NEW BEGINNINGS

February 17, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Having been bleached blonde for just over a year and a bit, I recently decided to shake things up a little and make the change from bleach blonde to ginger! I went for a deep, dark ginger that almost looks auburn when in the dark, but when caught in the right light, the orange shines through. The colour to be exact was 06/34… I don’t know exactly what that means but there you have it!

Prior to this LookBook, I had a clear vision in my head before meeting up with the hugely talented Sophia Carey and I knew that I wanted this whole LookBook to best reflect my own personal style! We shot 3 different looks and I would love to know which one is your favourite…

Late last year I had a meeting with the lovely PR from Pretty Green who had very kindly gifted me two items from their ‘Black Label’ which I absolutely love and personifies the whole rock n roll vibe which feels slick and tailored with a flamboyant twist. I decided to feature these 2 items for this LookBook as I have worn these pretty much to death over the past couple of months!

Out of the 3 different looks, which is your favourite and why? Are there any items of clothing you have your eye on? If so, which!? I would love to hear your thoughts on this and do click the ‘like’ button below!

WHAT I WORE:

Look 1:

PRETTY GREEN | BEATLES ROCKY JACKET (IN SALE!!!)

ASOS | GRANDAD COLLAR SHIRT (SIMILAR)

ASOS | SUPER SKINNY SMART TROUSERS

JEFFERY WEST | SYLVIAN CUBAN BOOTS IN BLACK SUEDE

Look 2:

ASOS | NEON JUMPER (SIMILAR)

ASOS | LEATHER BIKER JACKET

H&M | SUIT TROUSERS REGULAR FIT

NEXT | WHITE TRAINERS

Look 3:

PRETTY GREEN | TAILORED SINGLE BREASTED STRIPE JACKET (IN SALE!!!)

ELECTRIC EYE APPAREL | ‘KATE CHUFFIN MOSS’ CUSTOMISED BLACK T-SHIRT

ASOS | SUPER SKINNY BLACK JEANS

CALVIN KLEIN | MARVIN TRAINERS

TOPMAN | BLACK FLAT CAP

VALENTINES GIFT GUIDE 2019

February 11, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Despite being single, I do enjoy the Valentine’s hype as it is a time where all of the bold, cutesy packaging for various products come out (despite some being a little garish), and where London and many other cities decorate their shopfronts with striking floral displays!

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s without a Gift Guide here on my blog, so for this particular Gift Guide I have included some perfect gifts guaranteed to put a smile on your loved ones face, or even your own! After all, we don’t exactly need a reason to treat ourselves from time to time now do we…?

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VALENTINE’S 2019

DIPTYQUE - DAMASCENA CANDLE

A bold floral candle with sumptuous, heady and honey notes, this candle is incredibly strong smelling and is ideal for those who love the scent of roses! It is sure to fill any space whilst lingering in the air long after its burn.

To purchase, click here.

PRETTY GREEN - MUG SET

A must for any rock n roll fans out there! Pretty Green mugs emblazoned with their iconic Paisley print which in this particular Gift Set come in black and navy.

To purchase, click here.

KIEHL’S - LOVE OIL FOR LIPS

A lightweight lip oil that hydrates and nourishes lips leaving them with a healthy, natural looking glow!

To purchase, click here.

APPLEYARD LONDON - 50 RED ROSES

The most beautiful flowers that instantly add a touch of elegance and colour to any space in your home! To make things that little sweeter, I have a 20% off code for all bouquets at Appleyard London! CODE: LUKE20 (Please note, this code excludes any additional gifts/add ons and delivery charges.)

To purchase, click here.

HOUSE 99 BY DAVID BECKHAM - SMOOTH BACK GIFT SET

This Gift Set contains Thickening Daily Shampoo, Face Moisturiser and Shaping Pomade along with a Hair Comb. Perfect for any man to create a ‘Pompadour’ hairstyle!

To purchase, click here.

