CHRISTMAS CALENDARS 2020

November 12, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

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!

KIEHL'S POWERFUL-STRENGTH LINE-REDUCING & DARK CIRCLE-DIMINISHING VITAMIN C EYE SERUM

April 02, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

About a month or so ago I attended the launch of Kiehl’s latest product; Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum, and despite the name being a little bit of a mouthful, it does exactly what it says!

The launch took place in the Pegasus Room in Selfridges London and I was completely taken aback by the mesmerising statue/feature of the horse which dominated the whole restaurant and was adorned in glitter head to toe. We were escorted to a private room to learn more about their latest product whilst tucking into our delicious three-course meal along with sipping on a specially crafted cocktail for the event (or 2!)

KIEHL'S POWERFUL-STRENGTH LINE-REDUCING & DARK CIRCLE-DIMINISHING VITAMIN C EYE SERUM

Kiehl’s latest product had been formulated specifically for the eye area and contains powerful, potent ingredients such as:

Tri-Peptide Complex
Hyaluronic Acid
10% Pure Vitamin C

and the formula has been clinically demonstrated to reduce lines, crows feet, puffiness around the eye area and visibly reduce the appearance of dark circles.

As a big fan of all things Kiehl’s naturally I was excited to try this out, especially as their ‘Creamy Eye Avocado Treatment’ is my all-time favourite eye cream so I was keen to see how the new launch would stand against the previous Creamy Eye Treatment. Since I’ve launched a business it can be a little stressful at times which results in lack of sleep, therefore, resulting in my eyes looking puffy and tired so this came at rather a good time!

I applied the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum with my ring finger as this places the least amount of pressure within your eye area as it’s such a delicate area. Once the serum had been applied, I almost felt a slight warming sensation to this which we had previously been told at the Launch in London that this is due to the active ingredients within the Eye Serum which means it’s working! The sensation wasn’t uncomfortable nor did it make me feel the need to scrub it off so don’t panic…

I’ll be honest as I always am, I didn’t see any results immediately however, that’s to be expected! After applying this for 6 consecutive nights I began to see that my eyes looked a lot less puffy and that the discolouration of my eye area was beginning to lighten in colour too. Overall I was impressed with this Eye Serum and found that the texture was a lot finer and smoother than my original favourite of the Creamy Eye Avocado Treatment. I also liked the hint of the orange scent coming through too!

For more details on the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum, head over to their website and be sure to read more of my reviews on Kiehl’s 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 Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum? 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!

MENS ADVENT CALENDARS 2019

November 28, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Gifted)

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

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

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

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

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…

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!

MENS LIP PRODUCTS

March 10, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

Over the course of the Winter period, the area on my face which seemed to suffer the most, were my lips. Dry, chapped, sore and overall, not that great to look at if I’m honest! As we live in a society where lips seem to be the main focus point within the beauty/skincare world, I knew that I had to fix this, sharp. Luckily, I had been gifted a few lip products which all aim to nourish, hydrate and restore your lips!

Within this ‘Lip-Guide’ are 6 lip products which range from your high street brands, to your luxury premium brands. I wanted to give you a variety so that when it comes to looking after your lips, it’s the right one for you. Please note, I trialled out each lip product 3-4 weeks at a time to get a full and fair use of each one starting from early October 2018 to current date - March 2019.

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KORRES - LIP BUTTER STICK £8

This Lip Butter Stick features Mandarin Oil which offers deep nourishment which aims to provide long-lasting care for your lips.

Similar to the Lab Series in the sense that they both were the easiest to use with their applications, I found that the Lip Butter Stick did indeed leave my lips feeling hydrated, however, there was a slight white mark that was left behind with each application that almost highlighted the cracked/chapped effect on my lips… That being said, my lips did feel hydrated afterwards!

To purchase, click here.

LAB SERIES - LIP TECH £10

Formulated for all skin types, this Lip Tech from LAB Series features Beeswax which helps to protect, Shea Butter which helps to soften, and Menthol to revive and invigorate!

The taste of this particular lip balm was the most enjoyable I found, rather minty! The application was also the easiest to use as it comes in a simple tube that massages into the lips easily. The texture felt light and had next to no shine.

