CHRISTMAS CALENDARS 2020


It may seem a little early to start thinking about Christmas however, here in the United Kingdom we are experiencing ‘Lockdown 2.0’ and it seems everybody has just decided that Christmas starts now! So, I’ve put together a little Guide for those looking for Christmas Calendars this year.

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‘GIVE JOY GIVE KIEHL’S’ / £89

For their iconic Holiday Calendar, Kiehl’s have partnered up with Lyon-based illustrator and graphic designer; Maïtè Franchi. Inspired by Art Deco, she combined geometric shapes with vibrant colours mixed with subtle textures creating that warm, cosy Christmas feel to Kiehl’s!

I absolutely adore this years design because it has a richness and warmth to it and feels more ‘traditional’ than previous years. Within this Advent Calendar you can begin the countdown to the 24th December and each day has been packaged into a little box that contains a little Kiehl’s favourite such as;

  • Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

  • Creme De Corps

  • Ultra Facial Cream

  • Mr Bones (I’m not entirely sure myself what this is as I want to keep the element of surprise too!)

  • & many more.

Another great fact about this particular Advent Calendar is that the packaging and product cartons are made with 100% recyclable, FSC certified materials using zero plastics ensuring that everything that holds the Kiehl’s products is environmentally friendly.

As always is the case every year, Kiehl’s Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar has currently sold out online almost instantly however, once the shops reopen here in the U.K. on 4th December (as this currently stands), be quick to pop to your local Kiehl’s boutique as I’m sure they’ll have some in store! For more details, click here.

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‘A TALE FROM 'L’OCCITANE’ / £53

Countdown the days of Christmas by peeling back the doors with L’Occitane Advent Calendar this Christmas! Behind 24 doors lies many wonderful treats such as;

  • Cherry Blossom Hand Cream

  • Aqua Reotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream

  • Overnight Reset Oil-In-Serum

  • Light Comforting Cream

  • & many more.

The design of the Advent Calendar gives me those classic, chic, cosy French vibes and makes me long for the day when I can travel to Paris again!

As with the Kiehl’s Advent Calendar, L’Occitane’s packaging is made up from 100% cardboard alongside the inserts which are all recyclable. Currently online, the ‘A TALE FROM L’OCCITANE’ is sold out however, if you’re a fan of L’Occitane and want to get your hands on something, their ‘Web Exclusive’ is available and all L’Occitane Advent Calendars can be found here!

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‘THE ADVENT CALENDAR - DARK’ / £12.50

Now, as a huge lover of dark chocolate (it’s the best am I right?) I can’t not have an Advent Calendar this year without some chocolate to wake up to!

Hotel Chocolat’s dark chocolate has been made up from a minimum of 70% cocoa for that smooth, silky chocolate taste. As always with Hotel Chocolat, they produce the best tasting chocolatey treats and have a range of Advent Calendars this year such as;

  • Dark Chocolate

  • White Chocolate

  • Caramel Chocolate

  • 100% cocoa, zero-added sugar

  • The Grand Advent Calendar

  • The Everything Advent

  • The Advent Calendar For Two

All of which can be found here!

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Let me know which Christmas Calendar’s you’ll be treating yourselves to this year. Join me as I unbox each day over on my Instagram and Twitter channels from 1st December!


CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019


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With just a few days to go until Christmas, I have put together some last minute gift choices to help you when it comes to buying presents for your loved ones, (or yourself, after all, we all deserve a little treat right!?)

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SACHAJUAN - OCEAN MIST GIFT SET / £50.00

One of my favourite haircare brands; SACHAJUAN!

This Christmas, why not treat a loved one or yourself to their iconic ‘Ocean Mist’ trio gift set?

Available to purchase online here!

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HOLLISTER - FESTIVAL NITE GIFT SET / £35.99

Having previously reviewed the Hollister Festival Nite - For Him fragrance here, this would make for the perfect gift for the man who enjoys a fresh, light Summer fragrance!

This gift set contains 100ml Eau De Toilette Spray, 100ml Bodywash and a card holder.

Available to purchase in stores such as Boots, Superdrug, John Lewis and online here!

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ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - BODY WASH GIFT SET / £20.00 per bottle

‘01’ by Escentric Molecules for me is one of the most complimented fragrances - ever! The scent is based on the enigmatic woody molecule; ISO E Super with fresh lime peel, green jasmine bud, soft balsams and musk.

Within this gift set are 01, 02, 03 and 04. Available to purchase online here!

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BE WATER - POWER LIBERTY: REUSABLE BOTTLE / £25.95

A gemstone water bottle which is believed to change the structure and taste of water!

The bottles are fully reusable and the Power Liberty bottle is thought to improve circulation and include relief from pain and anxiety.

Available to purchase online here!

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LABORATORY PERFUMES - ATLAS CANDLE / 200g £45.00

One of my favourite scents from Laboratory Perfumes comes in the form of ‘Atlas’! A spicy scent containing notes such as cinnamon, ginger and black pepper with a hint of fine cognac.

Available to purchase in store such as Yorkshire Soap Co. and online here!

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RALPH LAUREN - THE POLO BLACK BEAR EDITION FRAGRANCE / 125ml £60.00

A fragrance that is bold and sophisticated containing notes such as iced mango, silver armoise and patchouli noir, this would make the perfect gift for the man who likes to feel luxurious and expensive!

Available to purchase in stores such as Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, John Lewis and online here!

