Essence Mattifying + Pore Minimising Primer Review

Today were looking into what I think about Essences' Primer that is so super affordable.

1. Price

This is the cheapest primer that i have ever owned in my collection. It costs just £3.50!

2. Packaging 

In essence's primer range (includes 3 different types) they all come with a suitable colour on its packaging as to what the primer claims to do. 

This one in particular has a splash of grey, in a powdery black clay picture.

As always, i love a tube. You will be able to get every last drop out rather than wasting a smidgen with a glass bottle product. 

You get 30ml of product which is quite a lot considering some primers on have half that amount.

It has a little spout to ensure you can personalise how much you get out of the packaging too, which is a nice touch when you might only need a tad of product for the nose lets say.

3. Scent

It has quite a strong whiff of baby wipes, which is rather refreshing. It's quite satisfying when applying the primer to have a fresh, awakening fragrance. If you do have sensitive skin, i'm not sure this would be a bonus for you and possibly would avoid due to this reason. 

4. Formula

Essence claims that due to the black clay infused in this primer, it gives a light, airy texture to the product.

It also comes out as a very satisfying grey shade thanks to the black clay and thankfully it turns clear when applied to the skin, so no worries of looking very ill, phew.

5. Feel

When felt between the fingers & when applying to the skin, it does feel like a whipped formula. 

It's a very light consistency which enables it to sink into the skin quickly and without residue.

With the primer being so light and airy and non silicony whatsoever, it feels so light on the skin. It doesn't feel as though it's clogging my pores up which is always a positive.

6. Application

I like to add this primer to my t-zone especially. I find that when applied to my nose and forehead it does fill in the pores as good as a non silicone primer can do. I find that silicone primers are more effective when filling in all the nucks and crannies but this formula does do a good job at minimising them.

Over my shiny areas, being my forehead and cheeks, with the black clay in this primer, it does a great job at mattifying that down. I love to do this and add my own glimmer later with highlighter. 

It leaves me skin feeling soft and smooth and refreshed thanks to the scent.

7. Longevity

This primer does keep my skin at bay and keep my pores looking less visible as the day goes on.

I wouldn't say it has an impact on how my other makeup performs. It doesn't keep and hold my base on for anything longer as when i don't use a primer. That being said, it does create a soft, smooth shine free base for my other products to go onto.

Where can it be purchased from?

Right here... @Wilkos

Do they have other types of primers?

yes, there's 3 within their Prime+ studio range including,

Mattifying, Glow Boosting and Redness Correcting

Would I purchase again?

I do really enjoy this product for how it feels on the skin, but in future, i may look for a similar product to this one but with the added bonus of keeping a hold of my makeup for longer. 

Thank you so much for reading my lovelies and we shall chat soon...

Love, Emilie xx

Strawberry, Banana & Oat Snack Bars - Testing Pinterest Recipies

I'm constantly adding to my shopping basket snack bars that are probably just as bad as buying a 4 pack of dairy milk caramels. 

I'm always looking for alternatives to make myself so i know exactly what is going into them, so just a like, i know what's going into my body.

I came across these strawberry, banana oatty snack bars from the blog called Running with Spoons whose author is called Amanda. 

I found this recipe on Pinterest from Amanda and couldn't wait to give a try. 

Ingredients:

Strawberry Jam

2 cups of Frozen Strawberries

(mine were from Aldi)

2 Tbsp of Maple Syrup

2 Tbsp of Chia Seeds

(mine were slightly out of date)

1 Tsp of Vanilla Extract

(mine was madagascan vanilla)

Banana Oat Bars

2 cups of Rolled Oats 

1 Tsp of Baking Powder

2 Medium Sized Bananas 

1/4 cup of Maple Syrup

1 Tsp of Vanilla Extract

Method & How I Found It

The Strawberry Jam

 i popped the strawbs into a saucepan along with the maple syrup and heated for around 10 mins until they began to reduce their liquid, nom.

I brought the strawberries to the boil & once they started to look like a thick syrup, i began to grab my squishing utensil (we yet own a potato masher, so a draining pasta spoon had to do) & started to mash the strawberries a little.

I sprinkled in the chia seeds and eyed the vanilla extract & popped the jam into a bowl, then in the fridge to cool.

Preparation

Oven pre-heating away at 190 degrees (fan) and greased my 20x20 square dish with coconut oil, you can use baking parchment too. 

