DIESEL - ONLY THE BRAVE: STREET

October 16, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

The latest offering by Diesel comes in the fragrance form of Only The Brave: Street which is a stronger, more artistic take on Diesel’s classic; Only The Brave!

DIESEL - ONLY THE BRAVE: STREET

Top Notes: Basil, Apple, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Liquorice, Cardamom
Base Notes: Cedar, Vetiver, Vanilla

Taking inspiration from the raw and playful energy from the street, this woodsy/spicy fragrance begins with a blast of citrusy notes feeling a little spicy with the Bergamot note feeling the most prominent that soon fades and dries down into a rather interesting scent.

Liquorice is featured as a note within this fragrance which is a unique one for me as up until now, I don’t think I have had the chance to review a fragrance with this note! For me, I dislike the smell of Liquorice along with the taste of it, with that being said, it does as a warmth to the fragrance which blends nicely with the vanilla which I find is perfect for this Autumn season!

Only The Brave: Street lasted for up to 3-4 hours on my skin which was a little disappointing given that it was quite a warm fragrance. In terms of the sillage, I’d say this was light-medium and I recommend wearing this early evening!

To purchase, click here. You can also read my review on the Only The Brave: High fragrance here too!

Have you smelt Diesel - Only The Brave: Street before? If so, what did you think to it? Which do you prefer? The original or this ‘Street’ version? Let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

HOUSE 99 BY DAVID BECKHAM

October 14, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I had the absolute privilege of being able to attend the House 99 by David Beckham Launch earlier this year. Held at Harvey Nichols in London: Knightsbridge, it was a definite ‘pinch me’ moment as I was there to learn more about the House 99 range as well as being in the same room as David Beckham! Mind = blown.

I managed to get my hands on a few goodies from the House 99 range and have spent the past couple of months trialling them out to get a well rounded opinion/view on these.

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HOUSE 99 BY DAVID BECKHAM

FACE MOISTURISER - Greater Look

Prior to using the Face Moisturiser, I used a cleanser to ensure that my skin was product-free to allow the moisturiser to absorb into my skin properly.

I massaged the moisturiser into my skin and what I liked about the texture was that it was very lightweight and non-greasy!

Once massaged into my skin, my skin felt hydrated and appeared slightly matte with my skins natural shine from the cleanser having been reduced. I preferred applying the Face Moisturiser in the morning as opposed to the evening as I felt it worked best for my skin throughout the day!

To purchase, click here.

EYE BALM - Truly Brighter

I often struggle to find an Eye Balm that actually works as ones I have tried out previously have caused eye irritation the next morning from having seeped into my eyes overnight! Not exactly comfortable nor is it great when people presume you’ve been out the night before… Anyway!

This Eye Balm has been formulated with Caffeine and Mica, both which help to reduce the look of fatigue and brightens up the area. I applied this using my ring finger across my orbital bone and found that it easily absorbed into my skin and didn’t irritate my eyes! I didn’t notice a huge difference with this however, but I did feel as though it gave a ‘blur’ effect and softened the harshness of discolouration under my eyes.

To purchase, click here.

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER - Twice As Smart

An easy but effective way of ensuring your hair is thoroughly cleansed properly with this 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner! The scent is quite woody yet fresh and lingers in your hair afterwards which was a nice touch I found. My hair also felt really clean and any product build up had been minimised!

To purchase, click here.

SHAPING POMADE - Smooth Back

My hair is rather fine so when it comes to styling it requires some tough hold to it! I tend to lean towards pomades and clays when it comes to styling. I found with this Shaping Pomade that it was manageable and easy to use, however didn’t stay in the particular hairstyle that I wanted it to for long and it didn’t have much of a hold on it… Perhaps best used for a different hair type?

To purchase, click here.

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Overall, I have really enjoyed using the House 99 by David Beckham range and I don’t think that the price point of each product is too bad neither considering it is by David Beckham! Easy to use, neatly packaged and effective products. To find out more about what House 99 by David Beckham stand for, click here!

