AFTERSHAVE: Man Rose Eau de Parfum by Etro

Last week Beautyqueenuk and I went out on something of a blog event overload. First up was the amazing Ecotools (there is a video of me in the make up chair doing the rounds lol) event in Soho and then onto the Etro Boutique in Mayfair for the launch of Man Rose Eau de Parfum.

To be blunt, after smelling this the other half fell instantly in love with it and while it took me about thirty minutes to really appreciate all of the notes I did find a whole host of other aftershaves from the Etro range but that's for another day. Today is all about Man Rose, a bottle of which will set you back around £105 for 100ml.

The boutique itself stocks super luxury goods and this sits in the higher end of aftershaves in my collection. Sometimes a large price tag doesn't guarantee a lovely long lasting fragrance but in this case nothing could be further from the truth.

The marketing blurbs says:

'Unique and endearing, the Etro ManRose Eau de Parfum was made for a man of timelessness. He is charismatic and gentle, with a deeply beautiful soul. His passion and masculinity blend beautifully together to create the ideal persona for this unforgettably attractive and commanding scent.'

The notes to Man Rose Eau de Parfum are:

• Head: Calabrian bergamot, elemi, pepper and cardamon
• Heart: Turkish rose, geranium, incense
• Dry-down: Patchouli, vetiver, leather, amber and woods

From the notes I would expect a very spicy yet floral scent that has a depth that would keep it on the skin and noticeable for about eight hours. What I actually found was that it starts off with something of a spicy blast but only for a few seconds and immediately the rose and geranium are right at the fore. It becomes incredibly floral I think for around fifteen minutes and it gets really quite warm on the nose. 

After around half an hour this comes into it's own - the floral notes fade back and become really subtle. That takes some of the edge off and the vetiver and amber keep the warmth going. It's a beautiful blend of floral with a masculine base. Without the amber and woods this would have been too feminine for my taste but actually the blend is spot on.

Yes, it has a larger than usual price tag but actually when you consider that it is so potent you'll still be able to smell it on yourself about fifteen hours later then you have a cologne/aftershave that really delivers bang for it's buck. I can see this lasting for months as only a few sprays are needed.

Perfect for daywear or nights on the town it's a fragrance for any time of the day and oozes class.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Like what you see? You can keep up to date and follow Beautykinguk.co.uk using the various social media below:

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

Google+

Bloglovin

Facebook

View Post

Christmas Gifts 2016: Samarkand Luxury Candle by Timothy Dunn London

Healthy body and healthy mind so they say. For me, the healthy body element is just a pipe dream (I lack the internal organs to be fighting fit) but that said, I have over the years managed to replace this mantra with 'smell nice, feel nice' and it's hard to refute that when you smell good or smell something wonderful you get an uplifting feeling - call it that warm fuzzy glow! With that in mind, scented candles have been all the rage in our house for some time. In the past I've dodged candles but when my other half presented me with the Samarkand Luxury Candle by Timothy Dunn London I couldn't wait to torch it and feel all warm and fuzzy.

My inner-arsonist was put back in his box and I managed to resist the temptation to just let it blaze away after seeing that this candle costs nearly £50, yes, £50 for a candle and never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever see myself recommending parting with that kind of cash just to see it melt before your eyes, but here we are people, here we are.

This is what they say about the candle over at Timothy Dunn website here:

'One of our most popular home fragrances, the luxurious Samarkand scented candle was born out of a desire to recreate the essence of Samarkand’s ancient architecture, its diverse cultures, lush, beautiful gardens and, of course, the lavish silks and flavoursome spices that still flood through this extraordinary city. 

Discover a rich, sensual spicy wood accord with exotic tea, bergamot, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and clove; generously wrapped in sumptuous Madagascan vanilla, suede musks, frankincense, patchouli and vetiver. This beautiful, evocative fragrance will radiate warmth throughout your home.' 

First of all, this baby is no flash in the pan candle that will be gone faster than you can say "£50 up in smoke" as it has a burn time of some sixty, yes sixty hours. The candle has been burning away on and off for most of the weekend it's hardly made a dent in the wax yet it has released quite possibly one of the richest most fabulous fragrances since the last time I bought a bottle of Creed aftershave! It's divine to be blunt and this is where it really made me stop and think that actually, this is worth the price.

I'm a massive fan of bergamot, musks and patchouli and within 3-4 minutes of lighting you start to get subtle hints of the fragrances in the air. After ten minutes the air is awash with the lovely fragrance - think a warm spice with a hint of sweetness and you are close. Unlike some other candles (I'm looking at you Yankee) you don't get that build up of the fragrance (loose term) in the back of your throat that I seem to struggle with if in a room with lit fragranced candles. For that I am truly grateful.  After extinguishing the candle the fragrance stays in the room for ages afterwards - it really is nice after popping out to return home to be greeted by the slowly fading notes from the candle. I really have sat in a room where this candle has burned away and felt far more relaxed, calm and generally at ease with the world (I can be a touch highly strung) - good smells are good for your mental health (well mine anyway).