GLAMGLOW - GENTLEBUBBLE

A daily conditioning cleanser that not only effectively removes any impurities, but the bubbles gently cleanse the skin leaving it feeling soft and thoroughly cleansed!

To purchase, click here.

FLOWER BY KENZO

A floral fragrance that feels sensual yet powdery on the skin which then comes alive with the incense note!

To purchase, click here.

JO LOVES - VETIVER FRAGRANCE BODY SPRAY

I recently came across the JO LOVES brand by trying out this body spray which had kindly been gifted to me to try out and I have to say, this particular Vetiver Body Spray is simply divine! The fragrance is spicy with a unique twist on the classic Vetiver scent which lasts on my skin and clothes for many hours afterwards!

To purchase, click here.

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I hope you have enjoyed my Valentine’s Gift Guide this year and if I have included any of your favourites or ones that you have tried out then do let me know as I would love to hear from you! Also, don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below, and have a gorgeous Valentines whatever your plans are!

(AD // These items have kindly been gifted to me for the purpose of this Gift Guide.)

VALENTINES 2019

February 10, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

It’s Valentines week! Over the next week I will be posting Valentines themed content so do not panic if you haven’t purchased for your loved one yet! Or, if you’re single, (like me), then perhaps I could give you a reason or two to treat yourself?

I hope you like this little fun ‘rebrand’ for Valentines and I would love to know what you’re up to for this occasion! Are you spending it with a loved one? Perhaps you’re single? If so, how are you spending it? Are you a fan of Valentines at all or do you find it too nauseating? Let me know!

JO MALONE - BRONZE WOOD & LEATHER

February 03, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Jo Malone’s latest fragrance addition to their Cologne Intense Collection comes in the form of Bronze Wood & Leather. A dark, moody and sensual fragrance, Bronze Wood & Leather aims to encapsulate the feeling of escaping the everyday life…

I had the pleasure of receiving a bottle of this fragrance, alongside an invitation to my local Jo Malone Boutique where I was able to have a hand & arm massage treatment! I took my Mother along with me and I opted to have my personal favourite scent; Myrrh & Tonka in the body creme whilst my Mother went for her favourite scent; Neroli & Basil body creme. The lovely assistant then sprayed the new Bronze Wood & Leather on top to layer it with our chosen body scents and combined with Myrrh & Tonka, this gave it a deeper, earthier feel to a bold, daring scent! Thank you to the team at Harrogate for inviting us along, we had a lovely morning and the glass of Prosecco wasn’t too bad either…

BRONZE WOOD & LEATHER

Top Notes: Grapefruit
Middle Notes: Juniper, Smoke
Base Notes: Leather, Vetiver

The opening of Bronze Wood & Leather has a real smokey feel to it with a faint underlying note of the Grapefruit coming through giving it a sweet, fruity edge that fades away shortly after into a deeper, muskier scent. During the dry-down, the fragrance becomes predominantly more leather and woody which has a silage that is medium albeit heavy at times with an impressive lasting power with the fragrance staying close to my skin for up to 6 hours.

For me, Bronze Wood & Leather is a fragrance that lives up to its name in terms of the leather aspect and has a strong smokey effect, however, I have found that wearing this alone has been pretty linear and doesn’t alter that much. When comparing the fragrance to other Jo Malone scents from the Cologne Intense Collection, it doesn’t have that special touch that Myrrh & Tonka or Oud & Bergamot both have which is why I would recommend wearing Bronze Wood & Leather with another fragrance to give it another dimension and to add another layer!

To purchase Bronze Wood & Leather, click here and 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, Christmas 2018, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set

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

Have you smelt Bronze Wood & Leather before? What did you think to it? Have you tried layering it with another fragrance? 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!

WAGAMAMA - A FRESH TASTE FOR 2019

January 23, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

I was introduced to Wagamama a few years ago and prior to visiting the restaurant, I was under the illusion that they only served noodles and soup, which yes, they do, however I remember being pleasantly surprised to have seen that their menu had a lot more range than I initially thought!