Have you tried any of the House 99 by David Beckham products before? If so, which ones? Are there any you think I need to try? Let me know! Don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below, and leave me a comment too as I would love to hear from you!

KIEHL'S YOUTH DOSE EYE TREATMENT

October 10, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

When I heard about Kiehl’s latest launch of their brand new: Youth Dose Eye Treatment, I was eager to try this out. Mainly because I was a huge fan of the brand anyway and I always champion their skincare products as most of them seem to work for my skin-type! Also because I was in need of a new eye cream, these late nights are slowly catching up with me which is making the bags under my eyes puffier… Not a fabulous look at all.

KIEHL’S YOUTH DOSE EYE TREATMENT

Ingredients:

Pro-Retinol
Vitamin C
Red Grape Seed Extract

Pro-Retinol has been formulated within the Youth Dose Eye Treatment as it helps to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles which is also a milder retinoid which helps to combat any skin irritation.

I cleansed my skin thoroughly before application to ensure that the Eye Treatment would work to its full advantage and then with the pointed applicator (which I might add made this very manageable and easy to use!), I then applied this onto my ring finger and gently massaged along my orbital bone under my eye area.

The texture of the Youth Dose Eye Treatment was very lightweight which I found to be a plus, especially around such a delicate area! It took a couple of nights for me to begin to notice a difference which is a given with any new product and began to see my under eyes appearance become lighter in colour and not as deep prior to having used this. The area also felt smoother to touch and appeared hydrated too!

Overall, yet another sterling product by Kiehl’s, but I would expect nothing less from them. To purchase, click here!

To read on more of my reviews of Kiehl’s products, simply click below:

You can also read about the three events that I went to with Kiehl's:

Kiehl's Pure Vitality Launch | Kiehl's On Wheels; Manchester | Kiehl's Boutique Store Opening; Manchester

Have you tried the new Youth Dose Eye Treatment? If so, how did you get on with it? Did you notice a difference? Have you tried any of Kiehl’s products before? Which ones? I would love to hear your comments down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

TOP 5 LUXURY CANDLES THIS AUTUMN

October 09, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

One of the main things I look forward to during the Autumn season is the opportunity to indulge in a new candle! With the weather turning colder, there is no better excuse than to keep warm by snuggling up inside with a freshly lit candle. Candles have come a long way in recent years with many major brands now dipping their toes into the ‘candle pool’ so to speak, and as an avid lover of all things scented, here are my top 5 favourite candles for this Autumnal season!

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BYREDO - AMBRE JAPONAIS

Notes:

Top: Black Pepper, Coriander Seeds
Heart: Sandalwood
Base: Bourbon Vanilla, Sesame

My first purchase from Byredo was in fact the Bibliothéque candle which you can read the review in fragrance form here. As the wax began to burn out due to excessive use by myself (you can’t blame me when the scent is so stunning), I was on the lookout for another candle in replacement and came across Ambre Japonais! A sophisticated, rich and sensual scent that fills the room/space almost instantly. Perfect for the colder seasons as it gives off a warm, snug feeling. If you are a fan of oriental, spicy fragrances then this candle is definitely worth trying out!

To purchase, click here.

DIPTYQUE - BENJOIN

Notes: Patchouli, Indian Cypriol

Benjoin is my all time favourite candle by Diptyque! It is so creamy and powerful yet remains delicate.

A blend that sits just in between caramel and vanilla, this candle comes in the instantly recognisable Diptyque glass jar, a staple in any beauty bloggers photography!

If you like fragrances that are heavy and rich, then I would definitely consider Benjoin!

To purchase, click here.

JO MALONE - POMEGRANATE NOIR

Notes:

Top: Pomegranate
Heart: Casablanca Lily
Base: Guaiacwood

In my opinion Pomegranate Noir is what makes Jo Malone so special. A luxurious scent that fills the air with sophistication and class, I find that Pomegranate Noir can be burnt at any time of the year but smells crisp and fresh during the colder seasons!

If you have ever smelt Pomegranate Noir in fragrance form, then it is a given that you will thoroughly enjoy it in candle form.

To purchase, click here.

