KIEHL'S AVOCADO NOURISHING HYDRATION MASK

July 15, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Ahead of Kiehl’s newest product launch: Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask, I had the privilege of being gifted this to be able to try out!

‘Inspired by freshly picked avocados, this rich and addictively creamy facial mask intensely hydrates skin, leaving it feeling soft and replenished with moisture. Formulated with Avocado Fruit Extract, omega rich Avocado Oil and Evening Primrose Oil, this mask leaves skin feeling nourished whilst helping to prevent water loss by sealing in moisture. For soft, healthy looking skin, our mask is the perfect pick!’

It goes without saying that Avocado seems to be everywhere at the moment, whether it’s on some toast in an Instagram flatlay, whether its crushed into a healthy smoothie, or whether its a main ingredient within a skincare product. Either way, if you haven’t come across Avocado thus far, I’m sure it’ll just be a matter of time before you do!

Prior to applying the mask, I cleansed my face ensuring my skin was clean and then applied a layer of the Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask. This mask advises you to leave on for 15 minutes, but with any mask, I always feel that you know your skin best so if you need to take it off before the advised time, that’s okay! I would advise you however, to not go over the advised time limit as you don’t want to cause any skin irritations or breakouts.

The texture of the mask was quite thick and dense, so to break this down, I rubbed this into the palms of my hands to create a smooth texture to allow the application to work easier. Once applied, my face felt quite damp and had a green glow. (My family compared me to Shrek at this point!) I then rinsed the mask off after 15 minutes and immediately saw that my skin look refreshed, nourished and felt incredibly soft to touch!

Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask is out now and can be purchased here.

Full list of ingredients:

Aqua/Water, Aloe Barbadensis/Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil/ Avocado Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter, Squalane, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil/Rice Bran Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Carnauba Wax, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil/Safflower Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Mel/Honey, Nylon-66, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate. Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl, Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Citrus Limon Peel Oil/Lemon Peel Oil, Copper PCA, Limonene, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Citral, Beta-Carotene.

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 Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask? If so, what did you think to it? Have you tried any products by Kiehl’s before? 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!

GILLETTE - FUSION5 PROGLIDE SUBSCRIPTION KIT

July 08, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

*Please note, this post has been sponsored.

Earlier this year, Gillette launched a much talked about campaign: ‘We Believe: The best we can be.’ This campaign got everybody talking and highlighted so many different stereotypes on the word ‘masculinity’. I perceived this ad as a positive as it showed the world as it is today. Highlighting that those old, stereotypical ways of treating women and how that ‘boys will be boys’ mantra is no longer acceptable!

Whilst I think that there is still a long way to go, what I liked about the ad was that our society and what we should do as a collective is begin to work on changing those old stereotypes to show the younger, new generation on how to behave and what is and isn’t acceptable.

Gillette was one of the first ever shaving products that I used when I was younger and I feel that they play a key part in a teenage boys life whilst growing up! That experience of father and son bonding over how to shave correctly has almost become a ritual for so many.

GILLETTE - FUSION5 PROGLIDE SUBSCRIPTION KIT

I had recently been gifted a subscription kit by Gillette and you can select a kit from 3 options:

Mach3 Starter Kit
Fusion5 Starter Kit
ProGlide Starter Kit

I received the ProGlide Starter Kit and within the neatly packaged blue box contained:

ProGlide handle
2 ProGlide replacement blades
75ml shave gel
Razor travel case

The ProGlide features a 5 bladed razor, indicator lubrastrip, precision trimmer and flexball technology. As I applied the shave gel across my face, I liked that it didn’t feel too harsh when on my skin nor did it cause any skin irritation! I then used the razor across my face and with the flexball technology, this allowed the razor to move freely whilst still having control over it. The handle was sturdy and the razor eliminated most of my facial hair easily!

This subscription kit is ideal for somebody who is looking to take that next step from a classic razor, and wants something a little more sturdy that feels more advanced which delivers great results! The kit is worth £17.37, however, if you select this when signing up for a subscription kit, then it will be worth £6.95 saving you £10.42. It’s a no brainer right?

To sign up and find out more, click here!

