PERRICONE MD - CBx FOR MEN

January 06, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Perricone MD was one of the first well-known skincare brands that I worked with back when I started blogging and still to this day remains a firm favourite of mine!

Perricone MD was created by Dr Nicholas Perricone after his life long passion for science inspired him to unlock the secrets to healthy ageing and continues to introduce revolutionary technologies into skincare which aim to get us one step closer to the fountain of youth!

PERRICONE MD CBx

The CBx range has been designed with men in mind, and has been powered by PHYTOCANNABINOIDS which are naturally derived from the hemp plant. The range delivers potent antioxidant benefits which aim to help stressed skin feel soothed, healthy and refreshed! Within the CBx range there are 3 products;

Super Clean Face Wash
Soothing Post-Shave Treatment
Lightweight Moisturiser

From this range I received the Super Clean Face Wash alongside the Lightweight Moisturiser as at the time of receiving these, I was sporting a beard so didn’t feel the need to try out the Post-Shave Treatment!

I applied the Super Clean Face Wash both at morning to apply the Lightweight Moisturiser, and at nighttime to remove any skincare products I had worn during the day. Prior to application, I washed my face first leaving my skin moist for the Super Clean Face Wash to be applied and whilst applying this, it began to turn quite foamy.

Once rinsed off, I found that my skin felt smooth and incredibly clean whilst some Face Washes can leave your skin feeling dry and tight, I found that this particular Face Wash didn’t have that feeling instead, leaving it feeling comfortable! I particularly enjoyed the scent of the Super Clean Face Wash which was woody with a green, earthy feel to it.

For the Lightweight Moisturiser, I applied this in the morning, ready for the day ahead and applied this after cleansing my face with the Super Clean Face Wash. The first thing I noticed about the Lightweight Moisturiser was the texture and how light it felt!

Granted, it is named as ‘Lightweight Moisturiser’ so it’s safe to say that it definitely lives up to its namesake. The Lightweight Moisturiser absorbed into my skin pretty quickly and I liked that it left my skin feeling hydrated and light without feeling too gloopy! My only personal critique is that there was a slight shine to my skin afterwards which some people may love, but for me, I prefer a more matte finish when it comes to the appearance of my skin.

Overall, another great range by Perricone MD! To view more about the range, click here. For more details on the Super Clean Face Wash, click here and for the Lightweight Moisturiser, click here!

Do check out my other reviews from the Perricone MD brand such as the Photo Plasma and Cold Plasma!

You can also read about my time at the H2 Elemental Energy Launch down in London here.

Have you tried the CBx range? Which ones did you try? Have you used any products from Perricone MD before? If so, which ones? I would love to hear from you so leave me a comment down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

SHOWstudio: 100 WOMEN

January 03, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Towards the end of last year, I had the pleasure of being invited along to the preview night of the exhibition; 100 Women at SHOWStudio in London! I had previously viewed a few other exhibits at the studio before such as Moving Kate and Fashion Flora, so to be invited along to an exhibition where women in fashion were being celebrated as part of the Centenary year, was a must for me.

The exhibition was created by selecting 50 fashion illustrators to interpret 100 models, past and present, who have all been known to challenge the typical conventions of femininity such as; Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Halima Aden, Iman, Slick Woods, Stella Tennant and many more.

I made my way into the exhibit and was immediately drawn to the illustration of Naomi Campbell by Tobie Giddio. The artwork was strong, powerful and was the perfect representation of Naomi I felt!

Each model was asked to select an image or look of them that made them feel empowered at the time alongside a quote of how and why this was so impactful to them. It was interesting to see the models favourite looks and their accompanying quote to grasp a better understanding of how they felt empowered at the time.

100 Women is available to the public to view at SHOWstudio and is a must for any fashion lover out there! 10% of the proceeds from the sale of any artworks will be donated to Women For Women UK and you can view the full list of the illustrations alongside the models captions here.

SHOWstudio
22D Ebury Street
Belgravia, London,
SW1W 0LU

Have you visited the 100 Women exhibit yet? Can you spot any of your favourite models in my photographs? Have you been to any exhibitions at SHOWstudio before? If so, which ones? Do let me know your thoughts below, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

GIVE THE GIFT OF CREED THIS CHRISTMAS

December 21, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

For those of you who are frantically panicking for those last minute Christmas gifts, I wanted to share with you a fragrance that I have recently come across by the fragrance powerhouse; Creed.

CREED: ORIGINAL SANTAL

Inspired by the spiritual and royal splendor of India, Original Santal captures the essence of precious Sandalwood trees from India which are best known for spiritual strength, calming power and the beautiful scent of Sandalwood. I was already a fan of Sandalwood prior to smelling this fragrance, and I was also already a fan of Creed, especially their fragrance; Aventus. So much so, that I named this my number 1 fragrance of 2015!

