PACCIONI - AL CAPONE LAUNCH IN MANCHESTER

September 02, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I recently had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch of the latest watch collection by Paccioni; Al Capone.

Held at The Grand Pacific in Manchester, the venue was the perfect backdrop for such a stunning design! I had arrived at my hotel; Hotel Ibis Styles situated in the city centre and I began to get ready. The theme of the night was 1920's and there was a formal dress code in place so I chose to wear my Wine/Burgundy Velvet blazer and teamed it with some skinny black trousers, a simple black shirt and I topped off the look with my Jeffery West Chelsea boots. A chauffeur had been arranged to take me to my venue and I brought along my blogger friend Peter with me. (I have to say, being chauffeured to the venue certainly kicked off the night in style!)

As we entered The Grand Pacific, we were taken over to a glass cabinet where all of the watches from the latest Al Capone collection were showcased and we were given a brief insight by the founder and designer of Bellagio Europe; Mike Cohen, into the design and inspiration for the collection. Inspired by Al Capone's infamous pocket watch, the special edition watch collection is available in two sizes, medium or large and is also presented in a violin shaped 'tommy gun' leatherette snake skin style case.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the watch with the gold face and black straps, in the largest size of course, and to my surprise, I was very kindly gifted this! As the watch came with interchangeable straps to allow you to mix up the style, I chose the navy straps to accompany the watch. Despite the watch coming in the largest size, I was relatively surprised at how light it felt upon my wrist and it didn't feel too clunky or heavy. Peter and I then found a table to sit at and we kept admiring the watches on our wrists and after a prosecco (or 6) Mike Cohen then gave us all a speech and we had all been treated to a show stopping performance by the flapper girls!

A magician had then made his way to our table and I swear to God, he was AMAZING! Perhaps it might have been the copious amounts of alcohol that got us slightly animated and excited by each trick but nevertheless, he was still incredible! The night overall was a fabulous celebration of the 1920's and to mark the special launch of the Al Capone Watch Collection! Available to purchase soon, click here to be notified of its release.

What do you think to the design of the watch? Are you a fan of it? Do you like the 1920's theme? Have you ever visited The Grand Pacific in Manchester? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don't forget to click the 'like' button!

SACHA JUAN: OCEAN MIST COLLECTION

August 23, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Going away this Bank Holiday? Unsure of what haircare products to take with you that will fit inside your luggage? Well fear not, as one of my all-time favourite haircare brands; Sacha Juan have created a mini travel sized collection taken from the iconic haircare line; Ocean Mist which features the signature 'Ocean Silk' technology!

SACHA JUAN: OCEAN MIST COLLECTION

Sacha Juan's Ocean Mist Collection is made up of three travel sized bottles:

Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo (100ml)
Ocean Mist Volume Conditioner (100ml)
Ocean Mist (50ml)

Having used these products myself, what I particularly love about this mini-collection is that it gives you that texture without leaving your hair feeling rough and brittle. I have bleached my hair twice in the past year now, and with that comes a lot of problems such as my hair feeling rather thin and dry and when my hair began to feel that way, I have then used both the Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo followed by the Conditioner.

The Shampoo left my hair feeling incredibly clean and as though it had been brought back to life again! With the added volume from the Conditioner, this also made my hair feel as though it had more volume back to it again, similar to how it felt prior to having my hair bleached. The Ocean Mist is a mix between a hairspray and a styling product which allows your hair to be played around with until your desired effect but still has enough hold within it to keep it in place. I can't do this review without mentioning the scent... If you have smelt any of these products before then you will know exactly what I'm talking about, but for those of you that don't, then perhaps this will be enough reason to go find out what it is I'm talking about...

To purchase the Sacha Juan: Ocean Mist Volume Collection, click here!

Be sure to check out my other Sacha Juan reviews such as a few of their core products and their Matt Wax & Fibre Paste!

Have you tried Sacha Juan before? What did you think? What did you try? Are you a fan of the brand? Do you understand what I mean when I mention *that scent*? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!

SUNDAY RILEY - C.E.O. RAPID FLASH BRIGHTENING SERUM

August 14, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

Having worked with Sunday Riley before on one of my all-time favourite skincare products; Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream (and I never say that lightly FYI), I of course, was more than ecstatic to be able to try out the C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum!

C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum

Rapid Flash Brightening Serum aims to improve uneven skin tone and leave your skin looking more youthful in a 'flash'. This also contains Vitamin C, which has been concentrated and formulated with 15% THD Ascorbate which is hugely popular when it comes to much-wanted Asian Skincare goodies!