Have you tried any razors by Gillette before? If so, which one? Have you tried this Fusion5 ProGlide razor before? What do you think to it? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

BOOHOOMAN - PRIDE COLLECTION 2019

July 04, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

I have been invited along to London Pride this year with the charity, Action On Hearing Loss and not only will it be my first time going to London Pride, I’m also walking with the charity in the parade too! I am so excited for this opportunity and to celebrate, I had recently been gifted some clothing from boohooMAN Pride Collection.

I met up with Matt McCormick and we went to Temple Newsam found in Leeds. I wanted the backdrop of the stunning flowers and plants to let these pieces really stand out, and once again, I am thrilled with the results! I hope you all enjoy this LookBook as much as Matt and I do and if you’re going to Pride, I would love to know what you’re going to wear!

Have any of these items of clothing caught your eye? Are you going to any Pride event this year? If so, which one? Let me know your thoughts down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

WHAT I WORE:

boohooMAN | PRIDE LOOSE FIT STRIPE T-SHIRT WITH LOVE PRINT

boohooMAN | PRIDE LOOSE FIT T-SHIRT WITH BACK PRINT

ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN NEROLI CLEANSING BALM

July 01, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

You may have heard of Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm before, an award winning, iconic cleansing balm that removes pollutants, dirt and daily grime? Well, Elemis have recently released a ‘sister’ version! A brand new, limited edition Pro-Collagen Neroli Cleansing Balm which comes with the scent of Neroli, and has been decorated in a soft, peachy colour with delicate florals printed on!

PRO-COLLAGEN NEROLI CLEANSING BALM

I applied the Neroli Cleansing Balm by warming this in the palms of my hands and then applied straight onto dry skin by using a small amount. Initially, I used quite a big amount but realised that this didn’t work as effectively and found that a small size worked better.

The balm had a soft texture and when applied onto my skin, the balm practically melted! It was incredibly soft and I loved how it glided over my skin easily.

The Neroli scent at first was quite strong but when rinsed off, it left a delicate scent on my skin that smelt rather fresh throughout the day! Once rinsed off, the Neroli Cleansing Balm left my skin feeling smooth, moisturised and left me with a radiant glow.

The overall use of the Pro-Collagen Neroli Cleansing Balm was simple, effective and is one of my favourite ways to cleanse my skin!

To purchase the Limited Edition Pro-Collagen Neroli Cleansing Balm, click here. Or, to purchase the original Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, click here!

Have you tried Elemis Pro-Collagen Neroli Cleansing Balm? How did you find the scent? Were you a fan of the neroli? Or do you prefer the original? What do you think to the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

LIZ EARLE AND THE IVY: VICTORIA QUARTER LEEDS

June 30, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

I had recently been invited along to The Ivy for afternoon tea in collaboration with the skincare brand; Liz Earle. The two brands had teamed up within Victoria Quarter in Leeds to bring together a package that allowed you to get pampered with a treatment by the team at Liz Earle, followed by afternoon tea at The Ivy!

Despite having never tried anything from Liz Earle before, or ever having visited one of their boutiques, I still knew quite a bit with regards to the brand and I knew that Liz Earle was one of the first skincare brands to really champion and hone in on ‘active ingredients’. I also knew that Liz Earle had become a wellbeing, lifestyle guru so when the chance came up for me to be able to experience a luxury treatment, naturally I was intrigued and keen to find out more…

I arrived at the Liz Earle boutique and was taken upstairs to the very top where they had several treatment rooms. I filled out a consultation form which covered the basic questions such as any skincare problems you may have, what treatment you feel best suits you and ultimately, what you’re wanting to see results from! I was then greeted by a lovely beauty therapist and we went to a private treatment room. The treatment room itself was incredibly peaceful, the lights were low which instantly created a tranquil environment and I had been told to undress and get into the treatment bed. I am fully aware how that sounds, but it was all innocent!

I explained to the beauty therapist a few of my skincare issues and the main one for me was how dry my skin was. I had been going through a bit of stress at the time and for me, the biggest problem is forgetting to hydrate both my body and skin! The treatment that was gifted to me was the ‘Speedy Lift Facial’.

SPEEDY LIFT FACIAL - 30 minutes / £45

Designed for those who are short on time but want an instant complexion boost, this facial workout features deep-tissue sculpting techniques to visibly lift, refresh and tone.