Top Notes: Coriander, Juniper Berries, Cinnamon, Sandalwood
Middle Notes: Rosemary, Ginger, Lavender, Petitgrain
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla

A clean, sophisticated fragrance that felt light, dry and crisp during the opening, yet a little busy and manic with all of the different notes bouncing around off of each other. After 15/20 minutes or so, the fragrance began to turn a little more woody and with the Sandalwood note coming through which blends beautifully with the Tonka Bean and Vanilla notes which left the fragrance to feel creamy on my skin which was undoubtedly my favourite part of the fragrance!

The silage and projection began quite strong but sat closer to the skin a little quicker than I would have liked, which meant that every time I got a little hint of the fragrance on my skin, I kept wanting to go back to it. Original Santal lasted for up to 5/6 hours on my skin with the occassional ‘Ooo what aftershave are you wearing today?’ question being asked to me by my friends!

Overall, the fragrance had a really warm feel to it that may feel a little too rich to wear during the daytime, but would perform beautifully on an evening. To purchase Creed: Original Santal, click here!

Have you smelt Original Santal by Creed before? What did you think to the fragrance? Have you smelt any fragrances from Creed? If so, which ones? I would love to hear from you, so leave me a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

THE IVY: LEEDS VICTORIA QUARTER

December 19, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I had been invited along to The Ivy in Leeds which is a fairly new addition to the ever-expanding Victoria Quarter having just opened up in late September! Having already visited The Ivy before in Harrogate, I was excited to take a look at the restaurant in Leeds to see the layout and to get my hands on their delicious food.

*Please note, this image was taken a week or so after my visit!

I invited my blogger friend with me, Jessica, who I had met at the Northern Blog Awards where we had both just clicked! Upon arrival, the lovely hosts had taken our coats and walked us over to the bar where we had a glass of Prosecco waiting for us. We then got seated at a table just by the entrance, and as I was looking around at the surroundings, the restaurant was rather busy yet had a chilled atmosphere and it wasn’t too loud for me to be able to hear which is something I always take into consideration as I am deaf so restaurants and bars can prove rather tricky sometimes!

The interior and decor of The Ivy was very glamorous with an Art Deco theme running throughout and had that luxurious feel that The Ivy is well known for. We were treated to a three course meal where for starters I had the Prawn Cocktail which came with baby gem, avocado, cherry tomatoes and Marie Rose sauce. The starter was delicious although the sauce was a little sweet for me.

For my main I chose the Chicken Bourguignon which was a flat-iron chicken with crispy skin with creamed potato, chestnut mushrooms and bacon lardons. This was very tasty, however, a rather large portion! There was just a little too much on the plate for me but I gave a good go at trying to finish it all!

To complete the meal, for my dessert I chose the Chocolate Bombe which I had previously seen on Instagram being ‘Boomeranged’ countless of times which entails of a melting Chocolate Bombe with a vanilla ice cream and honeycomb centre with hot salted caramel sauce poured over it… Okay I think I’m going to head back especially just for this ASAP! It tasted just as good as it sounds!

Throughout the meal the staff were very attentive, kind and friendly, even to the point where they had recommended which food we should try out and what their personal favourites were. We also had a bottle of Provence Rosé which went down a treat! By the end of the night it was safe to say both Jessica and I were stuffed and were equally impressed with both the quality of service and food/drink throughout. Thank you to The Ivy for inviting us along!

To view more details and to take a look at their menu, click here! To book book a table, click here.

Have you visited any of The Ivy restaurants before? Where did you go? Have you visited the Leeds restaurant yet? If so, what did you order? What is your favourite part of The Ivy if you have visited? What do you recommend I should try next? Let me know your thoughts below, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

ACQUA DI PARMA - CHRISTMAS 2018

December 18, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Acqua Di Parma are one of my favourite Male Grooming brands with their Ebano fragrance being one of my favourites for this time of year, alongside the rich and aquatic fragrance for Spring/Summer; Cedro di Taormina! So you can imagine that I was completely bowled over when a large ‘Hat Box’ had arrived from one of their Christmas Collections. The box itself was presented with a ribbon wrapped beautifully around it and I didn’t dare spoil it by pulling it apart!

