Essence Hydrating + Perfecting Primer SPF20

I love a good primer and over the years I have come across quite a few that will always be in my stash for as long as they are available, but that doesn't mean I want to stop trying new ones. For me a primer needs to give that perfect base, hydrate as well as to ensure your makeup stays on for as long as possible throughout the day, I am long since over the notion that you can wear a foundation or a mascara for 24 to 48 hours as much as your deodorant should last that long - we all know it doesn't!

From Essence I have been using the Hydrating + Perfecting Primer SPF20* (£3.79) which is described as being a soft, satin-textured primer that enhances the longevity and durability of your favourite makeup.  It has a built-in SPF20 which protects the skin from harmful UV rays while Essence's Vitamin Complex moisturises and nourishes the skin.

Housed inside a transparent glass bottle, this primer has a pearlesque sheen to it when first used and if you have used products such as Primerizer from Smashbox Cosmetics, it is a really similar texture in that it is quite runny and this is where the issue begins for the Primer and its pipette dropper.  Essence claim that the pipette dropper is used to give a more accurate and precise application, though personally it isn't the best made applicator I have ever used and it always picks up far too much product, so to stop the waste, I tend to instead drop it onto my beauty blender and apply that way. 

There are silicones within this primer, so depending on your preference it might not be for you, but it doesn't feel like a silicone primer, it doesn't leave your skin feeling as though there has been an extra greasy film applied. When applied with the beauty blender, it does apply really well, it doesn't quite mask the pores as much as it claims it will, but it does sit nicely on the skin, it doesn't irritate and when it comes to applying foundation or a BB cream, it doesn't split or change how your product looks, instead what it does do is what you would expect of a primer, it gives that base that allows for a much smoother application and when it comes to the longevity of your makeup, I have to admit I didn't find it blew me away, but it isn't the worst primer I have worked with either.  

For a product that is under £4, it definitely is worth buying to try. Whilst I wasn't wowed by it, I have nothing bad to say about it either, it does the job it is meant to do, the only annoyance is the pipette which just doesn't work, a pump style applicator would have been better and easier to work with or a slight thickening up of the primer itself.

The Essence Hydrating + Perfecting Primer SPF20 is cruelty and paraben-free as well as being Vegan-friendly.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Visit Covent Garden

Despite living in London, the one thing I don’t take as much advantage of that I should is visiting tourist hotspots. Travelling around London is something I tend to do when family and friends come to visit, often choosing to stay in a hotel in Covent Garden because it is central enough to the West End and easy to get to on public transport as well as to and from national train stations.

I was challenged to head to Covent Garden to explore the area and discover new pubs, restaurants, event spaces and anything that really grabbed my attention to write a blog post about, a challenge I was excited to do because Covent Garden is one of my favourite places to visit.  Covent Garden is a major London tourist hotspot and it has everything you can think of with its rich history, much of which is detailed on blue plaques from over the last 200 years which adorn the buildings in and around the main square.  The Apple Market which sits in the middle of the main Piazza which was once home to the world-famous fruit and vegetable market still continues to support market traders, with their stalls which have offerings such as unique handmade crafts, jewellery, prints and collectables to name just a few.

For me, Covent Garden is a bit more than just main square and  with all its designer shops - some of which have opened and closed since I last mooched about. The likes of Charlotte Tilbury, Tiffany, Dior, Chanel and MAC all catch your attention as you walk out of the underground station and unless you have been living in a bubble, Boots have opened up the most amazing store and it’s worth coming to Covent Garden to visit this alone.  

For me, Covent Garden is visiting the little back streets like Floral Street, Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials and Monmouth Street where you will find the delight that is Mon Plaisir, one of the best French Restaurants I’ve ever eaten in outside of France, the Covent Garden Hotel which I’ve used for work meetings and then you will find brand names such as Fresh Beauty, Malinger + Goetz, Miller Harris and Caudalie to name a few, all of which are less than a few minutes walk from the tube station.

Eating and drinking is definitely something I never do round here. Places such as The Ivy and Balthazar are easy to find and are well known but if you look just a little further out there, the choice is endless with Seafood, Greek, Spanish and to my surprise there is now a Wahl Burger restaurant which I had never noticed and I am sure the last time I was in Covent Garden, it was definitely another restaurant. So we decided to check it out and see what all the fuss was about after reading a few reviews.  

Covent Garden is one of those areas of London which has it all - coffee shops, places to eat, pubs, bars and of course shopping, but outside the main piazza it is definitely worth venturing into, finding those streets off the beaten track and discovering old and new favourites without the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Winter hair care tips

Like my skincare routine, I change my hair care throughout the year depending on the weather.  I have what is called combination hair and that means I have greasy roots and dry ends and whilst I have never quite found the perfect product that will deal with both issues, I have, over the years learnt a few tips which help.

The use of central heating can play havoc with our skin, scalp and hair. Moving from hot temperatures to cold temperatures is a breeding ground for havoc, as is wearing a hat. And whether it is your own natural hair or you’ve just come from the hair transplant clinic, you’ll need to give it the treatment that leaves it looking just perfect. So along with looking after my combination hair, here are just a few tips and I would love to know if you have any to offer too.

