first heard of this release I was eager to try this out as most of my girlfriends wear the female 'Alien' fragrance which if you have smelt it before you will know how distinctive and powerful the scent is!

The opening of the fragrance began with a fresh and spicy burst that had a rather sweet feel on my skin which started off as rather loud and at times a little overwhelming, but after 15/20 minutes or so, it began to settle down into a more herbal, woody scent. As with any fragrance review, I will always be as honest as I can be with regards to my own personal experience with a scent, bearing in mind that different fragrances can perform differently on another person's skin!

With that being said, the projection of Alien Man was a little soft for me and didn't project as loudly as I had imagined it may have done given that it had a sharp, bold opening. Alien Man lasted for up to 1/2 hours on my skin before fading away which was disappointing in itself. However, I did gain a few compliments from wearing this and every so often I did get a rather warm hint of the scent to linger on my clothing!

Overall, I was slightly disappointed with the fragrance as I don't personally feel it lived up to expectations. Perhaps that is my own fault due to holding the female Alien in such high regard with how distinctive and recognisable that fragrance is!

Mugler: Alien Man is available in 50ml, 100ml and is also available in a Body Spray and Hair and Body Shampoo, both of which are lightly scented and are the perfect addition to add another dimension to the fragrance. The Alien Man bottle is also refillable which allows you keep reusing!

To purchase Mugler: Alien Man fragrance, click here.

Have you tried Mugler: Alien Man before? Were you a fan of the fragrance? Have you tried the female version? Can you see the comparison/differences between the two? Or perhaps you were like me and felt a little disappointed? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don't forget to click the 'like' button!

3

September 03, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

It seems surreal to think that 3 years ago to this date I hit 'publish' on my blog for the very first time, yet I remember it as if it was yesterday. I remember feeling as equally blasé as I was nervous.

'Omg I'm gunna click publish omg omg omg but what if nobody reads it??? What if it's a flop?? How embarrassing! I'd die if nobody read it!!' 'Oh who cares, nowt'll happen anyway.'

I hope this gives you a better insight as to where my head was at at that time...

I feel that being in my third year of blogging going into my fourth that I am more established as a blogger and I feel very proud to get to this point. Having said that however, now that I'm at this point, I want to go further than just being a 'blogger'.

I have become an ambassador for Phonak (a company who develop and make hearing aids), and never did I think that this would be an avenue I could go down simply through blogging! Raising awareness for the deaf community has become important to me and there are so many things I want to do and have planned so watch this space!

Thank you all so so much for all of your support, every 'like', 'comment', 'retweet', 'thumb up', 'thumb down', 'emails', 'direct message', just any form of communication has meant so so much to me and I thank you for this.

Here's to year 4...

PACCIONI - AL CAPONE LAUNCH IN MANCHESTER

September 02, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I recently had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch of the latest watch collection by Paccioni; Al Capone.

Held at The Grand Pacific in Manchester, the venue was the perfect backdrop for such a stunning design! I had arrived at my hotel; Hotel Ibis Styles situated in the city centre and I began to get ready. The theme of the night was 1920's and there was a formal dress code in place so I chose to wear my Wine/Burgundy Velvet blazer and teamed it with some skinny black trousers, a simple black shirt and I topped off the look with my Jeffery West Chelsea boots. A chauffeur had been arranged to take me to my venue and I brought along my blogger friend Peter with me. (I have to say, being chauffeured to the venue certainly kicked off the night in style!)

As we entered The Grand Pacific, we were taken over to a glass cabinet where all of the watches from the latest Al Capone collection were showcased and we were given a brief insight by the founder and designer of Bellagio Europe; Mike Cohen, into the design and inspiration for the collection. Inspired by Al Capone's infamous pocket watch, the special edition watch collection is available in two sizes, medium or large and is also presented in a violin shaped 'tommy gun' leatherette snake skin style case.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the watch with the gold face and black straps, in the largest size of course, and to my surprise, I was very kindly gifted this! As the watch came with interchangeable straps to allow you to mix up the style, I chose the navy straps to accompany the watch. Despite the watch coming in the largest size, I was relatively surprised at how light it felt upon my wrist and it didn't feel too clunky or heavy. Peter and I then found a table to sit at and we kept admiring the watches on our wrists and after a prosecco (or 6) Mike Cohen then gave us all a speech and we had all been treated to a show stopping performance by the flapper girls!

A magician had then made his way to our table and I swear to God, he was AMAZING! Perhaps it might have been the copious amounts of alcohol that got us slightly animated and excited by each trick but nevertheless, he was still incredible! The night overall was a fabulous celebration of the 1920's and to mark the special launch of the Al Capone Watch Collection! Available to purchase soon, click here to be notified of its release.