To purchase, click here.

GLOSSIER - BALM DOTCOM £10

Glossier’s infamous Balm Dotcom is not only a lip balm, but can also be used on your skin such as your cuticles, elbows and any other dry patches you may have! A multi-purpose product that can cover more than one area but for me personally, this worked best on my lips.

The texture is a little heavy but quickly penetrates into my lips which leaves them feeling soft without appearing too shiny! The Balm Dotcom also comes in different flavours such as; Rose, Cherry, Mint, Coconut and Birthday.

Click here to purchase.

MOLTON BROWN - LIP SAVER £12

Blended with antioxidant Vitamin E and beeswax, this Lip Saver from Molton Brown does exactly what it says.

Perfect for when your lips are feeling cracked and chapped, the glide applicator glides perfectly across your lips without it sticking. I also liked that my lips appeared healthy rather than that ‘glossy’, in your face effect!

To purchase, click here.

KIEHL’S - LOVE OIL FOR LIPS £18

Now, don’t be put off by the neon packaging, but I wanted to include this recent release by Kiehl’s, mainly because I’m a huge fan of the brand, but also because this Love Oil For Lips is the product that gives the ‘glossiest’ shine to it. This particular lip product I received came in the ‘Neon Pink’ shade which surprisingly, didn’t come off as too bold!

The colour stayed relatively clear on my lips, it was just more of the shine that was noticeable. On a day to day basis, this is a little too much for me, however, for a night out, it adds that extra glow to my lips which not only helps them to look healthier, but also keeps my lips feeling hydrated too! Love Oil For Lips comes in several colours such as; Untinted (perhaps one to try if you’re after a more subtle look!), Neon Pink, Botanical Blush, Apothecary Cherry, Midnight Orchid.

To purchase, click here!

LA MER - THE LIP BALM £52

The most expensive one featured here, but with good reason. Featuring their key ingredient: Miracle Broth and is formulated without Parabens, Phthalates and Sulfates. I liked how this Lip Balm had a minty taste to it that was rather subtle with a warm, vanilla scent.

The Lip Balm absorbed easily into my lips and the results were noticeable after 2 or 3 uses! My lips felt nourished and hydrated and felt soft again.

To purchase, click here.

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I hope you enjoyed my round-up of Lip Balms/products and that this has given you some ideas in terms of which to go for when it comes to looking after your lips!

I’d love to hear if you have tried any of these out for yourself and what worked/didn’t work for you! Drop me a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button. Any questions? Feel free to ask!

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.)

KIEHL'S YOUTH DOSE EYE TREATMENT

October 10, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

When I heard about Kiehl’s latest launch of their brand new: Youth Dose Eye Treatment, I was eager to try this out. Mainly because I was a huge fan of the brand anyway and I always champion their skincare products as most of them seem to work for my skin-type! Also because I was in need of a new eye cream, these late nights are slowly catching up with me which is making the bags under my eyes puffier… Not a fabulous look at all.

KIEHL’S YOUTH DOSE EYE TREATMENT

Ingredients:

Pro-Retinol
Vitamin C
Red Grape Seed Extract

Pro-Retinol has been formulated within the Youth Dose Eye Treatment as it helps to diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles which is also a milder retinoid which helps to combat any skin irritation.

I cleansed my skin thoroughly before application to ensure that the Eye Treatment would work to its full advantage and then with the pointed applicator (which I might add made this very manageable and easy to use!), I then applied this onto my ring finger and gently massaged along my orbital bone under my eye area.

The texture of the Youth Dose Eye Treatment was very lightweight which I found to be a plus, especially around such a delicate area! It took a couple of nights for me to begin to notice a difference which is a given with any new product and began to see my under eyes appearance become lighter in colour and not as deep prior to having used this. The area also felt smoother to touch and appeared hydrated too!

Overall, yet another sterling product by Kiehl’s, but I would expect nothing less from them. To purchase, click here!

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 Youth Dose Eye Treatment? If so, how did you get on with it? Did you notice a difference? Have you tried any of Kiehl’s products before? Which ones? I would love to hear your comments down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!