The treatment began with a gentle cleanse, followed by toning of the skin then finishing off with a moisturiser. As the treatment progressed, the movements of the facial became more vigorous which I enjoyed, but prior to the treatment you do get asked if you would like the movements to be gentle, medium or hard so don’t panic. The treatment is catered to your skincare needs after all!

After the treatment, I could immediately see that my skin had a glow, it looked radiant and healthy. My skin felt soft to touch, well moisturised and nourished! I liked that my skin didn’t feel to gloopy or sticky despite the amount of products that had gone into it. The treatment was over as quickly as it started and despite the movements being fast paced, I felt incredibly relaxed and almost nodded off at one point…

Once the treatment had finished, I had then been given some skincare tips and hints on how to look after my skin and not let the stress get to it too much! I had been advised to cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily, exfoliate twice weekly and use a night oil instead of a moisturiser 3 times a week, and perhaps the most important advice? Drink more water!

After my treatment, I then popped across from the Liz Earle boutique to The Ivy where I opted for

Smoked salmon on dark rye style bread with cream cheese and chives
Raspberry cheesecake
Latté

all of which were utterly delicious! When going along for Afternoon Tea at The Ivy, please note that the timing for this menu is between 3pm-5pm.

I had a wonderful afternoon, the perfect way to unwind and relax! I had also very kindly been gifted some products from Liz Earle and have been implementing my new tips and advice into a skincare routine which I will be reviewing very shortly so do check back for that soon!

Have you used any products by Liz Earle before? If so, what have you used? Have you had any treatments by Liz Earle before? Which one? Will you be treating yourself to a luxury pampering session? Have you visited The Ivy for Afternoon Tea yet? Let me know below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

YOUTUBE; DECORATE YOUR HEARING AIDS FOR PRIDE! | Mr Luke Christian

June 27, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

DECORATE YOUR HEARING AIDS FOR PRIDE! | Mr Luke Christian

BYREDO LEATHER COLLECTION

June 23, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

About a month or so ago I had an e-vite come through from Byredo. Now, I will confess that I had an absolute ‘fan-girl’ moment as Byredo is one of my favourite brands when it comes to fragrances. Ever.

The event took place at the Byredo boutique in Soho, London and was to showcase the new leather goods. I was greeted with champagne (always a good sign) and I was taken upstairs where the leather goods had been displayed. As I walked around the room, I was immediately drawn to the ‘Blueprint’ collection. A series of beautifully crafted leather bags which can be hand-held, shoulder held or worn across the body in a range of designs such as:

Embroidered Black Leather
Overstitched Black Leather
Printed Black Leather
Black Leather and Painted Python
Black Anaconda
Black Python
most of which are available in other sizes and colours

My personal favourite? The Black Leather and Painted Python - so chic.

I then noticed another display in which several bottles of Byredo fragrances and candles had been encased in leather! These leather cases were designed for the traveller in mind, for those who want to be able to take their favourite fragrance and candle away with them with the comfort of knowing that their glass bottles will be protected. I had also been informed that with every leather fragrance and candle purchase, you get a free bottle of your choice. Ideal!

Another collection that caught my eye was the ‘De La Sac’. My particular favourite one was the Red Leather bag. The shade of red was so striking and the detailing was so precise which really stood out amongst the rest!

Other pieces from the Leather Collection are:

Eazy Bag
Umbrella Wallet
Credit Card Holder
Wallet Clutch
Circuit Bag
Travel Perfume Case

To read more on the Leather goods from Byredo, click here! Shortly after this event, I was then invited along to the launch of the new fragrance ‘Sundazed’. Check back soon for the review on the fragrance!

In the meantime, be sure to check out my other reviews on Byredo such as -

Gypsy Water Fragrance / Baudelaire Fragrance / Bibliotheque Fragrance and Home Scent / Seven Veils Fragrance / Ambre Japonais Home Scent / Chai Home Scent

Have you visited the Byredo store in Soho before? What do you think to it? Have you tried anything from Byredo before? If so, what have you tried? Have you managed to see the Leather Collection? Which is your favourite piece? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!