Founded in 1992, Wagamama is an oriental restaurant which serves dishes which are mostly Chinese that have been inspired by Japanese food. I had been invited along for a complimentary meal with my friend at the Harrogate restaurant to see if I could bring myself to try something new other than Chicken Katsu Curry…

Starter: Tama Squid
I am a big fan of Squid, particularly the Chilli Squid which is what I usually go for but seeing Tama Squid on the menu jumped out at me and sounded rather tasty! Crispy fried squid balls drizzled with Okonomiyaki sauce and Mayonnaise topped with Aonori and Bonito Flakes. When the dish arrived we were told that parts of the Bonito Flakes moved whilst they were warm which was a pleasant surprise! They were delicious. One of my favourite dishes and I would even go as far as to say I preferred these to Chilli Squid! They were slightly hard to bite into and rather crispy but soon melted in the mouth and burst with flavour!
Main Course: Yasai Katsu Curry
Okay, I failed. (Kinda). I love Katsu Curry, what can I say!? However, this was from the Vegan/Vegetarian menu and it had been a while since my last visit so this menu was completely new to me. Differing from the main menu, the Yasai Katsu Curry comes in the form of Sweet Potato, Aubergine and Butternut Squash coated in crispy Panko breadcrumbs which has the infamous curry sauce drizzled on top. This also comes with sticky white rice and a side serving of salad. For me, this was the perfect alternative to the Chicken Katsu Curry! There was near enough no difference in taste other than the Sweet Potato circles which were soft and tasty. My only personal thought on this dish was that I found 4 of the Sweet Potato circles a bit too much… They were incredibly filling so I only managed around 2 and a half but with that being said, this was just a personal preference!
Dessert: Chocolate and Shichimi Ice Cream
Despite feeling fit to burst at this point, me and my friend always, have room for desserts… I opted for the Chocolate and Shichimi Ice Cream and as I took the first scoop, the chocolate was so creamy and rich and as I began to swallow, a whole explosion of the Shichimi burst inside of my mouth! At first it took me by shock as it was spicy and not something I had envisaged being inside of a chocolate ice cream! I persevered through as the chocolate was so delicious but the spiciness was a little overwhelming at times.

I had a wonderful time at Wagamama and it was a great way of trying out new dishes and being able to taste things I may have not noticed or ordered before! A big thank you to Caitlin and the team for inviting me along and I am already looking forward to my next trip for the Tama Squid again!

Have you visited Wagamama before? If so, what do you typically order? Have you tried anything from the Vegan/Vegetarian menu? What did you try? Have you tried any of the things I’ve mentioned within this blog? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

evo HAIR

January 18, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

I always struggle with a hairstyle for myself. One day I want to grow it long, the next I want it all short! Whilst experimenting with different styles and to help me make up my mind, luckily for me, I had been contacted by evo Hair asking if I’d like to try out a couple of haircare products from their range so naturally, I snapped their hands off!

‘You won't find unnecessary, over-marketed ingredients; no imaginary technology, no myths, no gimmicks. all ingredients in evo formulations are active; nothing is added only to make claims on the label.’

evo are taking a more environmentally friendly approach and have repackaged their products by getting rid of cardboard boxes and round packaging instead replacing them with sturdy, square ‘pucks’ that are easy to stack whilst being environmentally friendly! Inside each product you’ll find that they are all certified cruelty free products which are gluten, sulphate, paraben, dea, tea and propylene glycol free.