With that being said, once inside of the box there were three items from one of their Christmas Collections which have all been given a Festive touch this Christmas where the packaging has been beautifully designed and illustrated by the British artist, Clym Evernden. Other Collections include;

Colonia Pura
Blu Mediterraneo
Le Nobili
Ingredient Collection
Home
Body Collection
Made To Measure Sets

Fo this particular Festive Gift Set that I received, it contained;

Colonia - Candle
Colonia - Eau de Cologne
Colonia - Hand Wash & Hand Cream

The Colonia Pura scent is bold and citrusy that feels fresh when sprayed upon my skin which is making me yearn for those long, hot Summer days! I will be sure to revisit this fragrance again next Spring for a full blog review so be sure to check back for this. I also love the design of the Festive packaging this year, minimal yet fun!

To view more of the Festive Gift Sets this Christmas, click here.

Acqua Di Parma are currently offering engraving on their bottles in which you can leave a special message for that special somebody this Christmas and please note, there is guaranteed delivery by 24th December on all orders placed by 20th December by 12pm. Only two days left to take advantage of this before it’s too late!

Have you smelt anything by Acqua Di Parma before? If so, what fragrance have you smelt? Which is your favourite from the brand? Do you have your eye on anything for Christmas? Let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

INSTAGRAM CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY: MANKIND

December 17, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Being a part of the Mankind Collective allows me to explore and try out some of the latest launches in Male Grooming and as a way of saying thank you for all of your support this year, I have teamed up with Mankind for a chance to win their INCREDIBLE Christmas Collection Box!

MANKIND CHRISTMAS COLLECTION BOX

Featuring 12 full sized Male Grooming products which have all been selected to create the perfect Grooming routine for you, and worth over a whopping £475, this Christmas Collection Box will allow you to experiment and try out products from brands you may not have come across before!

Inside this box contains;

Elemis - Pro Collagen Marine Cream (50ml) £80
men-u - Facial Wash (100ml) £14.95
Hanz De Fuko - Claymation (56g) £16
Anthony - Shower Sheets (12 Sheets) £22
Korres - Fig Shower Gel (250ml) £8
avant - Anti-Ageing Glycolic Firming Eye Contour Cream (10ml) £99
Argentum - L’Etoile Infinie (30ml) £82
Regenerate - Advanced Foaming Mouth Wash (50ml) £10
Omorovicza - Deep Cleansing Mask (50ml) £62
Jack Black - Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather (226ml) £22
Recipe For Men - Deodorant (75ml) £16
Molton Brown - Tobacco Absolute Bath & Shower Gel (300ml) £20

As you can see, this Christmas Giveaway is pretty astonishing, and for your chance to enter all you need to do is simply:

Follow me on Instagram and Mankind on Instagram
Tag a friend (multiple entries are allowed!)
That’s it!

It’s as simple as that!

The winner will be announced this Thursday 20th December to allow postage/shipping in time for Christmas and this Giveaway is for UK entries only. (Sorry!)

Best of luck, and Merry Christmas!

Have you shopped with Mankind before? If so, what did you buy? What do you think to their Christmas Collection? Will you be entering this Giveaway? What products do you have your eye on? Let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2018

December 13, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I cannot believe that this Christmas Gift Guide marks my third one, and that 2018 is almost over! Where has this year gone!? That being said, Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I wouldn’t be classed as a true blogger without bringing you a Gift Guide now would I? This Gift Guide contains many wonderful gift ideas such as skincare, fragrance, and scents for your home!

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SKINCARE

Sunday Riley - Holiday Heroes £100

One of my favourite newly found skincare brands of 2018: Sunday Riley! The Tidal - Water Enzyme Brightening Cream has become a new staple in my skincare routine and I love the fresh glow that it gives my skin and how hydrated my skin feels afterwards! To purchase, click here.

SACHAJUAN - Body Collection £68

One of my favourite haircare brands, SACHAJUAN have put together this special Holiday Body Collection which features: Normal Hair Shampoo 100ml, Hair Repair 100ml, Body Wash Shiny Citrus 300ml and Body Lotion Shiny Citrus 300ml. My personal favourite from this Holiday collection is their Hair Repair as my hair is bleached which means that it can often feel dry and limp, so the Hair Repair helps to restore it back to its natural state feeling healthy again! To purchase, click here.

Nivea - Shower & Shave Gift Set

I find that the Sensitive Shaving Foam from Nivea is the perfect way to ensure that my skin feels smooth without irritation, whilst the Sensitive Post Shave Balm helps to cool my skin down! Both of these products have 0% Alcohol within them meaning that there is no burning sensation and this Gift Set also comes with the 250ml Shower Gel which can be used for Body, Face & Hair. To purchase, you can find this Gift Set at a local drugstore such as Boots or Superdrug!

GLAMGLOW - My Little Pony Glitter Mask £30

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of camp and sparkle right!? These little Glitter Masks from GLAMGLOW are a fun way of getting all of the benefits of their original GRAVITYMUD™ Firming Treatment and help to make the skins contours look more defined after use. I have had a lot of fun using these with friends as they are a great addition for a pamper night! To purchase, click here.