What do you think to the design of the watch? Are you a fan of it? Do you like the 1920's theme? Have you ever visited The Grand Pacific in Manchester? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don't forget to click the 'like' button!

SACHA JUAN: OCEAN MIST COLLECTION

August 23, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Going away this Bank Holiday? Unsure of what haircare products to take with you that will fit inside your luggage? Well fear not, as one of my all-time favourite haircare brands; Sacha Juan have created a mini travel sized collection taken from the iconic haircare line; Ocean Mist which features the signature 'Ocean Silk' technology!

SACHA JUAN: OCEAN MIST COLLECTION

Sacha Juan's Ocean Mist Collection is made up of three travel sized bottles:

Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo (100ml)
Ocean Mist Volume Conditioner (100ml)
Ocean Mist (50ml)

Having used these products myself, what I particularly love about this mini-collection is that it gives you that texture without leaving your hair feeling rough and brittle. I have bleached my hair twice in the past year now, and with that comes a lot of problems such as my hair feeling rather thin and dry and when my hair began to feel that way, I have then used both the Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo followed by the Conditioner.

The Shampoo left my hair feeling incredibly clean and as though it had been brought back to life again! With the added volume from the Conditioner, this also made my hair feel as though it had more volume back to it again, similar to how it felt prior to having my hair bleached. The Ocean Mist is a mix between a hairspray and a styling product which allows your hair to be played around with until your desired effect but still has enough hold within it to keep it in place. I can't do this review without mentioning the scent... If you have smelt any of these products before then you will know exactly what I'm talking about, but for those of you that don't, then perhaps this will be enough reason to go find out what it is I'm talking about...

To purchase the Sacha Juan: Ocean Mist Volume Collection, click here!

Be sure to check out my other Sacha Juan reviews such as a few of their core products and their Matt Wax & Fibre Paste!

Have you tried Sacha Juan before? What did you think? What did you try? Are you a fan of the brand? Do you understand what I mean when I mention *that scent*? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!

SUNDAY RILEY - C.E.O. RAPID FLASH BRIGHTENING SERUM

August 14, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Having worked with Sunday Riley before on one of my all-time favourite skincare products; Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream (and I never say that lightly FYI), I of course, was more than ecstatic to be able to try out the C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum!

C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum

Rapid Flash Brightening Serum aims to improve uneven skin tone and leave your skin looking more youthful in a 'flash'. This also contains Vitamin C, which has been concentrated and formulated with 15% THD Ascorbate which is hugely popular when it comes to much-wanted Asian Skincare goodies!

I applied the Rapid Flash Brightening Serum after having cleansed my face and squirted two pumps. I found the consistency of the serum a little thick compared to what I was used to and with the consistency being quite thick, I found that it took a bit of time for the serum to absorb into my skin, however, when I did, my skins texture felt smoother.

I'll be honest, the first application of this serum, I didn't notice a huge difference of my skins appearance, it was mainly the texture that I immediately noticed, but after a 3-4 regular applications, I then began to see my skin appear brighter and more dewy looking! For me this serum took a bit of time before I noticed any difference but I loved how Vitamin C was the main ingredient within the formula and it's an effective and simple way of getting this important ingredient into your skin!

To purchase Sunday Riley - C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum, click here.

Have you tried C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum before? What did you think to it? Have you used any products by Sunday Riley? If so, which ones? Are there any you would like me to try out to review? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button below!

SUMMER FRAGRANCES '18

August 10, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

As the Summer draws on, I have compiled a list of a few fragrances for this Summer season! Ranging from light, citrusy and fresh, to those a little more musky, woody and bold. I hope you enjoy this Fragrance Guide and if you have any favourites then do let me know!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALVIN KLEIN - SUMMER 2018 EDITION

Top Notes: Lemon, Mojito, Lime
Middle Notes: Guava, Pineapple, White Flowers
Base Notes: Cedar, Coconut Milk

A light, citrusy fragrance then settles down into a warm, creamy scent that feels both as tropical as it does sweet. I found this to be long lasting on my skin which lasted for up to 6 hours, impressive for such a light fragrance and the sillage was light-medium. Ideal for those Summer days! To purchase Calvin Klein - Summer 2018 Edition, click here.