MAISON MARGIELA - JAZZ CLUB

Notes: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Vetiver, Tobacco Leaves

One of the top selling fragrances by Maison Margiela, Jazz Club is inspired by an evening in a hazy bar with the undertones of leather coming through. This candle when lit has a slight boozy feel to it and unlike the others previously, is a lot softer.

That being said, when leaving the area and returning to it moments later, the scent hits you lightly without being too overpowering.

If you are a fan of woody, oriental and spicy fragrances then I would recommend trying out Jazz Club!

At the time of writing this post, the Jazz Club candle has sold out online, but is available to purchase in departments stores such as Selfridges, John Lewis and Harvey Nichols.

COMMODITY - LEATHER

Notes:

Top: Black Leather, Oregano Essence, Juniper Wood Essence
Heart: Cacao Bean Absolute, Myrrh Resinoid, Cade Essence, Akigalawood
Base: Styrax Resinoid, Cedarwood Essence, Haitian Vetiver Essence, Cistus Labdanum Essence from Concrete

A sultry and bold scent that imitates the texture of leather which lingers in the air long after burning! I find this candle to be rather similar to the Jazz Club in that it is a rather soft scent yet still has that spicy throw that fills up the room/area.

If you like leather fragrances (think Tom Ford - Tuscan Leather) then perhaps this candle will suit you!

To purchase, click here.

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Judging by my top 5 candles this year, I think it is safe to say that I like oriental, spicy and sensual scents! I hope you have enjoyed my choices and I would love to know which are your favourite candles! Don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below, and do leave me a comment so I know which other candles I should look out for.

THE IDLE MAN LOOKBOOK

October 07, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I had been contacted by The Idle Man with regards to selecting a few key items from their latest A/W ‘18 Collection! What I love about the brand is the simplicity of their clothing and how versatile each piece can be. I love Autumn and Winter, predominantly due to the clothing! I find that it is much more fun to dress up in the colder weather with sweaters, coats and different accessories to layer up, so shooting this LookBook was a lot of fun for me.

I had a wide variety of clothing to choose from and ended up choosing:

For this LookBook I wanted something a little darker compared to my previous shoots and I met up with the incredible Tom Hall in Northern Quarter in Manchester! We trailed around the streets for a good hour or so taking these photos and I couldn’t be more happier with the results. I hope you enjoy the images as much as we did taking them, and I would love to hear your thoughts on this so don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below and leave me a comment!

To view more of Tom Hall’s photography, check out his website and Instagram!

ELEMIS: DAILY DEFENCE SHIELD SPF 30

September 27, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Despite now officially being Autumn here in England and with a slight drop in the temperature, the Sun doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon!

With that being said, it is still important to protect your skin from the Sun’s harmful UV rays and over the past month or so I have been trialling out the Daily Defence Shield SPF 30 by Elemis.

ELEMIS - DAILY DEFENCE SHIELD SPF 30

Contains Enviro-Age Complex, Coconut and Jojoba

My skin is rather fair so I tend to use high SPF suncreams as I burn rather easily, so I liked that the Daily Defence Shield had a high factor.

Prior to applying the Daily Defence Shield, I used the Pro Collagen Marine Cream (which I have previously reviewed which can be read here) as my daily moisturiser and then applied the Daily Defence Shield on top.

I applied a small amount across my face and I found the texture of the suncream to be very lightweight and easy to apply with its applicator. That being said, if I was abroad or somewhere where I was constantly in the Sun, then I would apply and layer the suncream throughout the day accordingly!

One of the things I also enjoyed about using the Daily Defence Shield was that it didn’t have that greasy feel to it! It absorbed easily into my skin leaving it to feel hydrated.

To purchase Elemis - Daily Defence Shield SPF 30, click here!

Have you tried the Daily Defence Shield SPF 30 before? Have you tried any products by Elemis before? If so, which ones? How often do you use suncream? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click that ‘like’ button below!