• Hair Trim - I have my hair trimmed every 8-9 weeks on average, sometimes I go a bit longer and again, judging on how I feel about my hair, it could be a good few months before I step into a salon. Over the past few years, I have stopped highlighting my hair and have instead opted for more of a Balayage hair colour which I find much easier to look after and if I do decide to go for longer periods of time between having that trim, I don't have the stress of roots to think about and naturally having your hair regularly trimmed helps to keep your hair in good condition.
• Sulphate Free - my hair prefers shampoos which are sulphate free and shampoos such as crazy colour red shampoo and Maria Nila are two really good options.
• Wet Hair - I learnt during my teens that wold and wet weather can really have an effect on my hair and whilst I am not someone who wears a hat and am often loathed to use my hood, keeping your hair and scalp clean and hydrated is an absolute must.  I never ever leave the house with wet hair, I was once told that if your hair is wet and the temperature is below freezing you are at a greater risk of breakages and snapping, so this has always been a no-no from me.  So my hairdryer becomes my best friends if I do need to leave the house.
• Heat Care - I love my GHD's and whilst I don't own a Dyson hairdryer (yet) because I have a lot of a hair, the hairdryer is my go too if I haven't got time to wait around for my hair to dry naturally.  A few years ago, I was introduced to the Aquis Towel which really has made a difference in how quickly I can dry my hair and not have the dryer on the highest heat setting to get ready quick. Add to that, I have also stopped using my curling tongs so much and have instead learnt to embrace my natural waves.
• Washing Hair - Tempting though it is to come in from the cold outside and hop into a hot shower and wash your hair to warm up, hot water can dry out your hair and your scalp which can lead to all sorts of problems.  When I am not well or stressed, my scalp turns from being calm to a flaking itchy mess and over the years, I have learnt that actually, I can use much cooler water to wash my hair in. 
• Hair Care - I love a good pamper session and for me, a Sunday is usually that one day of the week where I get an hour or two of uninterrupted bliss (except the cat wanting to know why he can't sit on the side of the bath and attack the bubbles). During this time, I ensure I use a scalp scrub or hair mask to add extra TLC to my routine.  Regular readers to my blog will have seen reviews on may different scalp masks and scrubs over the past few years.
• The final change I have made to my hair care routine is sleeping on a silk pillowcase, something I was entirely sceptical about until I tried it for myself. Helping to reduce friction and frizz, gone are those mornings when I wake up with hair that is painfully knotty to deal with and instead, hair that is as smooth now as it was when I got in to bed.

Taking care of my hair is as important to me as my skincare routine and I would love to know what tips you have to ensure your hair is looked after during the winter.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Untamed Moisture Boosting Hairdryer

When a product is described as being like skincare for your hair, it intrigues me enough to want to see what it means and what it is all about. The Untamed Moisture Boosting Hairdryer is one of those products.

Suitable for all hair types, this moisture-boosting hairdryer works by simply dispersing Argan oil out of the nozzle onto your hair, the part of the hairdryer which really intrigued me the most. Inside the box, as well as the hairdryer you also get two nozzles and three 5ml bottles of Argan oil, which when empty can simply be re-filled with any Argan oil you are currently using. Kudos for not claiming it has to be a particular brand at an exorbitant cost! If there is a day when you don't feel your hair needs an extra moisture boost, then the option is there to not use the Argan oil.

This hairdryer also features a ceramic grill at the front of the dryer and this helps to distribute the temperature evenly through your hair which in turn means no one part of your hair is over-dried.  It also uses Ion technology which essentially works to stop your hair becoming frizzy and static-ridden, so it emits negative ions to cancel out the positive ones whilst you are drying your hair to smooth. It also features the option of a cool shot and it is always something I use after drying my hair because the cold air really helps to settle down your cuticles and help them lie more smoothly after the power of the heat.

So is the hairdryer any good? I was most intrigued by the Argan Oil, after all, it is the biggest selling point and is what makes it different. Argan Oil is an ingredient which is used to help moisturise, hydrate, soften particularly when it comes to your hair. I am sure we have all used many different products which feature Argan Oil and not only does it have a high content of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamin E, Argan Oil also helps to increase the hair's elasticity and consistently restore shine to dull, lifeless hair.   

I have mentioned before that I have fine hair but lots of it and it is best described as being combination, so I have greasy roots and dry ends.  Once I had attached the vial of Argan Oil to the hairdryer nozzle, I tried it on my hand first to ensure everything was fitted correctly, the fear of oil and heat is at the back of my mind, but honestly, nothing to worry about on that score.

I find this hairdryer works best on the hottest of the three heat settings and then you simply use the hairdryer as you would usually use one, moving back and forth through your hair, whether you section it to dry it or don't, it will take a practice to see what works best for you but I have found it to be much easier than I had first expected.  Once my hair is dry, what I did notice was how much smoother my hair felt, the kind of smooth feeling you get after running straightening irons through your hair and not a section of frizz or static in sight, other than the new bits of hair which have grown at the front of my forehead. For those who have thick hair which knots easily when they blow dry it, then this might just be the hairdryer you need to try because my hair was not knotty, it wasn't overly greasy because of the Argan Oil, if anything, it was soft and smooth and having now made my way through these three bottles, which have lasted a good few months, I need to decide what to top them up with!

Priced at £69.99 you can find the Untamed Moisture Boosting Hairdryer right here and it comes with free delivery too.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.