What I like about this brand is their whole tongue in cheek attitude with their products which you will see in the packaging and if I’m honest, it feels like a breath of fresh air in a rather stuffy market! I had been lucky enough to receive a whole bundle from evo, but for this particular blog I will be reviewing some of my favourites from the range such as;

box o’ bollox / texture paste - tells you what you want to hear; perfect for the friendless and those who need to spend a lot on jeans (see placebo in the dictionary)

Recommended for all hair types, this texture paste was easy and manageable to rub into my hair to create a style whilst still flexible enough to be able to move around if those pesky fly-aways weren’t behaving! Once set in style, I liked the matte effect it gave to my hair as I prefer my hair to look as natural as it can without looking shiny. The texture paste also added volume to it which gave the illusion of it being slightly thick which was a winner in my eyes as my hair is rather thin and fine. To purchase, click here.

casual act / moulding whip - there are those who don’t have to speak loudly to make a statement; whose actions speak louder than words

Again, recommended for all hair types, short - medium in particular, I worked this moulding whip between my hands whilst my hair was dry and began to rub it into my chosen style. The texture was light which at times was a little difficult to get the style right but with that being said, this made it easier to be able to restyle if needed. There was little shine with this moulding whip which for me was a bonus, and I liked how light it felt in my hair! To purchase, click here.

normal persons / daily shampoo - normal persons shampoo is practically latin for ‘smart-thinking hair care brand that jumps on the bandwagon and makes a good shampoo'.

This daily shampoo helps to cool and stimulate the scalp whilst reducing excess oil. I found this shampoo to be cleansing and it helped to rid of any product that was in my hair prior to cleaning it. The scent is fresh and has a cooling sensation to it!
To purchase, click here.

To find out more about evo Hair and what they stand for, read more here!

Have you tried any products by evo Hair before? If so, what did you try? Are there any others you think I should try out? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

ALLIES OF SKIN

January 16, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

A recent new find of mine in the skincare world comes in the form of Allies Of Skin. A skincare brand which has become an instant cult hit that focuses on smart, multi-tasking products to fit around modern lives. Allies Of Skin features many potent antioxidants and intelligent nutrients which work effectively together to adapt to your skins needs!

I was lucky enough to have been gifted 3 products from the brand which include;

All-Day Pollution Repair Mask
On first glance at the name, I immediately thought that this product was going to be a mask and I was rather excited to try this out, however, despite its namesake, I quickly learnt that this is in fact a moisturiser which has the potency and all of the benefits within a mask! Featuring ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid blended with Acai Oil which helps to infuse essential fatty acids, intense moisture and nutrients. I applied this first thing of a morning after cleansing my skin and could almost instantly see that my skin had a fresher, dewy glow to it and looked completely refreshed! The consistency of the All-Day Pollution Repair Mask was light on my skin and absorbed quickly and efficiently into my skin. To purchase, click here.
Promise Keeper Blemish Facial
This product is a leave-on mask and is used nightly which works as both a curative and a preventive measure to help keep skin clear. Formulated with alpha hydroxy acids, enzymes and antibacterial colloidal silver, this powerful formulation helps to soothe irritation, clear the skins complexion all the while unclogging pores and blemishes. I left this mask on overnight consecutively for a couple of nights before noticing a difference. To begin with, I experienced a breakout which was to be expected given that your skin needs time to adjust, however, once the breakout subsided, my skin looked a lot clearer and felt smooth to touch! I also particularly enjoyed the scent of the lavender which I found soothing, especially on a nighttime. The consistency again like the All-Day Pollution Repair Mask was light and easy to apply. To purchase, click here.
Fresh Slate Clay & Manuka Honey Purifying Cleanser + Masque
A multi-tasker formulated with Manuka Honey and salicylic acid, this 2-In-1 combination helps to keep your skin looking smooth, fresh and clean without feeling dry and irritated. I applied this as both as cleanser and a masque and I have to be honest, as a cleanser, this just did not work for me. I found the consistency far too thick to use as a cleanser and the performance of it as a masque was much better! I left this on for around 10 minutes before rinsing off and immediately my skins appearance was brighter, and had a fresh glow to it. To purchase, click here.

To conclude, these products were a great introduction to the Allies Of Skin brand for me and I would recommend trying out the All-Day Pollution Repair Mask as this was a personal favourite of mine! To get more of an insight into Allies Of Skin, click here.

Have you tried any of these products mentioned? If so, which ones and what are your thoughts? Have you tried any other Allies Of Skin products before? Are there any you feel I should try out? Let me know below as I’d love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!