CALVIN KLEIN - ETERNITY: AIR

Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Juniper Berries, Sea Notes, Ozonic Notes
Middle Notes: Lavender, Green Apple, Violet Leaf
Base Notes: Seaweed, Patchouli, Ambergris

Another Calvin Klein fragrance, not to be confused however with the Summer 2018 Edition as these both differ in their own way. Eternity: Air feels spicier and a little more aquatic on my skin where the opening is fresh but quickly fades away after a couple of hours. The sillage of Eternity: Air is light and I would recommend wearing this during the day but you may find yourself topping up once or twice! To purchase Calvin Klein - Eternity: Air, click here.

DKNY - MEN: SUMMER 2018 LIMITED EDITION

Notes: Musk, Vanilla, Woody Notes, Green Notes

A bold, powerful opening that feels rather citrusy that soon settles down into a muskier, woodier fragrance. I found this to be more effective worn on a warm Summer's evening and the fragrance lasted for up to 4-5 hours on my skin with the sillage being medium! I'd just like to add a side note that I find the packaging of this to be absolutely sublime and is my favourite out of the list! To purchase DKNY - Men: Summer 2018 Limited Edition, click here.

TOMMY HILFIGER - WEEKEND GETAWAY

Top Notes: Bergamot, Ginger
Middle Notes: Clary Sage, White Pepper
Base Notes: Vetiver, Sandalwood

A fresh yet spicy fragrance that encapsulates a fun day in the Sun! A light fragrance with a woody dry-down that lasted for 3-4 hours on my skin and the sillage is light. I would recommend wearing this during the day and expect a compliment or two! To purchase Tommy Hilfiger - Weekend Getaway, click here.

HOLLISTER - FESTIVAL VIBES

Top Notes: Pineapple, Birch Leaf, Sea Notes
Middle Notes: Green Notes, Woody Notes, Ginger, Bay Leaf
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Tonka Bean, Ambergris

A fragrance that feels aquatic and light that then dries down into a muskier scent that feels dense on my skin. Festival Vibes lasted between 4-5 hours and its sillage was medium-heavy! Definitely one to wear for a Summer's night. To purchase Hollister - Festival Vibes, click here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you smelt any of these fragrances before? If so, which ones? Do you have any favourites? Have I missed any off that you feel I should know about? Would you like me to review any other fragrances for Summer? 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 BODY SHOP - LEEDS BRIGGATE

August 01, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

About a month or so ago I had the privilege of being invited to The Body Shop on Briggate in Leeds to try out a few of their products geared towards men!

Now, I'll be honest. Prior to visiting The Body Shop for my treatment, I had always thought of The Body Shop to be a little outdated and I didn't have much of an understanding of the brand other than that they did cute little bath bombs... It's safe to say that my opinion of the brand has now changed hugely, and I now understand why The Body Shop still stands on its own even after being created way back in 1976!

Upon arrival, I was taken through to their exclusive 'VIP' section at the back of the store, something which I might add that they cannot advertise so hopefully this blog will inform some of you of this area! I met both the lovely Jess who gave me their Men's treatment and Claire who was able to document the whole duration of my stay.

Prior to the treatment, I had a skin test to determine my skin type and to my surprise, I was classed as 'normal/oily'! I say surprised as when I have had skin tests before these have come back as 'normal/dry' but Jess explained that my skin might be oily due to the warmer weather and my skin getting used to the changes.

To begin with, Jess used the Guarana & Coffee Energising Cleanser to cleanse my skin of any products used prior to the application of the products. Once my skin had been cleansed, we then used the Drops of Youth Liquid Peel to exfoliate and gently peel away any impurities and dead skin cells from my skin. To rebalance and revive my skin, the Seaweed Toner was then massaged into my skin.

Whilst I was having the facial, nearly all of the products had taken really well to my skin which I was pleasantly surprised at given that I had quite a lot of products being applied to my face! Jess then used the Oils Of Life and the Green Tea & Lemon Mattifying Moisturiser to add some moisture back into my skin. To finish off, the Vitamin C Microdermabrasion was then applied to really add a boost and a glow to complete the treatment!

As I mentioned, all of the products had taken really well to my skin and I could immediately see a difference, my face appeared radiant and hydrated as well as feeling smooth to touch! None of the products felt too dense or heavy when applied onto my skin which allowed my skin to breathe whilst going through the treatment and overall I was thoroughly impressed with the whole experience from start to finish. I would just like to thank the lovely Jess and Claire for making my experience magical, my name was even in lights! (I felt chuffin' fabulous.)

Oh also, yes, that is a pigs headband that I was wearing in some of the photographs to keep the hair out of my face...

Thank you to the team at The Body Shop in Leeds for inviting me along for a treatment and to experience the Mens collection and I do hope to return soon!

Have you shopped with The Body Shop before? If so, what did you purchase? Which is your favourite product? Are there any you feel I need to try out? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!