FRAGRANCES

Jo Malone - Orange Bitters Limited Edition (30ml) £48

When I first smelt Orange Bitters a few years ago, I will admit that it wasn’t my favourite scent and I found the opening a little too sharp for me, but after spraying it again this year on a whim, I fell in love with it! A cosy, warm fragrance that has a longevity of 5-6 hours on my skin with a sillage that feels light-medium and is guaranteed to get you a compliment or two! To purchase, click here.

Jimmy Choo - Man Gift Set £45.50

Containing the iconic fragrance ‘Man’ in both Eau De Toilette (50ml) and All-Over Shower Gel (100ml), this gift set is ideal to splurge out on a treat for yourself or a man in your life who enjoys smelling fresh with a woody twist! To purchase, click here.

Jimmy Choo - Eau De Parfum (60ml) £57

Another offering from Jimmy Choo, this time in the female form! Perfect for the special woman in your life who will feel luxurious by wearing this with the notes of Pear Nectar, Sweet Italian Orange, Tiger Orchid, Toffee and Indonesian Patchouli. To purchase, click here.

David Beckham - Inspired By Respect Gift Set £19.95

This gift set by David Beckham contains the Eau De Toilette (40ml) and the Shower Gel (200ml). The fragrance contains notes such as Bergamot, Cardamom and AmberXtreme which has a sophisticated feel, perfect for an evening! To purchase, click here.

Vera Wang - Embrace Green Tea & Pear Blossom Gift Set £40

An elegant fragrance for an elegant woman that feels fresh and floral with notes of Peony, Orange Blossom which then dries down into a muskier take with the note of Sandalwood finishing the fragrance off on a confident note! This gift set contains the Eau De Toilette (30ml) alongside the Body Lotion (75ml). To purchase, click here.

SCENTS FOR THE HOME

Molton Brown - Festive Frankincense & All Spice (180g) and Fabled Juniper Berries & Lapp Pine (180g) £42 each

Molton Brown’s Limited Edition Christmas candles come in two different scents, the first being; Festive Frankincense & All Spice which contains:

Top Notes: Elemi, Caraway, Pimento Berry.
Middle Notes: Frankincense, Cedarwood, Guaiac Wood.
Base Notes: Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood.

For me, out of the two, this one is my favourite! It just screams Christmas and has a spicy feel to the scent which leaves the room smelling wonderfully festive and cosy! To purchase, click here.

The second scent is the; The Fabled Juniper Berries & Lapp Pine which is a complete contrast to the Festive Frankincense and contains:

Top Notes: Juniper Berry, Violet Leaf, Elemi.
Middle Notes: Pine Tree, Cedarwood, Clary Sage.
Base Notes: Balsam, Oakmoss, Musk Notes.

To me, this candle epitomises ‘Winter Wonderland’ and has a real green, earthy tone to the scent! To purchase either of these, click here.

Anya Hindmarch - Chewing Gum £50

When I first saw the name of this candle, I was immediately wanting to get my hands on this! I carry chewing gum around with me everywhere so this candle felt very apt for me. Anyway! When I first smelt this, the notes of Mint and Pink Pepper were the most prominent and when I lit the candle, the scent became fruity and fresh. Perhaps better suited for Spring/Summer! This candle is ideal for those looking for a gift that’s a little quirky and different this Christmas! To purchase, click here.

Chapter Organics - The Remedy Candle £22

Hand poured, all natural, soy wax candle with a single cotton wick, The Remedy Candle is a fusion of Peppermint, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Essential Oils. This blend of ingredients aims to help those experiencing the symptoms of a cold, nausea, congestion and sickness. I can vouch for this helping to relieve those symptoms as when I was suffering from a cold, due to the being scent rather overpowering and strong, that despite not being able to smell other things, I could smell this candle! The scent lingers in the air long after it has burnt, and I also love that Chapter Organics are based in Boston Spa, just 30 minutes from where I live! To purchase, click here.

Sanctuary Spa - Divine Candle Trio £9.37

This gorgeous little trio of candles by Sanctuary Spa comes in the scents of;

Golden Rose Oud
Signature Sanctuary
Vanilla Gingersnap

All of these are 50g and I have found these to be delightful scents! My personal favourite is the Vanilla Gingersnap, creamy with a spicy kick! To purchase, click here for a list of places to buy from.

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I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas Gift Guide this year as much as I have enjoyed putting it together! All that’s left to say now is, have a fabulous Christmas!

Have you got your hands on any of these gifts mentioned in my Gift Guide? Are there any you would love to try out? Do you have your eye on any of these for yourself? Do you like my choices this year? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!