 I soon realised i needed to somehow improvise and make some oat flour. 

One cup of the oats needs to be in flour form, the other in normal rolled oat form.

Out comes the pestle and mortar and i begin to grind up my oats like old fashioned times due to a lost attachment on my food processor. 

The Snack Bars

I add the oat flour and rolled oats to a bowl, along with the baking powder and gave a quick stir. I then mashed my bananas and added those to the bowl, as well as the maple syrup and vanilla extract.
I mixed this up into i what i was hoping to become a dough like form as Amanda stated in her recipe.

My mixture didn't look like a dough, but did have the elasticity of a bread like mixture.

I took a third of the mix into my lined tin and my jam was taken out of the fridge. I spread the jam across the mixture, avoiding going right to the edge.

Amanda says to sprinkle the the rest of the bar mixture but my mixture could only be SPLATTED.

After splatting, i wish my mix good luck and popped it in the oven for 30 mins.

Upon taking out, it looked a caramel brown. I let it cool for around an hour to ensure a clean cut of bars.

The Taste

Very, very similar to the healthy flapjacks i made a few months ago. 

The jam adds a gorgeous sweet taste and goes so well the banana-esk flavour.

I wouldn't say mine turned out as crunchy looking as Amanda's, but they sure tasted good.

With practice, these bars could potentially stop me investing into Belvita bars.

THE VIDEO

Thank you so much for you time reading my post & look forward to chatting soon, 

Love, Emilie x

Things I loved In April 2019

Were a week into May, which means there's a post for you to have a look at today... it's my April favourites, can i getta woop woop?

*crowd goes willlllllllld*

1. Cherry Blossoms

They are the cinderella trees of Spring. The stroke of 2 weeks after blossoming, the spell will be broken and everything will be as it was before... twigs.

For that short time though that cherry blossoms grace us with their beauty, everything in the world of nature seems that bit more beautiful.

2. Revolution's Banana Powder

I'm not going to give to much away as there will be a blog post up soon all about why i have been loving this powder to absorb all zee oils my face loves to produce. Let's just say it's a lightweight, non cakey, fine milled powder that unfortunately does not smell of bananas. 

3. Skinny Whips

HELLO 79P, 99 CALORIE, DOUBLE CHOCOLATE SNACK BARS THAT TASTE LIKE THE CENTRE OF A DOUBLE DECKER FROM DAIRY MILK FROM HOME BARGAINS!! 

4. Filming Weekly Vlogs.

Lugging my big camera around for a week of my life, to share with you some moments that i capture.

Thank you for coming along on my April round up of what i have been loving.

Let me know what you have been loving throughout the spring month of April too *insert pink flower emoji here*

Chat soon & thank you so much for reading

Love, 

Emilie xx

Essence Fresh and Fit Healthy Glow Foundation Review

Let's take a look into why you should purchase this inexpensive but fabulous foundation from Essence. 

1. Price
It's £5.00!! For 30ml you will be getting a quality foundation for such an affordable price. 

2. Packaging
Not all foundations have the easiest packaging to work with. Although i do personally prefer plastic packaging (i love that you get every last drop), the pump has a slow pressing release that gives you complete control as to how much comes out, which means no flooding of foundation on the back of your hand to waste.

3. Coverage
You can easily use less product to give a light, thin layer. Add a little more and you will see blemishes being blurred but your skin still being visible. Add an additional layer, you will achieve a high coverage that still looks natural, yet covers all imperfections.

4. Finish
With it's vitamin complex and cranberry water, automatically when first pumped you will see it's light whipped like texture; Then when the product is applied with hands or a brush, you will accomplish a smooth textured look, that has light reflecting particles to give an awaken look to the skin whilst working along side a natural glow.

5. Feel
The cranberry water adds to the natural and fresh feeling that is left on the skin. It is smooth to touch and feels lightweight on the skin. 

6. Longevity
When applied in the morning, with a blot or two around my sweaty areas through out the day, i can get away with happily wearing this foundation for as long as necessary. I have no qualms that it wouldn't last a good 12 hours, with a good set right after application. 

 Where can I buy it from?

Right here... @Wilkos 

How many shades does it come in?

Unfortunately, only 4. 

Would I purchase again?

Absolutely!

Thank you so much for reading my lovelies and we shall chat soon...

Love, Emilie xx