#ALLTHATSPARKLES - JO MALONE CHRISTMAS 2018

September 19, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

BRING ON THE BAUBLES

I had been invited down to the Jo Malone Townhouse in London yesterday for an exclusive look at the brands upcoming Christmas range, and having gone consecutively for the past three years/Christmases, there was no way I was going to be missing this years!

As I made my way up the stairs, there were two huge glitter balls and it gave off a relaxed yet fun vibe compared to the previous years. I walked into the room and immediately saw a huge ‘box’ filled with hanging decorations and Jo Malone goodies which looked absolutely stunning! We were all able to get inside of the box and create our very own gif with the decorations, I would post mine but I just looked awkward so I’ll keep this one private for now…

I walked through to the other room where there was a huge screen projecting ‘All That Sparkles’ Christmas Campaign, and sat beautifully in front of the screen were all of this years Christmas goodies which I’m sure you’re all wanting to know about…

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ALL THAT SPARKLES

(Available from October 2018)

Deluxe Candle Collection - Pomegranate Noir (£360)
Advent Calendar (£300)
Ultimate Christmas Cracker - Customisable
Luxury Cologne Collection (£370)
House Of Jo Malone London - (£115)
Cologne Collection Pomegranate Noir - (£70)
Cologne Intense Collection - (£88)
Pomegranate Noir Collection - (£83)
Miniature Candle Collection - (£66)
Body Créme Collection - (£63)
Wood Sage & Sea Salt and Black Cedarwood & Juniper Duo - (£109)
English Oak & Hazelnut and Basil & Neroli Duo - (£62)
Miniature Soap Collection - (£36)
Christmas Cracker - (£32)
Christmas Ornament - (£22)
White Moss & Snowdrop Deluxe Candle - (£126)
White Moss & Snowdrop Cologne 100ml - (£96)
Lime Basil & Mandarin Hand Wash 250ml - (£26)
Exclusive Limited Edition Pomegranate Noir Cologne 100ml - (£96)
Exclusive Limited Edition English Pear & Freesia Cologne 100ml - (£96)
Pine & Eucalyptus Luxury Candle - (£300)
Pine & Eucalyptus Home Candle - (£47)
Pine & Eucalyptus Diffuser - (£62)
Pine & Eucalyptus Room Spray - (£46)
Orange Bitters Cologne 100ml - (£96)
Orange Bitters Cologne 30ml - (£48)
Orange Bitters Home Candle - (£47)
Ginger Biscuit Cologne 100ml - (£96)

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Orange Bitters and Pine & Eucalyptus are both back! Two seasonal favourites of mine, and you may have noticed a new seasonal, limited edition fragrance listed: White Moss & Snowdrop. Having had the chance to smell this on my skin, I can reveal that it is incredibly long lasting (I sprayed this at around 2pm and could still smell this when I left London at 8pm!) Once my memory has been refreshed, I will do a full blog review of this when it releases.

The theme throughout most of the Christmas packaging this year is hologram and glitter, the hologram looks gorgeous when caught in the right light and the glitter sparkles brightly, and let’s just take a look at that stunning Limited Edition Pomegranate Noir bottle!? In my personal opinion this has been my most favourite Christmas packaging that Jo Malone have done to date due to taking the brand back to its simplicity and adding a fun element to it all!

All of the products listed will be released nationwide from 23rd October 2018 with the Advent Calendar being released exclusively to Harrods on 1st October 2018 and then nationwide from 1st November 2018. As always, these are expected to sell out almost instantly so be sure to dash to your nearest Jo Malone Boutique or keep refreshing their website! A huge thank you to the team at Jo Malone for inviting me down and bring on the baubles!

To read more of my reviews on Jo Malone see below:

FRAGRANCE: English Fields, English Oak & Redcurrant, Tobacco & Mandarin, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Myrrh & Tonka

EVENTS: Christmas 2016, Christmas 2017, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set

SKINCARE: Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream, Myrrh & Tonka Shower Oil

Having seen the images and the product list, has it got you excited for Christmas? Which sounds most appealing to you? What do you think to the hologram packaging and the glitter? Do you have any personal favourites from Jo Malone? If so, which ones? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click that ‘like’ button below!