CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019

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(AD/Gifted)
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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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VALENTINES GIFT GUIDE 2019

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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.)

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evo HAIR

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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!

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2018

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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;

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!

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ESTEE LAUDER - GROOMING CONSTELLATION

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Struggling to find the perfect gift for the man in your life? Perhaps he has a refined taste which is proving rather difficult when it comes to knowing exactly what to buy him for Christmas? Well fear not! If he is into his Male Grooming and only enjoys the best of the best when it comes to skincare, grooming and haircare, then I have the perfect gift idea for you and at the end of this post, I will share with you a very special code just in time for Christmas!

THE GROOMING CONSTELLATION BOX

In this neatly packaged box, you can expect to find top quality products from well-known Male Grooming brands such as:

• Aveda - Rosemary Mind Hand and Body Wash (50ml)

• Aveda - Invati Men™ 2-Step System

• Bumble and Bumble - Sumotech (7ml)

• Clinique For Men - Anti-Age Eye Cream (15ml)

• Clinique For Men - Moisturising Lotion (15ml)

• Clinique For Men - Maximum Hydrator Activated Water-Gel Concentrate (7ml)

• Clinique For Men - Charcoal Face Wash (30ml)

• GLAMGLOW - Supermud Clearing Treatment (15g)

• Lab Series PRO LS - Lip Tech (4.3g)

• Lab Series PRO LS - All-In-One Face Cleansing Gel (30ml)

• Lab Series PRO LS - The Grooming Oil 3-In-1 Shave & Beard Oil (7ml)

• Lab Series - Day Rescue Defence Lotion SPF 35 (50ml)

These little gifts within the Grooming Constellation box are all perfect travel sizes, or getting familiar with a product that you or your loved one may not have tried out before, but have wanted to test the waters so to speak. Or perhaps you’ve wanted always wanted to try a product from one of these brands mentioned, but just haven’t had the chance to!

The Grooming Constellation box is worth £114 and is available to purchase here for just £39! I also have a special code to share with you all! Simply type in CONSTELLATION18 to get 15% off your order when you spend over £30 at any of these websites:

Clinique | Lab Series | Aveda | Bumble and Bumble | GLAMGLOW

(Please note, this code cannot be used in combination with any other offer, or against giftcards, ecards, or gift set purchases such as this one and can only be used once per website and is available to UK residents only.)

Have you tried any of these products before? If so, which ones? Are there any you’re keen to try out? Do you have any favourites? Will you be treating yourself or a loved one to this gift this Christmas? Do let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

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LUXURY ADVENT CALENDARS FOR 2018

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It seems to have only been the past couple of years where ‘Beauty Advent Calendars’ have really taken off and have now become a firm favourite when it comes to counting down the days until Christmas!

Ranging from high street brands to those that are more luxurious, there really is a calendar out there for everybody and luckily for you, I have 3 to share with you! 2 of these Advent Calendars are Male Grooming and Beauty and my third one (which I couldn’t resist sharing) is a chocolate one as I like to stick to tradition and let’s face it, there’s a unique taste that tastes so much sweeter out of an Advent Calendar as opposed to its original packaging am I right…?

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MANKIND ADVENT CALENDAR

Mankind have released their yearly Advent Calendar and it is an absolute show-stopper! It is humongous and is absolutely incredible which features 25 full sized Male Grooming products such as Elemis, Argentum, Marvis and many more. Mankind have also released their special Christmas Collection Grooming Box which I will have more details on in the next week where you may be able to get your hands on one… Intrigued? Keep checking back for more details soon!

To view Christmas gifts and ideas from Mankind, click here!

L’OCCITANE BEAUTY CALENDAR

The L’Occitane Beauty Advent Calendar contains 24 gorgeous little best-selling gifts from the brand which ranges from their Shower Oils, Hand Creams, mini Fragrance samples as well as Shampoos, Conditioners and Shower Gels! A perfect treat to indulge your loved ones in or indeed a perfect treat for yourself this Christmas!

Worth £85, this Beauty Advent Calendar retails for £49 which is available to purchase here.

HOTEL CHOCOLAT DARK CHOCOLATE ADVENT CALENDAR

One of my favourite Chocolatiers is Hotel Chocolat and having worked with the brand before on creating content, I couldn’t resist treating myself to one of their Advent Calendars this year! I asked my followers which type of flavour I should go for as this year Hotel Chocolat have gone all out with an expansive range such as Milk, Caramel, Dark, White, Supermilk and 100% Dark Chocolate. The overall majority vote went to Dark Chocolate which was just as well as Dark Chocolate is my favourite flavour!

To purchase and to have a look at their full range of Advent Calendars this year, click here.

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Over the course of December I will be revealing what is behind of each door/box over on my Instagram Stories so please join in and countdown with me! To follow me on Instagram and to keep up, click here.

I hope you have enjoyed my selection of Male Grooming/Beauty Advent Calendars this year alongside a traditional Chocolate one!

Are you a fan of Male Grooming/Beauty Advent Calendars? Or do you prefer to stick to the chocolate kind? Will you be treating yourself or a loved one to one of these this year? Have you already got your Advent Calendar? If so, which one have you got? I would love to hear from you so leave me a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

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HOUSE 99 BY DAVID BECKHAM

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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!

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