I applied the Rapid Flash Brightening Serum after having cleansed my face and squirted two pumps. I found the consistency of the serum a little thick compared to what I was used to and with the consistency being quite thick, I found that it took a bit of time for the serum to absorb into my skin, however, when I did, my skins texture felt smoother.

I'll be honest, the first application of this serum, I didn't notice a huge difference of my skins appearance, it was mainly the texture that I immediately noticed, but after a 3-4 regular applications, I then began to see my skin appear brighter and more dewy looking! For me this serum took a bit of time before I noticed any difference but I loved how Vitamin C was the main ingredient within the formula and it's an effective and simple way of getting this important ingredient into your skin!

To purchase Sunday Riley - C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum, click here.

Have you tried C.E.O: Rapid Flash Brightening Serum before? What did you think to it? Have you used any products by Sunday Riley? If so, which ones? Are there any you would like me to try out to review? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button below!

SUMMER FRAGRANCES '18

August 10, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

As the Summer draws on, I have compiled a list of a few fragrances for this Summer season! Ranging from light, citrusy and fresh, to those a little more musky, woody and bold. I hope you enjoy this Fragrance Guide and if you have any favourites then do let me know!

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CALVIN KLEIN - SUMMER 2018 EDITION

Top Notes: Lemon, Mojito, Lime
Middle Notes: Guava, Pineapple, White Flowers
Base Notes: Cedar, Coconut Milk

A light, citrusy fragrance then settles down into a warm, creamy scent that feels both as tropical as it does sweet. I found this to be long lasting on my skin which lasted for up to 6 hours, impressive for such a light fragrance and the sillage was light-medium. Ideal for those Summer days! To purchase Calvin Klein - Summer 2018 Edition, click here.

CALVIN KLEIN - ETERNITY: AIR

Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Juniper Berries, Sea Notes, Ozonic Notes
Middle Notes: Lavender, Green Apple, Violet Leaf
Base Notes: Seaweed, Patchouli, Ambergris

Another Calvin Klein fragrance, not to be confused however with the Summer 2018 Edition as these both differ in their own way. Eternity: Air feels spicier and a little more aquatic on my skin where the opening is fresh but quickly fades away after a couple of hours. The sillage of Eternity: Air is light and I would recommend wearing this during the day but you may find yourself topping up once or twice! To purchase Calvin Klein - Eternity: Air, click here.

DKNY - MEN: SUMMER 2018 LIMITED EDITION

Notes: Musk, Vanilla, Woody Notes, Green Notes

A bold, powerful opening that feels rather citrusy that soon settles down into a muskier, woodier fragrance. I found this to be more effective worn on a warm Summer's evening and the fragrance lasted for up to 4-5 hours on my skin with the sillage being medium! I'd just like to add a side note that I find the packaging of this to be absolutely sublime and is my favourite out of the list! To purchase DKNY - Men: Summer 2018 Limited Edition, click here.

TOMMY HILFIGER - WEEKEND GETAWAY

Top Notes: Bergamot, Ginger
Middle Notes: Clary Sage, White Pepper
Base Notes: Vetiver, Sandalwood

A fresh yet spicy fragrance that encapsulates a fun day in the Sun! A light fragrance with a woody dry-down that lasted for 3-4 hours on my skin and the sillage is light. I would recommend wearing this during the day and expect a compliment or two! To purchase Tommy Hilfiger - Weekend Getaway, click here.

HOLLISTER - FESTIVAL VIBES

Top Notes: Pineapple, Birch Leaf, Sea Notes
Middle Notes: Green Notes, Woody Notes, Ginger, Bay Leaf
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Tonka Bean, Ambergris

A fragrance that feels aquatic and light that then dries down into a muskier scent that feels dense on my skin. Festival Vibes lasted between 4-5 hours and its sillage was medium-heavy! Definitely one to wear for a Summer's night. To purchase Hollister - Festival Vibes, click here.

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Have you smelt any of these fragrances before? If so, which ones? Do you have any favourites? Have I missed any off that you feel I should know about? Would you like me to review any other fragrances for Summer? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!

THE BODY SHOP - LEEDS BRIGGATE

August 01, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

About a month or so ago I had the privilege of being invited to The Body Shop on Briggate in Leeds to try out a few of their products geared towards men!

Now, I'll be honest. Prior to visiting The Body Shop for my treatment, I had always thought of The Body Shop to be a little outdated and I didn't have much of an understanding of the brand other than that they did cute little bath bombs... It's safe to say that my opinion of the brand has now changed hugely, and I now understand why The Body Shop still stands on its own even after being created way back in 1976!