Yes, £46 is a lot for a candle but if you are a fan of subtle yet manly fragrances you'll really like this, and it'll last for an absolute age. It has worked wonders when helping me to relax in the evening after a long day and I for one wouldn't be without it now and it has resulted in me considering firing up some of the other Timothy Dunn candles the other half has floating around. I'm loathe to say this because it seems so cliched, but there is a reassuring quality to this candle and it would make a great gift at any time of the year.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Like what you see? You can keep up to date and follow Beautykinguk.co.uk using the various social media below:

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

Google+

Bloglovin

Facebook

View Post

LUNA™ for MEN By Foreo

It wasn't until I got told off for trying the Foreo Luna Mini by my other half that I realised how much these things cost, and lengths that people will go to in an effort to keep their skin cleansed and looking good. I was merely using it because it amused me (yes, I'm a skincare heathen at times), so when I was given the chance to try the Foreo Luna for Men I actually took it a bit too seriously. I cut down on my normal cleansing and moisturising routine to see what benefits this offered. 

At upwards of £120 for the device and £25 for the cleanser it is by no stretch of the imagination on the cheap side, but given the results I had achieved with the mini, and the childish giggles that come when using it, I couldn't resist giving it a try. I've been using this for over two months now, and as a cleansing and pre-shaving device it is exceptional, and it isn't just a one trick pony.

This is what they say about the device over at Foreo here:

'THE ULTIMATE PRE-SHAVING DEVICE & FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSH FOR MEN The LUNA™ for MEN's brush surface has been specifically engineered to refresh and cleanse men’s thicker and oilier skin by being composed of broader touch-points that channel T-Sonic™ pulsations more directly for a skincare solution custom-made for men.

The LUNA™ for MEN’s cutting-edge T-Sonic™ pulsations deliver deep facial cleansing that ensures a closer, smoother shave after just 1 minute’s use.'

Personally I use this twice a day and have combined it with the Foreo Revitalising Face Cleanser. Even a little applied to the face of the device lathers up brilliantly and with a slight stubble you can feel the pulsing of the brushes massaging and opening up the pores in your face. 

After a minute of using this and rinsing off my face, even after regular use removes all sorts of dirt and pollution. It really does work as a deep clean for your skin, and with it's gentle exfoliation it makes it great just before shaving. 

After running it over my beard for around ninety seconds the bristles feel a bit softer and don't get stuck in my safety razor as much, and there is a lot less irritation or razor bumps once dried off. The cleanser doesn't dry out my skin, and it feels hydrated, soft and smooth, and for that I am truly thankful. 

For the first four weeks of using this I didn't even need to moisturise after shaving - a quick touch of aftershave balm and boom, I was ready to rock and roll. As the temperature has dropped slightly over the last few weeks I have needed to apply a little but I have to give credit to Foreo, it does exactly what it says it will and the pulsating face of the brush always makes me laugh.

Charged using a USB I haven't yet needed to recharge it, in fact, it works now with as much power as it did the first time I used it. Brilliant.

If you are serious about skincare and are looking for something to keep your face looking good then seriously, check this out. It's great for those who suffer when they shave and it removes the gunk and funk of daily life with little effort.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Like what you see? You can keep up to date and follow Beautykinguk.co.uk using the various social media below:

Instagram

Pinterest

Google+

Bloglovin

Facebook

View Post

Protect your phone with Lux Box

Let me tell you a sorry tale of 'told you so' that resulted me me gleefully accepting the offer of the Wonderful Things Factory to try one of their luxury iPhone cases, LuxBox.

Until May I had managed to resist the urge to buy an iPhone, hell, my Samsung Galaxy 2 (yes I know it has antique value) is still going strong so why bother splashing out on a new phone? That was until I was handed an IPhone 6 as my new work phone with the wise and sage advice of "you better get a case for that as the screen will crack at the slightest bit of pressure". Fast forward (not so much) two days and carelessly throwing things into my bag resulted in cracked screen! I needed a case!

This is what theWTFactory say about the LuxBox here:

'The Wonderful Things Factory (aka theWTFactory) is working right now (literally) to create cool stuff for you to use, wear, touch, look at and experience.' 

Now, the lovely phone case you can see above was sent to me to test by theWTFactory and I have to say, I'm impressed. While $55 may seem a lot for a phone case, when you consider the cost of replacing a damaged screen it's actually just a drop in the ocean and well worth the initial outlet.

I expected it to take weeks to arrive from the good old USA but no, it took just three days. It arrived, thankfully not via Yodel (that's a rant for another time) in a secure box with minimal packaging but as soon as it was opened it just oozed class and that Christmas morning feeling was upon me. Weird, it is after all just a phone case.

Slipping it onto the phone was a breeze and initially I was surprised by how lightweight the case was. It weighs just grams and once on, you hardly notice it's there - it doesn't weigh down the phone and it doesn't add that much to the dimensions so it slips straight into the pocket with no hassle - result! 

This is a luxury phone case - it looks great, and personally I love the walnut finish on the rear of the case, it just looks so much different to the clip on cases you can pick up for a couple of pounds down on Camden Market and I for one am a very happy bunny. I would probably baulk at paying so much, but actually after dropping my phone twice since installing this (and no damage to either phone or case) I would probably pay double! 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Like what you see? You can keep up to date and follow Beautykinguk.co.uk using the various social media below:

Instagram

Pinterest

Google+

Bloglovin

Facebook 

View Post