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Have you got all of your Christmas presents sorted, or are you a last minute person like myself? Are there any of your favourites mentioned within this Christmas Gift Guide? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!


DIPTYQUE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2019


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For this Festive season, the inspiration behind each of the Limited Edition Christmas Collection scents was that they all represent a ‘Lucky Charm’. Each carrying a special wish for the New Year;

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  • Protection

  • Luck

  • Harmony

The trio consists of:

  1. Protective Pine - The guardian of the home.

    I love how earthy and woody this is yet still has a slight creaminess to it and although being a mini, this certainly packs a punch when lit in any area!

  2. Lucky Flowers - Brings good luck.

    Perhaps a little too floral and bold for me, but that’s down to personal taste!

  3. Blissful Amber - Restores harmony.

    A rich, gorgeous scent that feels cosy and subtle yet when I leave the area, it is only when I return that I notice its projection. Blissful Amber is also my favourite out of the trio!

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Overall, yet another stunning Christmas Collection from Diptyque this year and I particularly love the design of the packaging and artwork by artist: Olaf Hajek. Colourful, fun and festive!

To find out more from Diptyque this Christmas, click here and to purchase this three candles coffret, click here.

Have you smelt any of these Christmas scents this year? If so, do you have any favourites? Have you smelt any Diptyque candles before? If so, which ones? I would love to hear from you down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!


MENS ADVENT CALENDARS 2019


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If perhaps like me you’re very last minute when it comes to Christmas shopping and you’ve forgotten about treating yourself to an Advent Calendar, then fear not! I have put together a ‘last minute’ Advent Calendar Gift Guide for you which range from skincare to body care, ‘a bit of everything’, to downright delicious chocolate.

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KIEHL’S - ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK / £82

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Personally, I find the Kiehl’s Advent Calendar the ‘Holy Grail’ out of them all. Jam packed with incredible minis of their staple products such as ‘Midnight Recovery Concentrate’, ‘Ultra Facial Cleanser’, ‘Creme De Corps’ and my favourite ‘Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado’!

This Advent Calendar has 24 doors taking you right through to Christmas Eve with a full sized product… I won’t ruin the surprise however! In terms of the box itself, it is incredibly bright, loud, colourful and fun! I love the little pop-up that appears when you open up the Advent Calendar too. Kiehl’s collaborated with Janine Rewell for this years Advent Calendar and you can find this at your local Kiehl’s Boutique Store. (Unfortunately it sold out almost instantly online!)

L’OCCITANE - IN THE LAND OF THE ALMOND TREES / £49

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Not only does this Advent Calendar by L’Occitane have many wonderful treats such as their ‘Aqua Reotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream’, ‘Verbena Shower Gel’ and ‘Almond Milk Concentrate’, the illustrations featured across the Advent Calendar tell a story of how the brand have helped to replant 17,000 Almond Trees in Provence! In a world that is growing more conscious of Climate Change, I think L’OCCITANE have hit the nail on the head and presented an important message but in way that isn’t too pushy and overbearing.

This Advent Calendar will see you right through until 24th December and it smells… Divine! To find out more and to make a purchase, head to your local L’OCCITANE boutique or simply click here!

MANKIND - ADVENT CALENDAR 2019 / £150

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The absolute show-stopping Advent Calendar from Mankind has products ranging from brands such as Elemis, ARgENTUM, Dr Botanicals and much much more. The ideal gift for yourself as most of the products featured within this Advent Calendar are full-sized and the total contents are worth a whopping £640!

Mankind Advent Calendar for 2019 goes right through until Christmas Day and the packaging itself is slick and stylish! To find out more and purchase, click here.

HOTEL CHOCOLAT - DARK (VEGAN) / £12

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Now, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a bit of Chocolate to wake up to every morning right!? Without fail, every year I always treat myself to an Advent Calendar from Hotel Chocolat as I find that they do THE best chocolate!

24 Dark chocolates throughout December presented in a silver, sleek box, these Advent Calendars are also available in other flavours such as milk, white, caramel, free from milk, free from dark, ‘everything’ and ‘up to snow good (children’s)’! To purchase, click here or again, pop to your local Hotel Chocolat Boutique but be quick, they sell out rather quickly!

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I hope you have all enjoyed this Advent Calendar Gift Guide for 2019! I would love to hear from you and know which Advent Calendar you may have or may be looking to treat yourself to! I will also be unboxing each Advent Calendar over on my Instagram Stories so be sure to join in! Now, roll on December 1st…


ACQUA DI PARMA - CHRISTMAS 2018


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!

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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;

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  • 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!

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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


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!

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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;

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  1. Elemis - Pro Collagen Marine Cream (50ml) £80

  2. men-u - Facial Wash (100ml) £14.95

  3. Hanz De Fuko - Claymation (56g) £16

  4. Anthony - Shower Sheets (12 Sheets) £22

  5. Korres - Fig Shower Gel (250ml) £8

  6. avant - Anti-Ageing Glycolic Firming Eye Contour Cream (10ml) £99

  7. Argentum - L’Etoile Infinie (30ml) £82

  8. Regenerate - Advanced Foaming Mouth Wash (50ml) £10

  9. Omorovicza - Deep Cleansing Mask (50ml) £62

  10. Jack Black - Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather (226ml) £22

  11. Recipe For Men - Deodorant (75ml) £16

  12. 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


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.

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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.

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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;

  1. Golden Rose Oud

  2. Signature Sanctuary

  3. 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!