Upon arrival, I was taken through to their exclusive 'VIP' section at the back of the store, something which I might add that they cannot advertise so hopefully this blog will inform some of you of this area! I met both the lovely Jess who gave me their Men's treatment and Claire who was able to document the whole duration of my stay.

Prior to the treatment, I had a skin test to determine my skin type and to my surprise, I was classed as 'normal/oily'! I say surprised as when I have had skin tests before these have come back as 'normal/dry' but Jess explained that my skin might be oily due to the warmer weather and my skin getting used to the changes.

To begin with, Jess used the Guarana & Coffee Energising Cleanser to cleanse my skin of any products used prior to the application of the products. Once my skin had been cleansed, we then used the Drops of Youth Liquid Peel to exfoliate and gently peel away any impurities and dead skin cells from my skin. To rebalance and revive my skin, the Seaweed Toner was then massaged into my skin.

Whilst I was having the facial, nearly all of the products had taken really well to my skin which I was pleasantly surprised at given that I had quite a lot of products being applied to my face! Jess then used the Oils Of Life and the Green Tea & Lemon Mattifying Moisturiser to add some moisture back into my skin. To finish off, the Vitamin C Microdermabrasion was then applied to really add a boost and a glow to complete the treatment!

As I mentioned, all of the products had taken really well to my skin and I could immediately see a difference, my face appeared radiant and hydrated as well as feeling smooth to touch! None of the products felt too dense or heavy when applied onto my skin which allowed my skin to breathe whilst going through the treatment and overall I was thoroughly impressed with the whole experience from start to finish. I would just like to thank the lovely Jess and Claire for making my experience magical, my name was even in lights! (I felt chuffin' fabulous.)

Oh also, yes, that is a pigs headband that I was wearing in some of the photographs to keep the hair out of my face...

Thank you to the team at The Body Shop in Leeds for inviting me along for a treatment and to experience the Mens collection and I do hope to return soon!

Have you shopped with The Body Shop before? If so, what did you purchase? Which is your favourite product? Are there any you feel I need to try out? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!

BILLY JEALOUSY

July 31, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

I love being able to explore and try out new things from new brands that I haven't discovered before! For this post, I will be talking about two products from Billy Jealousy which had been kindly gifted to me from MaleSkin.

I received;

I used the Exfoliating Facial Cleanser last thing at night before going to bed to ensure that my face was fresh and clean and had been stripped of any products used on it throughout the day. I dampened my face slightly and then began to massage the cleanser onto my skin. As the Cleanser is an exfoliant, the texture of this can feel a little rough so when applying this, do this gently! Once I had massaged the Cleanser, I then rinsed this off and could see that my skins surface appeared brighter, felt smoother to touch and had a dewy, healthy look overall and the scent of the Exfoliating Facial Cleanser was quite subtle!

To regain some moisture back into my skin after having cleansed it, I then used the Face Moisturiser to hydrate my skin. Using only a small amount, I massaged the Moisturiser onto my face and neck and could feel that my skin felt softer and smoother to touch! The texture was lightweight which I really approved of as I dislike any products that feel dense on my skin and I noticed that my face appeared brighter and refreshed!

Overall, a great introduction to Billy Jealousy and thank you to MaleSkin for providing me with these!

For more information on Billy Jealousy, click here.

Have you tried any products from Billy Jealousy before? Have you tried either of these featured in this post? If so, what did you think of them? Have you shopped with MaleSkin before? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!

*Please note, this post has been sponsored.

BOOHOOMAN 'LOVE IS LOVE' COLLECTION 2018

July 15, 2018 by Mr Luke Christian

With Pride Season well and truly upon us, it was an absolute pleasure to have been approached by boohooMAN to showcase a few pieces from their Pride Collection! Having been to Gay Pride in Leeds a couple of years ago, I remember the whole experience of it all to be nothing but just pure fun! In 2018 it is important, and always will be to celebrate Pride and to make our voices be heard.

For this shoot, I selected their 'Love Is Important' t-shirt, their 'Pride Printed' sweater, and to complete the look, their 'Love Is Love' cap! All items are gender-free and 10% of the profits will be divided between the Terrence Higgins Trust and The Rainbow Fund.

I met up with the photographer; Milly, for the first time and I wanted to go to a location that was minimal and fuss-free so to speak to allow the clothes to speak for themselves. I am beyond happy with these photographs, and I really hope you all like these images too!

Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!